"Marmell sets a tone that combines flash and action with solid characterization and clever humor. Marmell's characters are memorable and compelling, and his creativity and originality within the steampunk fantasy genre makes him a remarkable storyteller. This one is a keeper."

"Marmell's proved himself time and again as a great author, with a clear love of cloak and dagger mystery, and In Thunder Forged affords him opportunity to give us plenty of that, and more. The spy plotline aside, he also delivers some terrific and often moving battle sequences as characters he's brought to life face the ultimate sacrifice in support of their different allegiances."

-SciFiPulse.net

"A mix of magic and mayhem, Marmell has created a novel that will appeal to both fans of the game and of the steampunk genre alike."        

-British Science Fiction Association

"In Thunder Forged is a well-told tale of high-stakes espionage across the borders of war-torn kingdoms...I admire the author's choice to include an abundance of female characters without feeling any need to give them stereotypically feminine traits. I recommend In Thunder Forged to anyone looking for a fast-moving action-packed adventure with a fantasy twist and complex, intersecting plotlines."

-Steampunk Canada 

"The author really doesn't care what expectations we might come with, he just writes a damn fine adventure with espionage sitting alongside and then merging with military fiction with a high fantasy context and steampunk weaponry allied with sword and sorcery. Sorry, that's actually misleading. I should have written "pistols and sorcery"... a real page turner...[It's] beautifully written in a stripped down, no-nonsense style that blasts us through the action. It's also innovative and, perhaps even more importantly in these modern days, gender blind."

-Thinking About Books  

"What you have is what I call a hybrid espo-military thriller that does both surprisingly well. The intrigue has layers (like ogres and onions) that grow more complex as the story progresses. The combination of so many genres can sometimes results in a messy failure, but Ari Marmell managed this melting pot deftly and, in the process, created exciting fight scenes, epic explosions, and cunning intrigue."

-Kobold Press

"Players will especially enjoy this opening gamut; while outsiders who appreciate an entertaining espionage military steampunk plot with strong women on both sides of the hostilities will also want to read Ari Marmell's engaging tale."

"Fans of the game will not be disappointed...those unfamiliar with the gaming realm, (such as ourselves) we found the plot easy to engage into as the story pulls no punches in the ideals of steampunk fare... Marmell pulls off a fine tale that juxtaposes the action that fans of the Iron Kingdoms Chronicles have come to expect with a high-paced level of storytelling that make for an engaging read... Read In Thunder Forged to gain insight and a crucial edge into your next late-night journey into the realm of the Iron Kingdoms, or check it out if you're just in the market for a good summer fantasy adventure!"