In this exhiliarting sequel to Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Hellhole, the stakes on planet Hallholme have been raised to new heights. 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? Adolphus knows he's running out of time, but he still has some hope—the shadow-Xayans have banded together to defend their sacred planet with "telemancy," but can they discover new powers to protect all the stored alien lives on the already devastated world? And when all hope seems lost, the awakened Xayans reveal information hidden even from their own followers—the existence of a bigger threat that makes even the Constellation fleet seem insignificant. Disaster has come for General Adolphus and Hellhole…and this time there is no escape.

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From Booklist

The space opera that is the Hellhole series continues with the struggles of General Adolphus to have the Deep Zone worlds secede from the Monarchy. The Diadem, head of the Monarchy, has sent a massive fleet to put down the rebellion. Meanwhile, the awakened Xayans, aliens found on the planet Hellhole, have revealed themselves to have unsuspected powers that can protect and aid the rebellion, but there is a secret they are unwilling to share with the humans. The Xayans know there is another, greater threat to Hellhole and the Deep Zone worlds—their own fanatics. This book is aimed squarely at those who have read the first in the series, as there is barely any review of what occurred in the previous book. This time, the focus is on the players in the Monarchy and the Xayans. More fighting and treachery ensue, with the outcome up for grabs. Can the Deep Zone survive while caught between the Monarchy and the Xayan fanatics? Will the Monarchy finally collapse under its own decay? Only the next book will tell. --Rebecca Gerber

Review

“ Hellhole is a militaristic SF story of galactic proportions… Brilliant strategist, lover of Old Earth history, and cast-off of a now-defunct noble line, Adolphus is a Robin Hood for the galaxy to unite behind. The characters are easy for the reader to believe in, brought to life through not only their own emotions but also the responses and thoughts of the individuals around them.” ― Booklist, starred review “Combines the best of space opera with galactic intrigue and a cast of memorable characters. Fans of David Weber's Honor Harrington series and the Star Wars® novels should enjoy a new entry into this popular category.” ― Library Journal on Hellhole “Unquestionably, Herbert & Anderson can spin a great yarn while producing a vivid, mystifying universe, filled with characters that are both endearing, and loathsome.” ― BookSpotCentral on The Winds of Dune “Herbert and Anderson create vivid characters--both human and machine--with passionate goals.” ― RT Bookreviews on Dune: The Battle of Corin “Exploring the universe created by the late Frank Herbert in his eco-classic Dune, the authors delve into the childhood of the boy who would become Paul Muad'Dib and lead a desert planet in a war that unseats a corrupt emperor. Introducing the world of Dune to a new generation of readers, this novel maintains a high standard of storytelling and world building.” ― Library Journal on Paul of Dune