What do you think?
Rate this book
Britannia's Fist Trilogy #2
A Rainbow of Blood: The Union in Peril
“Do you know what military glory is? It is ‘that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood—that serpent’s eye, that charms to destroy.’” —Abraham Lincoln
The Union in dire peril! The war that began in Peter G. Tsouras’s previous alternate history, Britannia’s Fist , accelerates during a few desperate weeks in October 1863. From the bayous of Louisiana to the green hills of the Hudson Valley, from Chicago in flames to the gates of Washington itself, the Great War uncoils in ropes of fire. French and British armies are on the march, and heavy reinforcements have put to sea. Copperheads have risen in revolt to drag the Midwest into the Confederacy as a vital Union army stands starving and under siege in Tennessee. Meanwhile, Robert E. Lee and the Royal Navy set in motion a stroke that is boldness itself. The Union staggers under these blows.
While the Grenadier Guards march into glory in upstate New York’s apple orchards, from the second story of a shot-up Washington hotel Abraham Lincoln watches a forest of the red flags of rebellion waving over a Confederate column rushing across the Long Bridge. To stop them is a war-worn regiment of New York soldiers. To their backs Washington burns. But new technologies and the art of intelligence are thrown onto the scales, while Russia plans to enter the war to avenge its humiliation in the Crimean War.
A Rainbow of Blood brings forward the Great War from its outbreak to the first great crisis of the embattled republic. Peopled with remarkable personalities of the age, the book rattles with the tramp of armies marching down one of the most intriguing roads not taken—or even imagined—until now.
The Union in dire peril! The war that began in Peter G. Tsouras’s previous alternate history, Britannia’s Fist , accelerates during a few desperate weeks in October 1863. From the bayous of Louisiana to the green hills of the Hudson Valley, from Chicago in flames to the gates of Washington itself, the Great War uncoils in ropes of fire. French and British armies are on the march, and heavy reinforcements have put to sea. Copperheads have risen in revolt to drag the Midwest into the Confederacy as a vital Union army stands starving and under siege in Tennessee. Meanwhile, Robert E. Lee and the Royal Navy set in motion a stroke that is boldness itself. The Union staggers under these blows.
While the Grenadier Guards march into glory in upstate New York’s apple orchards, from the second story of a shot-up Washington hotel Abraham Lincoln watches a forest of the red flags of rebellion waving over a Confederate column rushing across the Long Bridge. To stop them is a war-worn regiment of New York soldiers. To their backs Washington burns. But new technologies and the art of intelligence are thrown onto the scales, while Russia plans to enter the war to avenge its humiliation in the Crimean War.
A Rainbow of Blood brings forward the Great War from its outbreak to the first great crisis of the embattled republic. Peopled with remarkable personalities of the age, the book rattles with the tramp of armies marching down one of the most intriguing roads not taken—or even imagined—until now.
354 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2010
14 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 7, 2018
Peter Tsouras’s second volume in his “Britannia’s Fist” trilogy picks up near where his first one left off. Having entered the war as a result of a naval incident off the coast of Ireland, the British have occupied parts of Maine and upstate New York. Portland lies under siege, and the Royal Navy has broken the blockade of the South, though at considerable cost. Now with new life breathed into the Confederate cause, a French army marches up from Mexico to aid in the recapture of New Orleans and Lee outmaneuvers Meade to strike as Washington itself. Yet with the Copperhead rebellion broken in the Midwest, the battle-hardened Union responds to the new threats, aided by a host of new technologies. But will it be enough to save the United States from its host of enemies?
The Civil War is as well-trodden a subject for alternate history as it is for military history. Yet Tsouras’s book stands out for two reasons. The first is his divergence point; his use of the controversy of the Laird Rams as the reason for the war’s expansion, is original and it allows him to portray a more advanced conflict than is justifiably possible in similar novels. The second is his expertise. With a background in military intelligence, Tsouras brings considerable knowledge of martial affairs, which adds to the verisimilitude to his narrative. These two elements often combine to make for dramatic descriptions of battles in places like Kennebunk and Claverack, accounts that are among the high points of this book.
Yet the strengths of Tsouras’s book are counterbalanced by glaring flaws. Often his narrative is interrupted by long descriptions of regimental histories and uniforms that show off Tsouras’s research but do little to advance the story. Some of that effort would have been better spent familiarizing himself with the broader historical background, as his plot exposes some disappointing gaps in his knowledge. His portrayal of Benjamin Disraeli as the Conservative Party leader in 1863 is a particularly large whopper given how he develops his plot (and one that gives added meaning to Angus Hawkins’s choice of The Forgotten Prime Minister as his title of his biography of the man who was, in fact, the actual leader of the Tories at that time). Errors such as this can temper the enjoyment of the novel and raise doubts about the depth of his research in non-military affairs. Hopefully Tsouras will address these weaknesses while building upon his strengths in the final volume, which holds promise for a dramatic end to his alternate history series.
The Civil War is as well-trodden a subject for alternate history as it is for military history. Yet Tsouras’s book stands out for two reasons. The first is his divergence point; his use of the controversy of the Laird Rams as the reason for the war’s expansion, is original and it allows him to portray a more advanced conflict than is justifiably possible in similar novels. The second is his expertise. With a background in military intelligence, Tsouras brings considerable knowledge of martial affairs, which adds to the verisimilitude to his narrative. These two elements often combine to make for dramatic descriptions of battles in places like Kennebunk and Claverack, accounts that are among the high points of this book.
Yet the strengths of Tsouras’s book are counterbalanced by glaring flaws. Often his narrative is interrupted by long descriptions of regimental histories and uniforms that show off Tsouras’s research but do little to advance the story. Some of that effort would have been better spent familiarizing himself with the broader historical background, as his plot exposes some disappointing gaps in his knowledge. His portrayal of Benjamin Disraeli as the Conservative Party leader in 1863 is a particularly large whopper given how he develops his plot (and one that gives added meaning to Angus Hawkins’s choice of The Forgotten Prime Minister as his title of his biography of the man who was, in fact, the actual leader of the Tories at that time). Errors such as this can temper the enjoyment of the novel and raise doubts about the depth of his research in non-military affairs. Hopefully Tsouras will address these weaknesses while building upon his strengths in the final volume, which holds promise for a dramatic end to his alternate history series.
June 14, 2015
"The Enemy of My Enemy is my friend," or so I have been told. In this novel, second in the trilogy Britannia's Fist started, most would figure that applies to the budding alliance between the United States and the Russian Empire. The year is 1863, Britain and France have intervened on the side of the Confederacy. This really throws the Union back and makes for an interesting what if. British forces fight alongside the Army of Northern Virginia and they are able to attack Washington DC and cause a great deal of damage before being thrown back. There are poignant scenes here of Lee visiting Mount Vernon and seeing what has become of Arlington House.
Down in Louisiana, the French Expeditionary Force assists the Confederacy in retaking the vital city of New Orleans. This also ends up causing some difficulty, in that Napoleon III wants to establish a protectorate that the Confederates really don't want. However, they know they will not prevail without this foreign assistance...
Upstate New York and Maine are invaded from Canada. Bitter battles ensue. However, Russia, smarting from the results of the recent Crimean War, start to become involved on the side of the Union. This seems like a strange bedfellows situation, but I think it could have happened.
Tsouras does a great deal of research and it shows in his alternate history novels. They are always very believable. For anyone wanting to read a solid counter-factual on the American Civil War, this is a fine choice.
Down in Louisiana, the French Expeditionary Force assists the Confederacy in retaking the vital city of New Orleans. This also ends up causing some difficulty, in that Napoleon III wants to establish a protectorate that the Confederates really don't want. However, they know they will not prevail without this foreign assistance...
Upstate New York and Maine are invaded from Canada. Bitter battles ensue. However, Russia, smarting from the results of the recent Crimean War, start to become involved on the side of the Union. This seems like a strange bedfellows situation, but I think it could have happened.
Tsouras does a great deal of research and it shows in his alternate history novels. They are always very believable. For anyone wanting to read a solid counter-factual on the American Civil War, this is a fine choice.
August 30, 2017
A sound, decently written, historical "what if?"
April 5, 2022
Very well done and realistic unlike some alternative histories. Particularly enjoyed the alternative history footnotes and the OB appendixes. Also had good maps.
May 12, 2013
Rainbow of Blood picks up where volume one of Peter Tsouras' Britannia's Fist trilogy leaves off, a dramatic major sea battle between an attacking British Fleet and a defending Union fleet. Tsouras is very good at capturing both the large scale action and the personal contributions by the historical personalities with whom he populates this volume. I won't give away the plot. I will just say that this book, like the preceding one, A Rainbow Of Blood: The Union In Peril An Alternate History
, delivers on the action, provides insights into the real history of the American Civil War, and demonstrates how close the Union came to fighting a very challenging war against Great Britain and Napoleon III's France as allies of the Confederacy.
, delivers on the action, provides insights into the real history of the American Civil War, and demonstrates how close the Union came to fighting a very challenging war against Great Britain and Napoleon III's France as allies of the Confederacy. 
March 11, 2015
I am absolutely blown away by the author. Peter G. Tsouras' Trilogy "The Union in Peril" is fantastic - to me.
I just finished A Rainbow of Blood, the second book, moments ago.
Again, the question is: what happens when Britain and France attach the US during the American Civil War?
Tsouras is a master of story telling - great character develop on all sides - major suspense - fantastic use of actual historically accurate period technology -
What a pleasure this has been.
Other can provide you with the details of the story -let me say I have found a new author whom I greatly admire
I just finished A Rainbow of Blood, the second book, moments ago.
Again, the question is: what happens when Britain and France attach the US during the American Civil War?
Tsouras is a master of story telling - great character develop on all sides - major suspense - fantastic use of actual historically accurate period technology -
What a pleasure this has been.
Other can provide you with the details of the story -let me say I have found a new author whom I greatly admire
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews