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Hell Divers #0B
Burning Skies: A Hell Divers Prequel, Part II
From the New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sansbury Smith comes the second installment of the edge-of-your-seat prequel to the popular Hell Divers series.
The bombs were just the beginning of the nightmare …
On the ground, Cecil Pepper and his wife race against radioactive death, searching frantically for a bunker that might spare them from the inferno raining from above. But even if they can find shelter, an inescapable realization Walls of concrete and steel may shield them from fallout, but not from the horrors evolving in this new, forsaken world.
High above the radioactive surface, Santiago Rodriguez and his family have secured passage aboard the airship Persephone. Their relief is short-lived, however, as massive, violent storms form across the planet. But even if they escape nature’s fury, the sky offers no permanent refuge. As supplies dwindle, an impossible choice Slowly starve in the clouds, or risk salvaging in the razed wasteland below. To survive, brave soldiers must descend into the irradiated hell that was once Earth, diving through toxic skies to scavenge the ruins of civilization—becoming the first of a new breed of warriors known as the Hell Divers.
The bombs were just the beginning of the nightmare …
On the ground, Cecil Pepper and his wife race against radioactive death, searching frantically for a bunker that might spare them from the inferno raining from above. But even if they can find shelter, an inescapable realization Walls of concrete and steel may shield them from fallout, but not from the horrors evolving in this new, forsaken world.
High above the radioactive surface, Santiago Rodriguez and his family have secured passage aboard the airship Persephone. Their relief is short-lived, however, as massive, violent storms form across the planet. But even if they escape nature’s fury, the sky offers no permanent refuge. As supplies dwindle, an impossible choice Slowly starve in the clouds, or risk salvaging in the razed wasteland below. To survive, brave soldiers must descend into the irradiated hell that was once Earth, diving through toxic skies to scavenge the ruins of civilization—becoming the first of a new breed of warriors known as the Hell Divers.
- GenresScience Fiction
456 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
134 books2,475 followersNicholas Sansbury Smith is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels with two million copies sold. Before his writing career, he served at Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a background that inspired many of his story concepts. A two time Ironman triathlete, he enjoys running, biking, and hiking. Nicholas also loves traveling, especially to his cabin in Northern Minnesota where he weaves his tales. He lives in Iowa with his wonderful wife and their son and daughter.
Note: Nicholas is no longer an active user on Goodreads and does not use the platform. If you want to connect with him on social media here are some links. He would love to hear from you.
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSSFa...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicholassans...
Website: nicholassansburysmith.com
Instagram: instagram.com/author_sansbury/
Note: Nicholas is no longer an active user on Goodreads and does not use the platform. If you want to connect with him on social media here are some links. He would love to hear from you.
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSSFa...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicholassans...
Website: nicholassansburysmith.com
Instagram: instagram.com/author_sansbury/
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 15, 2026
Armageddon the final and catastrophic battle between the forces of good and evil.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel like a Hell Diver!
We dive for the next breath, the next heartbeat, the next generation.
Weeeeeeee! Splat! I hope for a better ending than that.
Picks up where book one ended.
A brutal, dark and bleak book.
Surviving a nuclear holocaust while being hunted by Skynet.
This book reminded me of the opening scene from The Terminator.
The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. The war to exterminate mankind has begun.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel like a Hell Diver!
We dive for the next breath, the next heartbeat, the next generation.
Weeeeeeee! Splat! I hope for a better ending than that.
Picks up where book one ended.
A brutal, dark and bleak book.
Surviving a nuclear holocaust while being hunted by Skynet.
This book reminded me of the opening scene from The Terminator.
The machines rose from the ashes of the nuclear fire. The war to exterminate mankind has begun.
September 13, 2026
Really really good followup to Into the Storms.
Immediate action and story progression.
Nicholas Sansbury Smith does what he does best over and over in this book. He sets a scene so vivid that you are no longer reading a book, but experiencing an earth shattering event. Several "scenes" gave me chills.
Really awesome seeing the ancestors of our heroes kick ass and secure the future.
Immediate action and story progression.
Nicholas Sansbury Smith does what he does best over and over in this book. He sets a scene so vivid that you are no longer reading a book, but experiencing an earth shattering event. Several "scenes" gave me chills.
Really awesome seeing the ancestors of our heroes kick ass and secure the future.
September 12, 2026
The legends are born
The ship's name is Persephone, a mighty airship floating through the sky carrying remnants of humanity. They fight for survival. On the surface, in the sky. They fight to survive. Against a metal enemy and surviving humans on the wrong side of living. Our heroes are born in darkness and death. Honed against destruction and living through the battles, they emerge stronger, their injuries toughening them. On the ground and in the sky they become more with the will to secure the future for themselves and their children.
The characters and storyline develop the background where the Hell Divers are born. Jumping from the relative safety of the mighty airship Persephone to retrieve necessary supplies from the deadly environs remaining on the surface of a demolished planet. Falling through deadly storms filled with hurricane force winds, radiation and lightning bolts, the human missiles arc through the ash-filled clouds, diving so that humanity survives! This is a great read!
The ship's name is Persephone, a mighty airship floating through the sky carrying remnants of humanity. They fight for survival. On the surface, in the sky. They fight to survive. Against a metal enemy and surviving humans on the wrong side of living. Our heroes are born in darkness and death. Honed against destruction and living through the battles, they emerge stronger, their injuries toughening them. On the ground and in the sky they become more with the will to secure the future for themselves and their children.
The characters and storyline develop the background where the Hell Divers are born. Jumping from the relative safety of the mighty airship Persephone to retrieve necessary supplies from the deadly environs remaining on the surface of a demolished planet. Falling through deadly storms filled with hurricane force winds, radiation and lightning bolts, the human missiles arc through the ash-filled clouds, diving so that humanity survives! This is a great read!
September 22, 2026
I keep thinking, with every new book from Nicholas Stansbury Smith, that there can't be much left in the Hell Divers' universe to write about. And Smith keeps proving me wrong. I thought it might be a slog, reading yet another installment of Hell Divers' lore. Bzzt! Wrong again. Burning Skies is a great read. Filling in the blanks from the Hell Divers series is great fun, with a lot of "I wondered about that" or "So that's what happened" scenes, plenty of action, and "historic" characters. I recommend this volume to anyone who calls themselves a Hell Divers fan.
September 19, 2026
Epic Origins
Very fulfilling in the Hell Divers universe. Enjoying all the prequel stories and origins of X's world and subsequent Hell Divers. Obviously much more to go - Timothy Peppers development.....?
Very fulfilling in the Hell Divers universe. Enjoying all the prequel stories and origins of X's world and subsequent Hell Divers. Obviously much more to go - Timothy Peppers development.....?
September 22, 2026
highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews