Official Review: Arctic Warriors by Ken Bangs

[ananya92]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Arctic Warriors" by Ken Bangs.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Arctic Warriors by Ken Bangs is a book in the fiction genre. It will appeal to readers who like espionage stories set in the Cold War period.

The story is set in Alaska, in the years 1968-69. The Bering Strait is of great strategic importance to the US and the USSR, since the US-Russian boundary extends through the Strait. Naturally, the American army put all its energy behind securing their border by deploying naval, ground and air defense forces, along the Bering Strait coast. The centerpiece of the air defense is the Eielson Air Force Base, which would initiate the first response in case of any invasion attempt or attack. The 562nd Air Defense Artillery Battalion of the United States Army Alaska is securing this base. Every single soldier has a role to play in defending the country but what will happen if courage deserts them at the time of need? Jake faces a similar situation: he knows he’s being set up by Layne, but why? He gets his answer soon enough and his royal mistake starts a chain reaction, which culminates in a group of soldiers of the 562nd Battalion breaching the Russian territory. Death and destruction is inevitable but on which side of the border?

The first fact about the book that would hit the reader is the high level and amount of detailing undertaken by the author. The author provides a very useful prelude to his story, and supplements it by giving a list of characters and a glossary of terms. These prove very helpful in navigating the reader through the novel. On the positive side, all the detailing helps in authenticating the story. On the downside, I felt my interest ebbing away in some sections of the book because they were too technical. Apart from the detailing, the author’s writing style is pretty straightforward and engaging.

Coming to the story, the author has woven a strong plot which is gritty and fast paced. The action scenes are well sketched, with a strong visual element. There were some scenes which give the feeling of watching an action movie. Case in point is the scene where the group of soldiers from the 562nd battalion battle through the enemy territory. Apart from the plotline, the author’s portrayal of the espionage and interrogation scenes was powerful. It is sad to read about the job description of a female spy, which mainly involved exchanging her dignity for information. What is worse is reading about the treatment, or rather violation, which an enemy of state has to undergo if captured. The author’s treatment of these issues is so acute that it would make the reader feel uncomfortable or disgusted, as it was in my case. Another achievement of the author, in my opinion, was his unbiased narration of the story. Both the countries have played dirty and I found it difficult to side with any of them. Ultimately, in the war of ideology and governments, it is the common woman or man who suffers the most.

Though I appreciate the attention to detail in the book, I wish it was a bit simpler for readers not well versed with military terminology. I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars and I recommend this book for readers who love an action packed and impactful espionage/war story.

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Arctic Warriors
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[Jesska6029]

I am not familiar with military terminology, but this story does seem interesting. Great review!

[ananya92]

Thanks

[debo9967]

Sounds like an intense and fast-paced book. Nice review!

[ananya92]

Thanks

[Levi]

Great review and attention to detail, without giving too many details. It sounds intriguing. I especially like your takeaway that both countries are portrayed in a critical light, and that the people caught in the middle are the ones who suffer. I, for one, do not mind detailed books, and I believe I will add this one to my list.

[ananya92]

Thanks