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Counterstrike
The Iron Lady has met her match.
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Hanson and the CSV Margaret Thatcher welcome reinforcements to the Orion Spur. Though it’s not a heavy-hitting battlegroup, the light carriers and support vessels sailing through the wormhole are sufficient firepower to handle what’s left of the terrorists.
But overconfidence is their undoing.
League-made heavy battle cruisers strike without warning and decimate the new arrivals, obliterating an unarmed hospital ship in the surprise attack. Arthur isn’t the only one who sees red as horrific losses pile up, the enemy seeming to anticipate their every FTL jump. With President Robbins refusing to send overwhelming force to end the conflict quickly, desperation drives Arthur to use any means necessary to gain intel from their war captive.
And threats of mutiny once again gain steam.
Intelligence collected under duress proves ineffective, while looming court martial brings Arthur to the breaking point. But it will take more than a crisis of conscience to see the conflict through to the bitter end against a dominating force.
It will take an iron will.
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Hanson and the CSV Margaret Thatcher welcome reinforcements to the Orion Spur. Though it’s not a heavy-hitting battlegroup, the light carriers and support vessels sailing through the wormhole are sufficient firepower to handle what’s left of the terrorists.
But overconfidence is their undoing.
League-made heavy battle cruisers strike without warning and decimate the new arrivals, obliterating an unarmed hospital ship in the surprise attack. Arthur isn’t the only one who sees red as horrific losses pile up, the enemy seeming to anticipate their every FTL jump. With President Robbins refusing to send overwhelming force to end the conflict quickly, desperation drives Arthur to use any means necessary to gain intel from their war captive.
And threats of mutiny once again gain steam.
Intelligence collected under duress proves ineffective, while looming court martial brings Arthur to the breaking point. But it will take more than a crisis of conscience to see the conflict through to the bitter end against a dominating force.
It will take an iron will.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2025
465 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 1, 2025
Once again, the political messaging is at the forefront. like I mentioned in my last review, I could care less. it's in the manner it's presented where i take issue. things like this need to be subtle and not so on the nose.
there are a few minor spelling/grammar mistakes.
***Spolers past this point***
So. My main complaint lies with the antagonists. their faction "PFLOS" is so stereotypically evil it's not even funny. we're talking no adherence to the laws of war, no issues with intimate crimes, no caring about civilian deaths, and a willingness to kill hundreds of thousands via planetary bombardment.
A good villain needs to be relatable. there needs to be a tiny bit of something that the audience can latch onto and be like. "I understand this struggle."
now, of course, that doesn't mean the audience supports any of the actions these hypothetical villains make. it's a way to ground the villain in reality.
the issue with PFLOS is that they are so categorically evil that only a truly sadistic person can relate to them. and when our protagonist faces his moral struggle over having a member of this group tortured for information, this moral struggle is really robbed of any meaning. why? because the villian lacks any sort of relatability.
now you can argue that all of that isn't a big deal because the book centers its moral stance on religion. - mainly Christianity, Judaism, and some version of Islam. in our protagonists case its Christianity.- However, I would argue that that makes it even worse. this whole struggle has our protagonist struggling spiritually with his decision to torture. he seeks help with a chaplain and quite literally has a come to Jesus moment when he has an actual experience with Jesus.
my point here, is that both a secular and theism moral struggle with this topic would have held a much deeper and meaningful message were the villians not so categorically evil. the only thing such an evil antagonist does in this case is make "turn the other cheek" a harder thing to do and make your secular readers wonder why the hell they would do that.
a less evil villan also allows for a much better story into how our protagonists fall into torturing. especially with this religious context, and his eventual redemption would be even better. but a lot of this is just shunted to the side because of how evil the PFLOS are.
there are a few minor spelling/grammar mistakes.
***Spolers past this point***
So. My main complaint lies with the antagonists. their faction "PFLOS" is so stereotypically evil it's not even funny. we're talking no adherence to the laws of war, no issues with intimate crimes, no caring about civilian deaths, and a willingness to kill hundreds of thousands via planetary bombardment.
A good villain needs to be relatable. there needs to be a tiny bit of something that the audience can latch onto and be like. "I understand this struggle."
now, of course, that doesn't mean the audience supports any of the actions these hypothetical villains make. it's a way to ground the villain in reality.
the issue with PFLOS is that they are so categorically evil that only a truly sadistic person can relate to them. and when our protagonist faces his moral struggle over having a member of this group tortured for information, this moral struggle is really robbed of any meaning. why? because the villian lacks any sort of relatability.
now you can argue that all of that isn't a big deal because the book centers its moral stance on religion. - mainly Christianity, Judaism, and some version of Islam. in our protagonists case its Christianity.- However, I would argue that that makes it even worse. this whole struggle has our protagonist struggling spiritually with his decision to torture. he seeks help with a chaplain and quite literally has a come to Jesus moment when he has an actual experience with Jesus.
my point here, is that both a secular and theism moral struggle with this topic would have held a much deeper and meaningful message were the villians not so categorically evil. the only thing such an evil antagonist does in this case is make "turn the other cheek" a harder thing to do and make your secular readers wonder why the hell they would do that.
a less evil villan also allows for a much better story into how our protagonists fall into torturing. especially with this religious context, and his eventual redemption would be even better. but a lot of this is just shunted to the side because of how evil the PFLOS are.
