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Verdict of Steel
When justice has teeth, someone always bleeds.
Stripped of rank but not her oath, former military judge Josephine Givens crashes into a frozen wasteland—and discovers something that shouldn't exist. Something massive. Something waiting.
The AI calls itself JUDGEMENT. It recognizes her authority. It obeys her verdicts.
In a world where the Meridian Corporation controls life through elevator licenses and oxygen quotas, one woman holds the key to a weapon that fires only when the law allows. Someone buried this warship for a reason. Someone powerful enough to rewrite history itself.
As corporate death squads close in and the body count rises, Josephine must Is she liberating justice or unleashing judgment?
Will she become the arbiter the oppressed need—or the executioner the powerful fear?
Download now to discover what verdict a warship renders when law meets tyranny.
Stripped of rank but not her oath, former military judge Josephine Givens crashes into a frozen wasteland—and discovers something that shouldn't exist. Something massive. Something waiting.
The AI calls itself JUDGEMENT. It recognizes her authority. It obeys her verdicts.
In a world where the Meridian Corporation controls life through elevator licenses and oxygen quotas, one woman holds the key to a weapon that fires only when the law allows. Someone buried this warship for a reason. Someone powerful enough to rewrite history itself.
As corporate death squads close in and the body count rises, Josephine must Is she liberating justice or unleashing judgment?
Will she become the arbiter the oppressed need—or the executioner the powerful fear?
Download now to discover what verdict a warship renders when law meets tyranny.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 28, 2025
Needs Proofreading
The basic story line is entertaining but the author needs several good proofreaders to go through his book several times. Example, an 8 year child is imprisoned then rescued by the protagonist and returned to her family at their apartment. Later the same child appears on the command deck of the space battleship and talks to the heroine. Then a chapter later the same little girl is killed in her apartment. The dictators that control Earth do not let residents freely move outside their building.
Also, the ship’s doctor is an artificial intelligence robot. At one point he is depicted as exhausted. Robots don’t get exhausted. There are other instances of inconsistencies that proofreaders would catch.
The basic story line is entertaining but the author needs several good proofreaders to go through his book several times. Example, an 8 year child is imprisoned then rescued by the protagonist and returned to her family at their apartment. Later the same child appears on the command deck of the space battleship and talks to the heroine. Then a chapter later the same little girl is killed in her apartment. The dictators that control Earth do not let residents freely move outside their building.
Also, the ship’s doctor is an artificial intelligence robot. At one point he is depicted as exhausted. Robots don’t get exhausted. There are other instances of inconsistencies that proofreaders would catch.
November 30, 2025
Interesting story line but in serious need of an editor and proofreader. Timeline is all over the place and there is no continuity.
November 30, 2025
Good. Could be better. This is a great read, but it seriously needs an editor.
This book needs an editor. And a bag load of pronouns and articles. The constant writing in telegraphic style is annoying. Add to that the constant repetitions, verbatim, across pages and chaoters: not good. Characters who know names they absolutely cannot, like the little girl naming Josephine by her name while she's under cover, or her war name while serving 10 years prior. It's almost pretty annoying, as in, bad writing. Too bad, it's a good story. It would be great to hear the back stories of everyone, make them feel more real, not just cardboard support.
This book needs an editor. And a bag load of pronouns and articles. The constant writing in telegraphic style is annoying. Add to that the constant repetitions, verbatim, across pages and chaoters: not good. Characters who know names they absolutely cannot, like the little girl naming Josephine by her name while she's under cover, or her war name while serving 10 years prior. It's almost pretty annoying, as in, bad writing. Too bad, it's a good story. It would be great to hear the back stories of everyone, make them feel more real, not just cardboard support.
December 3, 2025
Verdict of Steel was a really good story. Too bad it is plagued with continuity errors. Apparently, the authors didn't see fit to have any proofreaders go over the book to point out areas where things happened multiple times, or where they happened in the wrong place. Had they done that, this book would be a whole lot better, and may even be four star worthy. But, unfortunately, if the story itself wasn't as good as it was, I'm not sure it would have rated a 3 star rating from me.
