This series is one of those, edge of your seat, page turners, that keep you in suspense from start to finish so if you're looking for some action-packed entertainment then you have come to the right place! There is never a dull moment and the death count is steadily increasing. In book two, the Variants are continuously evolving. They are smarter, faster, stronger and a lot more predatory! Their new abilities make them that much harder for the strike team to kill, especially when the team doesn't realize just what they're up against.

Sometimes you just want some fast paced action and that's what I appreciate most about this series. Its a non-stop high intensity thrill ride. If you like audio, then I would recommend listening to it, because the narrator is fantastic! With that said though, I felt like there was a lot of repetition in both book one and two and I think the stories would be just as good if they were slimmed down some.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! 

 

You'd think after five books, the Extinction Cycle might start to get a bit stale. Somehow, though, Nicholas Sansbury Smith has managed to keep this series rocking and rolling, presenting a cross-genre affair that continues to impress and excite.

 

I've really appreciated the way Smith continues to up the ante, transforming the Variant threat into a global crises that only grows more and more complicated. The elements involved in crafting an Extinction book work wonderfully well, and Smith ties up action, science, horror, and military thriller into a tight, impossible to put down read. Even after five books, I'm still on the edge of my seat.

 

Here, Team Ghost, led as always by Reed Beckham, are making their last-ditch push toward ending the threat of the monstrous Variants, whose offspring have evolved some particularly nasty new elements that allow Smith to craft several wonderfully gruesome scenes. Packed with a ton of action and a lot of heart, we're taken across multiple front lines on land and at sea as Team Ghost contends with monsters and monstrous humans. The fighting is intense and masterfully crafted (a staple of this series), right on up through an excellent climax that blends the suspense and action of Aliens and Die Hard (or maybe Under Siege is a better example), with a lot of heart-string tugging and plenty more "oh sh--" moments.

 

For all intents and purposes, this is supposedly the last book in the series, although there's plenty of wiggle room left for another book if the author so chooses. And if it is, in fact, the last book, rest assured that Smith is not resting on his laurels here.

 

I've been a big fan of this series, and this might be the best entry of the lot. Smith gets full-on cinematic in his epicness here. As far as I'm concerned, this is a fitting conclusion for Sgt. Reed Beckham, Dr. Kate Lovato, and the other members of Team Ghost. If we do get a sixth book down the line, I'll definitely be reading it (especially if Smith presents some of the catastrophe and struggle in Europe or Asia. This series has been focused on the US front-lines of the war, but I'm itching to see a more global examination of the story.). If we don't, then it's been a fantastic run for Smith, his characters, and this reader in particular.

 

Hoorah!

ABR's original Extinction Edge audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith continues his exciting series with this second book, Extinction Edge. At the close of Extinction Horizon, we are told there is a cure or rather that Dr. Lovato has created a “larger monster.” We expect things to go much better on Plum Island and the rebuilding of civilization can begin. Uh, no!

Lovato sets the “larger monster” loose in the U.S. killing off most of the variants – all but about 10% … of over 300 million people – that leaves close to 30 million variants NOT dead. Beckham, Horn and others are charged with going into New York and laying claim to the city by eradicating the remaining variants … 2000 or 3000 supposedly.

As is usually the case, the military has underestimated the number of variants and the bigwigs are broadcasting and strategizing with the wrong intel. Lovato knows better – she tries to correct the military’s error but is ignored. Not only are the numbers wrong but the variants are smarter! They communicate, they fight united and they strategize!

Beckham, Horn and now Lovato are fighting for their lives. The human race is quickly moving towards true extinction. It seems no one can win against the new and improved variants.

And if this is not scary enough for you – imagine the dark murky depths of the sewers and large coccoons of spider-like webbing holding what few survivors there are in New York … The description of this was horrifying!

Smith does an excellent job of continuing the story plot and keeping the actors growing. Lovato and Beckham are dancing around a romance but it is far from the true focus of this story – no, its the flesh ripping, terrifying variants!

I keep wondering what more can Smith dish out in the way of horror but it seems he knows no bounds! Read his series if you are a true lover of horror, apocalyptic worlds far scarier than zombies and gore!

Smith remains true to horror fans and delivers! Smith is definitely an author to keep an eye on … he only gets better with each book. I recommend this book as a must read.

The narrator, Bronson Pinchot, performs excellently! His voices are consistent and his pronunciation is clear. His transition from one character to another is clear and smooth.

Blackstone productions did an excellent job of producing this audiobook!

Audiobook provided for for review by the publisher.

“Extinction Edge (The Extinction Cycle Book 2)“ by Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a powerful sequel to his gripping first novel in the series, “Extinction Horizon” (which is a hard act to follow).
Dr Kate Lovato has saved the world with her bioweapon but a new threat of Zombie ‘Variants’ takes the place of the virus-infected killers. Evolved and more potent than the originals they are also larger in number than anticipated.

A fierce battle between the Variants and the army ensues in New York and on Plum Island, keeping you at the edge of your seat all the way through and by-passing the second-in-a-trilogy trap of emptiness or repetition. Full of action-packed scenes, thrilling suspense and great heroes, this is another hugely enjoyable and well written science fiction / medical or military thriller that will not disappoint. A must read for fans of the genre.
I’ve read on the author’s website that he has done extensive research on the New York Underground, which shows in his competent writing during those scenes. The medical science comes also across as founded in research, giving the book good credibility.

I’m not often in the mood for science fiction novels but Smith has created characters that are interesting and plots and situations that are gripping and compelling.

Looking forward to the trilogy finale.