Looking for a page turner? Look no further, I've got you covered! Recently I have read Forged in Battle, Marc Alan Edelheit's latest science fiction novel. It is the first of a new series, called Command Decision. I was hooked immediately, right from the first page.

Forged in Battle is set mostly inside of a spaceship, Ranger. Captain Steele seems to be out for some routine work, but things fall apart very rapidly, when suddenly the space station he is at starts firing at Ranger. And it's not only that, but apparently a rebellion is on the rise. Suddenly Steele finds himself surrounded by war ships and is forced to use every trick up his sleeve to keep himself and his crew alive.

Fighting off the enemy, he tries to escape, but then suddenly learns that his duty lies elsewhere. He is not supposed to leave the enemy's system, he's supposed to trick them into thinking Ranger has left. A ship like Ranger was built especially for this purpose: stealth. His mission is to find out more about this rebellion and the enemy fleet it might be hiding and at the same time keep his crew alive.

Believe me when I say that Edelheit kept me turning pages until the end. The very definition of a page turner!

Forged in Battle contains a lot of technical details. I do not have a clue when it comes to science, so do not ask me if these things were correct. I found them credible while reading. After finishing the novel, I noticed there's a whole section explaining all the technical details with impressive math, which I also do not know anything about. But if you like hard science fiction I guess this part will be heaven to you!

I really liked that all characters in this novel had some depth. It's easy to forget about these details, when there's a war going on and the pace of the novel is very high. All characters were incredibly 'human'. They were all definitely not prepared for battle, showed fear from time to time, but were also highly trained. They reacted and functioned like I expect a team of human beings to do. Edelheit did not turn his characters in some sort of godlike heroes. I like that!

I had never before read anything by Edelheit, so I was surprised to see the long list of sci-fi and fantasy novels he has written. Apparently he is not that known in the Netherlands? Studying his web page I learn that Edelheit has a Bachelor's degree in Science and a Master's degree in Education and Administration. He has written several successful book series. I, for one, am looking forward to the second book in the Command Decision series!

This was my first book by Marc Alan Edelheit and he dived right in to this story. It starts off fast and we head right into action with stressful circumstances and a ticking clock. I loved the additional information in the Appendix about the universe and the Ranger. It added to the story and gave me a clear understand of the terms and reason behind the descriptors.
This book gave me all the feels of the Submarine movie Hunter Killer. Hand selected captain for a mission in enemy space that I involved discovering a secret attack. Love this storyline.
There are secret officers on different missions that disrupt the Captains original plans to flee and the tension that comes from that is thrilling. Definitely add this to your TBR if you like sci-fi space stories.

Thank you to Second Sky Books and Netgalley for the eARC for review.

Forged in Battle is the first in a new military sci-fi series, Command Decision. The man in command and weighed down with the responsibility of life or death decisions is Captain Steele who is in charge of Ranger, a Destroyer Class starship designed for battle and stealth missions.

Captain Steele and his more than capable crew including a strong female character with his second in command, Executive Officer Chase, are going to need every bit of the cutting edge technology that Ranger offers if they are going to have a hope of survival.

Steele's first command mission should be peaceful and straightforward but his diplomatic task for the Union over a war-torn planet is thrown into chaos when a rebellion erupts. The Union had been rebuilding after decades of war and have withdrawn military to such an extent that they no longer have the control of the Illidran star system that they think they do.
Ranger soon find itself outgunned, and alone in hostile planetary space with communications cut. It's no longer about quelling rebellion but trying to survive and before they can try to escape the system and warn the Union there's intel that suggests that the uprising has had help and that a deadly fleet of spaceships is hiding and waiting to strike.

The plot and action are tense and suspenseful, the pages whipping past like the missiles and maser fire from the starship.
The world building is exceptional and the military tactics and starship science feels very real (there's a detailed appendix at the back giving details about the starship, scientific data about space travel, information about the star systems, etc).

Steele, despite all the clenching and rubbing of his jaw, is a more nuanced character than first appears and it's his interest in reading history and strategy that helps him come up with unconventional ideas that may just keep them alive. We all knew reading books was the best thing right?

If you like science fiction shows and books such as Star Trek and The Expanse then this is for you. And if you like thrillers with plot twists then this is one set in space and worthy of your time.
A strong and exciting start to a new series with a dramatic conclusion that also leaves things wide open for the next instalment.

