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.

It felt as if I was reading a Star Trek novel (I love Star Trek) with the tension, the (military) decisions, the stakes, the battles and the outwitting the enemy. I could fully visualise the bridge and the officers working in their areas of expertise, and I love the diversity in characters. The main character was interesting, but nothing very special, but I did really like reading more about the side characters like the XO and the doctor.

The book starts of quickly with action and when I thought we'd hit a lull in the story, it started picking back up and I spent the rest of the story on the edge of my seat waiting for that inevitable climactic battle, which did not let me down at all! The battles are really well written and explained, so I could follow along easily. I did feel that Captain Steele explains decisions to his crew, that he wouldn't actually have to explain, but was mostly done for our benefit. I do appreciate being in the loop as a reader, but I don't think this amazing crew would have some basic space military decisions explained to them.

The worldbuilding was decent, but for me it wasn't very clear on why the Hegemony is só bad that their planets have to be conquered back by the Union (maybe also because I just felt a strong connection to Star Trek and conquering worlds is quite out of character for Star Trek). We are informed that the Hegemony killed an entire planet (objectively really really bad, not denying that), but if these rebellious planets rather have them, why try to conquer them back, again? Why go through the trouble of securing planets that rather have the Hegemony as a ruler (yes, even if they're 'bad neighbours').

This was my first real military sci-fi and I am very excited to continue this series, and possibly this genre!

Forged in Battle is a very straightforward book. It is pure space opera military fiction, with requisite action, technical detail, modest world-building, and somewhat stock characters. Fun but unchallenging, it is leaner than what Honor Harrington became but less interesting than early Honor Harrington was.

I really enjoyed this space war novel. The book was very detailed and kept my interest through the last page. Happily the last page revealed a sequel is coming. I am anxiously awaiting!

Forged in Battle (Command Decision Book 1) by Marc Alan Edelheit

Under a vast darkness of space, wondrous flecks of matter settle neatly on author Marc Alan Edelheit’s canvas. The Union’s finest ship, “Ranger,” is on a routine mission within its vortex. Firmly at the helm, Jaxon Steele, our main protagonist, deftly navigates the ship and crew through safe airspace, or is it? Our story is a juggernaut of one man’s ability to make preemptive decisions under a hailstorm of duress and civil unrest.

Space opera. A fantasy haven for human readers shackled by Earth’s gravity, rendering us unable to float weightlessly among the stars. Living vicariously, our body sensors have been scanned through book consumption, and we are granted access to the Ranger's airlocks. Escorted briskly, we approach the bridge where Jaxon Steele firmly offers a cup of coffee and bids us welcome. Witnessing a firsthand look at Steel’s immensely charismatic persona, we are privy to the newest technology the Union has to offer. This war was thought to be over, but an uprising has begun, pitting the Protectorate against the Union. LDF, Local Defense Force, backed by the villainous Hegemony, is on the attack, attempting to seize control again.

A contrasting swath of colors, an indication of threats, immobilizes those without knowledge of futuristic warfare. Steele’s crew is ready; their expertise is on full display. As the plot thickens, a wave of anger washes over my visor. How should one feel after such betrayal? How could the Union politicians have allowed this upheaval? Steele looks over to my position and tells me to hold on. An asteroid field of rock and debris lies ahead. The Ranger soldiers on, highlighting its capabilities in search of the truth that the Union’s intelligence agency has provided. Our ship stealthily dodges obstacles when needed and faces predatory ships in retaliation. We must return to warn our brethren what has happened here. Steele, nerves of steel, has become our foundational rock within this jet stream of turbulence. However, none of our mission has meaning if we don’t reach our destination.

Launched weaponry assaulted my senses. My mind kept returning to old Star Trek episodes on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. The tale had a familiar tone, one I loved as a youth. The twinkling of stars made luminous by the offsetting deepness of dark black hues. We are yet but a fly on the hull, witnessing daily operations upon a ship, viewing the officers' approach to handling mayhem as it arrives. The revolutions of habitable planets offer a look at futuristic societies with the same modern-day problems. Have we learned nothing? Edelheit has given readers a pathway to a world with complex social issues and done so in a lucid manner.

As Book 1 recedes in the distance, afterburners slowly churning, I slowly open my visor. Standing firmly on soil, I understand our task. That being said, I will be reading the next installment of the series. Jaxon Steele will undoubtedly need to provide an answer for his actions, and I will be front and center to hear his words. Forged in Battle is a fabulous introduction to a space opera series for newcomers to the genre. It’s straightforward, entertaining, and certain to keep one’s attention. I am giving this 4.25 out of 5 stars, rounding down to 4 stars. Recommended!

Many thanks to Second Sky for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.