I really liked the story, but I don't know if I'll read future books in this series, since continuity errors always throw me off, and this book had more than it's fair share of those. If you aren't bothered by those kinds of thing, then you're likely to really enjoy this story, and I think that's a good thing, because it's a really good story, as I said, I just don't understand why authors don't get others to check their work before releasing it, but that's not the focus of this review (or at least it shouldn't be). I should be telling you that the premise is great, the characters are true to their morals, and the story flows along about as well as can be expected. I like the fact that the main character was constantly wrestling with her conscience over what was required to solve the problems facing them. That isn't something we see often enough in books published today.I did like the story, despite my gripes above, but I sincerely hope the next book has a continuity round of proofreading before it's released. There's around a half a dozen issues in this one that fundamentally change the story but really shouldn't have affected it at all. But enough of that. If you're a fan of this kind of story, you're likely to find this one to be a pleasant read, unless you're a kermudgen like myself that lets errors in the storyline break you out of the enjoyment of the story.
I really liked the story, but I don't know if I'll read future books in this series, since continuity errors always throw me off, and this book had more than it's fair share of those. If you aren't bothered by those kinds of thing, then you're likely to really enjoy this story, and I think that's a good thing, because it's a really good story, as I said, I just don't understand why authors don't get others to check their work before releasing it, but that's not the focus of this review (or at least it shouldn't be). I should be telling you that the premise is great, the characters are true to their morals, and the story flows along about as well as can be expected. I like the fact that the main character was constantly wrestling with her conscience over what was required to solve the problems facing them. That isn't something we see often enough in books published today.I did like the story, despite my gripes above, but I sincerely hope the next book has a continuity round of proofreading before it's released. There's around a half a dozen issues in this one that fundamentally change the story but really shouldn't have affected it at all. But enough of that. If you're a fan of this kind of story, you're likely to find this one to be a pleasant read, unless you're a kermudgen like myself that lets errors in the storyline break you out of the enjoyment of the story.
December 12, 2025
This seemed interesting at the beginning, and I was looking forward to an enjoyable read. So it was particularly disappointing when the shape of the story became clearer, and the weaknesses became evident. I don't it's the writing quality that's at fault, it's the content of the story and its presentation that's the problem. There's an aura of fakeness about the whole thing, as if it was all carefully designed to appeal to a segment of scifi readers (morally upright lead character opposing despicable tyranny run by those evil large corporations, magically powerful AI battleship, fighting against odds, etc.). Even some ads have more authenticity.
There's also some pomposity and self-satisfaction implied in the discussion of moral judgments and tradeoffs, as if there's only one set of right answers in every situation (and of course our heroine has them, impeccably). I found this particularly offensive, but that's probably just me.
Pretty quickly the story got bogged down in the "detailed tactical assault plan" nonsense, with lots of pseudo-technical detail and related bs. I gave up at this point, I didn't see it becoming something I'd enjoy.
There's also some pomposity and self-satisfaction implied in the discussion of moral judgments and tradeoffs, as if there's only one set of right answers in every situation (and of course our heroine has them, impeccably). I found this particularly offensive, but that's probably just me.
Pretty quickly the story got bogged down in the "detailed tactical assault plan" nonsense, with lots of pseudo-technical detail and related bs. I gave up at this point, I didn't see it becoming something I'd enjoy.
December 6, 2025
I got caught
Arresting book in many ways. Legal as in breaking law and being restrained. Motion as in way to stop a jet on the deck of carrier in a flight of fancy or fancy flight. Medical way as in stopping a process such as a heart attack or stroke from a blockage. Dystopia is familiar. Answer is not. As in a few current books there is a problem with editing. Name of main character gets confused even with preview of next in series. Significant "girl in red as in Spielberg " gets muddled with names, places, parents, passing of drawings and most sadly the avenged death of the 47th floor. Also some confusion about rescued prisoners and employ throughout ship. These deleted from delight. My blame goes to beta readers.
Arresting book in many ways. Legal as in breaking law and being restrained. Motion as in way to stop a jet on the deck of carrier in a flight of fancy or fancy flight. Medical way as in stopping a process such as a heart attack or stroke from a blockage. Dystopia is familiar. Answer is not. As in a few current books there is a problem with editing. Name of main character gets confused even with preview of next in series. Significant "girl in red as in Spielberg " gets muddled with names, places, parents, passing of drawings and most sadly the avenged death of the 47th floor. Also some confusion about rescued prisoners and employ throughout ship. These deleted from delight. My blame goes to beta readers.