This was a fast-paced gripping sci-fi, following Captain Steele who is in his first command and finds he quickly gets thrown in the deep end.
The book is very plot driven and it was easy to get drawn into the game of cat and mouse as the story unfolded.
I also liked that at the end of the book there was a breakdown of the science of how these spaceships travel at such high speeds. As someone who is not at all scientific it was very helpful to me, and I appreciated that the author had really thought through how it would all work and explained it in an accessible way.
An enjoyable read that kept me interested.

Captain Jaxon Steele's first command is thrown into turmoil when the Union's allies betray them. His ship is built for stealth and not heavy battle. To survive the first strike, he'll need his wits, but the survival of the Union requires him to find the enemies lurking and waiting to destroy his ship.

We get a rapid infodump via background paragraphs and conversations, giving information on the bridge crew and the major players in space governments. It's essentially the Union vs the Hegemony, and a buffer zone with planets too harsh to survive without resources. The Protectorate declares independence from the Union at the end of chapter three, which then picks up the action in the story. There are efforts to save civilians and escape from the incoming attacks. The novel is full of these details and action, with tension escalating further after brief lulls.

The story is exactly what the title promises. There are battles, heavy sci-fi terms, and high stakes. I don't feel very connected to the characters as we move from one disaster to another. It's very heavy on tech and action, and quiet moments show characters in different lights. This will appeal to hard sci-fi fans who love space battles and technology.

A gripping, gritty, and glorious military fantasy!

“Forged in Battle” is an absolute triumph for fans of epic military fantasy. Marc Alan Edelheit delivers a visceral and immersive experience, filled with brutal combat, compelling characters, and rich world-building. The pacing is relentless, the battle scenes are vividly realistic, and the strategy woven into the narrative is top-tier.

What really stands out is the emotional weight behind the action. You feel the camaraderie, the exhaustion, the sacrifice—and the humanity of soldiers caught in a war that tests them in every way. The protagonist is both battle-hardened and introspective, a rare balance that makes him feel real and deeply relatable.

Edelheit continues to prove he’s a master of the genre, blending historical influences with fantasy elements seamlessly. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his work, this book will grab you by the throat and not let go until the final page.

Forged in Battle by Marc Alan Edelheit is a spellbinding and gripping military science fiction thriller. It’s the first book in the Command Decision series and it moves at a lightning pace. Captain Jaxon Stelle is on a routine diplomatic mission on his first command. The Ranger is an advanced destroyer, fast, stealthy, and fully armed. However, she wasn’t built for heavy fighting. While orbiting the war-torn planet, Tenebris, the entire star system erupts in rebellion. Missiles hit the Ranger’s shields, communications are jammed, and enemy warships are approaching. Survival is going to be tough, and they learn they need to confirm reports of a large enemy fleet in the star system before heading for home.

Steele enjoys strategy, history, and reading. He tends to leverage that knowledge in clutch situations. Clutter is a distraction to him and waiting tests his patience. He’s also thoughtful of the well-being of his crew and ship and projects an air of calm and quiet confidence that steadies the crew during stressful times. He listens to their advice despite not always following it and expresses his appreciation for their work and he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions knowing he will have to explain them when they return home. The other main bridge characters are introduced and readers learn some of their background and how they react under pressure, but I wanted a little more depth.

The world-building is fantastic in this novel. Much of it is set on the bridge of the Ranger and it was easy to feel like I was there as events unfolded. While there are hours of waiting that the crew experiences, it didn’t feel like it as I was reading. The tension was palpable throughout the story. The plot has several twists and turns that keep readers engaged and rapidly turning the pages. The heart-pounding space combat was easy to visualize and made me grateful I wasn’t on the vessel. Themes include political tension, rebellion, war, intelligence and its failures, desire for autonomy, trust, and command decisions that affect lives.

The author added an extremely helpful appendix at the back of the book. It includes a detailed explanation of both intra-star-system and interstellar travel, as well as information on the Union of Free Stars, the Protectorate Star Systems, the Valkorian Hegemony, the Illidran Star System, and the Union naval ship Ranger.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, action-packed novel with compelling characters, fantastic world-building, exceptional action scenes, and a great plot. The novel should appeal to those who enjoy science fiction military action thrillers. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I don’t read a huge amount of military science fiction (though I have read some!) and I think this book is up there for me with the Lost Fleet and the Honor Harrington books in how it manages to describe military combat between space ships, adding in all those small details that give it a sense of grounded reality. The ships needing time to maneuver, engines needing to get up to speed, and shields and weapon systems — how nothing is instant, everything takes time, and every action taken, every blow endured, every blow landed against the ship adds to the wear and tear.

