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Iron Crucible #2
Red Front
The year is 1992.
The unthinkable has happened. East and West are on a crash course for war, and the battlefield will be Germany. Peace is no longer an option and all bets are off as the Free World and the Communist Bloc descend into war. NATO forces scramble to grapple with the Soviet juggernaut, as the Reds pull out all the stops - and engineer a secret plan - to crush them in a single mighty blow. The future of humanity tilts in the balance.
Welcome to World War III.
The unthinkable has happened. East and West are on a crash course for war, and the battlefield will be Germany. Peace is no longer an option and all bets are off as the Free World and the Communist Bloc descend into war. NATO forces scramble to grapple with the Soviet juggernaut, as the Reds pull out all the stops - and engineer a secret plan - to crush them in a single mighty blow. The future of humanity tilts in the balance.
Welcome to World War III.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2022
239 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 13, 2023
Don’t be fooled
This guy really loves Soviet-style everything.
I wonder if he was even alive during the time period he is writing about. Not that that is a prerequisite to framing a good historical fiction story.
But it helps if you have a grasp of history better than that of a first-year college student who just finished History I and is eager to share his enlightenment with everyone.
Once again the U.S. and NATO are Keystone Cops fumbling around while the stoic Soviet heroes persevere.
Won’t bother with the next book. And I’m glad I read this through Unlimited and did not have to pay the author directly for his propaganda.
Don’t be fooled by the jacket wording. The style may be in the same genre of Larry Bond and Harold Coyle, but the story and writing do not even come close.
Two stars because most of the words were spelled correctly. And the air battles were written well.
This guy really loves Soviet-style everything.
I wonder if he was even alive during the time period he is writing about. Not that that is a prerequisite to framing a good historical fiction story.
But it helps if you have a grasp of history better than that of a first-year college student who just finished History I and is eager to share his enlightenment with everyone.
Once again the U.S. and NATO are Keystone Cops fumbling around while the stoic Soviet heroes persevere.
Won’t bother with the next book. And I’m glad I read this through Unlimited and did not have to pay the author directly for his propaganda.
Don’t be fooled by the jacket wording. The style may be in the same genre of Larry Bond and Harold Coyle, but the story and writing do not even come close.
Two stars because most of the words were spelled correctly. And the air battles were written well.
Read
December 26, 2023TK Blackwood was an author that I was made aware of thanks to a Facebook group that I had joined (Military Thriller Book Group) a little over eighteen months ago. This is the first book in his Iron Crucible series.
The novel Red Front is book two of the Iron Crucible series, with the previous book being Blue Masquerade (that I had also reviewed, and thanks to Goodreads, I found out that there are at least two more books in this series), and is based upon the expansion of the "limited conflict" in the former Yugoslav territories by the Soviets in 1992.
This book offers differing viewpoints as it details the expansion of the conflict with the rapid invasion of Europe by the Soviet forces; the modern version of "The Battle of the Atlantic" as the Americans initiate "Operation: ReForGer" (Reinforcement of Forces in Germany), from the recently promoted captain that had been prominently featured in the first book (he had been promoted from commanding a diesel-powered Kilo-class sub, based in the Mediterranean, to a nuclear-powered Akula-class sub, based out of Murmansk), from the viewpoint of an F-15 fighter pilot and also the point-of-view of "The Troika" (as one member is removed from the faction, one member attempts to pursue peace negotiations with the West, and one member uses the power of the KGB to bring himself to absolute power).
The Allies, led by the United States, fought a stopgap war in an attempt to delay the rapidly advancing Soviet forces with both sides facing horrific losses of both personnel and equipment as the Soviet advance continued. The continuation of this story brings forth the valiant efforts of the German Bundeswehr and the stopgap efforts of the British and other Allied armed forces as they fight a strategic withdrawal in an attempt to hold the Soviet forces.
I would rate this novel (only 343 pages) a solid four stars out of five which I believe would be enjoyed by readers of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising or Harold Coyle's Team Yankee, as the story showcases a lot of the strengths of war thrillers of the 1980s and which is a lot more plausible than some other World War III books that I have read (especially as the conflict starts in the Yugoslav territories much as World War I had previously). US and Russian protocols and equipment are very detailed and the requisite extensive research is evident.
While the novel is well-written for the most part, there are frequent minor errors, but the story has major twists that will keep readers involved.
The ending is a cliffhanger and I am eagerly looking forward to reading the third book in the Iron Crucible series, White Horizon.
As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents worth.
The novel Red Front is book two of the Iron Crucible series, with the previous book being Blue Masquerade (that I had also reviewed, and thanks to Goodreads, I found out that there are at least two more books in this series), and is based upon the expansion of the "limited conflict" in the former Yugoslav territories by the Soviets in 1992.
This book offers differing viewpoints as it details the expansion of the conflict with the rapid invasion of Europe by the Soviet forces; the modern version of "The Battle of the Atlantic" as the Americans initiate "Operation: ReForGer" (Reinforcement of Forces in Germany), from the recently promoted captain that had been prominently featured in the first book (he had been promoted from commanding a diesel-powered Kilo-class sub, based in the Mediterranean, to a nuclear-powered Akula-class sub, based out of Murmansk), from the viewpoint of an F-15 fighter pilot and also the point-of-view of "The Troika" (as one member is removed from the faction, one member attempts to pursue peace negotiations with the West, and one member uses the power of the KGB to bring himself to absolute power).
The Allies, led by the United States, fought a stopgap war in an attempt to delay the rapidly advancing Soviet forces with both sides facing horrific losses of both personnel and equipment as the Soviet advance continued. The continuation of this story brings forth the valiant efforts of the German Bundeswehr and the stopgap efforts of the British and other Allied armed forces as they fight a strategic withdrawal in an attempt to hold the Soviet forces.
I would rate this novel (only 343 pages) a solid four stars out of five which I believe would be enjoyed by readers of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising or Harold Coyle's Team Yankee, as the story showcases a lot of the strengths of war thrillers of the 1980s and which is a lot more plausible than some other World War III books that I have read (especially as the conflict starts in the Yugoslav territories much as World War I had previously). US and Russian protocols and equipment are very detailed and the requisite extensive research is evident.
While the novel is well-written for the most part, there are frequent minor errors, but the story has major twists that will keep readers involved.
The ending is a cliffhanger and I am eagerly looking forward to reading the third book in the Iron Crucible series, White Horizon.
As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents worth.
June 21, 2023
There is no Sophomore Slump for TK Blackwood in this follow up to the Masterpiece "Blue Masquerade"
We see the palace intrigue in Moscow. We get to watch as Lt. Vance makes a harrowing Atlantic Crossing. There are the expected Tanks and Air battles, and Blackwood does an amazing job of shifting between the tactical and strategic aspects of the war, and his Soviet characters are fully realised, living people, not just cardboard Ivans.
If you like military fiction AT ALL, you owe it to yourself to read "Red Front"
We see the palace intrigue in Moscow. We get to watch as Lt. Vance makes a harrowing Atlantic Crossing. There are the expected Tanks and Air battles, and Blackwood does an amazing job of shifting between the tactical and strategic aspects of the war, and his Soviet characters are fully realised, living people, not just cardboard Ivans.
If you like military fiction AT ALL, you owe it to yourself to read "Red Front"
April 4, 2025
Good volume of the series
This read is very good. The characters are pronounced and have their individual creeds to live by. There is not enough going on that one can't keep the characters apart. I recommend this series for anyone that holds WW 2 within reason. Many of us had fathers, mothers, fiancee's , cousins , uncles and aunts that served.
This read is very good. The characters are pronounced and have their individual creeds to live by. There is not enough going on that one can't keep the characters apart. I recommend this series for anyone that holds WW 2 within reason. Many of us had fathers, mothers, fiancee's , cousins , uncles and aunts that served.
July 22, 2022
Best story & writing
Best story and writing I've read in a long time. No editing issues. Hugely engaging with fast-paced action,interesting and well drawn characters. A real page-turner. I hope book 3 comes out soon.
Best story and writing I've read in a long time. No editing issues. Hugely engaging with fast-paced action,interesting and well drawn characters. A real page-turner. I hope book 3 comes out soon.
July 24, 2022
Good but out of date
The book is a good read, but it is out of date for 2022. This is especially true in light of what's happening in the Ukraine.
The book is a good read, but it is out of date for 2022. This is especially true in light of what's happening in the Ukraine.
July 25, 2022
Realy good
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January 15, 2024
Excellent read
Edge of your seat none stop action. Can't wait to start Book 3 of the series. Political strategy plays out within the Soviet politburo.
Edge of your seat none stop action. Can't wait to start Book 3 of the series. Political strategy plays out within the Soviet politburo.
January 20, 2025
great read
The Author does a fine job with character development. The story line is pretty smooth as well. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
The Author does a fine job with character development. The story line is pretty smooth as well. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
May 28, 2025
Another Solid entry! The Battle for Germany rages, a harrowing Atlantic crossing, and the Soviets get knocked down a peg despite big gains. Onto the next one!
July 8, 2025
Red FrontRead in one go.
Read in one go. Couldn’t put it down it drew me in deeper and deeper. Well written and very enjoyable. Now looking for next book by same author.
Read in one go. Couldn’t put it down it drew me in deeper and deeper. Well written and very enjoyable. Now looking for next book by same author.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews