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Michael Parson & Sophia Gold #5
Sand and Fire
From Tom Young, author of The Warriors and The Renegades , comes an explosive new novel of the war on terror.
North Africa. A jihadist leader has seized a supply of sarin gas left over from the Gaddafi regime and is wreaking havoc on an escalating scale. Gunnery Sergeant A. E. Blount—a Marine and the grandson of one of the first black Marines—sets out with his strike team to kill or capture the terrorist leader. Instead, they flew into a trap.
Many of the team are killed, the rest captured, and the leader threatens that he will execute one prisoner a day until U.S forces withdraw. Sophia Gold and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Parson, Blount’s friends and colleagues, rush to Libya to help coordinate rescue efforts. But the ordeal has only just begun.
Soon, they will all be fighting for their lives in the sand and fire of the desert.
North Africa. A jihadist leader has seized a supply of sarin gas left over from the Gaddafi regime and is wreaking havoc on an escalating scale. Gunnery Sergeant A. E. Blount—a Marine and the grandson of one of the first black Marines—sets out with his strike team to kill or capture the terrorist leader. Instead, they flew into a trap.
Many of the team are killed, the rest captured, and the leader threatens that he will execute one prisoner a day until U.S forces withdraw. Sophia Gold and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Parson, Blount’s friends and colleagues, rush to Libya to help coordinate rescue efforts. But the ordeal has only just begun.
Soon, they will all be fighting for their lives in the sand and fire of the desert.
467 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2014
About the author
Tom Young
12 books108 followersTom Young served in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Air National Guard. He has also also flown combat missions to Bosnia and Kosovo, and additional missions to Latin America, the horn of Africa, and the Far East. In all, Young has logged nearly five thousand hours as a flight engineer on the C-5 Galaxy and the C-130 Hercules, while flying to almost forty countries. Military honors include three Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal.
Young is the author of SILVER WINGS, IRON CROSS; THE HUNTERS; SAND AND FIRE; THE RENEGADES; SILENT ENEMY; and THE MULLAH'S STORM.
His nonfiction publications include THE SPEED OF HEAT: AN AIRLIFT WING AT WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. His narrative, "Night Flight to Baghdad," appeared in the anthology OPERATION HOMECOMING: IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE HOME FRONT IN THE WORDS OF U.S. TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Young is the author of SILVER WINGS, IRON CROSS; THE HUNTERS; SAND AND FIRE; THE RENEGADES; SILENT ENEMY; and THE MULLAH'S STORM.
His nonfiction publications include THE SPEED OF HEAT: AN AIRLIFT WING AT WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. His narrative, "Night Flight to Baghdad," appeared in the anthology OPERATION HOMECOMING: IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE HOME FRONT IN THE WORDS OF U.S. TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 31, 2022
I struggled to get through this one. It's not terrible but everything it does has been done better somewhere else. The writing is a bit prosaic but serviceable. Research is above average.
The premise seems to be the biggest problem. US marines are ambushed and taken hostage by a Islamic extremist group in North Africa, yawn. In the novel's defense, the brief segment where one of our protagonists is a hostage is pretty tense. The slog leading up to that is another story though. The characters are the cookie cutter wholesome super patriots endemic to American military thrillers and they really can't carry the bits of the novel where nothing much is happening. At least the action sequences are pretty good. I was confused by the one that involved a man overboard and a crashed helicopter which barely had anything to do with the plot but it was better than the bland soap opera that seeps in whenever nothing military related is happening. The rest of the action scenes are well handled. Tom Young has a different background from a lot of writers in the military thriller sphere and at times his focus on the air force transports he used to fly make this book a bit more original. Apparently this is the only one he wrote that focuses on grunts which suggests some of his others might be a bit better.
The premise seems to be the biggest problem. US marines are ambushed and taken hostage by a Islamic extremist group in North Africa, yawn. In the novel's defense, the brief segment where one of our protagonists is a hostage is pretty tense. The slog leading up to that is another story though. The characters are the cookie cutter wholesome super patriots endemic to American military thrillers and they really can't carry the bits of the novel where nothing much is happening. At least the action sequences are pretty good. I was confused by the one that involved a man overboard and a crashed helicopter which barely had anything to do with the plot but it was better than the bland soap opera that seeps in whenever nothing military related is happening. The rest of the action scenes are well handled. Tom Young has a different background from a lot of writers in the military thriller sphere and at times his focus on the air force transports he used to fly make this book a bit more original. Apparently this is the only one he wrote that focuses on grunts which suggests some of his others might be a bit better.
December 18, 2017
FIERY SAND.
"Slavery and the rule of one person is finished – it's finished. … The Arab world is going to change completely when Gaddafi will flee. … The whole Arab world will move quickly for freedom, and not by the generals. No, now the Arab people will do it. … All the Arab world, from the ocean to the Gulf, are supporting Libya, all of them in the street supporting Libya, all of them … In one year you will have another Arab world. … I was one of his closest good friends, who worked with him from the beginning of the revolution. Unfortunately we started the revolution with freedom, at the end of it you are killing our people." - Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Military thrillers understandably are most of the time told through the eyes of the soldiers who go out to make war on the battlefields of the earth. But the killers of the world aren’t the only part of a modern military in this day and age. There are the unsung heroes who don’t usually get a purple heart or Hero of the Russian fedration, but whose absence would cause armies, navies and air forces to turn into a barbarian horde out of Mad Max after one year.
The one author who writes military thrillers from their viewpoint is Tom Young. Tom Young is from quite possibly the most unglamarous military units in the United State, the Air National Guard. But don’t judge the man by the organization’s name. A highly experienced pilot who in my opinion, had a far more important job than the fly boys and aviators of the world, Young has won three Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal, while clocking in more than 5000 hours in military operations in 40 countries on planes like the C130 and C5 Galaxy.
Since his retirement from the service, Young has created a series based around the duo of Parsons and Gold. Michael Parsons is the author’s alter ego, a military pilot, who gets caught up in real world danger and adventure, while Sophia Gould is a US Army officer who find herself along for the very bumpy ride. In Sand And Fire, Young briefly departs from his usual style by writing a novel centered around the legendary Devil Dogs. The USMC. Told from the perspective of Gunny Sergeant A.E. Blout, Sand and Fire takes place in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and the great and wretched experiences of all involved. Now to the review. When you return to the battlefield after leaving it, will you be burried by sand? Or escape the fire?
The novel begins on Sicily with A . E Blout looking forward to a quiet end to his impressive career in the USMC. Like an old hound dog, he’s relaxing on base while younger marines go to a local nightclub. Suddenly, the nightclub is attacked by a mortar bombardment and Blout springs into action, quickly figuring out that it’s a chemical weapons attack with sarin gas and decisively helping save several lives. He’s not in time however to save his commanding officer and mentor and watches the poor bloke bleed out. Returning to the United States, Blout plans to go into semi – retirement working at his local Sherif’s department when a small series of dominos begins to fall and nudge him back into the life he wanted to leave behind. In Europe, series protagonist Michael Parsons settles into a job in Europe corordinating military forces from behind a desk with a charming, dashing French Aviator. And in Libya, Sofia Gold is working with humanitarian efforts. Each of these three threads come crashing together when a terrorist rabble, invoking the glory days of North Africa’s Islamist pirates emerges and announces that they’re willing to liberally utilize the Sarin they stole from the late Mumar Ghadaffi. From Tunisia, Algiers and the desert in between, Blout, Parsons and Gold soon find themselves working together to stop the post Arab Spring world from completely hitting rock bottom.
In terms of plot, Sand And Fire, is solid, well written and very much down to earth. There’s no ludicrous badass 80’s style action movie heroics here. Rather Tom Young’s books are a celebration of the ordinary human spirit being pushed to its limits and enduring in spite of everything the world can throw at it. Steve McQueen based his crime thriller, Bullit and details orientated reality and Young’s work follow, that approach, proving you don’t need some fancy gadgets to make a thrilling story. While it may be rather jarring to people more familiar to super cool counter – terrorist operatives and government assassins, Sand and Fire’s plot is suitably big picture and has all the elements that contemporary thrillers require these days.
Action and setting? Quite well done. Young’s crisp, fluid writing style allows for some impressively done on – page violence. From the opening terrorist attack on an Italian nightclub to a disastrous military assault gone wrong in Libya, a violent scuffle and breakout in a small desert farm and an epic cross trek through North Africa’s toughest terrain, “Sand and Fire,” takes the reader to the hard places where trained, but not gifted people survive on their wits and perseverance. And the locations which the story takes place on are superbly realized. Whether it be the Sardinian town which the novel opens on with an impressive literary flourish, or a refugee camp filled with victims of chemical burns, Young captures the reality of the Arab Spring Era, with its peace and war.
Research? Impeccably done. Young researches his books to aplomb, and his works educate as well as they enterain without catching the soap box syndrome. Whether it be a crash course on the USMC, how the Corps operates, trains, fights and behaves, or the ins and outs of chemical warfare and the equipment used to survive the variety of lethal agents out there, Young then goes further, much, much further. By far the standout of the story is the trek some of the protagonists have to make through the North African desert with limited supplies and weapons. The team there utilizes a series of real world survival tricks to stay one step ahead of the people hunting them there.
Characters? Well, this was a part which I feel was lacking a bit. Most likely because I haven’t read the other books in the series, I wasn’t able to connect with Parsons and Could. Instead, I’ll talk about the two standouts I liked. Blout and Frenchie. First, Blout, Blout is one of the most decorated African American Marines in the corps, one who has done the hard yards and gotten as high as he can possibly go without hitting the REMF ranks of officers. An honorable brick wall, who has been battered and bruised from Iraq and Bosnia, yet remained standing while those who tried to break him, were struck down, Blout returns to the service to try rid evil from the world one final time. He gets more than he bargains for when he falls into the grip of that evil. Young crafts a straightforward, intelligently written character whose common sense, unflapability in the face of danger and world wise outlook on life, averts the gung – ho testosterone filled loud mouth of your average American thriller hero. Blout may be getting on in the years, but one must not forget, the old dog knows all the tricks, and in this story, he puts everyting he’s learned in the corps to good use in saving himself and his fellow Devil Dogs from being killed.
Next, we have “Frenchie” or Chartier. Chartier is a French Airforce Aviator and officer who finds himself working with Michael Gold. Seemingly the dashing French charmer full of stereotypical Gallic seduction, behind that act lies a competent, dedicated profesional who is damn good at his job. Young uses Chartier to try take a power drill to the edifice of that idiotic “cheese eating surrender monkey” myth and for the most part succedes in showing that the USA does not have the monpoly on talented warriors and military personel in the world. With his engaging, amusing banter, skill with a fighter jet and sharp wit and mind, Chartier stole the show for me in this story.
Constructive criticism? Well, a few things. There were quite a few slow bits and the pacing was uneven. Furthermore, the antagonists were not as well developed as they could have been, but I fully understand why Young picked their anti – climactic fate, in order to reflect the reality that sometimes you don’t get the satisfaction of nailing your man. Apart from that Sand and Fire was otherwise a very solid read.
Overall, Sand and Fire is a satisfying smartly written military thriller that is a fine tribute to those in the military who aren’t teir one badass operators. With a straightforward, yet rich plot, a cast of impressive characters and a skillful use of real world detail in the narrative, Tom Young’s thriller series is one you should look out for.
"Slavery and the rule of one person is finished – it's finished. … The Arab world is going to change completely when Gaddafi will flee. … The whole Arab world will move quickly for freedom, and not by the generals. No, now the Arab people will do it. … All the Arab world, from the ocean to the Gulf, are supporting Libya, all of them in the street supporting Libya, all of them … In one year you will have another Arab world. … I was one of his closest good friends, who worked with him from the beginning of the revolution. Unfortunately we started the revolution with freedom, at the end of it you are killing our people." - Abdel Rahman Shalgham
Military thrillers understandably are most of the time told through the eyes of the soldiers who go out to make war on the battlefields of the earth. But the killers of the world aren’t the only part of a modern military in this day and age. There are the unsung heroes who don’t usually get a purple heart or Hero of the Russian fedration, but whose absence would cause armies, navies and air forces to turn into a barbarian horde out of Mad Max after one year.
The one author who writes military thrillers from their viewpoint is Tom Young. Tom Young is from quite possibly the most unglamarous military units in the United State, the Air National Guard. But don’t judge the man by the organization’s name. A highly experienced pilot who in my opinion, had a far more important job than the fly boys and aviators of the world, Young has won three Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal, while clocking in more than 5000 hours in military operations in 40 countries on planes like the C130 and C5 Galaxy.
Since his retirement from the service, Young has created a series based around the duo of Parsons and Gold. Michael Parsons is the author’s alter ego, a military pilot, who gets caught up in real world danger and adventure, while Sophia Gould is a US Army officer who find herself along for the very bumpy ride. In Sand And Fire, Young briefly departs from his usual style by writing a novel centered around the legendary Devil Dogs. The USMC. Told from the perspective of Gunny Sergeant A.E. Blout, Sand and Fire takes place in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and the great and wretched experiences of all involved. Now to the review. When you return to the battlefield after leaving it, will you be burried by sand? Or escape the fire?
