I’ve read about a dozen of NSS’s books at this point, but this is the first completed series of his that I’ve finished. I must say, that at 7 books, this series hits my limit for how many books in a series I’m willing to commit to. And that magic # for me is actually 7. Fortunately, NSS knows just how to finish up a series without making me feel let down. Not everything is perfectly tied up, not everyone lives, and not everyone gets an HEA. The threat of the variants are still there, but the human villain of the story has finally been dealt with. As scary as the variants were, that man was a series piece of work and really gave the variants a run for their money on who the most threatening predator was.

I experienced every myriad of emotion in this book. From such a great amount of anger I would have to put the book aside, to coming undone and crying, to smiling like a goof. The characters are well drawn, and very real, and NSS really knows how to allow the natural growth of character development throughout the series. Pedro and Ringo will stay with me mind and heart for a long time to come. For such a hard-core, action filled, post-apocalyptic thriller, NSS also gave us many heart-string pulling moments, and very human and sensitive moments. I simply cannot recommend this series enough. By far one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time, and one I know I will gladly come back to in the future for a re-read.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Action-packed, nonstop action! Very fast paced and engaging! Post apocalyptic, military writing at its best! Unfortunately, I have not read the previous books in the series, so felt at a bit of a loss with the recurring characters. Nonetheless, a good read.

In case the threat of the monstrous Variants and the pending extinction of the human race wasn't enough, Nicholas Sansbury Smith adds in some extra tension with the possibility of another civil war. Rogue, fanatical soldier Andrew Wood and his Resistance of Tyranny (ROT, an acronym that feels a bit too on-the-nose for this vicious homegrown squadron of terrorists) are attempting to undermine President Ringgold by unleashing the infectious Hemorrhage Virus bioweapon upon the nation's Safe Zone Territories, while executing some grand-scale revenge against the members of Ghost Team. The bulk of Ghost Team's Delta operators, however, are waging war against the Variants in France and seeking to save Europe.

Smith weaves a strong sci-fi-military-horror narrative using multiple plot threads and presenting shifting viewpoints from a handful of characters. Opening with a battle for survival, Wounded Warrior Reed Beckham fights his way through a Safe Zone now overrun with horrors, catapulting the story from one violent and dangerous encounter to the next. Extinction War hits the ground running, hardly pausing to allow readers or the book's characters a chance to catch their breath. This is a guns-ablazing, pedal to the metal post-apocalyptic actioneer that speeds its way through the end of the world.

While there's plenty of alpha male mayhem, it's Smith's presentation of the women that I enjoy the most. They're not only smart and capable characters in position of power, but function as a necessary counterbalance to the horrors of this world, oftentimes inhabiting the roles of humanity's saviors. Both Dr. Kate Lovato and President Ringgold are tough go-getters, but they're also determined to fix the egregious and deliberate actions made by men. Men created the Hemorrhage Virus and destroyed humanity, but it's ultimately up to the women to save the world while a lot of the men run assist. Cool beans.

Extinction War looks to be the big finish to The Extinction Cycle series, and Smith ties up the dangling plot threads pretty nicely. Not all of the characters we've grown to love and admire over the course of seven novels make it through unscathed, but the story resolves itself in a satisfactory way. Smith, of course, has kept his bases covered should his publisher and fans demand a book eight. Never count out Team Ghost, after all. But if this is indeed the series finale, it goes out on a good note. I really wouldn't mind this being the last book though, and am savoring the idea of the survivors finally having a chance to unwind and relax for a bit. They've more than earned a rest.

[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]