July 16, 2025
The Space Battles are Cool
Daniel Gibbs's Iron Fleet series excels in its depiction of space warfare, which remains genuinely compelling throughout. However, certain ideological elements undermined my engagement with the narrative.
The pervasive religious nationalism struck me as anachronistic for an interstellar civilization. While Gibbs attempts to present a generalized rather than denominationally specific faith system, the notion that such particularistic, terrestrially-bound ideology would persist as a dominant force among advanced spacefaring societies strains credibility. From a theological perspective, one might expect more universalist or cosmologically-informed spiritual frameworks to emerge in such a context.
Similarly, the Cold War-era capitalism versus communism framework feels historically myopic. Contemporary geopolitical realities reveal a more complex picture, particularly China's hybrid model of market economics within centralized governance. Against this backdrop, the premise of a resurgent Soviet-style communist empire expanding into space reads as dated political science fiction rather than plausible extrapolation.
These conceptual limitations aside, readers seeking well-executed space combat sequences will find much to appreciate in the Iron Fleet series. The tactical elements are thoughtfully rendered, even if the broader ideological and moralistic architecture of Gibbs's universe lacks sophistication.
Daniel Gibbs's Iron Fleet series excels in its depiction of space warfare, which remains genuinely compelling throughout. However, certain ideological elements undermined my engagement with the narrative.
The pervasive religious nationalism struck me as anachronistic for an interstellar civilization. While Gibbs attempts to present a generalized rather than denominationally specific faith system, the notion that such particularistic, terrestrially-bound ideology would persist as a dominant force among advanced spacefaring societies strains credibility. From a theological perspective, one might expect more universalist or cosmologically-informed spiritual frameworks to emerge in such a context.
Similarly, the Cold War-era capitalism versus communism framework feels historically myopic. Contemporary geopolitical realities reveal a more complex picture, particularly China's hybrid model of market economics within centralized governance. Against this backdrop, the premise of a resurgent Soviet-style communist empire expanding into space reads as dated political science fiction rather than plausible extrapolation.
These conceptual limitations aside, readers seeking well-executed space combat sequences will find much to appreciate in the Iron Fleet series. The tactical elements are thoughtfully rendered, even if the broader ideological and moralistic architecture of Gibbs's universe lacks sophistication.
June 22, 2025
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
You have been warned.
Highly enjoyable military science fiction, but I have to say, I didn't expect Jesus to show up in the middle of the book. Literally: Jesus. I find this author's use of religion to be interesting: essentially, the theists--of all stripes--are the good guys who are facing down the godless commies. It's something W. Cleon Skousen (Author) would have written had he turned his pen toward science fiction. I did find the insertion of Jesus to be a bit...jarring, but I am invested in these characters and their story now, so I will keep reading. Gibbs writes well, and his battle scenes are top-notch. Good stuff; very rightward leaning (as much of this subgenre is). As a former Navy guy, I am in full support of the CDF! KICK THOSE COMMIE'S ASSES!
You have been warned.
Highly enjoyable military science fiction, but I have to say, I didn't expect Jesus to show up in the middle of the book. Literally: Jesus. I find this author's use of religion to be interesting: essentially, the theists--of all stripes--are the good guys who are facing down the godless commies. It's something W. Cleon Skousen (Author) would have written had he turned his pen toward science fiction. I did find the insertion of Jesus to be a bit...jarring, but I am invested in these characters and their story now, so I will keep reading. Gibbs writes well, and his battle scenes are top-notch. Good stuff; very rightward leaning (as much of this subgenre is). As a former Navy guy, I am in full support of the CDF! KICK THOSE COMMIE'S ASSES!
May 21, 2025
Well let's start. We all makes mistakes but it's what we do after that tells who we are. This book is about that and much more. I really enjoyed seeing how things unfolded with those in charge and the ones under them. How each thought it was for the greater good. The "World Side" drama I loved seeing how David worked with a system that was not his first choice. Private Waters was a surprise in the only way he can do. The last chapter of the book got me a bit upset I didn't want it to end. But looks like some of our old friends will be back and I for one can't wait for it!!!!
This came at just the right time it puts a mirror to the world today and shows what could happen.
Great job again Mr. Gibbs
This came at just the right time it puts a mirror to the world today and shows what could happen.
Great job again Mr. Gibbs
November 9, 2025
The ultimate in religious trash
OK, how many space operas have you read where (god, Jesus, Allah, scripture, prayer, praying etc.) are repeated every effing paragraph? Sounds like fun?
Well how about when Jesus physically visits the starship captain having a crisis of confidence. Actually, right there in his cabin.
The captain wears a sweater instead of a formal uniform. Now. Is it a space sweater? Of course it is, at least a dozen times it is. Except for the one time that it's a commando sweater
Oh, and alloy is repeated 24 times.
I'm thinking the author is a god bothered of the worst sort. Avoid this trash. Even if it's free.
OK, how many space operas have you read where (god, Jesus, Allah, scripture, prayer, praying etc.) are repeated every effing paragraph? Sounds like fun?
Well how about when Jesus physically visits the starship captain having a crisis of confidence. Actually, right there in his cabin.
The captain wears a sweater instead of a formal uniform. Now. Is it a space sweater? Of course it is, at least a dozen times it is. Except for the one time that it's a commando sweater
Oh, and alloy is repeated 24 times.
I'm thinking the author is a god bothered of the worst sort. Avoid this trash. Even if it's free.
May 21, 2025
Counter-Strike is Book 3 in The Iron Fleet by Daniel Gibbs. Once again Mr Gibbs takes us into the fight for freedom. His characters are always well written and I think that he truly brings the story to life. His knowledge of the military and combat techniques make every Daniel Gibbs book so realistic. Jump into this SiFi series and you will be hooked. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 19, 2025
Arthur Hanson continues his fight against PFLOS with one hand tied behind his back. Despite minimalistic reinforcements he manages to pull off a victory against the terrorists. At the same time, he is fighting his own demons. Daniel Gibbs does an excellent job of showing us how Hanson deals with them and his faith.
June 2, 2025
Moral ambiguity, and treachery
Weak leadership is disasterous in wartime. The Iron Fleet must fight PFLOS without the aid of larger CDF ships that would win the war, because weak politicians want to avoid "provoking" the League of Sol into another war. Will courage, commitment and faith be enough to save the Orion Arm?
Weak leadership is disasterous in wartime. The Iron Fleet must fight PFLOS without the aid of larger CDF ships that would win the war, because weak politicians want to avoid "provoking" the League of Sol into another war. Will courage, commitment and faith be enough to save the Orion Arm?
May 20, 2025
A tail of the woe of becoming a battle commander that DID NOT come up through Combat Commad School. The learning curve is severe! But not impossible. The Commander must keep to his morals or have the possibility of mutiny. Lets see if the Margret Thatchers Commander has what it takes.
July 16, 2025
dnf at 43%. Main character just gets less and less likable as the the series goes on and his finally pushed me over the edge where I just don't want to read about him anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2025
Not a Muslim
The book is well written. The problem is I am not Muslim!!! I am tired of reading : PRAISE Allah!!! The book is going Great, good story line, plot…. Then PRAISE ALLAH!!!!
The book is well written. The problem is I am not Muslim!!! I am tired of reading : PRAISE Allah!!! The book is going Great, good story line, plot…. Then PRAISE ALLAH!!!!
December 29, 2025
Sadly, too much religion
As much as I have enjoyed these first 3 books of this series, I cannot continue on do to the excessive religious overtones and the attempts by the author subvert these stories.
As much as I have enjoyed these first 3 books of this series, I cannot continue on do to the excessive religious overtones and the attempts by the author subvert these stories.
May 19, 2025
This is an excellent installment in the series. Like life, it has its controversies, but that makes it enjoyable.
May 19, 2025
There is no shortage of action or intrigue, the combat action and political turmoil in this book is enhanced by his characters.
May 24, 2025
This entire series is worth the read. I can hardly wait for the final chapter to drop!
June 3, 2025
Great book. Can’t wait for the next one to come out
July 13, 2025
Good storyline but a bit too preachy for me. I don't care for science fiction filled with religion.
August 13, 2025
Better
This book was better than the earlier ones, more convincing, a bit less religious and extremely better storyline. Up next, more of the same.
This book was better than the earlier ones, more convincing, a bit less religious and extremely better storyline. Up next, more of the same.
September 27, 2025
Striking Back
With some new personal and equipment that was sorely needed coming from home base the taskforce has some renewed hope in completing their tasks. Good Read.
With some new personal and equipment that was sorely needed coming from home base the taskforce has some renewed hope in completing their tasks. Good Read.
November 27, 2025
So far I’ve enjoyed every book in their series. I’m looking forward to reading the next in line when released
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews