Shadow War

Command Decision #2

by Marc Alan Edelheit

A lone destroyer.
An enemy lurking in darkness.
A deadly mission that could turn the tide of war.

Caught behind enemy lines, Captain Jaxon Steele fought his way out and saved the Union fleet from a devastating ambush. Now, as the Hegemony attacks on all fronts, Steele prepares to fight back.

Enemy forces are gathering in the independent Santana system. Santana is lawless and desolate—but it’s the perfect launchpad for an attack on Union space. Is the Hegemony preparing to invade?

Steele takes command of the destroyer Wolverine, with orders to gather critical intelligence on this new threat. In a system where dangers hide in every shadow, even the smallest error could put his ship in the crosshairs of a pirate cruiser or a mighty Hegemony battleship.

Steele needs stealth and secrecy to pull off this mission. But Wolverine is a relic of the last war, with failing systems and a mutinous crew. Even worse, the intelligence operative Miller has come aboard without warning. It’s clear this is no longer a simple recon assignment—far more is at stake than Steele could have imagined.

As they journey deep into hostile space, a lethal conspiracy begins to emerge from the darkness. Can Steele transform his new ship into an effective weapon of war before the enemy strikes? The future of the Union is at stake and only a Command Decision can save it.

Packed with high-stakes space combat, breathtaking tension, and jaw-dropping twists, the Command Decision series is a military science fiction adventure perfect for fans of David Weber’s Honor Harrington series and James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse.

See why readers love Shadow War:

“Thrilling… High-stakes space combat, intelligence ops behind enemy lines, and relentless tension… Authentic and immersive, drawing you right into the bridge and the chaos of battle… Keeps the adrenaline pumping… Fans of detailed, realistic military sci-fi will devour this… Action-packed… Hard to put down.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Excellent!… Great plots, amazing character development… Doesn’t take its foot off the gas! You won’t be able to put the book down, so just go with it… Who needs sleep anyway?” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Leaves you craving the next page… Captivating… Expertly pulls you in, compelling you to read just one more chapter… Will leave you hanging on for the next book… 10 out of 10.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Praise for Marc Alan Edelheit’s thrilling military science

“I realized that I wasn’t going to get any sleep. (Just one more page… Just one more page)… I’m not just reading words on a page, I’m there… A hell of a ride.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Cutting edge… A wild ride that ended in truly epic fashion… I absolutely enjoyed it from start to finish… AMAZING.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2026

About the author

Bestselling author Marc Edelheit has traveled the world, from Asia to Europe, at one point crossing the border at Check Point Charlie in Berlin toward the end of the Cold War.

Marc is the ultimate history fan and incorporates much of that passion into his work to bring greater realism to his fans. He is also an avid reader, devouring several books per week, ranging from history to science fiction and fantasy.

Reviews

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow War — 5/5 ⭐️
Marc Alan Edelheit

What an ending. Edelheit doesn’t just raise the stakes in Shadow War—he detonates them. This second entry in the series takes everything that worked in Forged in Battle and sharpens it into a tighter, darker, more suspense‑driven space‑opera thriller. You can feel the pressure on every page, and by the time the final chapters hit, you’re already reaching for book three.

Fresh off surviving the impossible, Captain Jaxon Steele finds himself thrust into an even more precarious mission. The Hegemony is striking hard across the frontier, and the independent Santana system—lawless, remote, and crawling with threats—is the perfect staging ground for something catastrophic. Steele’s job is simple in theory: slip in, gather intel, and get out. In practice? It’s a nightmare.

The Wolverine is no sleek, cutting‑edge destroyer. She’s a relic with failing systems, a resentful crew, and the kind of reputation that makes officers request transfers. Watching Steele try to weld this ship into a functioning weapon of war is one of the book’s great pleasures—equal parts leadership challenge, survival puzzle, and slow‑burn tension.

And then there’s Miller. The intelligence operative’s sudden arrival signals that this mission is far more than reconnaissance. Edelheit uses that dynamic beautifully, layering mistrust, hidden agendas, and a creeping sense that something enormous is unfolding just out of sight.

As Steele pushes deeper into hostile space, the conspiracy that emerges is chilling and brilliantly paced. Every encounter—pirates, Hegemony forces, the shadows between—feels like it could be the one that ends the Wolverine for good. Yet Steele’s grit, instincts, and refusal to back down keep the story driving forward with relentless momentum.

By the time the truth comes into focus, the stakes have escalated into full‑blown galactic danger. The final stretch is explosive, emotional, and absolutely worthy of that 5‑star rating. No wonder you can’t wait for book three.

Shadow War delivers everything you want from military sci‑fi: tension, character, tactical brilliance, and a finale that leaves you hungry for the next mission.

Happy reading from The Void 🚀🪐📚

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Jaxon Steele isn’t sure whether he’s returning home to some kind of commendation or a court-martial for the actions he took on Ranger's mission. He’s surprised and a bit disappointed to be given command of a new vessel, the Wolverine, with an entirely new crew. But he isn’t going to argue, because the alternative is schlepping around as a hero selling war bonds for the Union. Wolverine's former captain was a political appointee in a time of peace, and to say the ship is a bit run-down is an understatement. Both ship and crew are in deplorable shape, and Steele has as long as it takes to travel through Slipstream space to his new mission to get them fighting ready. Because while the orders he’s given don’t explicitly include battle, Steele knows there’s more going on than what he’s been told, and he wants to be ready for any eventuality.

Shadow War picks up where Forged in Battle left off. We see some familiar characters: Steele, his XO Chase, the intelligence operative Miller (someone Steele is not happy to see on his ship). We also meet some new characters, like the delightfully crusty captain of the boat, Kelly. Kelly is a veteran and was happy in retirement, but he’s coming back to service because he has a history with Wolverine.

The first part of the book opens much more slowly than Forged in Battle did, but it’s still really good writing. Steele and Chase have to motivate the crew to take pride in themselves and their ship, and they find some, shall we say, creative ways to do that. Kelly also isn’t afraid to knock heads together if some crewmembers need a little sense drummed into them. The first half or so is more about world-building, the people on Wolverine, the transformation from near-derelict to fighting trim, the growth of characters. And without knowing what Miller has up his sleeve, it’s still plenty suspenseful, even if not action-packed.

The action comes, though. Oh, yes, it does. Wolverine does a lot of stealth maneuvering, trying to flush out a potentially hidden Hegemony fleet, but there are some rock ’em sock ’em battle scenes. Those were nail-biting moments, with Wolverine out on the edge of civilized space with no military support nearby and limited resources. They had to do the best they could with what they had, and you could clearly see that choices have consequences. Some choices worked out well, others not so much. But that only lets us see Steele and his crew as human and relatable, because that’s how life really is.

Marc Alan Edelheit remains firmly on my list of must-read sci-fi authors. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Second Sky Books and Netgalley. I was not required to leave a review. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

[Cori Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a 'reward' for heroism but also bringing his ship back in tatters after the events of the first book ... Captain Steele is given command of a decrepit destroyer with a demotivated, dejected crew, and asked to investigate a desolate system for signs of enemy build-up. However, when intelligence operative Miller appears on board, it's obvious things will not be at all straightforward.

The first part of this book is the very enjoyable whipping back into shape of ship and crew. Honestly, I could probably read a whole book of that, since so much of it relates to interpersonal relationships, leadership and excellent management. However, we do slide from that into further plot around the early actions of this new war.

I enjoyed this as much the first, though I wouldn't call this tense as such. There are very high stakes, but Steele is experienced and competent, with an ultimately good crew supporting him. The battle scenes are well-done, and I particularly like the feeling of actions having consequences in this series. The ship doesn't have unlimited resources, and the characters (mainly Steele) have to decide on the least bad deployment of what's available, for example with bursts of missiles, or when using up maneuvering propellant.

I didn't realise until I logged the first book here, that I've unfortunately DNFed this author before (Off Midway Station). If you enjoyed the pacy space battles and heroic hero of that book, this book has similar vibes. If like me you didn't get on with the writing style, odd gender descriptions, or intense detail on aspects of the ship, I'm finding this series much more smoothly written, and it'd be well worth re-trying! (Complex world-building still exists in this one and informs the plot/action, but is only detailed in notes at the end.)

