Hell Divers VII: Warriors by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Wow.

I settled down to read this next instalment in the saga of the Hell Divers, and once again was blown away into the electrical storms with their mutant creatures, human-hating machines and some seriously twisted humans. Into the world, too, of X, Roger, Mags, Michael, Les… all our old friends, along with some new ones. Dark, gritty and violent, the world of the Hell Divers isn’t one for someone with a delicate stomach – but thank goodness it’s fiction! Right?

I loved how Smith expanded the story in this book, taking his Hell Divers farther across the world than they’d been before, and facing even more dangerous threats. After all, what do you expect when you decide to take on the machines? But once again, Smith reminds us that, all too often, the true monsters hide behind human faces.

An excellent story so well told, and I look forward to reading the next one very much.

Extinction Darkness (Extinction Cycle: Dark Age 4) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J Melchiorri

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

What an explosive, fantastic conclusion to one of the best series I’ve read in a long time. The Extinction world has been around for a good few years now, and it was wonderful to see Melchiorri and Smith team up to write this sequel series to the original. And what a ride it has been.

Thank you SO much for taking the time to give us more of Fitz, Reed, Horn and all the other characters in this series, and for introducing us to some fabulous new ones. Cornelius, Corrin, Timothy and Azrael, to name a few. If you ever want to write more, I’ll be ready to read more any day.

Black Sheep (Flight of the Javelin Book 1) by Rachel Aukes

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Be careful going out on a colony ship – you never know what you may find in the next quadrant over.

Having read the Fringe series, I couldn’t wait to pick this one up, especially as it stars Throttle. And my eagerness to read it was well rewarded. This book is a lot of fun, with plenty of danger and action. It was really good to get to know Throttle better and see her in action, leading her crew and caring for her colonists.

Oi, but Ms Aukes is a tricksy one! I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

Sons of War by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

The first of a new series from Smith, Sons of War is outstanding. Dark and gritty, Smith mixes Italian Mafia in with his trademark military flavour.

I found this book an easy read, with Smith’s words weaving the pictures in my mind. When a second civil war comes to the United States, fighting to stay afloat amid the turmoil, violence and chaos are the Moretti crime family, taking the opportunity war provides to build an empire in LA, and the Salvatore family, residents of the same city.

I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing the rest of the story of these sons of war.

Extinction Ashes by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J Melchiorri

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Following the attack on Manchester, we rejoin the story with Beckham and his family and friends in the air, hoping for a safe landing somewhere. That turns out to be the beleaguered New York outpost and the brave men and women fighting to protect their own.

I found this book the darkest of the series this far, and as a consequence it was a difficult read. But this is all good, as I’m heavily invested in the characters, so it makes for challenging reading when they’re going through tough times. At one point I almost gave up hope, but then I learned that there’s another book to come, so that perked me up a bit.

It was really good to spend more time with Team Ghost and the rest of the characters between the pages of this book. The ending was satisfactory in terms of some issues being resolved, and I look forward to the next book very much.