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mrsredfield's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
bkwrm1317's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Middle of the line read for me. While I enjoyed the pacing and felt like this was a quick page turner, I didn't feel like the plot lines really resolved themselves/the sci fi space horror element really did enough for me.
For example, the extraterrestrial sentience just... didn't matter in the end? There's no resolution for our protagonist with her family really? The weird moments of love interest don't turn into anything, even a major plot point?
This one was just not as good as the first novel, but I know the sophomore novel can be really challenging, and have a lot of respect for S.A. Barnes and the craft!
This one was just not as good as the first novel, but I know the sophomore novel can be really challenging, and have a lot of respect for S.A. Barnes and the craft!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol
kennabrooke's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
It kept me locked in for the entirety of the book, however the stakes they set up during the book were not the same stakes the book ended with. I feel like the ending/epilogue did not match the writing and tenseness of the rest of the book, in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
ejjuchau's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide, and Colonisation
adrilynn21's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Blood, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
onthesamepage's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ultimately this entertained me enough to keep going, but I was missing a bit more creepiness. I thought there would be a bigger twist, but this basically did what I was expecting it to. The ending was unsatisfying, and I didn't really like the main character—her past gets hyped up so much at the beginning, but it takes a long time before we find out what, exactly, happened. She was easily manipulated by the other characters, and, for someone who specializes in psychology, she's sure blind to her own shortcomings. There was also no need for the hints at a possible romance.
Ultimately this entertained me enough to keep going, but I was missing a bit more creepiness. I thought there would be a bigger twist, but this basically did what I was expecting it to. The ending was unsatisfying, and I didn't really like the main character—her past gets hyped up so much at the beginning, but it takes a long time before we find out what, exactly, happened. She was easily manipulated by the other characters, and, for someone who specializes in psychology, she's sure blind to her own shortcomings. There was also no need for the hints at a possible romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, and Violence
lv_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
I really loved the story. It was creepy, interesting, and dealt with many issues we face today — just in space. There are some style and tone discrepancies that are distracting. Also, the world building is lacking a bit. It’s unclear whether Earth still exists or if it’s a new Earth, and some of the mentions of space stations are confusing. I wish the epilogue was a bit longer and had some more information in it. All in all, I’d still recommend it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Violence, and Blood
mice_are_nice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcohol
leandrathetbrzero's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
After a small exploration crew loses one of its members under mysterious circumstances, psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray is assigned to join them on their next trip. Phe has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—a space-based condition that can lead one to experience paranoia and hallucinations, and they may become a threat to themselves and others, among other symptoms. The crew is less than happy to have Phe with them as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, but that should be the least of their worries when it becomes clear that this planet has some secrets of its own...
Before entering this novel, it is important to know that this read is a slow burn. The tension and suspense come from atmospheric tension, environmental stressers, and strained relationship dynamics among the crew members. The novel eventually barrels you to the end once the true threat is established, but the book is far slower in pace compared to SA Barnes's Dead Silence. Elements I loved include the social commentary on corporate greed, the moments in which Phe feels she is being watched, and the bread crumbs we got surrounding Phe's life before she and her mother moved back on Earth in her childhood. With that said, I did find the depiction and development of interpersonal relationships to be weak and surface level in this narrative. This may be rooted in Phe acting as outsider, so she has only known the crew for this single brief trip. I found the romantic subplot in these pages to be forced and unnecessary; it was a bit awkward at times. While I appreciated the uniqueness of the threat the crew faced, I think I would have liked more answers/explanation surrounding that threat by the story's close. I also just wanted these characters to have more common sense. I would certainly try this author again, because I loved Dead Silence and ultimately liked Ghost Station for what it was. NOTE: I buddy read this with two friends who only had access to the audio, and we seemed to agree that I was the best one off with the ebook, as there are some information heavy passages.
Actual Rating: 3.25 stars
Original Pub Date: 9 April 2024
Reading Format: ebook
PREVIOUS BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:
Dead Silence—5 stars
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and Tor Publishing Group for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Self harm and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
theebster's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Deliciously creepy. Delivered on my expectations after loving Dead Silence! Really enjoyed the tension and unreliable narration in this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Blood, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail