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.

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.

Extinction Inferno (Extinction Cycle: Dark Age #2) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J Melchiorri

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Phew, now that was a ride!

In this book, the Allied States are only just beginning to tap into how organised their enemy is – and I suspect there is much more to come. Team Ghost, as always, are right in the thick of events – and run ragged – while Lovato once again has the task of investigating a scientific solution to the problem. Beyond that, Beckham and Horn try to hold their families and friends together, all while working out who is friend and who foe.

One thing I love in these books – which comes through very strongly in this one – is the “band of brothers” we get between Beckham and Horn. Those two have certainly been through the fire and come out the other side, and now they watch each other’s backs, no questions asked.

This book is, without giving away any spoilers…well, smack in the middle of a “dark age”. That is such an excellent description of this series in the Extinction Cycle. Wow. Not easy reading, but also highly addictive with non-stop action. And the next book is thankfully not too far away, because I really want to know the outcomes for quite a few of the characters in this one.

Extinction Shadow (Extinction Cycle: Dark Age #1) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Anthony J Melchiorri

Format: Kindle
Rating:  5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

This is a special book. I love that Smith decided to revisit the Extinction World, and that doing so has brought us another collaboration with Melchiorri. And all the things I’ve come to expect from a Smith novel are present here: military action, horror, solid science, and realistic characters.

What a treat it was to meet Reed, Kate and their friends eight years after Extinction War ended. With upcoming elections, life is guaranteed to be a bit unpredictable for a while, but I’m pretty sure no-one in the Allied States ever considered just how unpredictable. Team Ghost is once again in action, as well as new characters and new threats.

Five solid stars to this new entry into the Extinction World. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.