Where to Start Reading Hell Squad
If you are looking to dive into Anna Hackett's high-octane, action-packed world of post-apocalyptic Australia, you should start with the very first book, Marcus. While each installment of the Hell Squad series features a standalone romance focusing on a different couple, the books follow a continuous, overarching plot. The human survivors, holed up in a secret subterranean base called the Enclave, are fighting a desperate war against the reptilian alien invaders known as the Gizzida. Reading the series in order is highly recommended to properly track the progression of the war, the discovery of new alien secrets, the development of new weapons, and the shifting dynamics of the resistance.
Starting with Marcus introduces you to the leader of Hell Squad, Marcus Steele, and the communications officer, Elle Milton. Their relationship sets the tone for the series, blending survivalist grit, lethal action, and passionate chemistry. From there, each book builds directly on the events of the last, culminating in the epic final battle in the twentieth book, Tane.
Hell Squad Books in Publication Order
The series was released between 2015 and 2020. Because the chronological timeline of the invasion and the human resistance moves forward with each book, the publication order is also the chronological order. Below is the complete list of all 20 books in the main series:
- Marcus (Book 1) – Published in 2015
- Cruz (Book 2) – Published in 2015
- Gabe (Book 3) – Published in 2015
- Reed (Book 4) – Published in 2015
- Roth (Book 5) – Published in 2015
- Noah (Book 6) – Published in 2015
- Shaw (Book 7) – Published in 2016
- Holmes (Book 8) – Published in 2016
- Niko (Book 9) – Published in 2016
- Finn (Book 10) – Published in 2016
- Devlin (Book 11) – Published in 2016
- Theron (Book 12) – Published in 2017
- Hemi (Book 13) – Published in 2017
- Ash (Book 14) – Published in 2017
- Levi (Book 15) – Published in 2018
- Manu (Book 16) – Published in 2018
- Griff (Book 17) – Published in 2019
- Dom (Book 18) – Published in 2019
- Survivors (Book 19) – Published in 2020
- Tane (Book 20) – Published in 2020
Understanding the Squads of the Enclave
As you progress through the series, you will notice that the books are divided by the different military units operating out of the Enclave base in Sydney. Understanding these factions will help you keep track of the large cast of characters:
Hell Squad (Squad One)
The titular squad of the series is led by Marcus Steele. They are the premier tactical team sent on the most dangerous, high-risk missions against the Gizzida. Key members featured in early books include second-in-command Cruz Ramos, sniper Gabe Jackson, tech-expert Reed MacKinnon, and demolitions specialist Roth.
Squad Three (The Berserkers)
Known as the wild cards of the Enclave, Squad Three is a group of rough, lawless mercenaries and former bikers. Led by the towering berserker Tane Rahia, this squad is famous for disregarding protocol in favor of heavy firepower and brutal hand-to-hand combat. Their stories, including those of Hemi Rahia, Griff Callan, and Dom Santora, offer a grittier, highly intense flavor of romance and action.
Squad Nine
This squad consists of specialized operatives working closely with the intelligence, medical, and defensive units of the Enclave. Their operatives, including Mackenna Carides and comms officer Arden Carlisle, bridge the gap between frontline combat and tactical base operations, helping coordinates major operations during the height of the alien war.
The Official Spin-Off: Hunter Squad
Once you finish the main 20-book saga, the adventure does not end. Anna Hackett launched a direct spin-off series titled Hunter Squad. This series focuses on the next generation of heroes in the post-apocalyptic world. Specifically, it stars the sons and daughters of the original Hell Squad couples.
In the aftermath of the Gizzida war, the main alien threat is defeated, but the creatures left behind deadly, mutated hybrid monsters that roam the forests, rivers, and ruins of Australia. Hunter Squad is the elite team of soldiers tasked with hunting down these monsters to keep the surviving human settlements safe. The reading order for the spin-off series is:
- Jameson (Hunter Squad Book 1) – Stars Jameson Steele, the son of Marcus and Elle Steele.
- North (Hunter Squad Book 2) – Stars North Conners, the son of Ash and Marin Conners.
- Marc (Hunter Squad Book 3) – Continues the hunt with new next-gen operatives.
While the author states that the Hunter Squad books can technically be read as standalones without reading the original Hell Squad series, you will get a much richer experience and avoid massive spoilers for the original series if you read Hell Squad first.
What to Know Before You Start
Anna Hackett's writing is heavily inspired by classic 1980s and 1990s action cinema and alien invasion television shows like V and Falling Skies. Expect fast pacing, alpha heroes who are fiercely protective, capable and resilient heroines, and a setting where human hope shines brightest in the face of despair. The romance is steamy and central to every book, but the sci-fi plot and battle scenes are treated with equal weight. The series won the SFR Galaxy Award for Best Post-Apocalypse, cementing its reputation as a fan-favorite in the science fiction romance subgenre.