Hell Divers II: Ghosts

Hell Divers Series, Book 2

By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times and USA Today best-selling series

Betrayal and sacrifice in the skies...

Ten years ago, Hell Diver Xavier "X" Rodriguez fell to Earth. Those he left behind went on without him aboard the airship he once called home. Michael Everheart - the boy once known as Tin - has grown into a man and the commander of Hell Diver Raptor Team. While Michael dives to help keep the Hive in the air, Captain Leon Jordan rules with an iron fist at the helm of the ship. But unrest stirs under his strict leadership as a prophecy of hope sweeps the lower decks.

When a mysterious distress signal calls the Hell Divers to the surface, Michael and his loyal team begin to uncover long-buried truths and the secrets Captain Jordan will do anything to keep. They dive so humanity survives...but will they survive the ultimate betrayal?

Nicholas Sansbury Smith delivers another heart-pounding thriller in Hell Divers II: Ghosts, the second audiobook in the acclaimed science fiction series.

©2017 Nicholas Sansbury Smith (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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!

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.

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!

As good as the first

Would you listen to Hell Divers II: Ghosts again? Why?

I plan on listening to book 1 and 2 again

Any additional comments?

How long will we have to wait for book 3. Not to long please

one can lose one’s self in this story

Captain Jordan has a secret – well several, and they are about to be revealed!  Tin has grown into a strong man and is Commander of the Hell Diver Raptor Team.  Magnolia continues as the fastest Hell Diver of the Raptor Team but makes the ultimate sacrifice.  Hell Diver Xavier Rodriguez (X) has been missing for 10 years from an ill-fated return to the ship.  They all have one thing in common – a secret that Captain Jordan does not want revealed and will stop at nothing to eliminate the risk of exposure.

Every man, woman, and child on the ship are at risk.  Secrets are close to being revealed and those that know them are now on the ground facing even scarier and deadlier creatures than the sirens.  Nothing and no-one is safe.

The apocalyptic future that Nicolas Sansbury Smith paints for humankind is horrendous and beyond description.  Smith gives us monsters that are fierce and rule the earth – but he further shows us just how far one person can go and will do to protect their beliefs and wants.  Not all monsters that lurk in the shadows are what nightmares are made of, but rather the two-legged human kinds are sometimes a thousand times more evil, deadly and ferocious than the creatures roaming the earth’s surface in this series.

Smith is a masterful story-teller that keeps his fans riveted to their ear buds (headphones, etc.).  The bold, never-ending action and danger is gripping. This is a series that one can lose one’s self in and never want it to end.  “They dive so humanity survives”– that small phrase describes the book and its action perfectly.

R.C. Bray is perfect for this series.  He captures the grittiness of each character and projects each character fully simply through his voice.  He adds to the story, making it one of the most difficult books to walk away from until the end.  Even then, his voice will haunt you – you will hear the voices of each character long after you finish the book.  Talented and skilled at narration, both R.C. Bray and Nicolas Sansbury Smith make an awesome team!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Hell Yeah!

Begs for the big screen! Better than the first. The monsters seem like an Aliens / Lovecraft combo which is all good! RC Bray can do no wrong in my book! (pun intended)!

Great 2nd book

Some great plot developments here. The writing and narration are just as good if not better than the first book. On to the third.

10 mins left and.....

Someone I like as character passes away :(, great story though hard to stop listening to.

Loved it!

Amazing storyline and R.C. Bray brought it to life. Fantastic duo Bray & Sansbury Smith. I don't do a whole lot of books but this by far imo is the best I ever read. Keeps me wanting more. Great work!

Freaking thrill ride, Damn it ended..... grrrrr

Okay I am hooked. I am transported to hive where life is just getting by. Death is only one dive away. Thank you for a wonderful adventure.