And the waiting. The author uses the waiting very well to stretch out the tension, never overusing it to slow down the pace. And honestly, the pacing is the best part for me. The story moves along from point to point without any lethargic or meandering passages; the stakes are explained early on and then made worse through subsequent discoveries.

The writing is competent, and many scenes feel like they’ve been framed in a very cinematic way, heavy on the action and tense conversations over screens. The characters, though, are mostly … there. Honestly, even Steele, the main character, didn’t really have much personality for me beyond “authority figure”. Still, if you’re looking for clever military science fiction, I do recommend this book. It’s a fun, quick read, and the first book in a series.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

ARC provided by Second Sky and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Forged in Battle is a solid military sci-fi outing that will feel familiar (in a good way) to fans of Jack Campbell's Dauntless and the Lost Fleet series. With shades of Black Jack Geary, Captain Jaxon Steele leads the charge in this first book of what looks to be a promising series.

The universe Edelheit sets up—the Union, the Protectorate, the Hegemony—is intriguing and layered, and I’m definitely interested in exploring more of it. The story moves well, and while it never left me on the edge of my seat, it was a smooth, enjoyable ride.

That said, the book does suffer from some rough edges. Repetitive euphemisms (I counted “unzip my fly” four separate times) and an overreliance on characters nodding at each other pulled me out of the story at times. The stakes also felt a bit soft—I never truly believed Steele or his crew were in danger, even when the narrative wanted me to. The return of the Starfish was predictable, and the outcome felt a little too safe.

Character-wise, Steele is a compelling lead, but I wish more attention had been given to the supporting cast—especially Chase and the bridge crew, who had the potential to add depth and color to the narrative. Everything was told from Steele’s perspective, which limited our insight into the rest of the team.

One big thing I missed was seeing the aftermath of the mission—the consequences, the debrief, the recognition from the Union. Hopefully, that’s something we’ll get in book two, because the Ranger and her crew deserve their moment.

Despite its flaws, Forged in Battle is a good book and well worth reading for fans of military sci-fi. I’ll definitely be back for more—just like the Union.

This was a wild ride and a really fun one too.. Quickly after starting this story you are thrown right into the adventure. The characters are interesting and the plot moves along at a very nice pace. I thought the universe this was set in was believable as were the characters and their motivation. The plot was also believable and had so great twists and turns that kept me reading and waning more. Personally I liked the amount of back story the characters give out, it was enough to understand the why's and reasons of peoples actions without bogging the story down with unnessacry diversions. Also having the appendix with most of the science and background info was a nice addition, as it did fill in questions on the science and background of this universe. I found the whole story entertaining and a really enjoyable read. I look forward to the rest of this series and this book again reinforces my believe that this author is very talented and always writes an enjoyable story. If i have to have a complaint it would be that i personally think start ship crews should be suited up when going into combat as it is space they are fighting and a hull breach is deadly to an unsuited person. Also the crew seems small for this ship of this size and capability. BUT these are personal beliefs/thought and as neither of these detract from a really good story i only include them as my only little complaint.. Again a great start to a new book series that I can't wait to get the rest of.

This book was an incredibly fun read. The space combat was engrossing, the characters were well written, the main character in particular was well done and I enjoyed how he interacted with others. He was willing to listen to his officers but at the end of the day the decisions and their consequences were his. The part where he is scanning the various local news sources for intelligence is a good touch. The last touch that really surprised me was the inclusion of an appendix that gave a detailed explanation of how the ships in this universe move, weapon systems, and even brief explanations on the planets, systems, and factions! Marc has hit it out of the park with this one.

Reads like a great Sci-Fi television series! I was able to visualize the entire storyline in vivid detail as the action unfolded. The primary hero is a big fan of history and leverages this knowledge to confound the enemies’ strategy. This is a first novel in what promises to be a great series, each of which has great action around a mission, yet there is a clear overarching plot that will be revealed along the way! I am looking forward to how the characters continue to evolve.

In a small “backwater” system in the buffer zone between two adversarial star nations, Captain Jaxon Steele and the crew of the destroyer Ranger find themselves in the middle of it all when things go pear shaped. I thought this book seemed shorter than it really is, because after the “hook” is set, I had to read it to the end with no breaks (if you know, you know). There is a palpable tension as Ranger has to sneak around enemy space gathering intel, then attempts to make a run for friendly territory.

Elements of the story remind me a little of Das Boot and a little of Enemy Below. Rest assured, if you are a fan of Military SciFi, you should feel quite at home aboard the Ranger.

From the start Forged in Battle made me feel like I was back in combat. The crew had hours of boredom leading up to heavy battles. I loved how Cpt Steele thought outside the box box to come up with solutions to problems that appeared to be insurmountable. Even though he read it in a history books, he didn’t discount it simply because it was old technology. I can wait for the rest of the series to come out. As usual Marc did a superb job of keeping me captivated the whole time.

This is Marc's best scifi book to date. I specify scifi because I have read every book that he has written since I started wth Stiger. I had never read fantasy before that but I tried the first Stiger because I enjoyed Roman history.. I was hooked, and I have loved them all. My first love has always been sci-fi, though.. I started in the 50's and have been reading sci-fi ever since so I was ecstatic when Marc released his first sci-fi entry a few years ago.
This new one is a tight fast moving read fom start to fiinish. There is just enough technology to satisfy the tech loving but it doesn't take anything from the story. The book begins with the information needed to understand the background, something missing from los of books. All the characters are fully developed and relatable. The more I think about it, this is probably Marc's best. I can't wait to read the next one.

Forged in Battle introduces us to a new hero from the pen of Marc Alan Edelheit. Captain Jaxon Steele is the skipper of the Union's newest ship RANGER. IF you are familiar with OFF MIDWAY STATION, this one will feel similar.
Marc has created a world full of surprises and adventure. Well written and all the characters come to life as if you are actually there.

Steele is expecting a nice simple escort duty cruise but soon finds out that a rebellion has broken out and his ship is smack dab in the thick of it. From needing to rescue some government officials to being thrust into the intrigue of having the INTELLIGENCE DIVISION making his life a misery, this story brings COMMAND DECISIONS to the front and center. Given a set of orders to do a specific task, but also being hinted around to do more, Steele has to make those hard choices. Choices always lead to consequences.  CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES are abundant here. From search and rescue to search and destroy, Steele and Ranger are caught up in the struggle.

This is a well written story and will leave you wanting more, As a retired Navy Man....I say BRAVO ZULU...Job Well Done!

A space warfare version of Das Boot or the Hunt for Red October!

Like the great submarine warfare books and movies Das Boot or the Hunt for Red October this is another thrilling edge of your seat classic, but with a twist – it’s in space! There is also some cool space battles and lots of intrigue.

Marc Alan Edelheit (MAE) is best known for writing extraordinary historical fiction, specifically the Stiger and Karus series plus the spinoffs all set in the same fantasy universe.

This is his sixth military science-fiction book and the first book of the Command Decision series. All of these books have been excellent! All of his books have great plots, amazing character development, likeable characters and sinister villains.

MAE is a great “world builder” and this is a totally believable new universe. There is even an appendix for the space geeks that want to know the details of the “science” in this “science fiction!” Plus the appendix explains the major planets and the details of the new universe, again for the geeks among us that want to get the big “universe size” picture :->

I have been a long time reader of Marc, and have yet to find anything that was unsatisfactory. This does not disappoint! It is a great tale, and will keep you happily reading until you finish. His books are always hard to put down. Buy it and enjoy it!

A very intriguing first installment in the series - very excited to see where the story goes next. This book reads very similarly to Halo game adaptation novels, and as a fan of those this was enjoyable, fast-paced, and suspenseful as an introduction to the world of the Union, the Valkorian Hegemony, and the Protectorate.

The second and third acts shone, with the second really hooking me into the story as the protagonist, Captain Jaxon Steele, attempts to uncover the truth of the situation occurring in front of his eyes. The third act was a masterful conglomeration of military strategy, reveals, and overall suspense - the style of the combat sequences reminded me not only of the Halo novels, but also of the Expanse novels, with its detail to the physical realities of space and engineering/defense components of the spacecrafts engaged.

Personally, I think the book would have benefited from a bit more character work, as the reader spends a lot of time inside Captain Steele's head, and is shown the depth of the bonds he's developed with his crew, but we don't know a lot of details outside of that. However, I am excited to see if we get more of that kind of development in the next installments of the series.

I was thoroughly impressed with this as a series opener, and I eagerly await the second installment.

Fantastic world building and deep suspence, full of serious characters who react logically to events. As a long time fan of science fiction I can highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from this author.