Hell Divers II: Ghosts

After the earth had been made toxic and unhabitable, what's left of the population fled to the sky in air ships, only returning for supplies when needed. Now only one remains and how much longer can it stay flying. This is a very good book, with some interesting characters. It is the second book in the series, but I enjoyed it without having read the first, but probably best to read in order. Looking forward to the next book.

Readers of the first Hell Divers novel will feel right at home with Ghosts, Smith's follow-up to last year's hit.

Set ten years after the shocking ending of volume one in this trilogy, the Hell Divers continue to deploy from their airship to explore the poisoned, desolate remains of an uninhabitable Earth. This elite squad of future soldiers are constantly searching for parts to keep the Hive afloat and in one piece, a task easier said than done for a centuries old airship that has seen far better days. Adding to the importance of each mission is the unstated fact that humanity itself depends on their success. Aboard the Hive are four hundred souls, the last of a very nearly extinct human race.

Adding to the stakes in Ghosts are a duplicitous captain seeking to keep secret the truth of what waits below on the devastated planet. As certain factions aboard the Hive get closer to uncovering his lies, Captain Jordan will go to any lengths to keep those secrets hidden, including betraying the Hell Divers.

If you've been reading Smith's work for any length of time, then you'll know what to expect here - lots of frenetic military action and plenty of high-stakes adventure set against a high concept sci-fi backdrop, with plenty of horrifying, bloodthirsty monsters thrown into the mix. Hell Divers II: Ghosts has all this, plus a few new wrinkles to broaden the scope of the overarching Hell Divers story. This is a fun, fast-paced read and it sets the stage for a big, wild, head-long race to the finish in next year's Deliverance.

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

Much like the first book, this was an intense, gripping post-apocalyptic read. The world-building in this series is incredible and really makes me feel like I'm there, especially on the bleak, terrifying surface. The characters are all flawed and gruff, but most of them are still likeable and good people. The concept of the airship and the hell divers is such a unique one (I mean, come on, just look at the kick-butt suit on the cover). In short---these books are so well thought-out and well-written, and there is so much to love about them.

I felt like this book suffered a bit from middle book syndrome though. It seemed kind of repetitive (the ship was falling apart, hell divers had to go on dangerous missions, the surface was filled with mutated monsters that tried to kill them, etc.), and even though it did eventually start getting to the secrets mentioned in the blurb, it still seems like little actually happened plot-wise. But the things that did happen were significant, some info was found that shed more light on the world and the creatures, and it seems as though a lot of interesting stuff is going to happen in the next book.

There was one major difference between this book and the first one though, and that was the main characters. I admit I was disappointed to find out X wouldn't be a main character in this one since, to put it simply, his character was awesome, but all the hell diver POV characters were just as unique and well-written. I've read a lot of books lately in which all the third person POVs sounded the same, but I never found myself getting confused about whose POV I was in while reading this book. And for anyone who has finished Book 1 but is unsure about whether to continue because of the ending, *SPOILER* he survived! And although he did not make an appearance in this book, aside from the prologue, he is presumed to still be alive, and it seems likely he'll make an appearance again in Book 3. *END SPOILER*

There was also Captain Jordan instead of Captain Ash this time, and JORDAN WAS AN AWFUL PERSON. He liked to pretend he had the best interests of all the people on the ship at heart, but most of his decisions were actually as selfish as selfish can get. If you like a good hate-able antagonist to root against, you won't be disappointed. *SPOILER* It was funny, he made up a story about how the hell divers were planning to kill him, even though they weren't, but, in a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy kind of way, they did all want to kill him by the end. *END SPOILER*

Overall, despite some repetition in the plot, this was a gripping book that I didn't want to put down with flawed but good-hearted characters, intense scenes, and a unique, complex post-apocalyptic world!

I love a summer sequel; getting reacquainted with some old friends, making some new ones and just enjoying the time spent together. The familiarity of the sequel is comforting. I am already invested in the world, I know the backstory, and I have an idea of where I would like the adventure to go. Ghosts fits the summer sequel spot superbly.

In all honesty, I think that Hell Divers #2 had some challenges to overcome. You see, I felt like the original was a complete story. I didn’t think that I needed anything more, but curiosity got the best of me and I jumped at the opportunity to read book #2. Well, Sansbury Smith kicked this one off with an unexpected bang and I was on board. He created a necessity where there was none.

With X out of the picture, we have a new hero. Our little friend Tin from book #1 is all grown up and has enlisted in the family business. He is the perfect hero to pick up where X left off. He is everything that X is not, yet the two have so much in common. As a reader, I was glad to see that things worked out for Tin, as much as they could in this environment. It was good to see him come into his own. Tin is not X, but he is just as complex. The supporting cast contained a mix of new and familiar faces, each one critical in moving the story forward. The villain, well, he is just pure “Dr. Evil”, I loved to hate him.

Ghosts was a great story that pulled me further into the franchise. Unlike book #1, this story is not over, the shit has really hit the fan and I’ll be sticking around to find out where it all lands. I have a summer sequel for 2018 already on my list.​

4.5 Stars

Returning to the dystopian world of a radioactive and scorched earth, we discover that X didn’t die in the first book. He survived, and began to make his way across the wastelands of the United States from Hades to the east coast . . . but did he make it, or not?

Ten years later, Michael aka Tin and the other Hell Divers begin to discover that Captain Jordan has been withholding information. In a desperate attempt to force his people to realize that the only chance for survival is to continue aboard the Hive, Jordan sends a team down to search for survivors from a mystery SOS beacon. But did anyone survive the 260 years of hell? Or it is another trap for the Hell Divers?

This is a non-stop adrenaline rush of action, monsters and terror wrapped around the question of the price for humanity’s survival. One question is never asked but haunted me throughout the course of the book—at what point do we cease being human?

As before, each character wants to survive against the ever mounting odds and a steadily failing ship, but their ideas for salvation all differ, making the different objectives and the consequences of their choices play out in deadly and destructive ways. (view spoiler)

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This novel is set 10 years after Hell Divers. It follows a new cast of characters… well sort of. These characters are just all grown up now whereas they were still children/teens in the previous book. Leon Jordan is now captain of the Hive. He isn’t likeable or caring, he only cares about remaining in power and protecting his girlfriend Katrina whether she likes it or not. Jordan becomes paranoid someone is discovering hidden secrets so when an accident forces the ship in peril he decides to use this opportunity to get rid of his trouble. However, things go wrong when Hell Divers are sent to the surface and discover the truth anyways.

This novel was amazing, almost as good as the first one (close but the first novel was epic). The characters weren’t as likeable, from the sadistic and evil Captain to whinny Katrina. Jordan was a well written bad guy but Katrina just whined or manipulated to get her own way. And I hated how many times she almost cried. I really liked Magnolia, Tin and Rodger; they had their own quirks, attitudes and jokes.

The plot was awesome, the story kept me constantly on my toes. There wasn’t as much world building as the previous novel but there was a lot more secrecy and manipulation. I loved how the author hinted at certain secrets being revealed before he revealed them, it allowed the reader to guess what would occur before (I guessed correct 😉). I thought the origin of the Sirens was well researched and developed, not sure if the science is correct but it blended into the novel perfectly.

The one major bummer about the novel was the lack of Xavier. The beginning of the novel hinted at his return and I kept hoping he would make an appearance. I have a feeling he will make an epic appearance in the third novel though.

I cannot wait to read the next novel and am quite sad to hear it will be a whole year till its release. Oh well, if you want quality reading sometimes you just must wait. Plan to buy the next novel ASAP. I would suggest this novel to all apocalypse/horror fans as it is an amazing, action packed and well written novel.

The Hell Divers series has been such a pleasure to read. It's not only original, imaginitive, or well written, it's wildy entertaining. The idea behind it is brilliant. If you like Post-apocalyptic books or thrillers then you need to read this one.

Don't miss out!

Worst part about reading a NSS book? Having to wait a whole year for the next one!! WAAAAA!!!

I always wait too long to review NSS’s books. It’s obviously not that I don’t love them, I just always think if I give myself some more time the perfect review will just come to me.

That is not the case. So, I’m going to keep this short and sweet.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction with a militaristic viewpoint, and you haven’t read a Nicholas Sansbury Smith book yet, then shame on you! I can say for certain that NSS is one of maybe 5 authors I will immediately read whatever they write because I always enjoy them. Hell Divers 2 was no different. I devoured this book once I started it! And if you’ve read HD1 then you know exactly why. Taking place almost 10 years after Hell Divers 1, we are definitely left with a lot of holes to be filled. Many of these are taken care of in this 2nd installment, as the book goes on, but again, we get to the ending and I’m screaming and throwing my hands up in the air as I silently cry and pout about not having the next book yet. HD2 had just as much action and mutants as HD1, but HD2 gives us a whole different kind of villain. A man who is selfish, despicable, and I swear, emotionless. I’ll be very happy to find out what his comeuppance ends up being in book 3.

I’m not going into anything else because I don’t want there to be spoilers for anyone that is trying to decide if they want to pick up this series, or not. But here’s my advice, READ IT! READ IT NOW!!! Then join me in my misery as I wait for book 3…

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

one of the best Sci=fi series I have ever read! Even better than Fifth Wave and Red Rising! Full review coming soon!

Nicholas Sansbury Smith just continues to get better and better. I started reading his Extinction Cycle series a few years ago and it has been of great enjoyment to see how much his writing has improved since then. Keeping with the post-apocalyptic theme that is right in Smith’s wheelhouse, we have the follow-up to his breakout hit ‘Hell Divers’, which was an Audible Editor’s Pick of 2016 and an Audible Best of 2016 Science Fiction. Though no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy Ghosts, it is nice to have some context as to how exactly we got to this point.

Set a decade after the events of Book 1, we are introduced to the new Hell Diver Raptor Team and its commander, Michael Everheart. When a distress beacon calls the divers to the surface, Michael leads his team from the safety of their home in the sky, into the throes of an electrical storm and the desolation that awaits them on the surface. What they do not expect is to uncover secrets that their fearless leader, Captain Jordan, has buried in order to keep his place of power. Meanwhile, the surface is even more of a danger zone as the creatures left behind from WW3 have begun mutating and pose more of a threat than ever before. They dive for humanity’s survival, but at what cost?

While the characters are very much surface-level as far as depth, Smith does give the reader plenty to enjoy from his heroes/heroines, and even the antagonists. But what you really come for is the gunfights and monsters. The author has created many creatures over the years and they continue to evolve into some of the most disturbing and downright scary things you would ever want to come across. He also does a phenomenal job of world-building, starting with the airships which hold the last of humanity (or so we think) and ending with the devastation that is Earth.

All in all, if you want a rip-roaring roller coaster ride from hell ride condensed into book form, look no further. Smith certainly knows his stuff and I cannot wait to see what awaits us in Deliverance (Hell Divers, #3), which comes out on May 15th.