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Iron Crucible #4
Black Seas
The year is 1992. Europe is in flames. Scandinavia is under siege. Only Norway holds out against the Soviet war machine. And now the pride of the Soviet Navy, the Red Banner Northern Fleet, sallies out to finish the job. With their armies facing annihilation, and World War III at a tipping point, the combined navies of NATO stand ready to receive their enemy. Europe's greatest naval battle since Jutland, the first carrier battle since World War II, is about to begin.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2023
About the author
T.K. Blackwood
28 books16 followersT.K. Blackwood is a full-time IT professional and part-time writer who lives in North Carolina with his wife, child, and too many reptiles.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 9, 2026
I was fortunate enough, after having completed my last book review, to be able to knock another great book from my TBR pile. The author that I am reading as we speak is TK Blackwood and his fourth offering in the Iron Crucible series, Black Seas (in his credits page, he lists Alex Aaronson as providing some assist - so I tagged him as well). This book was published on 31 July 2023.
This alternate-history technothriller is set in a volatile 1992 and follows a fictional World War III scenario where Europe is engulfed in flames, and the Soviet military juggernaut has pushed deep into the Western territories and one of the last holdouts is Norway.
Seeking to crush the final pocket of resistance and seal a total victory, the Soviet Navy's elite Red Banner Northern Fleet deploys at full strength. (three divisions - each with an aircraft carrier).
The resulting climax is a massive, high-tech naval showdown between Russia and the allied navies of NATO, which is billed as Europe's greatest sea battle since the Battle of Jutland.
_____________
Battle of Jutland (World War 1)
The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleship fleets during the First World War. Fought from May 31 to June 1, 1916, off the North Sea coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula, it involved around 250 warships and 100,000 personnel. The confrontation pitted Britain’s Royal Navy Grand Fleet against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet. While Germany won a tactical victory by inflicting heavier casualties, Great Britain secured a vital strategic triumph by maintaining its command of the sea.
_____________
One of the things that I appreciated about about this effort by Blackwood is that instead of describing this war through a "Macro" lens (a la textbook style) that the war is examined through a "Micro" lens with lots of character development throughout. The book explains the many issues and problems that make up modern warfare. Despite the awesome technology available to all sides, people still play a strong role in the outcome.
On my self-determined five-point scale, I would definitely give this book a solid four stars and would recommend it for fans of Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" and Hackett's "The Third World War". An awesome read.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.
This alternate-history technothriller is set in a volatile 1992 and follows a fictional World War III scenario where Europe is engulfed in flames, and the Soviet military juggernaut has pushed deep into the Western territories and one of the last holdouts is Norway.
Seeking to crush the final pocket of resistance and seal a total victory, the Soviet Navy's elite Red Banner Northern Fleet deploys at full strength. (three divisions - each with an aircraft carrier).
The resulting climax is a massive, high-tech naval showdown between Russia and the allied navies of NATO, which is billed as Europe's greatest sea battle since the Battle of Jutland.
_____________
Battle of Jutland (World War 1)
The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleship fleets during the First World War. Fought from May 31 to June 1, 1916, off the North Sea coast of Denmark's Jutland Peninsula, it involved around 250 warships and 100,000 personnel. The confrontation pitted Britain’s Royal Navy Grand Fleet against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet. While Germany won a tactical victory by inflicting heavier casualties, Great Britain secured a vital strategic triumph by maintaining its command of the sea.
_____________
One of the things that I appreciated about about this effort by Blackwood is that instead of describing this war through a "Macro" lens (a la textbook style) that the war is examined through a "Micro" lens with lots of character development throughout. The book explains the many issues and problems that make up modern warfare. Despite the awesome technology available to all sides, people still play a strong role in the outcome.
On my self-determined five-point scale, I would definitely give this book a solid four stars and would recommend it for fans of Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" and Hackett's "The Third World War". An awesome read.
As with all my literary ramblings, this is just my five cents worth.
February 22, 2025
Amazing Modern Naval Battle
The author really knows his stuff. I felt like I was in the air battles with the pilots or on the decks with SAM gunners. Modern combat was depicted as brutal game of high tech wizardry. However, the author never forgot the human element in any of the actions. We saw the battles thru the eyes of real people we came to know throughout the story. Such a nice touch. There was even a touching moment at the end of the book that as a father of children made my eyes moist... Excellent story.
The author really knows his stuff. I felt like I was in the air battles with the pilots or on the decks with SAM gunners. Modern combat was depicted as brutal game of high tech wizardry. However, the author never forgot the human element in any of the actions. We saw the battles thru the eyes of real people we came to know throughout the story. Such a nice touch. There was even a touching moment at the end of the book that as a father of children made my eyes moist... Excellent story.
July 9, 2025
I have read the series up to book four which I have just finished. The series has been very good but I have refrained from writing a review up until now.
Having served in the Royal Navy during this time I found the Naval battle scenarios quite good and possibly realistic considering the amount of excersises we carried out in the North Atlantic serving on an air defence destroyer, Backfires were indeed our bogeymen.
Good to read a book in which there was nothing I could not disbelieve in.
Having served in the Royal Navy during this time I found the Naval battle scenarios quite good and possibly realistic considering the amount of excersises we carried out in the North Atlantic serving on an air defence destroyer, Backfires were indeed our bogeymen.
Good to read a book in which there was nothing I could not disbelieve in.
December 16, 2023
I enjoyed reading all four books in the series. I had been reading several books about lawyers and court proceedings, so war and combat with a mixture of individual involvement from privates on up the ranks to generals made the story more interesting.
The book delves into the individual characters perspective on the war. A good read
The book delves into the individual characters perspective on the war. A good read
January 4, 2024
Naval engagements were spectacular.
I have enjoyed this whole series. Blackwood gets to the truth about warfare and is a terrific story teller. Very detailed and visceral descriptions of naval battle and the thought that this was set 20 years ago makes the threat of war today even more terrifying.
I have enjoyed this whole series. Blackwood gets to the truth about warfare and is a terrific story teller. Very detailed and visceral descriptions of naval battle and the thought that this was set 20 years ago makes the threat of war today even more terrifying.
December 22, 2023
Over The Top
Black Seas is the 4th book in this series and does not disappoint. It seems each book just gets better and better. The situations are detailed and believable and the characters are interesting and well developed. Can't wait for the follow-up.
Black Seas is the 4th book in this series and does not disappoint. It seems each book just gets better and better. The situations are detailed and believable and the characters are interesting and well developed. Can't wait for the follow-up.
February 1, 2025
epic naval battle
A great naval battle. And again the characters almost feel like family now. It feels like you are in the ships where decisions are being made. Starting the next book in a minute!
A great naval battle. And again the characters almost feel like family now. It feels like you are in the ships where decisions are being made. Starting the next book in a minute!
April 26, 2025
Very good volume
This volume contained 90% battle scenes. Some politics to set the tone but mostly about the engaging of war mostly at sea. I was happy with this volume and anxious to start the next one.
This volume contained 90% battle scenes. Some politics to set the tone but mostly about the engaging of war mostly at sea. I was happy with this volume and anxious to start the next one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews