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Maelstrom Rising #2
Holding Action
The first domino fell in Slovakia…
…and the team barely got out alive.
What’s Matt’s next move?
The stakes grow as the European Defense Council borders on the edge of desperation. Their dream of a unified group of nations, all in step with their ideals, is threatened. Will they force Poland’s hand by sending troops?
The Tiarii have a new mission.
Matt and his team are ready, but their close call was a wake-up. Cut off from his family and with unresolved issues between him his father, he’s feeling the weight of mortality grow. Is the future as bleak as it looks?
The team is deployed to Northern Europe.
Matt needs to keep his edge…
…because they’re outnumbered and outgunned.
Can they buy the time they need?
…and the team barely got out alive.
What’s Matt’s next move?
The stakes grow as the European Defense Council borders on the edge of desperation. Their dream of a unified group of nations, all in step with their ideals, is threatened. Will they force Poland’s hand by sending troops?
The Tiarii have a new mission.
Matt and his team are ready, but their close call was a wake-up. Cut off from his family and with unresolved issues between him his father, he’s feeling the weight of mortality grow. Is the future as bleak as it looks?
The team is deployed to Northern Europe.
Matt needs to keep his edge…
…because they’re outnumbered and outgunned.
Can they buy the time they need?
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2020
About the author
Peter Nealen
73 books109 followersPeter Nealen is a former Recon Marine, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and something of an aspiring renaissance man (emphasis on aspiring). He has long been a reader of history, philosophy, folklore, science fiction, and fantasy, and is the author of the American Praetorians series of paramilitary thrillers as well as the Jed Horn series of supernatural thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 1, 2022
This is the second book in this series, and it's pretty damn good. It continues on from the previous book, where the Grex Luporum team have crossed into Poland, and the EDC are pushing to invade. The French and German military units of the European Defence Council invade and manage to take Gdansk, the only port Poland has, and the only way they can receive natural gas supplies, after cutting ties with Russia. The EDC want to force Poland to capitulate, and the entire plot revolves around the joint US-Polish push to re-take Gdansk. The action is full on, and you really feel like you are right there along side the team as they recon and fight.
March 12, 2020
HOLDING ACTION is the second novel in former Recon Marine Peter Nealen's MAELSTROM RISING series, which focuses on a near-future scenario where the Chinese have fomented great unrest in the United States & launched a massive attack on the American communication grids, the French and Germans have formed a totalitarian European government and attacked American peacekeeping forces in Europe, and the Russians are looking to seize advantage of the chaos. In the midst of all of this are the Triarii, a militia dedicated to being the stopgap where the fractured US government is incapable of executing its duties.
Taking place about a month after the events of ESCALATION, HOLDING ACTION sees Matt Bowen and his Grex Luporum team in Poland, working alongside both American and Polish forces, with a fresh Congressional letter of marque and reprisal in hand. The European Defense Council is attempting to bring Poland to its knees by shutting off their primary supply port, and the Triarii and their (sometimes reluctant) allies race to counter the move, both for their own survival and the survival of the Polish people.
Nealen does two things very well in this book. The first is that, like in ESCALATION, he has a tight, gripping, and congruent canon that spells out how things came to be and the second and third order consequences of those actions. The second is painting a picture of an American empire in decay, showing what kind of battlefield horrors troops will face when they lose air superiority and the enemy has the same or greater technological assets as the United States does. Not only is this realistic, it makes for a more harrowing narrative.
Another thing to be commended is showing the effects of post-traumatic stress on combatants, especially when they haven't had a chance to rotate out and have continued the fight, often on very little sleep and limited supplies.
As always, the action is kinetic, and the reader can rest assured that what they're reading is a glimpse into how combat is, given Nealen's tactical background. His action scenes have always been very well written, and he only continues to hone his art with every novel he publishes.
A well-written tale, and highly recommended for fans of war fiction.
Taking place about a month after the events of ESCALATION, HOLDING ACTION sees Matt Bowen and his Grex Luporum team in Poland, working alongside both American and Polish forces, with a fresh Congressional letter of marque and reprisal in hand. The European Defense Council is attempting to bring Poland to its knees by shutting off their primary supply port, and the Triarii and their (sometimes reluctant) allies race to counter the move, both for their own survival and the survival of the Polish people.
Nealen does two things very well in this book. The first is that, like in ESCALATION, he has a tight, gripping, and congruent canon that spells out how things came to be and the second and third order consequences of those actions. The second is painting a picture of an American empire in decay, showing what kind of battlefield horrors troops will face when they lose air superiority and the enemy has the same or greater technological assets as the United States does. Not only is this realistic, it makes for a more harrowing narrative.
Another thing to be commended is showing the effects of post-traumatic stress on combatants, especially when they haven't had a chance to rotate out and have continued the fight, often on very little sleep and limited supplies.
As always, the action is kinetic, and the reader can rest assured that what they're reading is a glimpse into how combat is, given Nealen's tactical background. His action scenes have always been very well written, and he only continues to hone his art with every novel he publishes.
A well-written tale, and highly recommended for fans of war fiction.
May 23, 2024
The American professional soldier as the Über Mensch. Rampant racism and misogyny. All opposition are basically 'communists' from the worst fairy tales or brainless 'jihadists'. And they are of course all incompetent and just there to be killed by the American Nazis. Either it's satire to show us some modern nazis or the writer is just a fascist. I'm confused on that point. But it got tedious and boring quickly, the 'Wolf Pack' (i kid you not) just kills everyone so there's not really any suspense.
August 4, 2019
Best books I've read in years.
I read the first book in this series and liked it so much I bought the second in about 2 seconds. Nothing over the top bull make believe crap, just good American soldiers fighting and killing the enemy, whoever it is. Getting the next one as soon as I can.
I read the first book in this series and liked it so much I bought the second in about 2 seconds. Nothing over the top bull make believe crap, just good American soldiers fighting and killing the enemy, whoever it is. Getting the next one as soon as I can.
May 7, 2021
Every bit as good as Escalation (book 1). The situation evolves, we learn more about the global situation and the Triarii are forced to adapt to yet another set of Conditions where they adapt and overcome. More of the things that made Escalation great but also new facets as the team is forced to operate with allies and a different type of battlefield.
July 19, 2019
Good read
Nice action packed thriller. I have to wonder how much of the lay out of the town and cuts was researched and how much was made up. All and all a good book and i look forward to the next one.
Nice action packed thriller. I have to wonder how much of the lay out of the town and cuts was researched and how much was made up. All and all a good book and i look forward to the next one.
August 24, 2019
Really interesting story
Great characters and an interesting story. Definitely a dystopian view of the influence of immigrants in Europe but one that seems realistic considering the conflicts in France and Germany currently.
Great characters and an interesting story. Definitely a dystopian view of the influence of immigrants in Europe but one that seems realistic considering the conflicts in France and Germany currently.
March 30, 2020
Onward
The battles continue and the action is non-stop. You feel you are right there in the middle of things and experiencing what it's like in close quarters combat. Ready for book 3.
The battles continue and the action is non-stop. You feel you are right there in the middle of things and experiencing what it's like in close quarters combat. Ready for book 3.
September 12, 2020
Excellent continuation
I was already impressed with the writing from the first book. This second one reinforced my feelings for the author's skills. A wonderfully told military "what-if?" that I am now hooked on. Kudos to the author.
I was already impressed with the writing from the first book. This second one reinforced my feelings for the author's skills. A wonderfully told military "what-if?" that I am now hooked on. Kudos to the author.
July 27, 2023
Amazing amount of action
Action, action. Ok, lots of timeline problems but that's not what we want to read about. The interior dialogue and small unit interaction is realistic and good.
Action, action. Ok, lots of timeline problems but that's not what we want to read about. The interior dialogue and small unit interaction is realistic and good.
July 5, 2019
Great read. This series is realistic and week written. Keep it up!
July 10, 2019
Another great one
Another great book from Nealen. Can’t wait for the next iteration of this series. Highly accurate in regards to equipment, tactics, and geography.
Another great book from Nealen. Can’t wait for the next iteration of this series. Highly accurate in regards to equipment, tactics, and geography.
July 31, 2019
Whoo!
Here we go again, globalists looking to impose their view of the world on everyone. The Americans will have nothing of that, game on!
Here we go again, globalists looking to impose their view of the world on everyone. The Americans will have nothing of that, game on!
September 5, 2019
Well written action! Enjoying this series very much and look forward to the next in the series. The story is told from first person POV which is my favorite story telling method.
November 7, 2019
Great Bjorn kbook
Pretty good read. Kept movie g at a good pace and was interesting. Going to read number 3 in the series.
Pretty good read. Kept movie g at a good pace and was interesting. Going to read number 3 in the series.
June 11, 2021
Great Book
Another Great Book in the Maelstrom Rising Series. I found it hard to put down and I have already downloaded Book 3.
Another Great Book in the Maelstrom Rising Series. I found it hard to put down and I have already downloaded Book 3.
April 6, 2022
Excellent
Hard hitting fast paced action from beginning to end. Interaction between the characters was very believable. Hard to put down.
Hard hitting fast paced action from beginning to end. Interaction between the characters was very believable. Hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews