Fleet of the Forgotten is the first book in the sci-fi adventure series, Exiles of War. It is the story of Ryan Anders, an accidental cadet who basically won a lottery to get his slot at Fleet Academy. His placement was never meant to be anything real or significant, and he never really fit in with his privileged classmates, some of whom bullied him. Dan Thornton illustrates the class and societal differences within the military structure, which provides a deeper understanding of the importance of Ryan’s friendships with Anna and David. When an alien attack decimates their defense systems and leaves The Forge in shambles, Ryan finds himself in an unexpected leadership position, one which no one ever thought he was prepared to handle.

Fleet of the Forgotten isn’t just a sci-fi space adventure; it is also a bit of a thriller with two of Ryan’s classmates plotting against him simply because he was succeeding despite his lack of privilege. Dan Thornton’s story of Fleet Academy hits all the right notes in this high-stakes adventure. There’s friendship, romance, intrigue, class struggles, artificial intelligence, and all while in the midst of an alien invasion. It was such a delight to see the way Ryan stepped up, acknowledging the skill of known enemies like Elizabeth despite their tense history. The way he stepped up, relying on his intuition as well as his training, proved that guys like Slaunder were right to be afraid of him. Overall, this action-packed story held my attention from beginning to end.

The Interplanetary Security Alliance (ISA), a unified military organization, had been formed to protect Earth, its orbital stations, and space territories from attack. However, it seemed the ISA Fleet Academy was for the rich and powerful. They not only took most of the cadet slots but also wielded the most power and influence in the Academy. The poor depended on a lottery system to gain admission. Ahead of his graduation, and dreading being played by the cruel system, lottery cadet Ryan Anders is surprised when he is promoted to Junior Lieutenant status, the highest at his level, and flown to Forge, Earth’s largest space station, alongside other promoted cadets. When Forge comes under attack, Ryan finds himself thrust into a role he has always dreamed of. He must command the Cosmic Explorer, a deep-space research vessel, with a huge crew aboard, to safety. Find out how it all goes down in Dan Thornton’s Fleet of the Forgotten: The Forgotten Book 1.

Paying great attention to detail, Thornton brings the scenes to life with vivid depictions. The sentimental edge and the dramatic touch accompanying the storyline, alongside the juxtaposition of the cast’s complex traits, allowed me to connect with the latter. Through the cast, Thornton explores the themes of social class disparity, corruption, technological advancement, family, friendship, jealousy, power, and more. The story mirrors the real world in many ways. The rich and powerful often seem eager to abuse their power if it helps them enhance their status or maintain access to their privileges. And the only chance an underdog has at beating the odds and climbing to the top is fighting this oppressive dynamic with everything they have, whether it is wit or grit, or both. If you are looking for a novel flavored with military, space opera, adventure, and suspense, you will find Dan Thornton’s Fleet of the Forgotten an enthralling read.