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Hell Divers #0.50
Burning Skies
The second installment of the prequel to the 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.
Audible Audio
Published October 13, 2026
About the author
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
111 books2,482 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 - 16 of 16 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 27, 2026
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Burning Skies is a terrifying look at one of the most unsettling possibilities of our future: what happens if AI becomes powerful enough to trigger the world’s nuclear weapons? Given how much we hear about the potential dangers of AI, this fictional scenario feels disturbingly plausible.
The story follows two groups of survivors, one living aboard an aircraft and another discovering fellow survivors in a bunker, as they try to navigate a world that has been completely changed by nuclear destruction. Seeing the aftermath through these two very different perspectives made the story especially interesting.
What I found most frightening was how easily the premise taps into a very real modern fear. This isn’t the typical apocalyptic story about zombies or some mysterious virus; it explores a threat created by technology that is becoming increasingly embedded in our lives. That made the story feel much closer to home.
Burning Skies offers a terrifying and thought-provoking glimpse at one possible version of an AI-driven apocalypse. It definitely left me thinking about just how much we should trust the technology we are creating.
Burning Skies is a terrifying look at one of the most unsettling possibilities of our future: what happens if AI becomes powerful enough to trigger the world’s nuclear weapons? Given how much we hear about the potential dangers of AI, this fictional scenario feels disturbingly plausible.
The story follows two groups of survivors, one living aboard an aircraft and another discovering fellow survivors in a bunker, as they try to navigate a world that has been completely changed by nuclear destruction. Seeing the aftermath through these two very different perspectives made the story especially interesting.
What I found most frightening was how easily the premise taps into a very real modern fear. This isn’t the typical apocalyptic story about zombies or some mysterious virus; it explores a threat created by technology that is becoming increasingly embedded in our lives. That made the story feel much closer to home.
Burning Skies offers a terrifying and thought-provoking glimpse at one possible version of an AI-driven apocalypse. It definitely left me thinking about just how much we should trust the technology we are creating.
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 23, 2026
Best book of the series, pre- and post.
Sansbury seems revitalized in telling the story of how the world ended and the Hell Divers were born. This one's a real page turner with more character development than I've seen in a while. I actually root for these people.
Sansbury seems revitalized in telling the story of how the world ended and the Hell Divers were born. This one's a real page turner with more character development than I've seen in a while. I actually root for these people.
September 13, 2026
Without a doubt Nicholas Sansbury Smith's best work!
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 sequences gave me chills.
Really awesome seeing the ancestors of our heroes kick ass and secure the future.
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 sequences gave me chills.
Really awesome seeing the ancestors of our heroes kick ass and secure the future.
September 30, 2026
‘The Hell Divers were born’ – Exploring the fascinating beginnings of Hell Divers
Iowa author Nicholas Sansbury Smith, a fascinating young man whose extracurricular activities include a passion for racing in Midwestern triathlons (he is an Ironman triathlete!), entered the world of literary art while working for the State of Iowa – in the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster planning and mitigation. His genre is science fiction with an emphasis on post-apocalyptic tales – the Extinction Cycle, the Trackers, the Orbs, and the Hell Divers. Nicholas has talent to burn and likely someone will pick up this and the subsequent books and touch it with CGI and voila! - the next blockbuster film series!
Introducing this Prequel for the Hell Doicers, Nicholas states ‘‘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 dawns: 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 emerges: 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.’ Welcome to the end of the world as they knew it. Once again, Nicholas Sansbury Smith leads us into yet another dark tale that pleads further elucidation.
Iowa author Nicholas Sansbury Smith, a fascinating young man whose extracurricular activities include a passion for racing in Midwestern triathlons (he is an Ironman triathlete!), entered the world of literary art while working for the State of Iowa – in the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster planning and mitigation. His genre is science fiction with an emphasis on post-apocalyptic tales – the Extinction Cycle, the Trackers, the Orbs, and the Hell Divers. Nicholas has talent to burn and likely someone will pick up this and the subsequent books and touch it with CGI and voila! - the next blockbuster film series!
Introducing this Prequel for the Hell Doicers, Nicholas states ‘‘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 dawns: 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 emerges: 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.’ Welcome to the end of the world as they knew it. Once again, Nicholas Sansbury Smith leads us into yet another dark tale that pleads further elucidation.
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 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.....?
October 2, 2026
Awesome
This unique world continues to get expanded and with each book we get to dive in and learn more. Exceptional storytelling with gritty characters and thrilling action. The AI are frightening close to possible reality nowadays. A warning perhaps? Love this series!
This unique world continues to get expanded and with each book we get to dive in and learn more. Exceptional storytelling with gritty characters and thrilling action. The AI are frightening close to possible reality nowadays. A warning perhaps? Love this series!
October 2, 2026
Prequel to the Hell Divers saga
I love this book. We get to see the evolution of the survivors into Hell Divers and the rise of the defectors. The only bad thing is now I have wait to read the next Hell Diver universe novel.
I love this book. We get to see the evolution of the survivors into Hell Divers and the rise of the defectors. The only bad thing is now I have wait to read the next Hell Diver universe novel.
October 22, 2026
Nicholas Sandsbury Smith knocks it out of the park again! It’s heart breaking - but oh so freaking good! I love it so much.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet, please do! Every single book is incredible and this one is no different.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet, please do! Every single book is incredible and this one is no different.
October 28, 2026
This is one of the best prequels I have read. It stays true to the original story and is just as high stakes. As a new parent, this book was a little bit of a gut punch, with how real Nicholas Sansbury Smith makes the world feel.
September 22, 2026
highly recommend this book - you will not be disappointed!
October 1, 2026
Another great addition to the prequel Hell Divers. I hope the author has a planned prequel to the Cazodores and the metal Islands. That would rock!
October 8, 2026
I need more!! A part III! Keep them going Nick! This book was so great! I have so many questions and there is so much more to the whole story that I feel like a part III is a given!
October 14, 2026
Excellent as always
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews