aaron gwyn

A cultish commander’s secret mission on horseback through Afghanistan “echoes adrenalized silver-screen war stories like Three Kings and The Hurt Locker” (The New York Times).
 
When Cpl. Elijah Russell rescues an Arabian horse during a firefight in northern Iraq, the young army ranger’s heroism and superb equestrian skill catch the attention of Capt. Carson Wynne. The commander is preparing a secret mission in eastern Afghanistan that requires a soldier of such skill and courage.
 
Now, Russell is in charge of training an elite special forces unit of Green Berets to ride horses through treacherous mountain terrain. But as they press further into enemy territory, the nature of the operation only becomes more mysterious. Russell grows suspicious of Captain Wynne’s secrecy and the cult-like loyalty he commands. Soon he will be forced to confront an impossible choice—stand up for his beliefs or follow his commander into hell.
 
“A hard-eyed depiction of modern warfare . . . Gwyn’s novel is rich in equestrian and military detail . . . it’d take wild horses to pull you away.” —Entertainment Weekly
 
“A gripping tale of men at war in the desolate snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan . . . [Wynne’s War] captures the essence of close combat—the terror, excitement, chaos, tension, and cruelty, as well as the harsh decisions men make under stress.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
 
“The book pulsates with a verisimilitude that places readers in the war-torn mountains of Afghanistan. . . . Many folks have wondered when American authors would begin producing memorable fiction about the Iraq-Afghanistan wars; with this well-researched, heart-pounding novel, Gwyn stakes his claim.” —Library Journal