Against the Tide Imperial

The Usurper's War #3

by James L. Young Jr.

Well, here’s to hope that my gamble is correct. For if I am wrong, I may truly regret this decision.—Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, commander of the Kido Butai

July 1943. When the United Kingdom was torn asunder under a hail of German firebombs and nerve gas, the distant outpost of Ceylon was an afterthought for both Allies and Axis. Now, one year after King George VI's death, the small island off of India becomes center stage for a titanic confrontation.

For Vice Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi, the Commonwealth forces on the island sit astride Japan's sole reliable source of oil. With the Dutch East Indies' refineries damaged during the Imperial Japanese conquest, Axis crude from the Persian Gulf and rubber from Ceylon's plantations will be critical to the Japanese Navy's ability to continue the war into 1944. Yamaguchi knows challenging Vice Admiral Andrew Cunningham may end poorly. Still, the Kido Butai is undefeated, and with good planning the Commonwealth's Far East Fleet will have to face Yamaguchi's carriers alone. With the Empire's lifeblood on the line, the Japanese must roll the dice.

Across the Indian Ocean, Lieutenant Eric Cobb is bewildered to be operating with the Commonwealth against Axis forces in Africa. Along with an Asiatic Fleet contingent that includes Captain Jacob Morton's Houston, Vice Admiral Fletcher's forces set out to rampage from Madagascar to Mogadishu. Unfortunately for the Allies' plan, the IJN's unexpected attack forces them to immediately respond.

When established foes clash in a wholly unexpected location, brave men and violent execution will determine whether the Commonwealth holds Ceylon…or succumbs to the Tide Imperial.

Against the Tide Imperial is the third novel of the Usurper's War series. As Allied and Axis warriors are faced with a completely different war than the one planned for decades, their actions will chart a new course for the Greatest Generation.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2020

About the author

James Young is a Missouri native who escaped small town life via spending four years at a small, well-known Federal educational institution in upstate New York. After being set free from the Hudson River Valley, Dr. Young spent the next six years of his life in various locations (both foreign and domestic) having the cost of his education repaid one nickel at a time. Along the way he collected a loving, patient, and beautiful spouse...and various animals that did not fit any of those descriptions.

After leaving the Republic's employ, James returned to the Midwest where he earned his doctorate in U.S. History. He now spends his time basking in the joy of completing his education while writing fiction and working for the Republic (again). His writing awards include winning the United States Naval Institute's 2016 Cyberwarfare Essay Contest and placing 2nd in the 2011 Adams Cold War Essay Contest. He has been published in the Journal of Military History and Proceedings.

Reviews

[GREGORY W. LUFT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skipped alot

A lot of book is good, but whenever it went back to the women and all their cat fights, these are smart women yet act so petty.
I just skipped over, same with the brothers acting like 2 year olds, protecting their sisters honor, she's over 21 in the middle of a war ,
Next, again Japan never seems to run out of aircraft, and trained pilots, in reality after 1 year they were running out of everything.
Plus Japan would never have pulled out of China, their Bushido would not allow it. And do you really think the Chinese with about 5 million men in their army and air force being helped by U S. Would not have rolled all the way to Singapore. Again cutting the Japanese from any oil. Celon, no way they could supply it.
As soon as book returned to war its 1st class again.

[Lou Mize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated the book three stars primarily because it was filled with grammatical errors that a fifth grade pupil would not make. Also, it seemed that spell check was engaged, but the word used did not fit the sentence. For me this distracted from the story line. Sometimes there was too much detail in the battle descriptions where, in my opinion, a little less would have sufficed. Finally, I do not know whether Mr. Young was pressed for time with this book, but I believe he did not review his work and relied on his editors to make the appropriate corrections, which they did not. These issues persisted throughout the other two books in the series, but not to the degree they did in this third installment.

Mr. Young presented an interesting story line, and I would be interested to see a conclusion at some point, provided the editing improves.

[richard dishmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the time!

Very good read. The action scenes were intense and the author built well on the exiting story line. I eagerly await the next book!

[James Hammock · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hogwash

I only wish this was a real book instead of an electronic one. The story contained within its covers would thin be suitable only for the bathroom.

[Allen Kuhns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

I really enjoyed reading this book in the Usurper Series it was really hard to put down. Read the Series from Book # 1

[Mark Whalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different war

I loved reading this story as a different war perspective. This is a look at what war could have looked like during the 1940’s if things had progressed differently.

[Mark Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Large Naval Battles in the Indian Ocean, in WW2

How different the world would have looked ifBN the events in this story were true! This is very good alternative fiction.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found these books to be well written and entertaining. They remind me of Harry Turtledove books. If you like him you will enjoy these books.

[Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of tiny historical errors and the soap opera romance plot is getting ever more irritating, but still mostly entertaining. Great fun when it sticks to naval matters.

[Gregory K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done

I read quite a bit of alternate history, and this is a very interesting take on what vould have happened.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! This is what great alternative history looks (reads) like.