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lwalker77's review against another edition
4.0
7.1/10 Really good military thriller. I’m a big fan of Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series, but this is a much different book. My only critique could be that the battle scenes seemed to drag on at different points. I did however greatly enjoy the submarine scenes in particular. Lovers of military thrillers will enjoy this book!
brents's review
5.0
This book felt like reading really good throwback Clancy. There have been so many books out over the last few years that are full of terrorist plots, special operators, and all kinds of secret squirrel shit. This book throws that formula out the window and gives you a look at a modern day conflict between 2 global superpowers and how that might look. All of the characters are fleshed out and bring a lot to the story. Even villains are realistic and grounded rather than cartoonishly evil. I really enjoyed seeing the battle from so many different angles with different units. It was incredibly tense and engaging for such a long book. If there is a followup I'll be reading it.
Also the narrator on this audio book deserves a lot of credit as well. The accents were spot on without being a distraction and the tone was perfect.
Also the narrator on this audio book deserves a lot of credit as well. The accents were spot on without being a distraction and the tone was perfect.
jerrylwei's review against another edition
2.0
Been reading a lot of military techno-thrillers recently and there's so much telling and not a lot of showing! The authors also push their various political hobbyhorses in the story (the A-10, bolstering NATO, etc) with no subtlety. At least Tom Clancy didn't beat the message into your head like these guys. At least it's a quick read.
bwuellner's review against another edition
5.0
An engaging and gripping telling of a fictional conflict between modern Russia and NATO. The story unfolds from multiple points of view around the world on both sides of the conflict yet none of the characters really feel like disposable dummies. You aren't necessarily invested in their rates but they all seem real and distinct for the most part.
stricker's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Great book although based on more recent events in Ukraine, they perhaps overrated some of the Russian capabilities. Particularly amusing, to me, was the name of the Polish president (Zielinski).
jogden1908's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
christymmack's review against another edition
4.0
Great book. I started reading Mark Greaney after he wrote for Tom Clancy books and I have enjoyed him ever since. I was really excited to receive this book and more excited when I saw how thick it was. I started reading right away.
This book read even more in the Tom Clancy style then his usual books, as there were more details added in throughout the action. But the plot still moved along quick enough to keep interesting. I will be looking for more books by this team, of authors.
This book read even more in the Tom Clancy style then his usual books, as there were more details added in throughout the action. But the plot still moved along quick enough to keep interesting. I will be looking for more books by this team, of authors.
larry1138's review against another edition
4.0
The only other time I have read Mark Greaney's work was when he collaborated on Tom Clancy's Command Authority. I did enjoy that book and figured I'd try out one of Greaney's personal works, though with Red Metal he did collaborate with a U.S. Marine to write this, for accuracy in detail I suppose (which did pay off).
First off, I'll state this is a pretty good, standard, military fiction novel. The "inciting incident", that is, my term for the problem or issue that kicks off a military conflict, is properly one of economic reasons as all good modern military fiction should adhere to, focusing on the increasingly desperate scramble for rare earth elements.
Greaney and his co-author author are excellent at describing modern combat in all its forms. You get an excellent view of the successes and problems, large and small, that Apache pilots, A-10 pilots, Marine infantry, motorized Russian infantry, Polish militia, French special forces, and American tankers may face in a real hot war. The most interesting parts of the book for me included the beginning of the book when American intelligence officers were attempting to decipher the geopolitical weirdness going on in both the Pacific and European theaters. I was also quite interested in following the Polish militia fighter Paulina Tobaisz who probably had the strongest character arc in the book (as usual with military fiction, most characters are just "badass people doing badass things"). I was also a fan of reading about the many Russian officers and generals on display including Sabanayev and Lazar. I find examining the "enemy's" mindset fascinating from an American perspective.
The Americans, of course as usual, are portrayed as noble heroes defending Europe and Africa from attack, so a rather typical take on them in military fiction. Not surprising and not necessarily a bad thing but this pattern does become rather bland after reading enough real military history to know that real war is never that clean, and also consuming better military fiction in books and other mediums that have a more realistic approach as well.
Overall, this is a recommend from me if you're looking for a standard modern military fiction adventure with very solid combat scenes while following American, Polish, and Russian forces in Germany, Wroclaw, and Belarus and in particular the ending battle in Kenya.
First off, I'll state this is a pretty good, standard, military fiction novel. The "inciting incident", that is, my term for the problem or issue that kicks off a military conflict, is properly one of economic reasons as all good modern military fiction should adhere to, focusing on the increasingly desperate scramble for rare earth elements.
Greaney and his co-author author are excellent at describing modern combat in all its forms. You get an excellent view of the successes and problems, large and small, that Apache pilots, A-10 pilots, Marine infantry, motorized Russian infantry, Polish militia, French special forces, and American tankers may face in a real hot war. The most interesting parts of the book for me included the beginning of the book when American intelligence officers were attempting to decipher the geopolitical weirdness going on in both the Pacific and European theaters. I was also quite interested in following the Polish militia fighter Paulina Tobaisz who probably had the strongest character arc in the book (as usual with military fiction, most characters are just "badass people doing badass things"). I was also a fan of reading about the many Russian officers and generals on display including Sabanayev and Lazar. I find examining the "enemy's" mindset fascinating from an American perspective.
The Americans, of course as usual, are portrayed as noble heroes defending Europe and Africa from attack, so a rather typical take on them in military fiction. Not surprising and not necessarily a bad thing but this pattern does become rather bland after reading enough real military history to know that real war is never that clean, and also consuming better military fiction in books and other mediums that have a more realistic approach as well.
Overall, this is a recommend from me if you're looking for a standard modern military fiction adventure with very solid combat scenes while following American, Polish, and Russian forces in Germany, Wroclaw, and Belarus and in particular the ending battle in Kenya.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent read and I'm extremely happy that I did not give up (a few times I thought of doing it due to detailed tanks and artillery). What pulled me through are the fascinating cast of characters and great writing. You rooted for them, bonded with many, and grieved for the fallen. This includes the French and Polish characters that I initially feel are just secondary characters.
This book is Army/Marine Corps heavy with support from the Navy and Air Force.
This book is Army/Marine Corps heavy with support from the Navy and Air Force.