Survival is only the beginning.

A covert mission. A devastating ambush. A battle they were never meant to win.

When rookie operative Mark Taylor and his team crash-land on Tinaree, the latest battleground in a brutal galactic war, survival becomes a harrowing test of endurance. Captured by enemy forces and sold to a mine as slave labor, they are thrust into a world of torment, shifting alliances, and buried secrets.

As Taylor suffers ruthless torture, his team moves in the shadows, gathering intel and planning their escape. But the deeper they dig, the clearer it becomes—their survival wasn’t a coincidence. Someone orchestrated their capture, and the truth behind it isn’t just about the war—it’s about Taylor himself.

With trust fraying and the enemy always one step ahead, Taylor must decide how far he’s willing to go, not just to survive, but to uncover a conspiracy where the enemy knows more about his past than he does—one that could tip the balance of the war itself. Because on Tinaree, escaping is only the beginning and survival may have been part of the plan all along.

Survival was never the goal.

Perfect for fans of Marko Kloos, Richard Fox, and Kameron Hurley, Trial by Inferno blends high-stakes military sci-fi, psychological endurance, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood forged in fire.