Warlord by S.M. Stirling and David Drake

The city of Bellevue stands on the brink of destruction. The alien overlords who rule humanity through the Combat Masters’ Games now face rebellion from within—and one soldier is ready to fight back. Raj Whitehall, a tactical genius born in chains, must lead his people against impossible odds to reclaim their freedom. As he uncovers the hidden technologies of the ancients, Raj’s battle becomes more than a war for survival — it is a war to reshape the future of humankind. Warlord blends military strategy, political intrigue, and interstellar rebellion in a pulse-pounding tale of courage, destiny, and the unyielding will to rise.