January 4, 2026
Disappointing
Let me start by saying the I liked the story. However, there were so many inconsistencies that I I could not enjoy it. The ship was dormant for 20 years, no 40, no 20. The child was on the ship with her family, no the child died in the tower. The military knew the main character was alive and responsible for destroying their compounds, no it was a complete surprise. So many issues. This may have been written by AI. An incompetent AI. In any case, the people who put their names on the book should have at least done a final read through prior to publication. I only gave it two stars rather than one because I did finish reading it.
Let me start by saying the I liked the story. However, there were so many inconsistencies that I I could not enjoy it. The ship was dormant for 20 years, no 40, no 20. The child was on the ship with her family, no the child died in the tower. The military knew the main character was alive and responsible for destroying their compounds, no it was a complete surprise. So many issues. This may have been written by AI. An incompetent AI. In any case, the people who put their names on the book should have at least done a final read through prior to publication. I only gave it two stars rather than one because I did finish reading it.
December 6, 2025
Verdict of Steel review
I would give 5 Stars but...
Bad part: There were too many inconsistent parts (ie timelines and locations of people/places were misused or contradictory throughout-- at one point a character who died somehow came back and had a monologue) and the book really needs a good editor.
Good parts: Really good premise and interesting characters made it actually a solid 4.5 Star Review.
I would give 5 Stars but...
Bad part: There were too many inconsistent parts (ie timelines and locations of people/places were misused or contradictory throughout-- at one point a character who died somehow came back and had a monologue) and the book really needs a good editor.
Good parts: Really good premise and interesting characters made it actually a solid 4.5 Star Review.
December 14, 2025
not quite steel
Story was pretty good. Characters development came along well. Biggest problem to me was a LOT of repetitive narrative. Went through a lot of things twice, one right after another. I got it the first time. A couple of times explained way too much. A couple of inconsistencies in areas, especially technical side. First saying can do something and then not. Or can’t do something and then can.
Story was pretty good. Characters development came along well. Biggest problem to me was a LOT of repetitive narrative. Went through a lot of things twice, one right after another. I got it the first time. A couple of times explained way too much. A couple of inconsistencies in areas, especially technical side. First saying can do something and then not. Or can’t do something and then can.
December 17, 2025
I like the story, really like the characters but some plot inconsistencies left me annoyed. In one scene, Claire gives Josephine a picture while Josephine is in her command area. Then later, Claire is back in the Tower for that climactic event. Another mistake involves Elena. At one point she’s one of the 43 rescued people but later she’s back in the Tower with neighbors. Some grammatical oddities annoyed me, not using “a” when talking about something.
I probably won’t look for the next book
I probably won’t look for the next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
Lots of Conflicts
The story is basically a continuous series of battles and conflicts, often with superior forces with the protagonists aided by significant technological support from a twenty year old dreadnought. There are a few random rare moments of quiet peace, but never any peaceful resolutions. It was more tiresome than entertaining, unfortunately, and I doubt I will follow the series.
The story is basically a continuous series of battles and conflicts, often with superior forces with the protagonists aided by significant technological support from a twenty year old dreadnought. There are a few random rare moments of quiet peace, but never any peaceful resolutions. It was more tiresome than entertaining, unfortunately, and I doubt I will follow the series.
January 3, 2026
The premise of this story is refreshing. The execution of the story is appalling (read other reviews for specifics). It is obvious that there was no competent proofreading of the text prior to publication. I have read dozens of books with Michael Anderle's name as an author or co-author and this publication should be an embarrassment to him.
January 22, 2026
Reviewed by Beth
Holy Cow Batman!
This series/books are worth your time and money. It is a great story!
What an intense read! The story had me in the first sentence. I finished thus book @ 1:11am and about to start the next one.
As I read I was thinking about "now" how close to reality this story could be.
Holy Cow Batman!
This series/books are worth your time and money. It is a great story!
What an intense read! The story had me in the first sentence. I finished thus book @ 1:11am and about to start the next one.
As I read I was thinking about "now" how close to reality this story could be.
December 1, 2025
An interesting premise and an excellent story
In a world filled with oppression and suppression a set of unlikely circumstances creates the possibility for the righting of wrongs. Good characters and a fast paced story made for a book I couldn’t put down
In a world filled with oppression and suppression a set of unlikely circumstances creates the possibility for the righting of wrongs. Good characters and a fast paced story made for a book I couldn’t put down
December 22, 2025
Yes, this needs an editor!
Good storytelling, but dystopian. Two blatant continuation errors. Probably from quick and dirty revisions. Not a 'fun' story, just exciting - beating / winning against bad guys.
Good storytelling, but dystopian. Two blatant continuation errors. Probably from quick and dirty revisions. Not a 'fun' story, just exciting - beating / winning against bad guys.
January 2, 2026
AI or human author?
No half star, so I rounded up. I concur with other reviewers. Major glaring error -
Claire Thurmond s mother . How can she be in two places.
Hoping that book two corrects the inconsistencies of book one.
No half star, so I rounded up. I concur with other reviewers. Major glaring error -
Claire Thurmond s mother . How can she be in two places.
Hoping that book two corrects the inconsistencies of book one.
January 23, 2026
Bad storyline!!!!
Why is there such a BAD STORYLINE around the MAIN CHARACTER!!!!
Elana, CLAIRE, MARCUS….. Claire is in detention, removed… family at Judgement…. then family shot/ killed /all…. then Elana widow… telling Josephine… I stand with you.
Why is there such a BAD STORYLINE around the MAIN CHARACTER!!!!
Elana, CLAIRE, MARCUS….. Claire is in detention, removed… family at Judgement…. then family shot/ killed /all…. then Elana widow… telling Josephine… I stand with you.
March 23, 2026
a hard read
I once had a teacher say don’t write about something you know nothing about…
Seems to be the case here, I would suggest the writer study things like life under dictatorships, USSR, Nazi Germany… the list is long
The characters are hard to connect with
I once had a teacher say don’t write about something you know nothing about…
Seems to be the case here, I would suggest the writer study things like life under dictatorships, USSR, Nazi Germany… the list is long
The characters are hard to connect with
April 1, 2026
Good book and great characters and story
This was a good book filled with great characters and a fun story. Lots of action, some adventure, and enough high tech to have fun along the way. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
This was a good book filled with great characters and a fun story. Lots of action, some adventure, and enough high tech to have fun along the way. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
November 27, 2025
I technically give this book a 4.5. Many parts of the book were extremely repetitive. I kept thinking that some of the pages were printed twice. I look forward to book 2.
December 1, 2025
Is this AI written.
the narrative has no depth, there are constant repetitions, and it can't keep a timeline straight to save itself.
the narrative has no depth, there are constant repetitions, and it can't keep a timeline straight to save itself.
December 9, 2025
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
December 10, 2025
Would be a 4, but needs editing with grammar and the timeline needs to get fixed.
December 28, 2025
DISJOINTED
After a reasonable start the story became very disjointed. Hard to find a preposition. No character development. Was this written by AI?
After a reasonable start the story became very disjointed. Hard to find a preposition. No character development. Was this written by AI?
December 29, 2025
Ai generated
As others have said reads like it was written by ai, without any real human review, plots concept was good just,......
As others have said reads like it was written by ai, without any real human review, plots concept was good just,......
January 1, 2026
Justice will it survive
In a world where justice is all but forgotten. Fate has a way to restore the balance. Brilliant.must 📚 read
In a world where justice is all but forgotten. Fate has a way to restore the balance. Brilliant.must 📚 read
February 19, 2026
The story had great potential. But like everyone else reviews it’s a hot mess. Also the characters were flat, no life to them at all.
February 25, 2026
Different sci fi
Thought it was a bit slow to start but it soon sucked me in. Now I've read to the last page and await for the next book with bated breath.
Nicely done Michael
Thought it was a bit slow to start but it soon sucked me in. Now I've read to the last page and await for the next book with bated breath.
Nicely done Michael
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews