Sequels in the Hellhole trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Great plot. But I find the pace too slow. The themes too simplistic. Good and evil — nothing in-between.
Seems the target audience is a distracted 13-year-old boy. Key points are repeated often, just in case the kids skimmed it the first time.
Normally the middle book of a trilogy is weakest. That’s true in this case.
The audio books are read by Scott Brick, a reader I find unsubtle. Overly emotional.
After declaring his independence from the corrupt Constellation, rebel General Adolphus knows the crackdown is coming. Now he needs to pull together the struggling Hellhole colony, the ever-expanding shadow-Xayan settlement, and his connections with the other Deep Zone worlds. Even then, he doubts his desperate measures will be enough.
Diadem Michella Duchenet has collected a huge space fleet led by Commodore Escobar Hallholme, son of the hero who originally defeated Adolphus. They expect resistance from the General’s rebels, but who could possibly stand up to such a mighty fleet? …
Hellhole is no Dune.
But it’s still worth reading.
Dave feels Brian Herbert, son of Dune author Frank Herbert, became an even better author — but I’m still not convinced.
Cover art doesn’t have much to do with the second book, by the way.
The final book in the trilogy, Hellhole Inferno, is better.
There is an unexpected resolution. And a happy ending.
Many of the interesting side stories are resolved.
Finishing this book I began book #2 in the The Expanse (novel series). James S. A. Corey is a much better writer.
Rick McCharles 