What do you think?
Rate this book
Siege of the Forgotten Order
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26In the shattered remains of a post-apocalyptic world, civilization clings to survival while fanatical zealots scour the earth for ancient relics said to unlock gateways to powers beyond human comprehension. Standing between humanity and annihilation is the Shadow Hawks, an elite special operations unit led by Captain Gabe Davis. Hardened by war and bound by loyalty, the Hawks are thrust into a mission that pits them not only against ruthless extremists but against forces older and darker than any battlefield they’ve faced before.
From bombed-out cities to buried desert ziggurats, the Shadow Hawks hunt those who would use relics of unimaginable power to unleash monsters and gods long forgotten. Each operation brings them deeper into a web of secrets, betrayal, and ancient prophecies. Every firefight tests their resolve, every discovery blurs the line between myth and reality, and every mission forces them to question who they can truly trust, both in the field and among their supposed allies.
From bombed-out cities to buried desert ziggurats, the Shadow Hawks hunt those who would use relics of unimaginable power to unleash monsters and gods long forgotten. Each operation brings them deeper into a web of secrets, betrayal, and ancient prophecies. Every firefight tests their resolve, every discovery blurs the line between myth and reality, and every mission forces them to question who they can truly trust, both in the field and among their supposed allies.
375 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of Siege of the Forgotten, and this is my honest review. I’d like to thank Garrett Holt for providing an advance copy after putting out a call for ARC readers on TikTok.
As a longtime fan of fantasy and science fiction, the blurb immediately caught my attention. While dystopian stories aren’t usually my go-to genre, this book may have changed that—I’ll definitely be picking up more in the future.
The story follows two special forces teams tasked with preventing escalating disasters caused by militant regimes and religious extremists. The cast of characters is a strong point: some are immediately likable, while others will have you wanting to reach through the pages and give them a wake-up call (you’ll know who they are). The writing is clear and accessible, without overwhelming the reader with heavy military jargon.
Although the story takes place on Earth, the level of world-building and environmental detail is exceptional—some of the best I’ve read in quite some time. It adds depth and immersion without slowing the pace of the story.
I’m very much looking forward to Book 2 and would gladly jump at the chance to read another ARC in this series.
As a longtime fan of fantasy and science fiction, the blurb immediately caught my attention. While dystopian stories aren’t usually my go-to genre, this book may have changed that—I’ll definitely be picking up more in the future.
The story follows two special forces teams tasked with preventing escalating disasters caused by militant regimes and religious extremists. The cast of characters is a strong point: some are immediately likable, while others will have you wanting to reach through the pages and give them a wake-up call (you’ll know who they are). The writing is clear and accessible, without overwhelming the reader with heavy military jargon.
Although the story takes place on Earth, the level of world-building and environmental detail is exceptional—some of the best I’ve read in quite some time. It adds depth and immersion without slowing the pace of the story.
I’m very much looking forward to Book 2 and would gladly jump at the chance to read another ARC in this series.
Review of advance copy
This is a post apocalyptic story which I love! The book is easy to read and fast paced. It kept me questioning what was going to happen next and how it would end. It didn't disappoint and I can't wait for his next book! I dont want to give too much away because the book hasn't officially been released. Once it is out, I will update my review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the opportunity to read an advanced review copy of Siege of the Forgotten Order, and I have to say that I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. When I received my copy, I expected to find your typical military sci-fi storyline, but the plot has a creeping undercurrent that kept pulling me along, which, as a horror lover, I found quite satisfying.
As an editor in the speculative fiction genres, the book hits the major points I look for when evaluating submissions. The writing itself is solid in terms of craft, and it's reader accessible. The pacing is very good. It's a wonderful mix of description and action, so it feels very balanced overall, ebbing and flowing between bursts of combat and slower moments of tension and weirdness. This mix makes it incredibly engaging.
It seems Holt has a knack for worldbuilding, and I thought he did an excellent job. The world feels lived in, not just invented, and I found myself wanting to soak up all the little details. And the characterization is on point. There’s the sense that everyone is carrying around real damage we can’t see, all of it fitting for a world that’s “post-collapse.”
To give an example, I thought the Shadow Hawks as a whole were especially well done. They’re not presented as a generic elite squad. They come across as true individuals, not people-shaped cardboard cutouts. They have pasts, and those pasts bleed into the story in small, meaningful ways, whether it’s a look or a spot of dark humor. And yeah, you’re going to either love or hate them.
Another note on the characterization that I particularly appreciated is that the reactions feel real. They're not unreasonable or too little or unnatural. They make sense for what's happening and seem grounded in each character's personality. That kept me emotionally anchored in the story.
The best part is that Holt doesn’t just hand us a bunch of explosions and military strategy; we’re shown the very real, very human cost of war, the toll paid by those who survive. We’re given people who are desperately trying to hold themselves together despite everything. And frankly, that tickles the anthropologist in me to no end.
From a storytelling point of view, the way Holt handles the Eternal Shadow is also quite brilliant. Though we see talk of symbols and relics and strange visions, they’re never fully explained. Instead, we get the sense that they’re a source of pressure beneath the surface, a potential powder keg that could blow. That little bit of ambiguity really ramps up the tension, which hooks the reader even more.
The cliffhanger ending was very effective, I thought. Yes, it's unresolved, but it's also very satisfying in a strange way. This is a great opening novel for a much larger, darker series, and I look forward to the next one.
As an editor in the speculative fiction genres, the book hits the major points I look for when evaluating submissions. The writing itself is solid in terms of craft, and it's reader accessible. The pacing is very good. It's a wonderful mix of description and action, so it feels very balanced overall, ebbing and flowing between bursts of combat and slower moments of tension and weirdness. This mix makes it incredibly engaging.
It seems Holt has a knack for worldbuilding, and I thought he did an excellent job. The world feels lived in, not just invented, and I found myself wanting to soak up all the little details. And the characterization is on point. There’s the sense that everyone is carrying around real damage we can’t see, all of it fitting for a world that’s “post-collapse.”
To give an example, I thought the Shadow Hawks as a whole were especially well done. They’re not presented as a generic elite squad. They come across as true individuals, not people-shaped cardboard cutouts. They have pasts, and those pasts bleed into the story in small, meaningful ways, whether it’s a look or a spot of dark humor. And yeah, you’re going to either love or hate them.
Another note on the characterization that I particularly appreciated is that the reactions feel real. They're not unreasonable or too little or unnatural. They make sense for what's happening and seem grounded in each character's personality. That kept me emotionally anchored in the story.
The best part is that Holt doesn’t just hand us a bunch of explosions and military strategy; we’re shown the very real, very human cost of war, the toll paid by those who survive. We’re given people who are desperately trying to hold themselves together despite everything. And frankly, that tickles the anthropologist in me to no end.
From a storytelling point of view, the way Holt handles the Eternal Shadow is also quite brilliant. Though we see talk of symbols and relics and strange visions, they’re never fully explained. Instead, we get the sense that they’re a source of pressure beneath the surface, a potential powder keg that could blow. That little bit of ambiguity really ramps up the tension, which hooks the reader even more.
The cliffhanger ending was very effective, I thought. Yes, it's unresolved, but it's also very satisfying in a strange way. This is a great opening novel for a much larger, darker series, and I look forward to the next one.
January 12, 2026
This is a pre-release ARC read and review. Thank you Garrett Holt for allowing me to get a look at this book before its release.
If you like post-apocalyptic writing and military action thrillers pick up this book. The Shadow Hawks are trying figure out what they stumbled upon and why the higher ups are "lying"to them and what it all means. Fast paced military action with believable characters and a mystery as well as the fate of the world hangs in the balance in this 4+ star quick read.
January 13, 2026
My summary - the year is 2050, and the world is not what we know. The world has been militarily overhauled with new alliances and widespread annihilation. We follow Captain Gabe, who is part of a military romp, trying to make the world a better place by hunting down rogue, fanatical leaders. However, as he progresses through the missions, his team realizes there may be more than cults at play, but something altogether unworldly.
My review - I was absolutely thrilled to receive this ARC book directly from the author, who is one of my friends!! I was totally blown away by the verbose vocabulary. Each sentence was simply dripping with emotion and power. And this plot line was right up my alley - not only post apocalyptic despotic, but with cults and creepy foreboding and even something not of this world!
Why I read - a very grateful ARC
When to read - when you feel like going on a secret mission
My review - I was absolutely thrilled to receive this ARC book directly from the author, who is one of my friends!! I was totally blown away by the verbose vocabulary. Each sentence was simply dripping with emotion and power. And this plot line was right up my alley - not only post apocalyptic despotic, but with cults and creepy foreboding and even something not of this world!
Why I read - a very grateful ARC
When to read - when you feel like going on a secret mission
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall I enjoyed the book, if I had to describe it I would probably say that it felt like a crossover of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Tom Clancy's The Division.
The story follows a special operations team as they rush to stop an extremist group trying to bring about the end of the world. This book’s ending had me so wrapped up that I couldn’t tour it down, I had to find out how things ended.
The story follows a special operations team as they rush to stop an extremist group trying to bring about the end of the world. This book’s ending had me so wrapped up that I couldn’t tour it down, I had to find out how things ended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was hooked from the start and didn’t want to put it down. Great world building and realistic portrayal of small team dynamics makes it an authentic read. Throw in an ancient enemy and it just gets better. This is a must read,
Review of advance copy received from Author
Interesting read, very engaging- looking forward to more of the story/ series!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I finished the Advanced Copy of Siege of the Forgotten Order by Garrett Hoit, and I’m trying to figure out what in the world has been unleashed! This book starts out as a post-war, “whole new world” scenario centered around military operations and intel-gathering missions. But as the debriefings grow more opaque and untrustworthy, it becomes clear the team is being led into something far beyond their clearance level.
When unknown forces converge with religious cultist activity, Gabe and his unit find themselves trapped in the middle of a conflict most of them won’t walk away from, and the worst part is, their superiors knew exactly what they were sending them into.
Siege of the Forgotten Order has escalated to unfathomable proportions, and I am completely here for it.
When unknown forces converge with religious cultist activity, Gabe and his unit find themselves trapped in the middle of a conflict most of them won’t walk away from, and the worst part is, their superiors knew exactly what they were sending them into.
Siege of the Forgotten Order has escalated to unfathomable proportions, and I am completely here for it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews