Scan barcode
pillywiggin's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a good mystery/horror story set in space. I enjoyed it very much.
jenhurst's review
3.0
3.5.
I did enjoy this. The plot was good and it was creepy enough. I like scifi and fantasy horror. My complaint is that as a character driven reader I couldn’t connect to the characters.
I did enjoy this. The plot was good and it was creepy enough. I like scifi and fantasy horror. My complaint is that as a character driven reader I couldn’t connect to the characters.
slingersjilly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
centurylore's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nicolamb's review
4.0
4.5 stars - I did love this book, however I can't quite give it 5 stars as there was something about the writing that made it quite hard to get into, despite the plot being really intriguing. I didn't like the main character, but that's okay - we don't have to like characters for a book to still be good.
blogthatbook's review
3.0
Right off the bat, there are a lot of Alien (the movie) comparisons here. But I guess it's hard to see how there wouldn't be, considering that movie's influence in this genre. But, to be honest, simply accepting that fact allows you to get on and enjoy the story for what it is, which I found easy to do, mainly because Barnes has created her own world here and she stamps her authority on it very well, sweeping the reader along with vivid interactions with characters and their surroundings.
It's a small crew on a small ship with different, clashing personalities, which makes things interesting. Unfortunately, I got lost and confused during early character interactions. It felt like the introductions had been rushed, coming too close together. The ensuing argumentative banter from all parties didn't give enough time to get names and personalities straight in my head before the to and fro of the dialogue led me to give up trying to keep track of who was who.
During the first encounter with the Aurora and boarding the twenty-year lost ship, I didn't feel much dread or menace. There were a lot of dead people, sure, but that's more tragic than threatening. Obviously, the ship is devoid of life, adrift beyond occupied space and the very nature of that introduces an element of unease, but there is no foreboding.
As the story progressed, I began to get my head around which character was which. Their individuality and interactions came across as believable and real. Voller was most definitely a favourite of mine. Not because he's a good character, he's actually an asshole, but he's a real person. Someone I imagine everyone has encountered at one point in their lives. I know I certainly have.
The flashback element of the story's construction was curious. The flashback elements come across as the main story and the present-day sections register as the flashbacks. This actually plays to the reader's advantage, aiding you to focus on what is important, the previous goings on with the encounter of the Aurora. In turn, the 'Now' chapters, which are ideally short, offer a nice respite from the tension of the main story, allowing you to breathe. These sections too, are well-characterised. The two interrogators questioning the main character Clair, come across as very much individuals, which sows a different kind of tension in these sections.
As a science fiction novel, I like this book. I think it works well. The characters, the space-faring elements, the small hints of life in that future. We weren't overwhelmed by technical jargon and explanations of how things work, which can often pull me out of a story. The romance elements were a little heavyhanded for my liking, over-emphasized to the point of detracting from the main premise.
As a horror novel, I was left wanting. Simply, there wasn't really much horror. Plenty of dead bodies and death, but there was no real 'spookiness'. I didn’t feel that tension in my chest, the on-the-edge nerves that make you jump at sudden intrusions or interruptions while reading. Once the book was closed between reads, my mind wasn't forced to dwell on anything. But having said that, I've read little horror, science fiction or otherwise, so perhaps I'm judging Dead Silence too harshly.
As always, catch me over on blogthatbook.co.uk
It's a small crew on a small ship with different, clashing personalities, which makes things interesting. Unfortunately, I got lost and confused during early character interactions. It felt like the introductions had been rushed, coming too close together. The ensuing argumentative banter from all parties didn't give enough time to get names and personalities straight in my head before the to and fro of the dialogue led me to give up trying to keep track of who was who.
During the first encounter with the Aurora and boarding the twenty-year lost ship, I didn't feel much dread or menace. There were a lot of dead people, sure, but that's more tragic than threatening. Obviously, the ship is devoid of life, adrift beyond occupied space and the very nature of that introduces an element of unease, but there is no foreboding.
As the story progressed, I began to get my head around which character was which. Their individuality and interactions came across as believable and real. Voller was most definitely a favourite of mine. Not because he's a good character, he's actually an asshole, but he's a real person. Someone I imagine everyone has encountered at one point in their lives. I know I certainly have.
The flashback element of the story's construction was curious. The flashback elements come across as the main story and the present-day sections register as the flashbacks. This actually plays to the reader's advantage, aiding you to focus on what is important, the previous goings on with the encounter of the Aurora. In turn, the 'Now' chapters, which are ideally short, offer a nice respite from the tension of the main story, allowing you to breathe. These sections too, are well-characterised. The two interrogators questioning the main character Clair, come across as very much individuals, which sows a different kind of tension in these sections.
