Hell Divers II: Ghosts

Can't wait for the next book!

This is an excellent follow up to book 1. Nicholas Sansbury Smith has become one of my favorite authors! I am loving this series so far. Lots of action! It's not your typical post apocalyptic series. This series takes place 250 years after WW3. Humanity has been forced to live in sky ships where it is safer. The planet is full of mutated life and electrical storms. This is one of those books you just can't put down! Great narration by R. C. Bray! He is one of the best narrators out there in my opinion. Looking forward to book 3!

29 personnes sur 30 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Thrilling, Fast-paced, Horrifying, Awesome!

Hell Divers is so cool, and this second book absolutely adds to the series.

This is from my Editor's Pick for July:

I was already totally set on listening to Hell Divers II before I met author Nicholas Sansbury Smith at the 2017 Book Expo America, but I secretly freaked out when offered the surprising chance to talk to him. He’s a young guy, early thirties if I recall correctly, but he’s already penned more than 16 books. 16 books! Can you imagine? All of that work has more than paid off in his fine-tuned Hell Divers series. Beyond a brilliant concept, Smith’s writing is fresh, fast-paced, and chock full of compelling characters. What’s more, the second book in the series does a remarkable job adding depth and excitement to an already sophisticated storyline. In talking to Smith we were both super excited about R.C. Bray’s narration, and you will have to agree that with Bray – the modern day voice of Sci-Fi – this all-star combo is one that cannot be ignored.

19 personnes sur 20 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

A dive that everyone must take!

Josh here and oh my, what an emotional roller coaster! My favorite author’s work being read by my favorite narrator, what a ride. This is the series that introduced me to, and hooked me on, Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s works late last year. To say that I have been anxious for the first sequel in this trilogy would be the understatement of the century. This was a sequel that was worth the wait and then some.

Let me start by saying that the transition from the first book to the second was very well done. The opening to this book picked up right where I am certain every fan of the series wanted it to. What happened to X? Where has he been? Did he even survive? I now know the answer and, to steal a quote from the Starship Troopers movie, “I would like to know more”.

This was a book that I wanted to push through as quickly as possible, but also didn’t want to finish because I know part three is some time off still. I couldn’t wait to start the book and watched as I became more and more depressed as the time on the Audible app ticked down to the end of the story. There were times I considered slowing down the narration just to make the story last longer.

Nick uses his masterful writing and descriptive talents to bring us up-to-date, 10 years later, about the status of X, the hell divers, and the other citizens of the Hive. As I said above, there were several key emotional scenes throughout this story that had me angry, upset, and intrigued. The issues surrounding Janga and her prophecies (I came to refer to her as The Oracle) brought about great anger later in the story. Witnessing the evolution of Michael (Tin) from the timid boy to the commander of a Hell Diver team was like watching the child you once knew grow up into a successful adult. The new monsters (Vultures, eyeball creatures, and the vines) left me imagining them the story progressed and I listened to Nick’s vivid descriptions.

The origins of the creatures on the surface is explained in this chapter of the series and helps paint a new picture on whether or not humanity actually stands a chance on the surface. The challenge, of course, is whether or not the hive will actually make it to the surface given the drama surrounding the new pilot of the Hive. To give you an idea of what I mean, I will give you a simple quote from the book: “There is no room for mercy in the sky”.

This entry in the series is filled with just about every thematic element I could think of. Relationship building, betrayal, drama, action, horror, suspense, it is all there. And it is all masterfully tied together through Nick’s wordsmithing skills. There is a new team bond formed and I can say that I am proudly a member of Team Rodgnolia.

If you have not listened to or read the first entry in this series yet, please do so; you will not regret it. If you have, then what are you reading my review for as you already know the awesomeness that surrounds this series. Go forth and read/listen! If you have read the books, I highly recommend giving the Audible narration a try as R.C. Bray does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing Nick’s words to life. I was almost taken aback mid-book as I listened to R.C. Bray narrate his purposeful mispronunciations of the names of US cities and America, only to realize that I would have understood had I read the physical book. My wife had to set me straight on this one.

This is an easy 5/5 although I am now saddened about having to leave as I now know that I have to wait for the conclusion. At just over 8 hours, this is a book where you will find yourself wishing it were twice that length.

24 personnes sur 26 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Even better than the first

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. RC Bray is a great narrator, and with Smith's story, this one is impossible to stop listening to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Michael Everheart was very cool. It was interesting to see how evolved from the boy, Tin, in Book 1.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended. Obviously, if you haven't read/listened to the first, you owe it to yourself to do that before this one. This is an excellent sequel.

21 personnes sur 23 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

WHY ISN'T THIS A MOVIE OR TV SERIES YET

This is the best sequel book of Smith's since his Orbs 2&3..Just an outright tension-soaked post apocalyptic buffet of twists, secrets, manipulation and action.*all in a awesome sci-fi burrito of POWER*

11 personnes sur 12 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Wow!!! You've Got To Get This Book!

When I checked and found that 6 hours had already elapsed I couldn't believe it. Then I realized, with sadness, that it was almost over. Book 1 was great. Book 2 is absolutely fantastic. Everything about it improved. Except that X is personally only in the story for a small portion of this book. Not saying if he lives or dies, just that he only appears in the story for a short while. The action is fast paced. The plotline is great. Captain Jordan is a poo rag who spends every day rationalizing and justifying his increasingly Stalin-like rule of The Hive. Tin is a stud. Weaver is every bit equal as a leader to X. Magnolia is actually a pretty decent human being. The Earth bound monsters are just as tough as ever. And narration is spot on. This is perhaps the #1 series I've ever listened to on Audible.

17 personnes sur 19 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

wish it diddnt have to end.

anxiously awaiting the next installment. dipped away from post apocalyptic books. but man did this drag me righr back

10 personnes sur 11 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

Getting darker

book 2 of this 3 book series. we are introduced to even more of the radiated creature infested landscape and even more horrors in the sinister depths of these mysteries underground facilities. I really enjoyed this book and as a casual listener and a fan of sci fi and apolocyptic horror. this has become one of my favorite books. dont miss out!

4 personnes sur 4 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

A Great Story Full of Emotion

Hell Divers 2: Ghosts is set 10 years after the original Hell Divers.  X was left for and presumed dead on the surface of the Earth.  Since then a whole new group of Hell Divers has risen up from the ashes. A new captain is in charge of the ship and they don't dive into Red Zones anymore.  But all of that is about to change. 

This story jumps right back into the footsteps of the last book.  Smith has a way of writing that sucks you in and keeps you on the edge of seat throughout.  Fans of the first book will definitely enjoy this one.  The cast of characters is a little different with a few familiar faces.  I particularly enjoyed reading out X's adopted son "Tin" and his new adventures as a Hell Diver and an adult. 

Smith wrote a lot about struggles in this book.  The struggle to stay alive (on numerous accounts), the struggle to keep the ship up, the struggle against mutiny, and the struggle for self-preservation.  I like that this book had an overarching feeling of a struggle because humans struggle, especially ones that weren't meant to be airborne for 200 years on end.  

The great R.C. Bray narrated Hell Divers 2: Ghosts, and did a heck of a job.  His voice has the perfect range of the types of characters that Smith writes about and at times he really becomes these people.   

Overall, Ghosts was a great read that I finished in a couple sittings. I couldn't put it down and now I'm anxiously awaiting the third book to be released (and recorded by Bray, I hope!)

4 personnes sur 4 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente

If you liked the first one you will like this one

Story is very well written with great character development and the narrators voice matches this book perfectly keeping you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to stop listening. Great book and great listen totally worth a credit

4 personnes sur 4 ont trouvé cette évaluation pertinente