The novel begins on Sicily with A . E Blout looking forward to a quiet end to his impressive career in the USMC. Like an old hound dog, he’s relaxing on base while younger marines go to a local nightclub. Suddenly, the nightclub is attacked by a mortar bombardment and Blout springs into action, quickly figuring out that it’s a chemical weapons attack with sarin gas and decisively helping save several lives. He’s not in time however to save his commanding officer and mentor and watches the poor bloke bleed out. Returning to the United States, Blout plans to go into semi – retirement working at his local Sherif’s department when a small series of dominos begins to fall and nudge him back into the life he wanted to leave behind. In Europe, series protagonist Michael Parsons settles into a job in Europe corordinating military forces from behind a desk with a charming, dashing French Aviator. And in Libya, Sofia Gold is working with humanitarian efforts. Each of these three threads come crashing together when a terrorist rabble, invoking the glory days of North Africa’s Islamist pirates emerges and announces that they’re willing to liberally utilize the Sarin they stole from the late Mumar Ghadaffi. From Tunisia, Algiers and the desert in between, Blout, Parsons and Gold soon find themselves working together to stop the post Arab Spring world from completely hitting rock bottom.
In terms of plot, Sand And Fire, is solid, well written and very much down to earth. There’s no ludicrous badass 80’s style action movie heroics here. Rather Tom Young’s books are a celebration of the ordinary human spirit being pushed to its limits and enduring in spite of everything the world can throw at it. Steve McQueen based his crime thriller, Bullit and details orientated reality and Young’s work follow, that approach, proving you don’t need some fancy gadgets to make a thrilling story. While it may be rather jarring to people more familiar to super cool counter – terrorist operatives and government assassins, Sand and Fire’s plot is suitably big picture and has all the elements that contemporary thrillers require these days.
Action and setting? Quite well done. Young’s crisp, fluid writing style allows for some impressively done on – page violence. From the opening terrorist attack on an Italian nightclub to a disastrous military assault gone wrong in Libya, a violent scuffle and breakout in a small desert farm and an epic cross trek through North Africa’s toughest terrain, “Sand and Fire,” takes the reader to the hard places where trained, but not gifted people survive on their wits and perseverance. And the locations which the story takes place on are superbly realized. Whether it be the Sardinian town which the novel opens on with an impressive literary flourish, or a refugee camp filled with victims of chemical burns, Young captures the reality of the Arab Spring Era, with its peace and war.
Research? Impeccably done. Young researches his books to aplomb, and his works educate as well as they enterain without catching the soap box syndrome. Whether it be a crash course on the USMC, how the Corps operates, trains, fights and behaves, or the ins and outs of chemical warfare and the equipment used to survive the variety of lethal agents out there, Young then goes further, much, much further. By far the standout of the story is the trek some of the protagonists have to make through the North African desert with limited supplies and weapons. The team there utilizes a series of real world survival tricks to stay one step ahead of the people hunting them there.
Characters? Well, this was a part which I feel was lacking a bit. Most likely because I haven’t read the other books in the series, I wasn’t able to connect with Parsons and Could. Instead, I’ll talk about the two standouts I liked. Blout and Frenchie. First, Blout, Blout is one of the most decorated African American Marines in the corps, one who has done the hard yards and gotten as high as he can possibly go without hitting the REMF ranks of officers. An honorable brick wall, who has been battered and bruised from Iraq and Bosnia, yet remained standing while those who tried to break him, were struck down, Blout returns to the service to try rid evil from the world one final time. He gets more than he bargains for when he falls into the grip of that evil. Young crafts a straightforward, intelligently written character whose common sense, unflapability in the face of danger and world wise outlook on life, averts the gung – ho testosterone filled loud mouth of your average American thriller hero. Blout may be getting on in the years, but one must not forget, the old dog knows all the tricks, and in this story, he puts everyting he’s learned in the corps to good use in saving himself and his fellow Devil Dogs from being killed.
Next, we have “Frenchie” or Chartier. Chartier is a French Airforce Aviator and officer who finds himself working with Michael Gold. Seemingly the dashing French charmer full of stereotypical Gallic seduction, behind that act lies a competent, dedicated profesional who is damn good at his job. Young uses Chartier to try take a power drill to the edifice of that idiotic “cheese eating surrender monkey” myth and for the most part succedes in showing that the USA does not have the monpoly on talented warriors and military personel in the world. With his engaging, amusing banter, skill with a fighter jet and sharp wit and mind, Chartier stole the show for me in this story.