Good fun -- looking forward to the next one!


This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.

[pastiesandpages - Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of Command Decision is a sequel to Forged In Battle and it's a welcome return for Captain Steele in this military sci-fi series.

Steele finds himself in the position of war hero and being talked about on the news after his actions in the first book.
His ship may be out of commission but that doesn't mean that Steele won't be seeing action against the Hegemony who have declared all out war against The Union. He's given a new role and mission which involves taking over as Captain of the Wolverine, a destroyer that has seen better days. The previous Captain has let discipline on board virtually disappear and the majority of the spaceship is in a state of disrepair.

Returning with Steele is his executive office Chase, and she remains a strong and welcome female character.
Also joining them is chief Kelly, an old and grizzled veteran who'd rather be retired and fishing but has links with the Wolverine and agrees to return in this time of war.

The first half of the book is really about Steele & co getting to grips with their new command, introducing tactics that will turn the crew around from a mutinous, lazy bunch, into a disciplined and effective unit capable of going to war.

The mission that Steele is tasked with seems simplistic but there's an underlying message to do harm to the enemy where possible.
There are machinations from a returning intelligence officer, the threat of pirates, and space battles as Steele is back in action and has to make Command Decisions.

It's a slower burn than the first novel with a lack of action in the first half but that doesn't make it any less tense or engaging.

A well written space adventure full of tactics, weapons and military detail.
A satisfying second book in the series which leaves you waiting for the next one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sequel to Forged in Battle has Captain Jaxson Steele being now a minor celebrity for his sort of victory at the start of the new war against the tyrannical Hegemony, which was the only positive thing the Union leaders could show the public after the Hegemony's surprise attacks.

Unfortunately, with his ship in for extensive repairs and the crew forged with so much care scattered throughout a fleet starved for battle-tested sailors and marines, Captain Steele seems destined to be selling war bonds for a good while, unless he takes another strange mission with an old spaceship - powerful once upon a time but now in dissaray due to an incompetent (peacetime) nepobaby captain and officers and crew to match.

With his trusted second, commander Chase who gets (and makes) the same choice, and an old retired NCO called up from his fishing life as crew chief, Steele has to bring his new command up to naval standards quite fast, and of course, the strange mission turns out to be even stranger, when an old acquaintance shows up with secret orders...

And so it goes with a mixture of personal heroics, tension, spaceship life and of course battles in a tense page turner whose only flaw is that it ends too soon - at a good tbc point, so no immediate cliffhanger, with the next book another asap.

Overall excellent spaceship mil-sf with all that one wants in such, set in an intriguing universe and with compelling characters.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marc Alan Edelheit returns with the second book in the Command Decision series, Shadow War. This gripping and action-packed military science fiction thriller continues the story of Captain Jaxon Steele from book one.

Steele is sent on a secret mission on a new ship to the independent Santana system. The action starts even before he leaves Fleet Headquarters and doesn’t let up as he takes command of the destroyer Wolverine. From an ill-maintained ship to failing systems to a mutinous crew to a secret mission, Steele and his Executive Officer and Chief of the Boat have their work cut out for them.

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 and support characters are introduced, but readers don’t learn anything of their background. However, readers do learn how they react under pressure. I wanted a little more depth.

Once again, the world-building is fantastic. It was easy to picture the Wolverine in the beginning and as it was transformed. Edelheit builds tension throughout the story. He also sets the right tone as the story progresses. There are several plot twists and a surprise or two along the way. He does a great job of creating pulse-pounding space combat scenes that were easy to visualize. Themes include secrets, war, derelict of duty, reconnaissance, teamwork, trust, and command decisions that affect lives. The author has added a helpful appendix at the back of the book that gives explanations for some of the technical aspects in the book as well as the current state of the world.

Overall, this is an entertaining and fast-paced military science fiction thriller with great worldbuilding and plenty of exceptional page-turning action scenes. 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.

Second Sky and Marc Alan Edelheit provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 13, 2026.
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My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon. My Book Tour date is Feb 14th.

[William Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Shadow Wars," by Marc Alan Edelheit, is the second book in a series called "Command Decision" being published by Second Sky (who provided me with the ARC from which I am working). It is an ongoing saga of a young and lucky commander, new to command but determined to do well within the constraints of his orders. While it is billed as "action packed," I actually found it kind of slow, particularly when compared to the sweeping tactical and strategic visions often associated with authors like David Webber or Jack Campbell. The book is very well written and edited (no small accomplishment these days) and is suitable for all audiences. It is important to note that it can be read as stand alone, but I already owned the first volume in the series, and I found it ("Forged in Battle") very helpful in terms of contextualizing the evolving plot. It puts me in mind of the Tom Corbett, Space Cadet series that I grew up on in the 1950's. The book is certainly appropriate for high school libraries and will hopefully attract some nascent readers there. The series itself may develop a following, but it is not for everyone.

[Dave Cheever · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a devoted reader of Marc Alan Edelheit, I was excited to get a early copy of this book to review via NetGalley. The second book in this series it begins with the aftermath of the events of the initial volume. Captain Steele is in the Admiralty Offices uncertain and wonder just what will be the fallout from the events of the initial volume. expecting the worst, he wonders what will be the punishment for his actions? This makes him a easy target for manipulation and before you know it he is off on another "secret" mission led and devised by black hat intelligence types. However this time his ship and crew are vastly different. Wolverine is unmaintained slovenly ship with an uncaring crew.

For those unfamiliar with Marc Alan Edelheit, expect plenty of combat and action within a well defined universe that is internally consistent. There are numerous pages of appendixes detailing this environment at the rear which leads the read to assume that this is a universe in which he plans to spend a great deal of time.

Well worth reading and on a par with many of the other military science fictions series being published currently.

[Marshall Clowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Jaxon Steele was very lucky to have escaped at the end of Forged in Battle. He manages to get his battered Ranger back to friendly territory and is "rewarded" by having her pulled out from under him. Ranger is in bad need of repairs, and command needs Steele in the action instead of nursing his ship.
Enter an old ship, long past her prime (perhaps?)... Wolverine.

Steele has to get her lackadaisical crew into shape and take the old girl back into a hornets' nest. It's an uphill fight to get the crew and the ship ready for action, but he's got some help. The Hegemony isn't sitting around, and Steele and his crew need to discover their full scope and purport. In short.... the Wolverine is about to go hunting. And of course, no initial plan survives contact with the enemy.

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Command Decision sci-fi series after Forged in Battle, following Captain Jaxon Steele as he takes command of Wolverine after his debut onboard UNS Ranger in book one.

Fast-paced and plot driven, this is a tightly told story that kept me interested. I enjoy how grounded this is, with the world and society well thought out, and the science explained in the thorough notes at the back.

I do feel that our protagonist is almost a little too infallible, but that is a minor quibble. This was a fun read.

[Amber K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is quickly becoming a fave for me! We are back with Captain Jaxon Steele, and this time is put in charge of the war ship Wolverine. The crew has been extremely lax and lacking in discipline for too long, and Steele's mission is to whip them back in shape along with the ship! He starts knocking heads as soon as he steps foot on the deck!! Another action-packed adventure that I freaking loved!!!
If you are not reading this series yet, what are you waiting for!!!

[Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Great book, excellent pacing. Just wish it was longer
Now the patient wait for the next installment. The setting is slowing being detailed and it is interesting and fertile for many more entries

[Bryan P. Seale, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down

Captain Steele has a healthy distressed distrust of the intelligence division of his military and it is well deserved. The author has created another cliffhanger that unfortunately you're going to have to wait for the next book to get to the end.

[Mr Chris J Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Military Sci-Fi Space Opera!

A good read, well worth reading the entire series! A must for military sci-fi fans. Good details and story telling, clearly defined goodies and baddies.

[John T Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the wait

As always Mr. Edelheit struck it out of the park. What a follow-up. This story pulled me quickly and I dedicated too much time to reading it. No regrets other than it finished to quickly. No to wait for the next chapter !

[gerald morson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riviting

Once again Marc brings a.fantastic story to us, Steele is a brilliant mind and planner, along with his crew they will be more than a match for the butcher ,gi morson

[Bowman Cutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic space navy combat

If you like classic space warfare sci fi with excellent combat scenes and classic heroes this one is for you.