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Wolves at the Gate
Lieutenant Jim Fraser was in turns eager and terrified. His Bravo Company led the American offensive to liberate Charleston, but would his wife Florie and their twin girls trapped behind German lines survive the coming battle?
Consider another Second World War. Due to a twist of history during his youth, Adolf Hitler turns west and out to sea against England and America in alliance with fascist Japan and Italy. After the British Empire falls, the Axis turn on an outnumbered and unprepared United States. Instead of being waged in far off land, total war rages across the Hawaiian Islands and South Carolina, down our streets and into the homes of our families.
Consider another Second World War. Due to a twist of history during his youth, Adolf Hitler turns west and out to sea against England and America in alliance with fascist Japan and Italy. After the British Empire falls, the Axis turn on an outnumbered and unprepared United States. Instead of being waged in far off land, total war rages across the Hawaiian Islands and South Carolina, down our streets and into the homes of our families.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
21 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Bart Stark
1 book8 followersBart Stark is a U.S. Army paratrooper and a combat veteran, who later entered a life of crime as a prosecutor and defense attorney. Now, Bart is beginning the third act of his life as a novelist.
After leading a vagabond life which took them across America and Europe, Bart and his wife settled in the highlands of Panama. His favorite pastime is hiking his dogs in the jungle and daydreaming dystopian futures for his characters.
After leading a vagabond life which took them across America and Europe, Bart and his wife settled in the highlands of Panama. His favorite pastime is hiking his dogs in the jungle and daydreaming dystopian futures for his characters.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 7, 2024
My first NetGalley book, and I would call it quite the success. I don't often read WWII historical novels, but the alternative history premise in which the States are being invaded seemed very intriguing.
The novel is told from various point of views: we've got Americans (obviously), but also Germans, Italians and Japanese characters. Bold choice by the author in his debut novel, and it worked out really well. It was a real benefit to the story to experience it from so many viewpoints. I think all of them were distinctive and unique.
Another bold choice was to tell it in a diary-like manner with location and time specified to the km and the minute. While that helped with keeping track of when and where something was occurring, for me personally this style isn't my favorite. At times it made it feel a bit like non-fiction, especially with the extensive and technical approach to warfare. Be prepared to read A LOT about naval warfare. Again, for me personally not my favorite. Boats have never captivated my attention that much. Of course, it stands to reason that so much focus is given to naval warfare, the only way to invade the US (during WW2) from Japan and Germany is with boats.
The action, fighting and war in general were all depicted very realistically, very detailed and mostly very engaging. At times it was a bit too much to keep me hooked, as I said, naval warfare ain't my favorite, but if you're interested in a novel that focuses very much on war and engagements, then this is definitely a book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
The novel is told from various point of views: we've got Americans (obviously), but also Germans, Italians and Japanese characters. Bold choice by the author in his debut novel, and it worked out really well. It was a real benefit to the story to experience it from so many viewpoints. I think all of them were distinctive and unique.
Another bold choice was to tell it in a diary-like manner with location and time specified to the km and the minute. While that helped with keeping track of when and where something was occurring, for me personally this style isn't my favorite. At times it made it feel a bit like non-fiction, especially with the extensive and technical approach to warfare. Be prepared to read A LOT about naval warfare. Again, for me personally not my favorite. Boats have never captivated my attention that much. Of course, it stands to reason that so much focus is given to naval warfare, the only way to invade the US (during WW2) from Japan and Germany is with boats.
The action, fighting and war in general were all depicted very realistically, very detailed and mostly very engaging. At times it was a bit too much to keep me hooked, as I said, naval warfare ain't my favorite, but if you're interested in a novel that focuses very much on war and engagements, then this is definitely a book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
November 17, 2024
Author Bart Stark’s Wolves at the Gate, a self-described “work of alternative history,” offers a blend of historical and fictional characters that provides human stories amid the carnage of WWII.
