I've long been a fan of Cold War fiction (I frequently TA a Cold War course at a local university, too). I learned about this series through Ian Tregillis's participation - I'm a huge fan of his work, and in particular the Milkweed Triptych.

A gripping, sweeping Cold War fantasy series, I really enjoyed this. All of the writers contribute excellent chapters, and I zipped through it. Definitely recommended.

I chose this based solely on the pretteh cover and the title. If I'd bothered to read the blurb (I notoriously ignore blurbs, mostly to my detriment), I'd have known this for the poor fit it turned out to be. Apologies for the inconvenience.

I have a super weird obsession with Russian history. I don't really know why, other than Catherynne Valente's Deathless ruined me for life and now I feel like I have to read ALL THE THINGS! And The Witch...is certainly one of those Things.
Even the set up for this story is really cool to me. It's a serialized novel, meaning new stories come out regularly, from a team of writers. It's not exactly a new concept, Charles Dickens did it back in the 1800s, but it's still something different, as opposed to having to wait a year or longer (*side eyes George R. R. Martin*) for the continuation of the story.
I got the omnibus of Season One of The Witch...from NetGalley, and it's absolutely everything I love. Set in beautiful European cities? Check. Spies working for both sides? Check. Magic that isn't super easily explained in one page? Check!
I love that the story opens on a mystery, and is told from two very different perspectives of the Cold War. Everything just...converges in the middle, and it's a tense ride, but not an unpleasant one. It's like riding a super winding road, but you've had just the right amount of ginger candies, snaps, and ale to make you not want to die. I personally can't wait to start reading Season Two!
I give The Witch Who Came In From the Cold five elementals out of five!