Constructive criticism? Well, a few things. There were quite a few slow bits and the pacing was uneven. Furthermore, the antagonists were not as well developed as they could have been, but I fully understand why Young picked their anti – climactic fate, in order to reflect the reality that sometimes you don’t get the satisfaction of nailing your man. Apart from that Sand and Fire was otherwise a very solid read.
Overall, Sand and Fire is a satisfying smartly written military thriller that is a fine tribute to those in the military who aren’t teir one badass operators. With a straightforward, yet rich plot, a cast of impressive characters and a skillful use of real world detail in the narrative, Tom Young’s thriller series is one you should look out for.
July 12, 2020
A downright awesome fast-paced thriller. Believable and elegant plot with great character development.
The novel drifts away from the two main characters of the series to another character introduced previously in the series as Marine gunnery sergeant A. E. Blount. A masterful composition of characters and plot.
Furthermore, taught me a little more about the USMC history. Did not want to put this thriller down as it brought me so much entertainment.
Excellent work Tom Young. I look forward to the "The Hunters" and your recently published "Silver Wings, Iron Crosses". Please write more.
The novel drifts away from the two main characters of the series to another character introduced previously in the series as Marine gunnery sergeant A. E. Blount. A masterful composition of characters and plot.
Furthermore, taught me a little more about the USMC history. Did not want to put this thriller down as it brought me so much entertainment.
Excellent work Tom Young. I look forward to the "The Hunters" and your recently published "Silver Wings, Iron Crosses". Please write more.
August 26, 2016
I met Tom Young at a writer’s conference a couple years back. Seated beside each other during book signings, we got to know each other during the lulls. When we discovered that we were both military aviators, a friendship ensued.
As a writer, I have little time to read, but when I bumped into Tom at Bouchercon last year, I picked up a copy of Sand and Fire, his 5th novel. Being on the Naval Air side of our military, I knew little about the Air Force (other than they had the best chow halls of all the services), but plenty about the Marines and American aircraft. Tom’s depiction of Gunnery Sergeant A.E. Blount was spot on, right down to the cigars he liked to smoke. His scenes in and around hangers and inside the C-130 took me back to the early 70s. His descriptions of the aircraft brought back sights and sounds and smells that I had long forgotten, and the memories invoked such pride in me that my eyes brimmed with emotion, I am not ashamed to say.
And the black powder pistol was a nice touch.
I read Clancy and found him an excellent writer, and in my humble opinion, you will find his equal in Tom Young. If you are military—active, reservist, or retired—do yourself a great service. Add Tom Young to your list of must read authors. If you’re not a big reader, this writer will make you become one.
Thank you for your service, Tom.
DB
As a writer, I have little time to read, but when I bumped into Tom at Bouchercon last year, I picked up a copy of Sand and Fire, his 5th novel. Being on the Naval Air side of our military, I knew little about the Air Force (other than they had the best chow halls of all the services), but plenty about the Marines and American aircraft. Tom’s depiction of Gunnery Sergeant A.E. Blount was spot on, right down to the cigars he liked to smoke. His scenes in and around hangers and inside the C-130 took me back to the early 70s. His descriptions of the aircraft brought back sights and sounds and smells that I had long forgotten, and the memories invoked such pride in me that my eyes brimmed with emotion, I am not ashamed to say.
And the black powder pistol was a nice touch.
I read Clancy and found him an excellent writer, and in my humble opinion, you will find his equal in Tom Young. If you are military—active, reservist, or retired—do yourself a great service. Add Tom Young to your list of must read authors. If you’re not a big reader, this writer will make you become one.
Thank you for your service, Tom.
DB
August 11, 2014
* I received this book free through the Goodreads First Read giveaways.
I found this book to be quite entertaining and well-written. As the cover says, if you like Tom Clancy, you will like Tom Young. I found the characters to be engaging and well-developed and the story moved along at a good pace. This is his fifth (I think) book and the first that I have read. While the book does allude to some of the previous books, you do not need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one. I found the ending to be a little disappointing and there is some strong language (though less than what you would find in a lot of military thrillers), so I gave the book four stars, but I did find it entertaining.
I found this book to be quite entertaining and well-written. As the cover says, if you like Tom Clancy, you will like Tom Young. I found the characters to be engaging and well-developed and the story moved along at a good pace. This is his fifth (I think) book and the first that I have read. While the book does allude to some of the previous books, you do not need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one. I found the ending to be a little disappointing and there is some strong language (though less than what you would find in a lot of military thrillers), so I gave the book four stars, but I did find it entertaining.
February 23, 2017
Until the acknowledgements at the end of the book you don't know you are reading the 5th book in the series. The book is full of quick references to events in the other books featuring these characters, but without being relevant to this story. There is no need for that. The main character in this book is from a different series.
However, it is a good story, well told, with a current events feel to it. It is easy to believe that this might be happening now. The technical details are a little over the top sometimes, but it is nice to hear about all the new toys our military has, and how they are used.
However, it is a good story, well told, with a current events feel to it. It is easy to believe that this might be happening now. The technical details are a little over the top sometimes, but it is nice to hear about all the new toys our military has, and how they are used.
August 31, 2022
Wow! Put this one up there with “Silent Enemy”! I love the A.E. Blount character!
This book, though written in 2014, is relevant to 2022!
This book had a lot of wisdom and shares how a soldier could easily slip into revenge mode versus protection mode. It delves into PTSD and how triggers work, how the guilt or survivor’s guilt can occur. It speaks to warfare where you don’t see the enemy or know who you killed, or if you killed a particular person. It demonstrates our amazing weapons of modern warfare that are probably old news as of this writing. And how hard it is to leave the job and go home because the work isn’t finished…
This book, though written in 2014, is relevant to 2022!
This book had a lot of wisdom and shares how a soldier could easily slip into revenge mode versus protection mode. It delves into PTSD and how triggers work, how the guilt or survivor’s guilt can occur. It speaks to warfare where you don’t see the enemy or know who you killed, or if you killed a particular person. It demonstrates our amazing weapons of modern warfare that are probably old news as of this writing. And how hard it is to leave the job and go home because the work isn’t finished…
February 19, 2021
This book was really good it had everything I hoped for this book to have,it had the out of nowhere action and the unseen enemy, but the only thing I was not 100% on is that did they get the leader of the terrorist group in this book.
January 11, 2019
It was alright, not very inventive and certainly nothing special
May 14, 2020
Another good read in this series! On to the next.
February 10, 2022
Each one of these books just gets better and better. I don't know if there is another Parson and Gold Novel but I will have to look!
November 1, 2023
It seems real
Great story, impressive characters. A fun and informative read, Blount jumps out of the page and takes shape right in front of you.
Great story, impressive characters. A fun and informative read, Blount jumps out of the page and takes shape right in front of you.
May 20, 2024
3.5 stars ~ The first 150 pages or so were a tad slow for me. I've read several of this series so I'm committed. A good decent read.
November 25, 2025
Marine Gunnery Sergeant saves the day. Plenty of action. Some of the characters have a past history from previous books. Sometimes this becomes a little distracting. Might have been a better read to start with the first book and then read in order. All in all not a bad stand alone book.
October 20, 2014
#5 in the Michael Parson & Sophia Gold series. Entertaining entry in the series. This entry turns the spotlight on Marine gunnery sergeant A.E. Blount who we previously encountered in The Renegades (2012). Blount retires to his home in SC, but then has second thoughts when his unit ships out and he returns to active duty. Michael Parson, is now an Air Force Colonel, and Sophia Gold has retired from the Army and is working with the UN. Parson has a new colleague in a French Mirage pilot and Gold gains an ally with an African colonel. Plenty of action in this page turner.
Michael Parson & Sophia Gold - North Africa. A jihadist leader has seized a supply of sarin gas and is wreaking havoc: a nightclub in Sicily, a packed street in Gibraltar. Acting on information, Marine gunnery sergeant A. E. Blount, at six-foot-eight a formidable warrior, the grandson of one of the first black Marines, sets out with his strike force to kill or capture the terrorist. But it is a trap. Several Marines are killed, some are captured, and the jihadist promises that unless forces withdraw, he will execute one prisoner a day. Immediately, Blount's friends and colleagues Sophia Gold, now with the U.N., and Colonel Michael Parson, working the United States Africa Command, rush to Libya to help coordinate rescue efforts. The ordeal, however, has only begun. Soon they will all be fighting for their lives in the sand and fire of the desert.
