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duparker's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's a satisfying read. It's not trying to be anything that is not
shannonw19's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't think the first two could be topped. I was wrong. So very wrong. Gregg Hurwitz is writing a series that is, I think, the best I have ever read. Evan Smoak is a complicated hero.
When Evan's phone rings and he finds the only father he every knew, Jack Johns on the line, he knows there is trouble. He finds out that Jack jumped out of a helicopter - without a parachute and died. Evan knows immediately who's behind the death - his nemesis, Van Sciver. Jack leaves Evan a clue to a package. Evan finds out the package is actually a teenage girl and he must keep her alive as Van Sciver tries to kill her. During all of this action, his Nowhere Man line rings and Evan feels bound to help the caller.
I love these books. Gregg Hurwitz has written a compelling hero. Evan is a killing machine. Jack tried to keep Evan's humanity and that is where a lot of the conflict occurs. And I love that. Evan doesn't know how to normally interact with other people and how to have a "normal" life. He is a loner - in the best sense of the word. At one point, he takes the girl to Target and I think that part of the book was the best way to understand how out of his depth Evan is in normal life. I also think it was my favorite scene in the book.
If you have no read the Orphan X series, I highly recommend it. All three books are so very good. Full of action, but also full of humanity. I can't say enough good things about Gregg Hurwitz and Evan Smoak. Check them out.
When Evan's phone rings and he finds the only father he every knew, Jack Johns on the line, he knows there is trouble. He finds out that Jack jumped out of a helicopter - without a parachute and died. Evan knows immediately who's behind the death - his nemesis, Van Sciver. Jack leaves Evan a clue to a package. Evan finds out the package is actually a teenage girl and he must keep her alive as Van Sciver tries to kill her. During all of this action, his Nowhere Man line rings and Evan feels bound to help the caller.
I love these books. Gregg Hurwitz has written a compelling hero. Evan is a killing machine. Jack tried to keep Evan's humanity and that is where a lot of the conflict occurs. And I love that. Evan doesn't know how to normally interact with other people and how to have a "normal" life. He is a loner - in the best sense of the word. At one point, he takes the girl to Target and I think that part of the book was the best way to understand how out of his depth Evan is in normal life. I also think it was my favorite scene in the book.
If you have no read the Orphan X series, I highly recommend it. All three books are so very good. Full of action, but also full of humanity. I can't say enough good things about Gregg Hurwitz and Evan Smoak. Check them out.
rlwaite's review against another edition
4.0
The first Orphan X book was great, the second book not so much. Hellbent, book 3, gets back to greatness. Hurwitz should have just skipped the second book and given us two great Orphan X books.
hahildebrand's review against another edition
3.0
I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway, which was nice, of course. But the third installment in the Orphan X series is less engrossing than its pulpy predecessors.
It's the relentless forward momentum of books like this that are the real attraction, and while that's still evident here, the cliched addition of a young ward to watch over is a bit yawn-worthy. I found myself starting to question how much was knowing pulp fun and how much is actually just a little bit rubbish. I think it's just on the right side of that, so far, but you'd hope the series doesn't head down this route too far without pulling some surprises.
The writing's decent, the occasional florid turn of phrase welcome, but the endless listing of product names and types of weapons and vodka variants seems less like a satirical wink at this tendency in action/Bond-style books and more a weird fetish, if not a paid product endorsement. It's a bit wearing, is all.
Anyway: still fun, still a propulsive read, but in danger of running out of steam and ideas. Hopefully the next volume's a less predictable one.
It's the relentless forward momentum of books like this that are the real attraction, and while that's still evident here, the cliched addition of a young ward to watch over is a bit yawn-worthy. I found myself starting to question how much was knowing pulp fun and how much is actually just a little bit rubbish. I think it's just on the right side of that, so far, but you'd hope the series doesn't head down this route too far without pulling some surprises.
The writing's decent, the occasional florid turn of phrase welcome, but the endless listing of product names and types of weapons and vodka variants seems less like a satirical wink at this tendency in action/Bond-style books and more a weird fetish, if not a paid product endorsement. It's a bit wearing, is all.
Anyway: still fun, still a propulsive read, but in danger of running out of steam and ideas. Hopefully the next volume's a less predictable one.
jillyrabb101's review against another edition
4.0
Thrilling
I'm a sucker for this stuff. Loss. Facing demons. Shared trauma. Growth. Gets me every time! Loved it. Getting better and better.
I'm a sucker for this stuff. Loss. Facing demons. Shared trauma. Growth. Gets me every time! Loved it. Getting better and better.
hahamama's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bchristian541's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Another amazing book in the Orphan X series. Full of twists and turns, just like the others. I can't wait to see what the next books hold.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Evan Smoak, an unstoppable government assassin gone rogue returns in Gregg Hurwitz #1 international bestselling Orphan X series, HELLBENT – from revenge, bullets, and vodka his most emotional and personal yet; a riveting non-stop action thriller.
Picking up from The Nowhere Man #2.0 Smoak is more than a legend. He is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn.
A dangerous past. Well-equipped and trained. Taken from a group home at twelve, Evan was raised and prepared as part of the Orphan Program. Evan was Orphan X. An expendable assassin who went where the U.S. Government would not and did what they could not.
Jack had fought for Evan to stay human even while teaching him to be a killer. He broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. Eight years ago he had gone rogue.
He helped the desperate with no place to turn. People suffering at the hands of unrepentant and vicious abusers. Now every incoming call comes to 1.855.2-Nowhere. Then it emerged through the receiver of the RoamZone.
He always answers: “Do you need my help?”
This time, the voice on the other end was familiar. Jack Johns. Jack was the one who had plucked Evan from foster home to the inside the Department of Defense. He was the only father he had ever know. If he was calling this line, he must be in mortal danger. Indicating he must be up against what other might consider world-destroying trouble. An emotional call.
Hurwitz cranks up the intensity, with Van Sciver, using all the assets to take out both Evan (Orphan X) and the target he is trying to protect.
His top priority is to stamp out wayward Orphans. Anyone who has retired. Anyone who had not made the cut. Anyone who had tested questionable for compliance. The only Orphan who had ever gone rogue. The best way is to go after his handler.
Jack gives Evan a final mission.
Would a long-buried secret from Jack’s past lead him to Van Sciver? Hurting Jack Johns would hurt Orphan X. The Commandments. A girl. Joey. The package. Can she help? A sixteen- year-old?
Evan is determined to put a bullet through Van Sciver’s skull after his beloved father figure dies. Their history stretched back to three decades to a boys’ home in East Baltimore. Van Sciver held the keys to the kingdom and Evan was the fugitive.
“Jack had taught Evan that the hard part wasn’t being a killer. It was staying human. He was superb at the former. And growing proficient at the latter. “
A superbly created series. Highly entertaining! Fans will delight. Will there be another upcoming book in the series? We can only hope.
Read My Reviews:
Orphan X #1
Buy a Bullet #1.5
Nowhere Man #2.0
A special thank you to St. Martins Press and #NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
Picking up from The Nowhere Man #2.0 Smoak is more than a legend. He is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn.
A dangerous past. Well-equipped and trained. Taken from a group home at twelve, Evan was raised and prepared as part of the Orphan Program. Evan was Orphan X. An expendable assassin who went where the U.S. Government would not and did what they could not.
Jack had fought for Evan to stay human even while teaching him to be a killer. He broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man. Eight years ago he had gone rogue.
He helped the desperate with no place to turn. People suffering at the hands of unrepentant and vicious abusers. Now every incoming call comes to 1.855.2-Nowhere. Then it emerged through the receiver of the RoamZone.
He always answers: “Do you need my help?”
This time, the voice on the other end was familiar. Jack Johns. Jack was the one who had plucked Evan from foster home to the inside the Department of Defense. He was the only father he had ever know. If he was calling this line, he must be in mortal danger. Indicating he must be up against what other might consider world-destroying trouble. An emotional call.
Hurwitz cranks up the intensity, with Van Sciver, using all the assets to take out both Evan (Orphan X) and the target he is trying to protect.
His top priority is to stamp out wayward Orphans. Anyone who has retired. Anyone who had not made the cut. Anyone who had tested questionable for compliance. The only Orphan who had ever gone rogue. The best way is to go after his handler.
Jack gives Evan a final mission.
Would a long-buried secret from Jack’s past lead him to Van Sciver? Hurting Jack Johns would hurt Orphan X. The Commandments. A girl. Joey. The package. Can she help? A sixteen- year-old?
Evan is determined to put a bullet through Van Sciver’s skull after his beloved father figure dies. Their history stretched back to three decades to a boys’ home in East Baltimore. Van Sciver held the keys to the kingdom and Evan was the fugitive.
“Jack had taught Evan that the hard part wasn’t being a killer. It was staying human. He was superb at the former. And growing proficient at the latter. “
A superbly created series. Highly entertaining! Fans will delight. Will there be another upcoming book in the series? We can only hope.
Read My Reviews:
Orphan X #1
Buy a Bullet #1.5
Nowhere Man #2.0
A special thank you to St. Martins Press and #NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks