Review: Coldwire (The StrangeLoom Trilogy #1) by Chloe Gong

*I received an advance reading copy of this book from Simon&Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Coldwire

(The StrangeLoom Trilogy #1)

by Chloe Gong

November 4, 2025

Goodreads Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes the start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.

The future is loading…

To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as a soldier or risk being labelled a spy.

Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s given a choice: cooperate with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.

Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy. Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor goes wrong…

Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

Review

Chloe Gong’s books always take me more time to read but in a good way. Her world and her characters are so vast and complex, they require time to digest. Coldwire was no exception- it held my full attention.

Although there was a lot of information to absorb in Coldwire, the worlds were fascinating to explore. Both “upcountry” and “downcountry” felt realistic and relatable, almost like a glimpse into our own future. Whether it was the attractive virtual reality or the depressing real world, each place was governed by strict rules. Needless to say, politics played a huge role in shaping Coldwire. All the conflicts were highly sensitive. I was on the edge of my seat reading.

Coldwire has some badass characters. Despite their younger age, Lia and Kieren thought quick on their feet; Eirale and Nik were knowledgeable beyond their years. Although the odds were never in their favour, both pairs conquered impossible scenarios. I really enjoyed the parallel timeline storytelling. Through little details and hints, I suspected there was more to Lia, Kieren, Eirale and Nik. When the two sides merged, I was immensely satisfied my theory was correct~ I can't wait to see what will come next for them!

It’s wild how close to reality Coldwire feels! I want to finish my thoughts on the book by sharing this quote that resonated deeply with me: “There are moments where I’m paranoid that I could start overthinking and then get stuck in a loop forever, cycling through the various outcomes of an upcoming scenario so many times I keep creating new realities inside my head.” (p. 48, arc). I need book 2 asap.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.