Michael Parson & Sophia Gold - North Africa. A jihadist leader has seized a supply of sarin gas and is wreaking havoc: a nightclub in Sicily, a packed street in Gibraltar. Acting on information, Marine gunnery sergeant A. E. Blount, at six-foot-eight a formidable warrior, the grandson of one of the first black Marines, sets out with his strike force to kill or capture the terrorist. But it is a trap. Several Marines are killed, some are captured, and the jihadist promises that unless forces withdraw, he will execute one prisoner a day. Immediately, Blount's friends and colleagues Sophia Gold, now with the U.N., and Colonel Michael Parson, working the United States Africa Command, rush to Libya to help coordinate rescue efforts. The ordeal, however, has only begun. Soon they will all be fighting for their lives in the sand and fire of the desert.
September 8, 2015
Gunnery Sergeant Alonzo Erasmus Blount (USMC, USMC spotter/sniper, husband/father), Ivan Turgenev Russian Legionnaire 1st. class, Sophia Gold (U.N., retired US Army Sergeant Major, active reserves), Lieutenant Colonel Michael Parson (USAF, AFRICOM), Sergeant Major Thomas Buell (USMC), Sergeant Daniel Farmer (USMC), & Captain Alain Chartier (French Foreign Legion) all have a mission to attend to.
What news will Bernadette Blount (A.E.’s wife) receive back home?
Who are Rat Face & Monkey Ears?
What will happen to Sadiq Kassam (jihadist terrorist leader)?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction Foreign War book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Foreign War movie, or mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Putnam Books; Berkley (Penguin Random House LLC.; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
What news will Bernadette Blount (A.E.’s wife) receive back home?
Who are Rat Face & Monkey Ears?
What will happen to Sadiq Kassam (jihadist terrorist leader)?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction Foreign War book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Foreign War movie, or mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Putnam Books; Berkley (Penguin Random House LLC.; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
August 25, 2015
I won this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review. While I thought the book was okay, I couldn't help but thinking that maybe as a middle aged female I wasn't the best audience for this book.
Apparently Sand & Fire is a part of a series, featuring the characters Parsons and Gold. They are featured in about half of this book, and in my opinion where the story really drags down. There is simply too much military terminology and procedure for a lay reader like myself. It let me know the book was well researched and the author definitely seemed to know what he was talking about (but honestly if he just made a bunch of stuff up I wouldn't have known because it sounded real, lol). The other half of the book features Gunnery Sergeant Blount, and that is where the book really shines. There is still lots of military and techinical jargon, but because Blount is fairly new to the series (my understanding is he played a very minor roll in another novel) we also get his backstory, and he becomes more than just a talking piece to the reader. I was fully invested in his tribulations and what happened to him. The capture and hostage situation he's involved in had me on the edge of my seat and I got irritated when the point of view switched back to Parsons or Gold. By involving them to keep the series running I thought the book went from a 4 1/2 star to 3 star book.
Apparently Sand & Fire is a part of a series, featuring the characters Parsons and Gold. They are featured in about half of this book, and in my opinion where the story really drags down. There is simply too much military terminology and procedure for a lay reader like myself. It let me know the book was well researched and the author definitely seemed to know what he was talking about (but honestly if he just made a bunch of stuff up I wouldn't have known because it sounded real, lol). The other half of the book features Gunnery Sergeant Blount, and that is where the book really shines. There is still lots of military and techinical jargon, but because Blount is fairly new to the series (my understanding is he played a very minor roll in another novel) we also get his backstory, and he becomes more than just a talking piece to the reader. I was fully invested in his tribulations and what happened to him. The capture and hostage situation he's involved in had me on the edge of my seat and I got irritated when the point of view switched back to Parsons or Gold. By involving them to keep the series running I thought the book went from a 4 1/2 star to 3 star book.
August 8, 2015
Tom (or Thomas) Young is officially now one of my favorite authors. "Sand and Fire" is only the second book of his that I have read. I read "Silent Enemy" and loved it so now know that I must buy them all to read!
Mike Parson and Sophia Gold are still main characters in this book. However they have been joined by AE Blount, a big tough Marine. He was apparently in either book 3 (The Renegades) or 4 (The Warriors). I have a military and C-130 background which makes these books of special interest to me. But Young writes so well that even if you are not all that familiar with the terminology you still get the story. Lots of actions and lots of tension. Blount and five others are taken hostage by a terrorist group. If demands are not met, one soldier will die each 24 hours. The stories are realistic. Some of the training he writes about I have had. Little details kept coming up and I'd think "Oh yeah. I remember that." Through his descriptions I felt I was right there in the field. Love his honor of the military services whatever branch, whatever country. And, as in real life, some of the characters we grow to love do not make it home. Now time for me to catch up with the ones I have not read!
