What do you think?
Rate this book
Area Denial
There’s a Shadow War going on…
…And now the Triarii know it
Now it’s time for the next move
Hank and his section took a beating in West Texas, but they accomplished their mission and secured a strategic asset against a daring attempt to seize it. And in the process, they found out who’s really behind the war.
Now it’s time to strike back.
The government doesn’t want to admit Chinese involvement, despite what the Triarii and the Texas Rangers uncovered. So, once again, the Triarii must act on their own.
The South China Sea
Take the war to the People’s Republic of China
But will that be more easily said than done?
You’ll love this near-future military thriller because the tension ratchets up and never stops!
Get it now.
…And now the Triarii know it
Now it’s time for the next move
Hank and his section took a beating in West Texas, but they accomplished their mission and secured a strategic asset against a daring attempt to seize it. And in the process, they found out who’s really behind the war.
Now it’s time to strike back.
The government doesn’t want to admit Chinese involvement, despite what the Triarii and the Texas Rangers uncovered. So, once again, the Triarii must act on their own.
The South China Sea
Take the war to the People’s Republic of China
But will that be more easily said than done?
You’ll love this near-future military thriller because the tension ratchets up and never stops!
Get it now.
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2021
About the author
Peter Nealen
65 books112 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 5, 2021
The best installment yet in this series, with a change of focus from the previous books, as the Triarii head to the Philippines to launch a maritime guerilla warfare campaign against the Chinese and their proxies. Nealen always excels with ground combat and close quarters battle, but here he gives Larry Bond a run for his money when it comes to naval action.
October 4, 2021
I can't think of many authors whose work continues to improve over a long span. Many find their niche and their stride and stay there, which isn't inherently bad. Others (whom shall remain unnamed) start off mediocre at best and double down on their current level. It's rare to find the author who is consistently pushing to improve their craft, knowing they can do better than the book before.
Former Reconnaissance Marine Peter Nealen is one of the rare ones. In some aspect or another, each of his books improves upon the last in some way, shape, or form, even after his 26th book (excluding anthologies, non-fiction works, and books announced but not yet published).
Thus far, I can say that Area Denial is hands down the best book that he has written to date.
Picking up where Fortress Doctrine left off, Hank Foss and his Triarii infantry section has been deployed to the Philippines as part of a privateer flotilla. Their objective: ply the same tactics on the Chinese that Beijing has plied against its enemies. It is maritime guerilla warfare, and the Triarii are having to elevate their skill set in order to complete the mission.
The action is as crisp and kinetic as ever, which has always been one of Nealen's strong fronts. It's clear that he has done his research on the PRC and their tactics, and has come up with a feasible plan of action in the scenario where world affairs have deteriorated to the level that they have in the Maelstrom Rising canon.
Additional kudos are merited for Nealen's depiction of set-piece naval battles. Unlike the late Tom Clancy, who would get into immense detail that would appeal to those who train for those fights at the strategic level and not much else, Nealen summarizes those battles in a way where the casual reader gets the picture. He makes it well known that he is aware that his average reader came to read about gun battles and not large battles from a strategic perspective.
Where Nealen has improved the most is his characterization. Certainly, he has come a long way from his American Praetorian days (where characterization was spare at first), and has demonstrated with both his Maelstrom Rising and Brannigan's Blackhearts series that he has grown as a writer with regards to characterization.
In Area Denial, it's taken to another level. We're seeing banter that will be readily recognized by grunts and operators worldwide. We're seeing post-traumatic stress that anyone with an intimate knowledge of war will immediately feel and relate to, and everyone else will be able to understand and empathize, if not fully understand.
In short, Area Denial has the gun and battle porn to appeal to the average reader of this genre, the foreign policy research targeting the research nerds, and the soul to make the characters human and appeal to readers looking for character stories.
Nealen has outdone himself here and I look forward to seeing what more he brings to the table.
Former Reconnaissance Marine Peter Nealen is one of the rare ones. In some aspect or another, each of his books improves upon the last in some way, shape, or form, even after his 26th book (excluding anthologies, non-fiction works, and books announced but not yet published).
Thus far, I can say that Area Denial is hands down the best book that he has written to date.
Picking up where Fortress Doctrine left off, Hank Foss and his Triarii infantry section has been deployed to the Philippines as part of a privateer flotilla. Their objective: ply the same tactics on the Chinese that Beijing has plied against its enemies. It is maritime guerilla warfare, and the Triarii are having to elevate their skill set in order to complete the mission.
The action is as crisp and kinetic as ever, which has always been one of Nealen's strong fronts. It's clear that he has done his research on the PRC and their tactics, and has come up with a feasible plan of action in the scenario where world affairs have deteriorated to the level that they have in the Maelstrom Rising canon.
Additional kudos are merited for Nealen's depiction of set-piece naval battles. Unlike the late Tom Clancy, who would get into immense detail that would appeal to those who train for those fights at the strategic level and not much else, Nealen summarizes those battles in a way where the casual reader gets the picture. He makes it well known that he is aware that his average reader came to read about gun battles and not large battles from a strategic perspective.
Where Nealen has improved the most is his characterization. Certainly, he has come a long way from his American Praetorian days (where characterization was spare at first), and has demonstrated with both his Maelstrom Rising and Brannigan's Blackhearts series that he has grown as a writer with regards to characterization.
In Area Denial, it's taken to another level. We're seeing banter that will be readily recognized by grunts and operators worldwide. We're seeing post-traumatic stress that anyone with an intimate knowledge of war will immediately feel and relate to, and everyone else will be able to understand and empathize, if not fully understand.
In short, Area Denial has the gun and battle porn to appeal to the average reader of this genre, the foreign policy research targeting the research nerds, and the soul to make the characters human and appeal to readers looking for character stories.
Nealen has outdone himself here and I look forward to seeing what more he brings to the table.
September 28, 2021
Assymetric warfare with a bullet
Once again, Peter Nealen gives us a roller-coaster of action, thrills and a hefty dose of kaboom. The prose is tight and the plot only occasionally pauses to draw a breath - I read it in pretty much one go, and will have to have an afternoon nap tomorrow.
As always, no one is safe, as war is a messy and painful pastime, whether official or otherwise, as the Triarii move from land to sea, and take the fight to the People's Republic of China, turning more than a few of their own ideas against them, and proving that even an 800 lb gorilla has to move when it runs into a nest of fire ants. Looking forward to the next one, as ever.... Keep it up!
Once again, Peter Nealen gives us a roller-coaster of action, thrills and a hefty dose of kaboom. The prose is tight and the plot only occasionally pauses to draw a breath - I read it in pretty much one go, and will have to have an afternoon nap tomorrow.
As always, no one is safe, as war is a messy and painful pastime, whether official or otherwise, as the Triarii move from land to sea, and take the fight to the People's Republic of China, turning more than a few of their own ideas against them, and proving that even an 800 lb gorilla has to move when it runs into a nest of fire ants. Looking forward to the next one, as ever.... Keep it up!
October 6, 2021
I Do No Know What to Say Anymore - FANTASTIC READ!
Mr. Nealen knocks it out of the park again! Do yourself a favor and stop reading reviews and buy the first book and the series and this one as you will be searching for all of them as soon as you finish the one before - guaranteed!
I get paid NOTHING for this review. I simply am leaving it as a small token of thanks to the author for giving me hours of entertainment for the small price of the book. If you are a fan of Thor, Greaney, Flynn and even Clancy, this series and all of the series this author has written are for you - including the Jed Horn books.
Good luck in your review reading but you can stop now, but the book and be glad you did!
Mr. Nealen knocks it out of the park again! Do yourself a favor and stop reading reviews and buy the first book and the series and this one as you will be searching for all of them as soon as you finish the one before - guaranteed!
I get paid NOTHING for this review. I simply am leaving it as a small token of thanks to the author for giving me hours of entertainment for the small price of the book. If you are a fan of Thor, Greaney, Flynn and even Clancy, this series and all of the series this author has written are for you - including the Jed Horn books.
Good luck in your review reading but you can stop now, but the book and be glad you did!
December 3, 2021
The war everyone wants to read of
Area Denisl is takes us into the world of navel and gorilla warfare has we take the fight to China at threw own game. That we’re thrown into the world of high adrenaline shadow ops to push the Chinese navy out of gaining a foot hold into the pacific threw island chains has we see a ship to ship combat to jungle warfare has each battle escalates to its bloody finish you won’t be able to put it down.
Area Denisl is takes us into the world of navel and gorilla warfare has we take the fight to China at threw own game. That we’re thrown into the world of high adrenaline shadow ops to push the Chinese navy out of gaining a foot hold into the pacific threw island chains has we see a ship to ship combat to jungle warfare has each battle escalates to its bloody finish you won’t be able to put it down.
September 24, 2021
Sends chills up and down my spine, as this is too potentially real…
Peter Nealen is one helluva writer. You feel the adrenaline rush, hear the whip crack of passing bullets, and if you make the wrong move, it may be your last. Well worth the sleep lost. Waiting for the next installment, both with dread, and excitement. Bravo Zulu, Young Man!
Peter Nealen is one helluva writer. You feel the adrenaline rush, hear the whip crack of passing bullets, and if you make the wrong move, it may be your last. Well worth the sleep lost. Waiting for the next installment, both with dread, and excitement. Bravo Zulu, Young Man!
January 21, 2022
good read
Nice action thriller. All the fun and political intrigue one would expect to see in the South China Sea. We see pirates, mercenaries, china , Vietnam, and the Philippines all interacting with each other. It’s interesting to see how and which technologies might be put to play and how in maritime combat.
Nice action thriller. All the fun and political intrigue one would expect to see in the South China Sea. We see pirates, mercenaries, china , Vietnam, and the Philippines all interacting with each other. It’s interesting to see how and which technologies might be put to play and how in maritime combat.
June 8, 2022
Area DENIED - Excitement Delivered!
Author Peter Nealen continues his Maelstrom Rising series with more non-stop action and suspense. Great story-telling combined with strong characters and uncondescending suspense. I am thoroughly enjoying myself --- thank you Peter Nealen! 5-stars!
Author Peter Nealen continues his Maelstrom Rising series with more non-stop action and suspense. Great story-telling combined with strong characters and uncondescending suspense. I am thoroughly enjoying myself --- thank you Peter Nealen! 5-stars!
July 2, 2025
More of this!
Stick to this, instead of trash-talking parts of your own country you don’t like. We get that you don’t like California. There was barely a mention of that in this book, do more of that.
Stick to this, instead of trash-talking parts of your own country you don’t like. We get that you don’t like California. There was barely a mention of that in this book, do more of that.
October 14, 2021
Outstanding
Another Outstanding Book in the Maelstrom Rising Series!! I really enjoyed the read. I cannot wait for Book # 8 Power Vacuum to come out
Another Outstanding Book in the Maelstrom Rising Series!! I really enjoyed the read. I cannot wait for Book # 8 Power Vacuum to come out
August 17, 2023
Clever
Slow, clever guerrilla actions are harder to read. The geography is much harder to follow. The set up for the next book is well done.
Slow, clever guerrilla actions are harder to read. The geography is much harder to follow. The set up for the next book is well done.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews