An outstanding novel picking up on the exploits of the SAS after their campaign in Africa during WW2. The stories are full of action and first-hand accounts of the battles to make you feel as if you are there. This is a great read about heroic men and the hardships and trials they faced.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What do you know about the Special Air Service (SAS)? Do you know how they ran wild in North Africa behind enemy lines destroying airfields, attempting to capture Rommel, and generally creating havoc? But what would they do after North Africa was captured? The after part is what Forged in Hell seeks to tell, at least in part.

After an attention grabbing introduction, Damien Lewis takes the reader to a small eastern Mediterranean village of Azzib where the 1st SAS under Colonel "Paddy" Mayne was training for a particular task - scale a Sicilian cliff in the dead of night to take out guns that would threaten the Operation Husky invasion fleet. That was accomplished methodically and with few casualties among the SAS. After a few days of rest they were invited to invade the town of Augusta which they managed despite not knowing all of the defenses they would encounter. That invasion was a close-run affair that they survived due to their training and good luck. Their luck ran out on their next adventure when they helped spearhead the invasion of Italy proper. The landed on the wrong beach at Bagnara which turned out to be a blessing, but then they got pinned down by German forces as they advanced up the ridge line. Height means sight, and what could be seen could be and would be shelled. Thankfully more forces arrived and the Germans pulled back. After this the 1st SAS ran several small operations behind enemy lines trying to help prisoners escape. But then they were called on for a quick dash and grab operation at Termoli. The SAS and other forces were to grab Termoli on the east coast of Italy by sea behind enemy lines and hold it until the British forces could cross the Biferno River and break open the Viktor Line. Well the SAS and the British Commandos succeeded in seizing Termoli and some of the bridges but before British forces could cross in force, nature intervened with flooding rains that washed out the bridges leaving the SAS and their companions trapped and under siege by elite German paratrooper and panzer divisions, Here is where the SAS emphasis on training paid off. Despite extremely heavy losses, the SAS and the Commandos held until bridges were built and British tanks crossed over to relieve them. Their next stop - England for more training and another invasion. But that is the tale for another book!

If you are interested in small unit actions, the SAS, and/or the invasions of Sicily and Italy from a British point of view, Damien Lewis's Forged in Hell is a must read. He carefully tells the story with respect and proper documentation that lets the reader in on the viewpoint and emotions of the participants. Do take the time to read this exciting tale of heroism in combat!

Thanks Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to read this title!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this

I absolutely love reading anything and everything about WWII. This book is based on the writings of SAS Commander Blair "Paddy" Mayne. It explores their missions and activities during WWII. I don't know much about the SAS, but this book gave me a new found hard respect for them, and what they did to prevent their homeland, and Europe from falling.

I learned of Damien Lewis when I heard about the Guy Ritchie Film "Ministry of Ungentlemany Warfare." I enjoyed the movie, so I found some of his other books and read them. Really enjoy his writing style and subject matter

I owe my new found interest into WW2 to my mom. Who grew up during the War in Germany, whose gone to heaven now, miss her stories and every WW2 book I read is a tribute to her.

With "Forged in Hell", the author Damien Lewis, has taken the war diaries from Major Robert Blair Mayne, puts the reader on the SAS frontlines, it's so well researched, educational, he's a wordsmith like Stephen King or J.F. Penn, that can make a reader be enticed, engrossed in the writing and all while you as a reader are going too have a masterpiece to read. This one is one of my favorite reads of 2024. The SAS is repurposed, they lead the Allies into the invasion of Italy, the battles with the Italian Army, along with the Third Reich, through their casualties, you learn the harsh reality the soldiers faced and it ends in the perfect spot to start the sequel from.

Don't want to give anything away. I read "Forged in Hell", as if I was a fictional character battling along with the Mayne, his SAS soldiers and it made for an ultimate experience. this is one review that I may add more to in the future.

Definitely give the author Damien Lewis a try, he's WW2 historian writer, a great starting point to read about WW2, and will be your new favorite author.

Thanks to netgalley, the author and Kensington Publishing for the advance ARC.

Damien Lewis never lets me down with a great history book that reads like a page turning adventure novel. He tells the story of Special Air Service (SAS) forces, lead by Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne as they help liberate Europe as part of the largest invasion fleet in 1943 (before Operation Overlord).

As always another amazing read by Damien Lewis. As an American I love hearing stories of British troops, since he’s not the 1st stories we hear over here.

Thank you Kensington Publishing | Citadel. #ForgedinHell #NetGalley.

A well-researched, emotional, deep history of the SAS and its operations during WWII. Very interesting read. I love WWII stories and hearing these is just what I was looking for. Some of them are happy, some heart-wrenching, all of them delivered with care but not with unnecessary narrative. The book sticks to the stories as can be verified. Much appreciated.

Great addition to any library's WWII collection, written by one of the current masters. Will be ordering for my library.

This is a great story and fun to read. But earlier this year (or last) there was a series on NetFlix(?) that told the story of these WW2 soldiers work in North Africa. While in Africa, they worked behind the German Lines as a guerilla force, raising havoc by blowing up planes and material at scattered Afrika Corp bases.

They were known as the 'Desert Rats' and were very successful in making the German's lives miserable.

military, military-history, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, WW2, Italy, Italian-customs, British, British-forces, nonfiction, heroism, due-diligence*****

This very readable book describes the onset and development of what would become the gold standard in specialized fighting forces despite the shortsighted elimination of it after WW2. Thankfully, the author has already done the meticulous research into available aspects in the complex history of the SAS, thereby making it easier for the rest of us military history geeks. Well worth our time and expenditure for self and local library.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC minus numerous photos from Kensington Publishing | Citadel via NetGalley. Thank you. Pub Date Oct 22, 2024

Forged In Hell by Damien Lewis recounts the story of one SAS leader and his exploits in WWII. The bravery of these troops is undeniable and on display throughout the book. The writing is solid but lacked an emotional attachment. More of the cliched British stiff upper lip than one expected. I talked the bite and even humor found in one of Lewis' previous books, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. My thanks to #Netgalley and #Citadel for the opportunity to preview this book.