Reading like diary entries or radio broadcasts of Ernie Pyle, and William L. Shier, this author writes some of the most engaging accounts of the war from a unique perspective, with emotional depth, passionate catharsis and evocative power.
Spanning the years of the war, its campaigns, and its battlefields—Eurasia, the Pacific, the Atlantic, England, France, Japan, and the U.S. We are thrust into the minds and daily challenges of those involved. From Hitler to President Roosevelt and all the major and minor players in between, Stark’s narrative paints a vivid and immersive picture of war.
With its fresh and satisfying read, the author leaves us implying a follow-up novel to “Forge ahead”.
Reading like diary entries or radio broadcasts of Ernie Pyle, and William L. Shier, this author writes some of the most engaging accounts of the war from a unique perspective, with emotional depth, passionate catharsis and evocative power.
Spanning the years of the war, its campaigns, and its battlefields—Eurasia, the Pacific, the Atlantic, England, France, Japan, and the U.S. We are thrust into the minds and daily challenges of those involved. From Hitler to President Roosevelt and all the major and minor players in between, Stark’s narrative paints a vivid and immersive picture of war.
With its fresh and satisfying read, the author leaves us implying a follow-up novel to “Forge ahead”.
November 24, 2024
A very good alternative history novel! Totally believable, no space aliens or magic beings or any of that type of thing. It's the what if story of Japan and Germany succeeding in their expansion through war, and then turning their attention to the USA. I could completely believe this could have happened. The character development was great, the people seemed completely multi-dimensional, not simply some he-man soldier or poor distraught females. The timeline was excellent, and very easily followed. The action was on multiple fronts, and non-stop. The writing was strong enough to actually pull multiple emotions out of me, which isn't easily done.
The book reminded me of the best of the Turtledove novels, the ones about the world wars. I think the character development was even better here.
I honestly could not put this book down. I was so disappointed when it ended, I wanted to find out what happens next. I will definitely be getting the next book in the series, I just hope it's not too long before it's released.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
The book reminded me of the best of the Turtledove novels, the ones about the world wars. I think the character development was even better here.
I honestly could not put this book down. I was so disappointed when it ended, I wanted to find out what happens next. I will definitely be getting the next book in the series, I just hope it's not too long before it's released.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2025
I usually don't read alt-history books, but this one sounded ok. If I had any quibbles there were just a few navy things that I cannot get past. It wasn't as easy as the author writes to sink an aircraft carrier. The carriers Japanese were more vulnerable than the US carriers. Also, in a couple of places he uses knots as a measure of distance which it is not. Finally, US torpedoes were terrible at the start of WWII. Even if they hit they wouldn't explode. Except for these minor details the book was enjoyable and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 6, 2025
Super Interesting!
Wolves at the Gate took a bit to hook me in, but once hooked, I loved it! Fascinating concept about an alternate history. The characters are solid. Military strategy around the globe with a wide-range of weapon technology. If you ever read Man in the High Castle, this would be the book scenario of what happened before that book. Scarry to imagine what might have been.
Wolves at the Gate took a bit to hook me in, but once hooked, I loved it! Fascinating concept about an alternate history. The characters are solid. Military strategy around the globe with a wide-range of weapon technology. If you ever read Man in the High Castle, this would be the book scenario of what happened before that book. Scarry to imagine what might have been.
December 29, 2024
Excellent read.
What I like best Was the simplicity in which This "what might have been" scenario Was laid up. Anyone who's ever studied the second world war realizes just how lucky America was, And in this scenario we find out we weren't lucky at all.
If you like alternate history, I highly recommend this book.
What I like best Was the simplicity in which This "what might have been" scenario Was laid up. Anyone who's ever studied the second world war realizes just how lucky America was, And in this scenario we find out we weren't lucky at all.
If you like alternate history, I highly recommend this book.
May 21, 2025
A good first novel for this author. I enjoyed the read and realistic characters. Hopefully a sequel is in the works to tie up loose ends and continue the storyline. Haven’t read many counter factual historical fiction novels. This was certainly enjoyable and had a good pace to it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews