Full disclosure: Alex Bryant is a coworker and friend of mine.
The first thing you will notice in Colder is Alex’s command of language. Through multiple narrators he is able to switch voices to give strong personality to the entire cast, which includes several unearthly beings. One character in particular speaks entirely in poem form, the writing of which is a literary feat that boggles my mind. For multiple dreamlike sequences this lyrical style works perfectly, creating a surreal sense as though you are witnessing something you maybe weren’t meant to see. For a story set in Lovecraft’s mythos, this is appropriate.
To that end: Colder is the best modern Lovecraft I’ve read. Alex shows a deep knowledge of the mythos, referencing creatures and societies from across the collected works, and he successfully makes them his own by giving realistic views of how the influence of these eldritch beings would work in real life. Our main characters are touched by one of the great old ones, and their powers are horrifying and threatening and wildly powerful in a grounded way, similar to the treatment of Rogue in the first X-Men movie. It goes without saying, meanwhile, that the bigotry Lovecraft injected into every aspect of his life and work is nowhere to be seen here, making this work approachable for new audiences.
The powers on display also follow clear rules, which is important if you don’t like stories where solutions are hand-waved away as “magic.” That does not compromise the oddness nor the unknowing of working in the Lovecraft space however. It’s a good balance of strange alien powers and not feeling like you’re being cheated of a realistic story.
Overall, Colder is a worthy continuation of Lovecraft’s work, updating the parts that need updating to make it more approachable for a modern audience, and keeping the classic aspects of the universe. This one is a definite recommendation.