Coldwire by Chloe Gong

A breathtaking start to Chloe Gong’s new Strangeloom Trilogy—layered, emotional, and impossible to put down.

Coldwire is a masterclass in immersive storytelling. It’s the kind of book that grabs hold and doesn’t let go until the final, mind-bending twist. Chloe Gong builds a futuristic world so vivid and intricately layered that I could see, hear, and feel every corner of it. From the polished virtual realms of “upcountry” to the crumbling remnants of “downcountry,” the contrasts are striking and eerily believable, making this one of the most immersive and thought-provoking dystopian stories I’ve read in a long time.

Told through two POVs—Eirale, a soldier framed for treason, and Lia, an ambitious cadet in her final year—Coldwire weaves a complex web of technology, loyalty, and power. I never felt pulled out of the story when the perspective shifted; in fact, I found myself anticipating how these threads would collide. And when they finally did? Absolutely brilliant.

The pacing is sharp, with a perfect balance of high-stakes tension and quieter emotional moments that make the world feel real. There’s only a hint of romance, but the yearning and emotion are palpable throughout. What surprised me most was how deeply I connected with every character, from the main leads to the secondary standouts. Their struggles and choices left me thinking long after I turned the last page.

Gong’s exploration of what it means to be human, and how far we might go to escape our own world, feels both speculative and frighteningly possible. I don’t usually reach for science fiction, but this blend of cyberpunk detail and dystopian heart completely won me over.

By the end, I was sitting there, stunned and speechless, already desperate for the next installment in the Strangeloom Trilogy. Coldwire is ambitious, haunting, and full of the kind of storytelling that reminds me why I love to read.

P.S. I LOVE THE COVER 💜🩵

Pre-order Coldwire here or request it from your local library.