Book 3 - Hell Divers III, The Hell Divers series

A MUST READ BOOK TO ONE GREAT SERIES, KEEP THE KLEENEX HANDY PLEASE!!!!

An ARC (Advance Reader Copy) sent to me by the Author and all I can say is: What an awesome, awesome book. This is for sure one book and series I would recommend to everyone. Without giving anything away, as pretty much anything said would do that, I'll try my best to explain why it's a must read. With Michael (Tin), Layla, Rodger Doger, Magnolia, Captain Jordan, Katrina & X (Xavier) many things are all happening in this continuation of the series. Some make it home again to the Hive, while others do not. I so loved this book and yes there were definitely tears at the end, a lot of tears, so you were warned and keep the Kleenex close by. Nicholas Sansbury Smith did one amazing job with this story. Please, please there has got to be a book #4 to this great series. There is still so much more to tell.

Was hoping for more with the ending of the trilogy! We knew X would return, we knew the captain would be ousted. We knew the new airship would be a tool for someone..but nothing jumped out to surprise the readers! Missed opportunity there. Not bad though

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

If you haven't read Hell Divers and Hell Divers II, Ghosts, then this review of Hell Divers III, Deliverance, will contain spoilers about what happened before. If you haven't read the first two books in the Hell Divers Series, then you haven't had the opportunity to meet the remarkable characters for the first time, to understand why Hell Divers brave the radiation and the storms they dive through, to understand what life is like on the huge floating airships carrying the remainder of surviving mankind. You really should read these amazing stories because they are the most amazing stories, with the best storyline and characters you will love, bleed with, cry for, hate and despise, applaud their pain, pray for a horrible death. Then come back and read Hell Divers III, Deliverance!

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

The survivors of Team Raptor were abandoned on the surface after the battle at Hilltop Bastion. Captain Leon Jordan declared them dead and severed communication. Team Raptor Commander Michael 'Tinhat' Everhart, his girlfriend Layla Brower, Roger 'Dodger' Mintel and Magnolia Katib were alive, if not well, aboard the Deliverance, an airship they had found stored at the Hilltop. The Deliverance wasn't as big as the Hive, but more modern and capable of staying airborne without the huge helium tanks that kept the Hive afloat. The Deliverance also had an AI running the ship. The AI was named Timothy after Timothy Pepper, the manager of the Hilltop Bastion whose personality was uploaded to the sentient computer aboard the Deliverance after his death.

Using the Deliverance, Team Raptor was tracking old broadcast messages from Xavier Rodriguez. Jordan had lied about the demise of X, abandoning him on the surface to let the radiation, the storms, and the mutated wildlife that had adopted a multitude of methods for killing humans. X had managed to stay alive, with the help of his canine companion Miles. He thawed Miles from cryogenic storage and Miles was his sentry, partner and sidekick as X trekked across what used to be America to stand on the shore of the Atlantic ocean and watch the breakers roll in.

Captain Jordan was faced without enough Hell Divers to dive! Using threats, coercion and bribes, Jordan collected enough of the crew to train as Divers. The new Team Phoenix was led and trained by Erin Jenkins, daughter of Sgt. Leonard Jenkins, Lester 'Giraffe' Mitchells, Tom Price, Don Olah, Jennifer Hodge and Ty Parker. They trained to dive so humanity survives!

This post-apocalyptic dystopian future is unique in its approach to survival and the storyline has enough twists to tangle fate's strings. Believable, warm and familiar, the characters earn respect and admiration, scorn and loathing, love and hate. I truly believe that you'll love the Hell Divers world as much as I do. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this great read!

A fantastic 3rd book in the series- Great writing that leaves the reader interested always- honestly I'm just very happy how this book went, many goals were achieved with sadly a price to lag for them- not only that, the book sets up for another enemy even more dangerous than the Sirens. I can not wait for the next book. THAN YOU Nicholas, you are an exceptional author.

Got this book delivered in the am. Finished it that night. Simply too good to put down. Page after page had me gripping my phone in anticipation of what happens next. Amazing job Nicholas. Can't wait for the next one!

Long waited , well waited ... this series deserve a TV show or a Movie . This is well done and will get you on the edge ... both Mr. Sansbury and Bray are a smash combination . Waiting for Hell Divers : Wolf .

Awesome series overall. the store requires twenty words to leave a review and i have a hard time putting my thoughts into coherent sentences so i wrote this instead. The series as a whole is a 10/10 for me.

If you like Hell Divers 1 and 2, you don't want to miss HD3!
Our heroes who were left behind in book2 continue their search for X, who was left behind at the end of book 1. They make some startling realizations about life that they would never have thought possible.
Meanwhile on the Hive, Jordan continues his spiral to become a manic dictator, while others are silently plotting to stop his reign of terror.
Everything comes together for a stunning conclusion that is simultaneously heart breaking and satisfying.

Hell Diver's III : Deliverance. What can I say about a sci-fi series that keeps me coming back and looking forward to the next book in the series. Mr. Smith has an incredible talent when it comes to writing stories. Readers don't just read his books. Readers become immersed in the story, in the words and in the worlds Mr. Smith creates. As I have said from the beginning of Hell Divers I am not a Sci-fi fan at all. I will not give this genre a second look but Nicholas Sansbury Smith is changing all that for me. In Deliverance we get to see what our favorite character, X, has been up to after being left behind. He story of survival is truly terrifying, battling gruesome creatures and even his own kind. Can X survive to reunite with his family in the sky ?? Why not take the Dive into Hell to find out.

Awesome series overall. the store requires twenty words to leave a review and i have a hard time putting my thoughts into coherent sentences so i wrote this instead. The series as a whole is a 10/10 for me.

If you like Hell Divers 1 and 2, you don't want to miss HD3!
Our heroes who were left behind in book2 continue their search for X, who was left behind at the end of book 1. They make some startling realizations about life that they would never have thought possible.
Meanwhile on the Hive, Jordan continues his spiral to become a manic dictator, while others are silently plotting to stop his reign of terror.
Everything comes together for a stunning conclusion that is simultaneously heart breaking and satisfying.

Hell Diver's III : Deliverance. What can I say about a sci-fi series that keeps me coming back and looking forward to the next book in the series. Mr. Smith has an incredible talent when it comes to writing stories. Readers don't just read his books. Readers become immersed in the story, in the words and in the worlds Mr. Smith creates. As I have said from the beginning of Hell Divers I am not a Sci-fi fan at all. I will not give this genre a second look but Nicholas Sansbury Smith is changing all that for me. In Deliverance we get to see what our favorite character, X, has been up to after being left behind. He story of survival is truly terrifying, battling gruesome creatures and even his own kind. Can X survive to reunite with his family in the sky ?? Why not take the Dive into Hell to find out.

I very much enjoyed the first two books and I don't regret getting this one but I didn't put this one down as satisfied as the others. Maybe its because i never felt like anyone important was ever really in danger. Or that the plot resolutions were just painfully obvious. Maybe it was that this book seemed far less focused on exploration and the psychological tension I felt from the previous books. I don't mean to day that people were not in tense situations or that there wasn't any exploration; only that I didn't feel as invested as interested or as impressed by the journey this time. Again not a bad book and while I always feel a little bad for criticising someone else's work when all I'm doing is consuming it: if you enjoyed the previous books and want to see where everyone ends up I certainly wouldn't pass this up - However that's the only reason I could recommend this.

Nick Smith has hit another home-run with Hell Divers III, Deliverance. A real page-turner, this exciting novel has several new characters, enemies, and plot twists.
I appreciated Nick’s method of using chapter flashbacks to inform us of what has been happening over the past 10 years to Commander “X” Rodrigues, a protagonist from the first Hell Divers, and his faithful four-legged companion, Miles.
The characters are complex and fully developed. The new captain of the Hive and arch villain, Leon Jordan, is a King Lear-like character and reminded me of President Richard Nixon in his decision-making process, warped view of reality, and twisted sense of right and wrong.
Nick employs vivid imagery. “The brown block expanded into something that looked like a nest of snakes. A few minutes later, they had a pot of noodles and broth.” This description reminded me of the many times I ate Top Ramen during my 30 years in the Army. Another example occurred when Michael said “To hell with optimum efficiencies. Full Speed ahead.” Michael was acting in the spirit of the indomitable Admiral David Farragut who during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864 issued the memorable order: “Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!”
The inclusion of a site, “a that had been called Asheville, North Carolina,” struck a responsive chord within me because I live two hours from this beautiful city.
Nick displays exceptional insight into how leaders handle crises.
Without giving away a vital part of the story, I was pleased by the manner in Nick concluded HDIII and so set the stage for HDIV.
After I finished Hell Divers III, I am now exceedingly impatient for Nick to roll out the fourth volume of this dramatic and electrifying series.

This was by far my favorite book in the series! Constant action and their are humans on earth. The book was filled with great characters. Loved journeying with X through the wastelands of Earth. Of course X has been my favorite character, but his emotions and loss of memory in this book was so well written. There are surprise heroes, and yes the deaths of characters, but this is apocalyptic fiction, so true fans know the story cannot be filled with happiness. The story line was the best I have read from Nicholas Sansbury Smith, and I have read every book he has written. Hats off!

Another good sequel buy Nick (does he write any other kind), read the book in 4 days It was so good, like the first book you really get to know and care about the people which is the way a good story should be, got to around 70 percent of the book finished and had to stop myself from pumping my fist in the air and yelling YES as people would have thought I was crazy (you will know this part when you get to it), love how there is more to the earth then originally thought, so cannot wait until the next book comes out

This was great and challenging, the way it was written did make me back track a couple of times but a great read that was finished way too soon, I just had a hard time putting it down. So, now I'm ready for book 4. I'm not sure what would have been justice for all the pain and suffering Jordan caused but I didn't quite feel satisfied. Anyway I highly recommend the series if you want to try something in a post apocalypse world with a different twist.

I have to say that this is the best book in the Hell Divers series yet!!! Nicholas Sansbury Smith knows how to keep a reader coming back over and over. This book is full of surprises and happiness and of course sadness. I HIGHLY recommend this and all of Nicholas's books to every fan of sci-fi and post apocalyptic stories. Can't wait for number 4.

Teeth grinding, gut wrenching, page turner. Another awesome chapter of the Hell Divers series. The betrayed team Raptor struggles to find a man marooned in Hell for a decade while being pursued by the psychopath that is now in charge of the Hive. The team discovers not only the missing legendary diver X, but a new adversary and possibly a new hope.

I’m pretty stingy with stars and rarely do I give five stars, but I do recommend this book and series. I look forward to the fourth book this fall.

I read a lot of post apocalyptic SF, but most of it is pretty much the same. This one is certainly different. If you buy into the physics of this world you will enjoy these books.

STOP: Spoiler alert.

(My biggest concern about this book is the cannibals and their language- in today’s world it seems racist.)

Commander X is one of the toughest characters ever written. I'm hoping the author explores more of the history of the nuclear war and the hilltop bastion with why Timothy did what he did. I'm sure Timothy has a story or two to tell of life in the bunkers.

Decent action story. I don't understand where all of the these incredibly positive reviews are coming from. I would advise reading them with a grain of salt. Some interesting concepts - but the best apocalypse story ever full of incredible awesomeness? Not so much. Very little character development. The main villain is very bad and the heroes are very heroic. The creatures are kind of interesting, but the fighting gets repetitive. Story does move quickly and you do route for the main characters. But this doesn't come close to "brilliant writing."

A fab ending to an exciting series!
UPDATE: This is not the end...
Hell Divers is a series about saving the last of humanity. In Deliverance, everything comes to a head: the monsters, the remaining fighters on earth and control for Deliverance high above, in the thundering clouds.

I didn't think I'd like this series as much as I did. Not only were the monsters amazing and constantly coming at the remaining humans on the planet but they advanced. They changed in a way that made you terrified of what could come to pass from all the nuclear experimentation and ruining of our own atmosphere. This book and series takes you deeper than that. It's so far into the future, they don't even read/pronounce things the same. It's an amazing and truly advancing read.

I became a reader of Sansbury Smith about a year or so ago, now I have several of his books in my stash. You have to check this out if you like dystopian, futuristic horror. It's very original and totally worth the time invested. Read Hell Divers III: Deliverance.

*I just found out there's another book coming out late this years! I can't wait.

Hell Divers III: Deliverance
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Audible Audio
Listening Time: 11 H 18 m
Blackstone Audio
Released May 2018
*For the full review, please visit www dot aeneehunt dot com

*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*

This book was an emotional punch to the stomach---and I mean that in the best, most complimentary way possible!

Parts of this book were so depressing and harsh and terrible that they were downright hard to read. Other parts of this book were so hopeful and wholesome that I actually teared up. All of this book was gripping and filled with intensity. And it was unpredictable in that I had no idea what might actually happen.

*Warning: The next four paragraphs contain SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS in the series. Also just a note, I'm going to talk about all the characters and events in past tense because I can never figure out what tense to use when reviewing ongoing series.*

The story alternated between two timelines and multiple POVs, and one of the timelines was about X and his time on the surface over the previous ten years. I spent the whole book with my heart breaking for X. With each new passage showing us a glimpse into his life on the surface, another piece of my heart cracked off. He was a great character and an imperfect but good-hearted man with so much inner strength and determination, and he deserved so much better than being abandoned the way he was.

Then there was Michael and his team on the Deliverance, heading to the location of X's last transmission in order to try and find him. It was interesting seeing things from various POVs, seeing what this mission meant to each of them, seeing what was important to them. I felt for each of those characters too.

There was also a new team of hell divers training and going down to the surface on a mission. For that we had what I believe was a new POV character, but it allowed us to see more of the goings-on in the Hive.

Last but certainly not least, there was Captain Jordan, who was running the Hive. I hated Captain Jordan just as much this time as I did in Book 2, and yet, I found myself almost feeling sorry for him (which, let me tell you, is some damn good writing because he was an awful person). He honestly believed that he was doing the right thing. He wasn't, but he convinced himself that everything he was doing was necessary and worth it in order to do what he deemed right. It was ironic in this amazingly circular kind of way. The man with no humanity within himself was trying to save humanity, but in doing so, he was destroying it. In his unwavering focus on his goal to keep the Hive in the air, he lost sight of the real goal and failed to realize that to be human means more than simply to survive. The way the Sirens evolved is, in a way, proof of that. But anyway, I found myself liking his POV a lot more this time because it was just so well-written.

*END SPOILERS*

Another thing about the characters, normally I don't like when books have too many POVs, but it worked well here. It gave a well-rounded view of everything going on, and each character was so well-written and developed that I enjoyed getting to see through their various perspectives. I also like how, throughout the series so far, we've gotten to see such a wide range of ages, from children to characters 50+.

And of course there was all sorts of action, what between the Sirens and giant swamp creatures and man-eating plants and lightning storms and whatnot. (Ok, the beginning was a little slow, but don't worry, it picked up.) And if you're reading this review but haven't read the previous books yet, be warned---the series is graphic and gruesome and does not shy away from the violence or horrors of the post-apocalyptic world these characters live in.

So overall, this book was amazing, intense, and packed full of emotion, and I'm once again looking forward to continuing the series!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight (link in profile)

Picking up on the heels of Hell Divers II: Ghosts finale, Michael Everheart and his small crew of Hell Divers set out to find the missing Xavier "X" Rodriguez after being abandoned by the traitorous Captain Jordan.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith stretches his narrative wings a bit in Deliverance, giving readers insight into X's decade-long stint on Earth's hellscape through prolonged flashbacks, in between tackling the story's present-day timeline from the perspectives of Everheart and Jordan, and a few other Hell Divers along the way. Readers who were disappointed at the lack of X in the prior novel, particularly after Smith's nasty cliff-hanger ending back in Book 1, will certainly get their fill of Rodriguez this time around as Smith brings X back to the narrative's center.

While I was certainly happy to get more of X, now accompanied by a thawed-from-cryo husky named Miles, the real delight for me was seeing Smith's post-apocalyptic world building. While X travels the hellish landscape of an irradiated America to reach the ocean, Smith gives us a delightful tour of this new nuclear-adapted ecosystem. In prior novels, the Sirens were the clearly the biggest threat facing the remnants of mankind, but life outside the airship Hive is more expansive and far-reaching in Deliverance than the Hell Divers had imagined. As Ian Malcolm famously reminded us in Jurassic Park, "Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously... Life, uh, finds a way." Smith takes Malcolm's words to heart, presenting a number of thrilling encounters that reminds humans they may no longer be at the top of the food chain in this wildly mutated environment.

Not that life aboard the airship Hive is much better. Without mincing too many words, let me just say that Captain Jordan is a piece of crap. I hated this guy in Book 2, and Book 3 didn't do much to swing me around to his iron-fist mentality of rule as the top dog. Every chapter he showed up in only solidified his narcissism and I kept waiting for him to get his comeuppance. Life aboard the airships, though, does make for a fun bit of compare and contrast to life on the ground. No matter what dangers lurk in the ruins of America, Jordan and his cronies serve to remind us that humans are, typically, the biggest threat to everything around.

If you've enjoyed the previous two Hell Divers books, you'll feel right at home with Deliverance. Smith delivers plenty of action and suspense, and even a few dashes of socio-political intrigue along the way. Its final moments even kick the door wide open for a fourth installment, taking this series in a direction that good and truly excites me. I can't wait to see what comes next!

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

Another NSS book where I went into it expecting it to be the end of the series. And then BOOM, we’re told at the end to expect a 4th book. A lot of the stuff from the 3 books was wrapped up in this one so I really only see one way for the 4th book to go. Hunt down the cannibals and find a place on Earth that is safe to settle the humans currently living in the sky.

I was super happy to see Lance get what he had coming to him and the hands of someone I wasn’t expecting! Oh, but it was a sweet, sweet thing and I really can’t think of a better way for him to get his comeuppance. X’s story and his old squad’s stories start to coincide with each other and we get to see the kind of havoc being alone for so long has done to X. Not to mention constantly being in fear of death from the weather, the radiation, mutated monsters, and oh yeah, cannibals! Sheer craziness in this installment, I just couldn’t put this book down till I finished it.

I’m definitely looking forward to another book, but will definitely admit I don’t really think another book is necessary. I’m interested to see what happens, but I’m not gripped by cliffhanger anxiety like I usually am after finishing an NSS book. There’s a first time for everything, though!

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Hell Divers, and Hell Divers Ghosts. But it's more than just an emotional attachment to the characters that drove me to read Deliverance. Smith has crafted a desolate world in which our characters dwell, but it serves as more than just a compelling backdrop. Ultimately, it is the hook - a gut wrenching one, at that. All is dire. All is dark. The world in Hell Divers is ultimately their antagonist. Time is running out, and how exactly will humanity survive. For most, this question should be enough to invest you in this series.

Death and danger are Everywhere X, Tin, and the others turn. But it is the shades of gray we see in nature. A predator preys to feed, only now humanity is not perched safely at the top, as they were pre-war. The order has been realigned, and for a species on the brink, that is truly a terrifying thing. That is the change that Smith has incorporated with Deliverance, as he starts to really flesh out his post-apocalyptic Earth. The sirens aren't mindless, bloodthirsty beasts intent to do evil. They, like every other organism, are simply striving to survive, to feed, raise their young, and exist. We see an ecosystem emerge now, which helps us to start to grasp truly where humanity falls in the new, grand scheme of things. It doesn't take a spoiler to tell that they aren't necessarily safe. Otherwise, where would the conflict come from? For me, this was wonderful, as I tire of horror stories pitting mankind against inherently evil creatures, bent on cliche and stereotypical acts. Mindless blood and gore are self serving and lead us nothing in the end. They are like potato chips, and must be consumed in mass quantity. Hell Divers is much more refined than all of that.

In true Smith fashion, he ramps up the stakes. Conflict comes from a variety of places, whether it be man vs man, man vs environment, or man vs himself. He splits the perspective, effectively so, I might add, which affords us that necessary "wider" view of the world. We can see the conflict approaching in Deliverance, in the same way you see two converging trains share a track. I firmly believe that Deliverance marks a growing point for Smith in terms of storytelling. His characters grow, and in some instances diverge, which leads to some compelling storytelling. We root for some, cheer against others, and page flip to find out the fates of the rest. Deliverance does more than continue the story, but it furthers our emotional investment in these characters. It drags us along in a world made so inhospitable that we, as the reader, can't rightly see the means for humanity's ultimate salvation. It is there, somewhere in the future of this series, I am confident of that, but to Smith's credit, it is still a mystery. I am fully invested in this series now, as I wait to see how X and the ragtag remnant of humanity will survive.

I highly recommend the Hell Divers series to anyone and everyone.

The month of May needs to cool it a bit. I’ve read more great books at the start of May than I think I did in all of 2018. My biggest bummer is that technically the series could end now – but I think Smith has another book in the works. But it’s literally in the works – meaning I’ll have to wait probably another year until I get Hell Divers 4.

Warning – my review of Hell Divers 3: Deliverance will most likely contain spoilers to the other two books. Obviously being the third book in a series – if you’re reading this review before checking out book 1 – just do yourself a favor – grab it in audio and enjoy. Don’t even read on. Okay, now that I’ve gotten rid of the Hell Divers newbies (those who would most likely die on their first dive) lets dive into the review (pun intended).

Deliverance tells the continued story of the airship trying to survive, the Hell Divers who dive so that humanity survives, X’s life on the surface, along with Tin’s continued survival and search for X. Without ruining the book – that’s what it’s about. There was a lot going on in this one, but it was a friggin blast to read from beginning to end.

I honestly don’t know how long it took me to listen to this, but I think it was 2 days total. I started it, stayed up WAY too late, listened on my way into work, sat in my car and waited for my grin to subside, and couldn’t wait to listen when I got home from work today. It was one of those books that I literally couldn’t wait to listen to more.

Smith has a way of writing that really draws your emotions out. You feel for X, Tim, the lower-deckers on the ship. You also feel hatred for the captain and the things that he’s done to X, Tin, and the people on the ship. Normally a book can tear at my heartstrings but Smith found a way to make me emotionally invested in these characters. Sure, he throws in a dog that I cannot get enough of to sucker me more, but I was hooked without the dog.

I want to describe a scene but I know it’ll ruin a large reveal – but needless to say – there was a scene about 70ish percent through the book where there was finally a reveal. It had me grinning from ear to ear and I think I actually made an audible noise when it happened. I was so excited. I didn’t want to get out of my car and go to work.

R.C. Bray is masterful at his craft. Hell Divers III was no different. He voices X perfectly (even his changing voice throughout this story) and was able to add another level to a book that I didn’t think could get any better.

If you’ve somehow ignored my plea to not read this before reading the first book and are still on the fence – what are you waiting for. Take the dive!

WARNING if you thought my review of book 1 was over the top, beware:

- This is a totally insane fangirl review.
- Coherence dives down to Hell!
- No restrain will be exercised whatsoever.
- There will be idiotic babbling and shameless siren shrieking.
- The words “epic” and “epically” and synonymous will be copiously used.

If you tend to roll your eyes at mega emotional reviews you may end up blind and looking at the back of your skull.

You should read this series before it hits the screens!

I know. I know. there isn’t a movie... YET. But mark my words: THERE WILL BE ONE. This series will be an EPIC Franchise. Believe me! And, in the meantime, a fangilr can dream!

And talking about fangirling... let me get to the point and tell you WHY you need to read this series NOW!

Because it is such an epically ambitious story that could have gone wrong in so many ways BUT it didn’t and ended up being and epically outstanding piece of work!

A work so unique and well executed that I wow I almost feel like it is a new genre! This is a totally new way to do Scfi/Apocalyptic/Dystopian/Climate fiction.

BECAUSE OMG THIS WAS SO GOOOOOOOD!

Mark my words this is going to become an epic classic like Dune! Because what else is to happened with such a monumental work?

Ok let’s pull this together and try to make it coherent for you, like normal, serious, reviewers do, in neat bullet points...

1- OVERALL SERIES STORY ARC
This series’ story ARC is just legendary. It is vast, epic [I warned you about this word!], as in multigenerational, and spanning over decades epic… and...

Can we just take a moment to reflect and properly appreciate how freaking HARD this is to accomplish???

Here is where so many things could have gone wrong and instead we get something that is SO beautifully executed??? Everything making sense, no plot gaps, everything is properly explained!

Ok the moment is over because we need to talk about...

2- THE CHARACTERS

You KNOW you are watching something marvelous unfold when the Main Character [MC] has gone MIA [you don’t know whether he is dead or not, and you are dying a little too!] BUT the story continues because EVERYONE is a MC here! It’s a gang of MCs and they are all SUPERB. Plenty of heroes and heroines to swoon over. You want to be BFFs with ALL OF THEM. And hug and kiss them all despite their multiple flaws. Or maybe BECAUSE their multiple flaws!

There are villains that you will totally LOVE to hate even though they have the most altruist of motivations because they are so irritatingly stubborn and self-centered and cannot see the consequences of their actions because they are so into themselves and they have the “I’m right and everyone else is wrong attitude”

[wait I need to breathe! I WARNED YOU I will babble!]

OMG I HEART THESE CHARACTERS SO MUCH I CAN’T EVEN!

Ok and I don't even know what my favorite thing is here! The Story src, the characters, the...

3- WORLD! The Mammoth/monstrous/many-headed hydra world built here is Out-of-This-World AWESOME! And they have been done SO MANY TIMES and still this one is so unique. THE HIIIIIVE [Siren Shriiiike]. I cannot tell you how much I love The Hive. How perfect the world building is! It. it is EVERYTHING it should be!

The monsters of this world.. just them is what is going to make this an epic movie franchise!

Book one introduce us to the terrifying sirens, book two teach us even more about them and then book 3 brings it up ten-thousand notches with all kind of new monsters, some of them human like "The Cazadores".

That’s the thing about this series: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, and you are like OMG this is too awesome. The next book comes out and it is even better!

4- THE WRITING. Oh well. Let me just say I literally took FOREVER to finish his books because I savored every sentence

THE IMAGERY OF THIS SERIES IS AS OUTSTANDING AS EVERYTHING ELSE!!! [Siren Shrieeek]

Book 1 - Five HUGE "HELL YEAH" Stars!
Book 2- 4.5 star
Book 3 - 5,000,-star

Warning: This review contains spoilers to the first two books in the series, so don’t read it if you haven’t read those books and don’t want them to be spoiled for you.

Well, I didn’t love this one as much as I loved the first two. Surprisingly, the first two-thirds of the book kind of dragged a bit for me. I mean, it was still interesting and things happened but not enough happened and it seemed like it was more of the same old, same old. And of course, I let out more than my share of curses whenever Captain Jordan took center stage. That man could sure make my blood boil.

The story alternates between present day on the Hive, present day on the ground with the Hell Divers that were left stranded there in the last book, and in the past with Xavier and Miles. Lots of back and forth and jumping around just when things get exciting, of course, to keep you turning pages or, in my case, listening to the audio. I will admit I did find my mind wandering a little bit now and again until something would happen that would grab my attention.

The last third of the book coalesces more as a whole story and the action really starts to pick up. Sansbury Smith finishes the story arc from the previous two books with this one (thank goodness, I was hoping he would). There is no cliffhanger (again, thank goodness). However, I just saw on GR that there will be a 4th book in the Hell Divers series and the end of this book sets up that one perfectly. I am looking forward to it.

The audio is wonderfully narrated by R.C. Bray, just as the others were. Great series! Highly recommend it, especially on audio.

Life in the sky aboard the airship Hive has gotten increasingly worse since the story of the Hell Divers left off in the last installment. Food rations have been cut back to critically low levels, water is scarce, the occupants both below decks and on the upper decks are showing more signs of radiation cancer, brawls and mutiny schemes are increasing, and if that isn’t bad enough, the Hive’s newest leader Captain Jordan appears to have become insane. Many devious schemes and murderous plots are concocted in order to save his own hide while threatening the lives of the Hell Divers. His tyrannical dictatorship now thickens the plot as terror reigns aboard the dying airship.

Centuries ago, during the end of life on earth due to nuclear wars, a bioengineering company named ITC designed enormous airships equipped with supplies to last hundreds of years. These airships were to hold the remaining people of the human race and keep them alive until the earth below was once again safe to inhabit. In the meantime, brave men and women are chosen in teams to dive from the airships to the earth’s surface to scout for precious supplies the people aboard living in the sky desperately need to survive. Hell Divers dive to keep humans alive. The hope and dream is to find a radiation free section of the planet so that civilization can start anew. A fresh new beginning for humanity is desperately needed after two centuries of chaotic existence in the air aboard two rust-bucket dirigibles.

As the Hell Divers launch out of the Hive, they descend through severe lightning storms praying to God they will not get zapped and will land safely into…..hell. Down on the surface where radiation levels will kill you instantly if your suit gets torn, divers do not have a cake walk. Why? Because if the radiation doesn’t get you, the Sirens will. Monsters. Huge, one-eyed, meat eating, very hungry, flying scary beasts roam the earth by the thousands, and are very attracted to the battery energy that power the diver suits. Divers become dinner, and it takes grits and wit to overcome their worst nightmares!

Nicholas Sansbury-Smith is one of the most creative post-apocalypse novelists out there. His adept writing skill finished out this trilogy with finesse! Nothing is left out for the reader to experience. Within the book, and within the entire trilogy, you find adventure, romance, mystery, cool sci-fi special effects, murder, friendships and betrayals, mutiny, many twists and turns, and some very nicely planned surprises. All blended smoothly with incredibly good character development, an ingenious plot, and top-notch writing. This is action adventure at its best and this reviewer gives Hell Divers five stars!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This does not affect my review.

I kind of want to squee and splutter words incoherently. ‘Cause X. So much X! The amount of X in this book totally makes up for the scarcity in Ghosts. And not only X, but Miles! I love Miles, and I need to see pictures of him in his radiation suit. I need a Hell Divers graphic novel centered solely around X and his ball o’ fluff. Can that happen? Pleeeeaaaase? I mean, the other characters are cool and all, but X and Miles are the real reason I love this series.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a very bad man. VERY bad. He will gleefully play with your emotions in Deliverance until you (literally) shout “Would you just kill (someone) already?” I don’t know how much of the book I spent thinking “(Person) is going to die. Definitely going to die. Going to die any second now…” Then something would happen, and a skin-of-the-teeth save would be involved, and I’d be shaking my fist at the audiobook. There were so many action-packed scenes in this book!

I had all sorts of emotions reading this, but it ended on a high note, with me cackling in a corner. Yeah, sometimes I want to watch the world burn, not going to deny that. But this is one of those cases where I was totally rooting for a happy and/or bittersweet ending.

The dialogue, the action, the world – everything about it was near perfect. The only issues I had were near the center of the book because I was getting anxious for certain things to happen. By the time the book ended, I was as happy as a kitten after a bowl full of cream, laying in a patch of summer sunlight.

As usual, R.C. Bray nailed the –uhm- delivery in Deliverance. His raspy voice has made the Hell Divers series come to life, and I really can’t imagine anyone else narrating it.

This will thrill readers of the series. Nicholas Sansbury Smith has created a wonderful post-apocalyptic world, given us characters we love (and characters we love to hate), and brought an amazing story to life.

This is how to do post-apocalyptic and fly miles above the crowd.

Picking up hard on the heels of the last book, Hell Divers: Deliverance doesn’t waste much time before it plunges the characters into one dangerous situation after another. And if, like me, you missed the presence of Xavier “X” Rodriguez in the last book, you’ll be happy to discover that he’s all over this book. While we get the present-day adventures of Captain Michael Everheart and the rest of Team Raptor as they frantically search for X on the Earth’s wasteland – as well as the tyrannical shenanigans of the lying, murderous, megalomaniac otherwise known as that shitface Captain Jordan – readers are also given glimpses into the past to see just how X managed to survive a decade on the hostile surface.

For anyone who enjoyed the first two Hell Divers book, this is sure to provide another adrenaline rush. Like a roller coaster falling after it’s hit its tipping point, this was a mad rush of tension filled action with an ending that left me nodding my head in approval. And I don’t care one whit if any of it makes scientific sense, medical sense, technical sense or any other kind of sense. This is another one for the “guilty pleasures” shelf. I thought this was only going to be a trilogy but there appears to be a fourth book in the works and certain events in this installment definitely opened the door to more dangers. So, sign me up, X! I’m ready to go.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Though this is the third book in the Hell Divers series it is easy to pick up on the story line. The most interesting character is Captain Jordan. He honestly believes he is acting for the common good of mankind but has let absolute power go to his head. My only major issue with the book is the going back and forth in time as a writers technique. it was very hard to follow. The nuclear war that devastated the planet apparently happened 250 years previously. How could all of the mutations happen in that relatively short period. And how could X find working power sources and medication in the many years he was abandoned on the surface?

Rarely does a writer deliver on all fronts like Nicholas Sansbury Smith does in Hell Divers III: Deliverance. Smith finishes the tale he'd begun in Hell Divers I and does so in style. The thing to me is that he creates a world of realistic people doing realistic things in an extraordinarily Earth. The evil people and creatures are dealt with in satisfying ways and the characters we like mostly survive. I must say losing a few of them hurt since Smith had made them so likable.
This is a book about humans in the roughly 250th year of aftermath of an all-out nuclear war and all its devastation. Physical devastation of the atmosphere, land, water, animal and plant life, and humanity have left little hope for the resurrection of the human race as we know it. With all thos things stacked against humanity, the end seems fixed. Follow along with Smith's story and be thoroughly entertained.
I am sure looking for a 4th and later volume of these really enjoyable books.

I have to say, Mr Smith has never let me down or disappointed with his books, each one is a pure gem and this book is a beautiful diamond. I just love this series, it’s so fresh and original to read. I’m captivated while reading Hell Divers and find myself standing in each scene as a spectator, what more could you ask from an author. There is so much going on in this book, betrayal, murder, rescue, love, hate, fear, a strange band of cannibalistic humans and of course all the strange and deadly creatures and fauna ready to make a meal out of these Hell Divers who “DIVE SO HUMANITY SURVIVES” Imagine living on a blimp like airship your whole life and everything you need has to be found and brought up from the earths surface, teeming with life forms that want to eat you. These are the Hell Divers who risk their lives on every dive. I highly recommend this book and especially the complete series. If you like the genre you’ll absolutely love this series.

The Hell Divers series is one of my favorite post-apocalyptic, possibly my favorite! The author, Nicholas Sansbury Dmith, has become one of my favorite authors as well. I'm very excited that he decided to make this more than just a trilogy. Can't wait for book 4!!!

In this book Commander Michael Everhart and his team search for the missing and abandoned Helldiver, Xavier Rodriguez. They have no idea if X is still alive or not, but they won't stop until they get their answer. Then they will return to the Hive to save the ship from Captain Jordan.

This series gets better and better with each book! As always, R. C. Bray does an amazing job with the narration!

Audible review:

This book was everything I was hoping it would be after finishing book 3. Unlike book 3 though, I feel like we get left with a reasonable conclusion that won't leave us hanging too badly while we wait for book 4 to be brought over to Audible.

There were quite a number of hanging story lines that we get resolved in this book as well as a few that are added which, hopefully will be resolved in book 4.

I firmly believe if you made it through 3 books you MUST listen to/read this book!

Narration by R. C. Bray was superb as usual. I was not disappointed in one bit on this front.

Look, it's no surprise at this point that any NSS book is going to be rich with awesome characters and tons of action, but for me the Hell Diver's Series takes the cake. I remember a year ago when I first found this series and instantly was attached to X, Tin, and the rest of the crew. Two books later and every move they make keeps me on the edge of my seat! I also think Timothy Pepper is one of the most intriguing characters Nick has ever created. This installment was outstanding and I can't wait to listen to R.C. Bray narrate my favorite characters again. Keep it up! WOLVES!

Why 5 stars..
This is book 3, in the Hell Divers. If you are reading the reviews you might be wanting to know if book 1 is worth buying. The answer is yes!!
Once you have finished book 1 I don’t know why you would bother reading any review, book 2 and now book 3 are simply must buys!

Hell Divers 3, is the best book Nicholas Sansbury Smith has written. He has several awesome series and I would have to say this is number one on my list!
The story was a fast-paced nonstop action!
I loved every chapter and page of the story. It is so good that it is hard to stop reading

Captain Jordon, the despot and paranoid captain of the airship The Hive is so desperate for glory and fame he will do anything, literally, to achieve it. The book tracks a team of Hell Divers who dive to the surface of the long ago nuked surface of Earth in a desperate mission to locate and rescue 'Ex', a Hell Diver who was long thought dead. Monsters, both two legged and multi-legged, stand in their way. The book is a roller coaster ride from start to finish and I eagerly await book #4.

Smith has done it again. Continuing off right after the second continuing the search for one of my all time favorite characters X. The story is awesome, characters are very well developed and overall it's an amazing read. I highly recommend this book for any fans of NSS or any fans for kick butt action.

Just finished listening to the Hell Divers 3, Deliverance audio book and I loved it. My favorite in the Hell Divers series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith (so far). Great story, loved the introduction of the new characters and the plot twists! I can't wait for the next installment in a series that I hope continues for quite awhile. Really liked seeing more of what has been brewing down on the surface of the planet. I really love the narrator on this audiobook as well.

This is a gripping story that has you on a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. Nicholas Sansbury Smith never lets up in his storytelling and leaves you thinking about the future. Great book! The series of s one you just can’t pass up.

I have read pretty much every Nick Smith book and they are all great but I think Hell Divers is my favorite series, and this book is the best of the series... so far. I love stories with multiple threads that come together in the end. The thing about Nick Smith's books is that all the threads are intelligent, are not just filler and are just fun too read. Can't wait for what's next.

Nicholas does it again. Deliverance is the best in the series. The end of the world has come and another hell divers team has been formed to continue the survival of humanity. unknowingly the citizens of the hive go about their days living off the help of someone thought dead for years but not everyone believes the lies. Will you take the dive to find out the truth? NSS brings his characters to life and knows how to bring out your emotions for love or hate towards his characters. If you haven’t taken the dive yet hell divers is a must read. My only disappointment is having to wait for book 4. We dive so humanity survives.

The third installment of this series is just as awesome as the others. I was addicted to it, and my 12 yearly was as well, we wanted to go places int he car just so we could listen to it. The story continues to grow and there are several added twists, characters and new obstacles to overcome. Cant wait to see what X does now.

Melissa's Review:
(There are minor spoilers below)
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My husband introduced me to Nicholas Sansbury Smith and two of his series’ Hell Divers and Extinction Cycle. I’ve loved both. My husband and he are friends online, and he sent me a pre-edit copy of Hell Divers book 3, which was very cool! Needless to say, the series just keeps getting better and better, and I’m curious as to what’s going to happen in book 4. With the pre-edit version, I would have to say that Mr. Sansbury Smith? Mr. Smith? is a great writer. While I did find little mistakes throughout this copy, they were all minor. His writing style is great! With book 3, I like how he went back in time to explain more of X’s story while he was on Hades by himself. Thankfully, with some back and forth kind of stories, this one was easy to follow, and I didn’t have any issues figuring out what was going on. With books 1 and 2, I had listened to those in audiobook form with the great narrator, RC Bray. Love him! With book 3 and actually having to read it, I couldn’t help but have RC Bray’s voice in my head as though he were reading it to me. Lol

In the end, it took me just a few hours in total to get through book 3; it was so hard to put down.

Great author! Great series! Looking forward to book 4!

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Josh's Review
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To say that I have been anxiously awaiting this book release would be an understatement. The wait between books two and three seemed to just drag on. The wait, however, was well worth it as this entry in the Hell Divers series exceeded every expectation I had.

As is the usual, the action scenes in this book were well thought out and kept me hooked. The storylines taking place throughout the story were split up enough to keep me wanting more. That is not to say I wasn’t cursing when the story would break away to another character set, but I definitely found myself watching the clock, knowing I would be able to listen to the audiobook again once I got out of work.

One thing I noticed with this sequel is that it reaffirms the level of expertise Nick has with character development. For anyone who has read/listened to book two, they will know the character I am talking about when I say that Nick knows how to write a character that you just love to hate. If you aren’t sure, you will know who I am referring to once you’ve read the story.

Nick also keeps his skills up with showcasing various takes on human nature in this book with characters like Ty, Rodgeman, Magnolia, Jordan, X, and Katrina. Watching how each character dealt with the situations presented to them was as awesome as usual.

With this release, Nick has set a new standard for science fiction. Nick has sounded a siren alerting other genre authors as to the quality they should match or exceed in their own writing. Book three has definitely hooked me and given me the same level of anxiety/desire for book four. I will definitely be re-listening to the entire series again prior to the release of book four.

Hell Divers Three is a definite winner in the sci-fi genre. If you’re reading this review, and haven’t at least started book one, do yourself a favor and do so already. The audiobook version is brought to life by the magical narration of R.C. Bray. Bob has a way with narrating that adds something extra to an already awesome story.

If I could rate this higher than 5/5, I would do so.

I am a huge Nicholas Sansbury Smith fan. I love the Extinction Cycle and Trackers series and read each book the day they come out, but I couldn't get into the Hell Divers Series until now. This book blew me away and I could not put it down. Nicholas's books have a little bit of something for everyone AND he always gives us a hero dog to fall in love with!!! He delivered in Deliverance!

Hell Divers 3 is a thrill ride from start to finish. 
Allies young and old are reunited and new enemies are formed as the plot thickens and the adventure takes us from the sky to the land and now out to the sea. HD3 is fast paced with plenty of action from start to finish that will keep you coming back for more.

A brilliant conclusion to the series. There was a lot to wrap up, but this book did it: numerous threads, characters, and important locations. In the end, things were not only tied up but tied together in a way that was very satisfying for anyone anxiously awaiting the release of book #3.

I have enjoyed all 3 books in the series. I especially like the description of the various "vaults" and the explanation for the sirens and other creatures. I can see this making sense in a sci fi world. I look forward to seeing where book 4 takes us!

Amazing book! I got to read Deliverance early - what a treat! And I'm so happy there will be a 4th book out later this year! The Hell Divers book series is one of the best ever. I know I'll read all of the books again & again, & there's very few books that keep me coming back like that. Thanks again, Nicholas Sansbury Smith.

Honestly, Helldiver's is my favorite series of 2018. The story is very well written and the author does a great job with character development. If you want a change from zombies and aliens, this is a great series to "change it up". Looking forward to IV.

Once again we find ourselves fallowing in the foot steps of X and his dog.the story is killer and you never want it to end what can I say we when you think Nick can do no better he proves you wrong with the next book can not wait for the next one

Helldivers 3 did not disappoint. Couldn't put it down! The only thing I could think was, "This couldn't be the end!"...sure enough Helldivers 4 in on the way! Yay!!!!! I just can't get enough of "X" and his friends!

Good to the last drop! Kept me reading way past my bed time. Nicholas Sandburg does not disappoint. Can they save the human race? Can the Hell divers make it back??? Wait who did they find???? No Way!!

I bought my copy on Audible cause I love to Immerse myself in the story and book 3 does not disappoint. This is an incredible series and I love it. Get it now. Just start from the beginning. Man I hope this series keeps going.

3rd installment and what a dive! I found myself cheering and yelling to the point the wife looked at me weird. Apparently she didn't like my language but I was so into the book. I'm laying on the couch as I type this since I got kicked out of the bed due to an marvelous adventure explored in the mind by reading or listening to the books.

Again Smith has given us a great story with strong characters. I eagerly awaited the third book and was pleasantly surprised. X is a great protagonist and I really get invested in his exploits. I heard recently that Books 4-5 are planned, so it'll be great to follow it some more. High on action, intrigue, and you have to know what happens next.

It is easy to be concerned that sequels to a great book may pale in comparison. Thankfully the third He’ll Divers book is just as good as the first two. While all three have the same characters and world, each book is different from each other in its action and focus. I found this book to be a joy to read. To me this author puts in the work to ensure everything is as good as it can be. The multiple characters feel real and are all flawed and I love them because of it. No character is ever boring or unnecessary. There is plenty of action and gore but it also is never unnecessary. The pace is very quick and I read through this book very quickly. This series will be continuing and I’m excited to see what happens next. This author is one of the best I have read and I recommend this book.

I am a big fan of the entire Hell Divers series, and book 3 is my new favorite. The pace of the book is fast with great character development. I won't post any spoilers, but be prepared that this book will tug at your heartstrings. After this superb addition to the series, I am looking forward to book 4 and much more from Nicholas Sansbury Smith!

I thought after reading books 1 and 2 I knew what to expect, man was I wrong. The story is full of twists and turns and and few surprises along the way. The way NSS jumps back and forth in time while maintaining several different story lines is excellent and fun to follow. He keeps you guessing and in suspense the whole time. It certainly didn't end the way I thought it would and makes me quite eager to read book 4!

Freakin awesome story... I wish i could go into all my favorite parts, but i wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else. Great job N.S.S. on this addition to the Hell Divers saga. I'll be looking forward to the next installment.

Another awesome ride. It was good to see some of the events that have happened between books 1 and 3. Going into the book I was a little sad thinking it was the last one in the series. But at the end you see that there is going to be a book 4 called Hell Divers 4 Wolves. I can't wait.

The month of May needs to cool it a bit. I’ve read more great books at the start of May than I think I did in all of 2018. My biggest bummer is that technically the series could end now – but I think Smith has another book in the works. But it’s literally in the works – meaning I’ll have to wait probably another year until I get Hell Divers 4.

Warning – my review of Hell Divers 3: Deliverance will most likely contain spoilers to the other two books. Obviously being the third book in a series – if you’re reading this review before checking out book 1 – just do yourself a favor – grab it in audio and enjoy. Don’t even read on. Okay, now that I’ve gotten rid of the Hell Divers newbies (those who would most likely die on their first dive) lets dive into the review (pun intended).

Deliverance tells the continued story of the airship trying to survive, the Hell Divers who dive so that humanity survives, X’s life on the surface, along with Tin’s continued survival and search for X. Without ruining the book – that’s what it’s about. There was a lot going on in this one, but it was a friggin blast to read from beginning to end.

I honestly don’t know how long it took me to listen to this, but I think it was 2 days total. I started it, stayed up WAY too late, listened on my way into work, sat in my car and waited for my grin to subside, and couldn’t wait to listen when I got home from work today. It was one of those books that I literally couldn’t wait to listen to more.

Smith has a way of writing that really draws your emotions out. You feel for X, Tim, the lower-deckers on the ship. You also feel hatred for the captain and the things that he’s done to X, Tin, and the people on the ship. Normally a book can tear at my heartstrings but Smith found a way to make me emotionally invested in these characters. Sure, he throws in a dog that I cannot get enough of to sucker me more, but I was hooked without the dog.

I want to describe a scene but I know it’ll ruin a large reveal – but needless to say – there was a scene about 70ish percent through the book where there was finally a reveal. It had me grinning from ear to ear and I think I actually made an audible noise when it happened. I was so excited. I didn’t want to get out of my car and go to work.

R.C. Bray is masterful at his craft. Hell Divers III was no different. He voices X perfectly (even his changing voice throughout this story) and was able to add another level to a book that I didn’t think could get any better.

If you’ve somehow ignored my plea to not read this before reading the first book and are still on the fence – what are you waiting for. Take the dive!

The Hell Divers series is one of my favorite post-apocalyptic, possibly my favorite! The author, Nicholas Sansbury Dmith, has become one of my favorite authors as well. I'm very excited that he decided to make this more than just a trilogy. Can't wait for book 4!!!

In this book Commander Michael Everhart and his team search for the missing and abandoned Helldiver, Xavier Rodriguez. They have no idea if X is still alive or not, but they won't stop until they get their answer. Then they will return to the Hive to save the ship from Captain Jordan.

This series gets better and better with each book! As always, R. C. Bray does an amazing job with the narration!

Hell Divers 3 is a thrill ride from start to finish. 
Allies young and old are reunited and new enemies are formed as the plot thickens and the adventure takes us from the sky to the land and now out to the sea. HD3 is fast paced with plenty of action from start to finish that will keep you coming back for more.

3rd installment and what a dive! I found myself cheering and yelling to the point the wife looked at me weird. Apparently she didn't like my language but I was so into the book. I'm laying on the couch as I type this since I got kicked out of the bed due to an marvelous adventure explored in the mind by reading or listening to the books.

Freakin awesome story... I wish i could go into all my favorite parts, but i wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else. Great job N.S.S. on this addition to the Hell Divers saga. I'll be looking forward to the next installment.

Hell Divers 3, I finished this on Audible today. I listened to it straight thru and wondering where it will go from here? Can't wait to find out! I really enjoyed listening to this and as always Mr. Bray did a fine job. I just hope it doesn't take a year for the next installment! :)

One day I stumbled upon hell divers and decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did. I've followed alot of the author's books now and definitely one of my favorites. I will continue to follow his book releases and always waiting for what comes next.

Picking up hard on the heels of the last book, Hell Divers: Deliverance doesn’t waste much time before it plunges the characters into one dangerous situation after another. And if, like me, you missed the presence of Xavier “X” Rodriguez in the last book, you’ll be happy to discover that he’s all over this book. While we get the present-day adventures of Captain Michael Everheart and the rest of Team Raptor as they frantically search for X on the Earth’s wasteland – as well as the tyrannical shenanigans of the lying, murderous, megalomaniac otherwise known as that shitface Captain Jordan – readers are also given glimpses into the past to see just how X managed to survive a decade on the hostile surface.

For anyone who enjoyed the first two Hell Divers book, this is sure to provide another adrenaline rush. Like a roller coaster falling after it’s hit its tipping point, this was a mad rush of tension filled action with an ending that left me nodding my head in approval. And I don’t care one whit if any of it makes scientific sense, medical sense, technical sense or any other kind of sense. This is another one for the “guilty pleasures” shelf. I thought this was only going to be a trilogy but there appears to be a fourth book in the works and certain events in this installment definitely opened the door to more dangers. So, sign me up, X! I’m ready to go.

I really enjoyed Hell Divers, and Hell Divers Ghosts. But it's more than just an emotional attachment to the characters that drove me to read Deliverance. Smith has crafted a desolate world in which our characters dwell, but it serves as more than just a compelling backdrop. Ultimately, it is the hook - a gut wrenching one, at that. All is dire. All is dark. The world in Hell Divers is ultimately their antagonist. Time is running out, and how exactly will humanity survive. For most, this question should be enough to invest you in this series.

Death and danger are Everywhere X, Tin, and the others turn. But it is the shades of gray we see in nature. A predator preys to feed, only now humanity is not perched safely at the top, as they were pre-war. The order has been realigned, and for a species on the brink, that is truly a terrifying thing. That is the change that Smith has incorporated with Deliverance, as he starts to really flesh out his post-apocalyptic Earth. The sirens aren't mindless, bloodthirsty beasts intent to do evil. They, like every other organism, are simply striving to survive, to feed, raise their young, and exist. We see an ecosystem emerge now, which helps us to start to grasp truly where humanity falls in the new, grand scheme of things. It doesn't take a spoiler to tell that they aren't necessarily safe. Otherwise, where would the conflict come from? For me, this was wonderful, as I tire of horror stories pitting mankind against inherently evil creatures, bent on cliche and stereotypical acts. Mindless blood and gore are self serving and lead us nothing in the end. They are like potato chips, and must be consumed in mass quantity. Hell Divers is much more refined than all of that.

In true Smith fashion, he ramps up the stakes. Conflict comes from a variety of places, whether it be man vs man, man vs environment, or man vs himself. He splits the perspective, effectively so, I might add, which affords us that necessary "wider" view of the world. We can see the conflict approaching in Deliverance, in the same way you see two converging trains share a track. I firmly believe that Deliverance marks a growing point for Smith in terms of storytelling. His characters grow, and in some instances diverge, which leads to some compelling storytelling. We root for some, cheer against others, and page flip to find out the fates of the rest. Deliverance does more than continue the story, but it furthers our emotional investment in these characters. It drags us along in a world made so inhospitable that we, as the reader, can't rightly see the means for humanity's ultimate salvation. It is there, somewhere in the future of this series, I am confident of that, but to Smith's credit, it is still a mystery. I am fully invested in this series now, as I wait to see how X and the ragtag remnant of humanity will survive.

I highly recommend the Hell Divers series to anyone and everyone.

This book was the one I liked most in the series. It brings parts of the story full circle but now there is a new threat on the surface. It is well written and you can feel they face some challenges with doing the right thing but also they want to stay alive. I look forward to reading book 4 to see what is in store for the characters next.