As a science fiction novel, I like this book. I think it works well. The characters, the space-faring elements, the small hints of life in that future. We weren't overwhelmed by technical jargon and explanations of how things work, which can often pull me out of a story. The romance elements were a little heavyhanded for my liking, over-emphasized to the point of detracting from the main premise.
As a horror novel, I was left wanting. Simply, there wasn't really much horror. Plenty of dead bodies and death, but there was no real 'spookiness'. I didn’t feel that tension in my chest, the on-the-edge nerves that make you jump at sudden intrusions or interruptions while reading. Once the book was closed between reads, my mind wasn't forced to dwell on anything. But having said that, I've read little horror, science fiction or otherwise, so perhaps I'm judging Dead Silence too harshly.
As always, catch me over on blogthatbook.co.uk
moonlitface's review
3.0
premis dari buku ini sangat bikin aku penasaran; tentang lima kru kapal luar angkasa LINA yang menangkap sinyal lama dan ternyata merupakan kapal pesiar luar angkasa yang sudah 20 tahun hilang tanpa diketahui sebabnya.
2/3 awal buku ini sangat seru, pacing dan plot-nya ok. diceritakan bergantian dari dua time frame, “then” dan “now”, buku ini bikin aku penasaran sama penyebab dari hilangnya kapal pesiar mewah Aurora. sejak mengeksplorasi Aurora, para kru LINA mendapatkan semacam visions dan mendengar orang-orang yang sudah mati atau masih hidup, tapi nggak ada di kapal itu. menurutku, visions ini udah bagus sebagai trigger horor bagi para karakter, terutama di bagian 2/3 awal.
chemistry antara kru LINA juga lumayan, walaupun menurutku bisa diperkuat lagi di beberapa karakter. aku surprisingly sama sekali nggak masalah sama romance tipis-tipis antara dua karakter di sini, malah bisa jadi pondasi untuk ngebangun chemistry tersebut.
namun, 1/3 akhir buku ini terasa panjang dan lumayan boring. horornya udah nggak terlalu berasa dan cenderung lebih ke action. visions yang dialami tokoh utama udah terjadi sejak kejadian traumatis di masa lalunya, bikin ia ngerasa bersalah, dan itu muncul secara repetitif sepanjang buku. bahkan masa lalunya juga nggak dijelaskan secara gamblang seperti apa kejadiannya, cuma dari repressed memories yang muncul sepotong-sepotong aja di benak tokoh utama. pengungkapan tentang kejadian sebenarnya yang menimpa penumpang Aurora dan kru LINA pun kurang memuaskan bagiku.
untungnya, ending buku ini cukup memuaskan.
3,5/5
2/3 awal buku ini sangat seru, pacing dan plot-nya ok. diceritakan bergantian dari dua time frame, “then” dan “now”, buku ini bikin aku penasaran sama penyebab dari hilangnya kapal pesiar mewah Aurora. sejak mengeksplorasi Aurora, para kru LINA mendapatkan semacam visions dan mendengar orang-orang yang sudah mati atau masih hidup, tapi nggak ada di kapal itu. menurutku, visions ini udah bagus sebagai trigger horor bagi para karakter, terutama di bagian 2/3 awal.
chemistry antara kru LINA juga lumayan, walaupun menurutku bisa diperkuat lagi di beberapa karakter. aku surprisingly sama sekali nggak masalah sama romance tipis-tipis antara dua karakter di sini, malah bisa jadi pondasi untuk ngebangun chemistry tersebut.
namun, 1/3 akhir buku ini terasa panjang dan lumayan boring. horornya udah nggak terlalu berasa dan cenderung lebih ke action. visions yang dialami tokoh utama udah terjadi sejak kejadian traumatis di masa lalunya, bikin ia ngerasa bersalah, dan itu muncul secara repetitif sepanjang buku. bahkan masa lalunya juga nggak dijelaskan secara gamblang seperti apa kejadiannya, cuma dari repressed memories yang muncul sepotong-sepotong aja di benak tokoh utama. pengungkapan tentang kejadian sebenarnya yang menimpa penumpang Aurora dan kru LINA pun kurang memuaskan bagiku.
untungnya, ending buku ini cukup memuaskan.
3,5/5
emluvsbooksttyt's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
The Shining meets Aliens
the_anxious_one's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wallabystew's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75