Mike Parson and Sophia Gold are still main characters in this book. However they have been joined by AE Blount, a big tough Marine. He was apparently in either book 3 (The Renegades) or 4 (The Warriors). I have a military and C-130 background which makes these books of special interest to me. But Young writes so well that even if you are not all that familiar with the terminology you still get the story. Lots of actions and lots of tension. Blount and five others are taken hostage by a terrorist group. If demands are not met, one soldier will die each 24 hours. The stories are realistic. Some of the training he writes about I have had. Little details kept coming up and I'd think "Oh yeah. I remember that." Through his descriptions I felt I was right there in the field. Love his honor of the military services whatever branch, whatever country. And, as in real life, some of the characters we grow to love do not make it home. Now time for me to catch up with the ones I have not read!
August 21, 2014
Parson and Gold return for more fun however this time it is A.E. Blount who will take the front in leading the story. Seems as if a bad man has got hold of some very nasty chemicals and intends these for very nefarious purposes. When the Marines are called in things can and will go awry leaving Blount and some of his buddies in need of assistance. Old friends Parson and Gold are up to the task and soon the fight will be on and Tom Young will spin out another great tale that pulls the reader right into the action.
April 13, 2015
This book might be Tom Young's BEST. I would not ordinarily be interested in this type of book; but his writing is so well done that each page has the reader hanging on the edge of a cliff. This book features Marine Gunnery Sgt. Blount, a very strong, warrior. Sarin gas is killing innocent civilians in several locations. A red bearded terrorist is responsible for these deadly attacks. Parsons and Gold are also key characters in this book.
Highly recommend this to everyone; but most especially to any military personnel or veterans.
Highly recommend this to everyone; but most especially to any military personnel or veterans.
November 23, 2015
This military novel of the war on terrorism is realistic in portraying the men and women who fight in the Middle East and Northern Africa. It showcases the disregard for human life by the terrorist called for in their own ancient religious texts. While using characters from his previous novels, the principles character is Marine Gunnery Sergeant A. E. Blount who forgoes his retirement to journey back to a war zone. This is a good read about cooperation against terrorist and the character of our warriors.
September 1, 2015
I'm now a fan of Tom Young. This is the first novel that I've read in the Gold/Parson series. I'm going to now go back and read from the beginning.
The novel is a true military thriller, that will keep the pages turning till the end. Tom has a great style that makes for easy reading. I truly enjoyed finding a new author to read.
The characters were great, who couldn't root for Gunny Blount. It will be interesting to see if Gunny makes the next novel.
The novel is a true military thriller, that will keep the pages turning till the end. Tom has a great style that makes for easy reading. I truly enjoyed finding a new author to read.
The characters were great, who couldn't root for Gunny Blount. It will be interesting to see if Gunny makes the next novel.
July 20, 2014
I do not too often read war stories,but once in a while I do and this one was very well written.I think to me the most important part of the book too was at the end when the author wrote of his research he did as writing this book.I was impressed,that he did not just write a fiction book without do the research of what our real war heroes do and go through.
I have never read a Tom Young book before,but now will probably at some point read another one of his books
I have never read a Tom Young book before,but now will probably at some point read another one of his books
June 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It is my first Tom Young but I plan on getting the rest. The characters were real and likable and there is plenty of action to go around. The way it ends makes me believe that we will be reading more of Blount and that would be fine with me. I received this from LibraryThing Early Review for an honest review.
August 14, 2014
SAND AND FIRE is s great, rollicking military adventure by Tom Young. It's the Marines vs. really bad guys--Islamic terrorists. Smacks of real-time headlines. Of course, Tom has some old "friends" in the novel, too: Col Parsons, former Sergeant Gold, and Gunnery Sergeant Blount, the protagonist in this book. Good stuff.
October 22, 2014
thanks to goodreads and the author for givilng me this chance to read this book sand and fire.i enjoyed this book and loved the way the author gave the glimps of a military personnel and what they go thru while le in service and while retired.
September 28, 2015
Good all around story. It was good to see a little more of Blount. His family, his thinking for being in the military and going back to the sand box. The only downside would be that the end felt a bit rushed.
July 12, 2014
I think this was a very interesting book. This part of a series but its stand alone. I plan to read the rest of this series.
July 27, 2014
My first of youngs books. Will read more.
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