The Witch Who Came in from the Cold
| Industry | Publishing, Audio drama |
|---|---|
| Founder | Julian Yap |
| Products | Serialized fiction, audio dramas, ebooks |
The Witch Who Came in from the Cold is a serialized alternate history fantasy narrative produced by Serial Box, accessible as an audio drama and ebook, along with a printed version. Set against the backdrop of 1970 Prague shortly after the Prague Spring, the story centers on CIA operative Gabriel Pritchard as he conducts surveillance on the KGB, focusing particularly on Russian agent Tanya Morozova. Their espionage activities become deeply intertwined with a supernatural conflict between two sorcerer factions—the Ice and the Flame—both embedded within international intelligence services. These groups compete to gain control over Sokolov, a Russian defector who harbors a potent elemental spirit. The series debuted a second season in 2017, with a third season underway as of mid-2018.
Plot summary
Season 1
In Prague, CIA operatives Gabe Pritchard and Joshua Toms carry out their missions. Gabe experiences debilitating headaches linked to a lost day of memory caused by an incident in Cairo two years earlier, which negatively impacts his effectiveness. Tanya Morozova and her associate Nadia are KGB agents affiliated with the Ice faction, which opposes the Flame’s aim to eradicate non-magical individuals. Both factions are in pursuit of control over 36 elemental hosts, including a Czech student named Adula Zlata, who opts for Ice protection after Tanya reveals her magical identity.
Jordan Rhemes, a bartender and sorcerer, explains that Gabe’s headaches result from magical interference during a failed Flame ritual, which led to an incomplete elemental bond with him. MI6 agent and member of the Ice faction Alestair Winthrop mentors Gabe in the use of sorcery. Meanwhile, Alestair and Josh develop a personal connection despite societal prejudices.
Gabe discovers that the Ice faction preserves their hosts by placing them in stasis to prevent Flame manipulation, effectively imprisoning them—a revelation that causes Tanya to question her allegiance. When Gabe accidentally awakens a golem threatening Prague, he and Tanya reluctantly join forces to neutralize it.
The CIA initiates Operation Anchises to extract Sokolov, a Russian defector, during a conference in Prague, bringing Dominic "Dom" Alvarez from Langley into the operation. Tanya is coerced by KGB chief Sasha Komyetski into attacking the CIA safe house sheltering Sokolov. Gabe alerts Dom about the impending assault; Dom manages to flee with Sokolov, who is also an elemental host.
Gabe soon uncovers Dom’s affiliation with the Flame faction. Alongside Tanya, Nadia, Alestair, and Jordan, he conducts a ritual to bring down Dom’s aircraft. Although Dom kills Sokolov, he survives by parachuting out. Both CIA and KGB scramble to make sense of these events without comprehending their magical dimensions.
Background
Max Gladstone proposed a serialized espionage thriller concept to Serial Box founder Julian Yap. While interested in Prague as a setting but lacking expertise in Cold War espionage, Gladstone enlisted Lindsay Smith, who possesses degrees in Russian studies and computer security and has experience as a cyber-intelligence specialist. Gladstone and Smith acted as showrunners, developing a comprehensive series "bible" detailing characters and plot arcs. They collaborated with four additional writers to craft the narrative. The first season was produced in four-episode segments, each reviewed for coherence and continuity. The episodes underwent reading, reviewing, and editing by the authorial team. Unlike some other Serial Box projects, episodes here build sequentially to advance the overarching story while maintaining an episodic structure reminiscent of television storytelling.
Reception
Publishers Weekly commended the authorship team, describing the narrative as "exceptionally designed and skillfully delivered." Liz Bourke, writing for Locus, emphasized the richly developed characters and the uniform tone maintained across contributions from various writers. A reviewer from Tor.com lauded the sharp, clever writing style and the intricately crafted ensemble of characters.
See also
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold