A review by skylarkblue1
Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Just read this book. If you’re ok with the content warnings, just go read this. It’s a wonderful representation of mental health and how it gets demonised alongside being the scariest read I’ve ever read!
Claire Kovalik is on her last space mission of her employment. After she goes back to earth, this is it for her dream life - floating in space away from people surrounded by the vast emptiness of space. But right as they’re about to meet up with the ship to go home, a distress signal comes through on the old emergency line - it’s the first (and last) luxury cruise liner that mysteriously vanished over 20 years ago.
This book was so masterfully written, I’m shocked to learn it’s the author’s debut in horror! The tension and mystery were gripping and somehow even managed to write jumpscares, something I didn’t think was even possible in books!
The characters were really good, the MC’s confusion and unreliableness was interesting and despite the narrative being all over the place from them it was coherent enough to understand and follow along just fine. The other characters were actually quite well rounded despite how many there are and how short of a time some of them had.
If you like Alien, Dead Space or horror/sci-fi in general, this is a must read. It’s honestly the best in the sci-fi horror genre I’ve seen out of any game/movie/book so far!
Claire Kovalik is on her last space mission of her employment. After she goes back to earth, this is it for her dream life - floating in space away from people surrounded by the vast emptiness of space. But right as they’re about to meet up with the ship to go home, a distress signal comes through on the old emergency line - it’s the first (and last) luxury cruise liner that mysteriously vanished over 20 years ago.
This book was so masterfully written, I’m shocked to learn it’s the author’s debut in horror! The tension and mystery were gripping and somehow even managed to write jumpscares, something I didn’t think was even possible in books!
The characters were really good, the MC’s confusion and unreliableness was interesting and despite the narrative being all over the place from them it was coherent enough to understand and follow along just fine. The other characters were actually quite well rounded despite how many there are and how short of a time some of them had.
If you like Alien, Dead Space or horror/sci-fi in general, this is a must read. It’s honestly the best in the sci-fi horror genre I’ve seen out of any game/movie/book so far!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Mental illness, and Blood
Moderate: Classism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic