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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
I really just feel like I’ve heard this story before about 100 times… doesn’t feel like it does anything fresh or new which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but definitely something to note.
FMC can get a bit annoying at times & I found myself getting a tiny bit bored at 60% mark.
I feel like the author had a lot of good ideas that she wanted to fit into one story but it seemed a tad disorganized to me
FMC can get a bit annoying at times & I found myself getting a tiny bit bored at 60% mark.
I feel like the author had a lot of good ideas that she wanted to fit into one story but it seemed a tad disorganized to me
I had a different plot when I read the summary. The two timelines would work better in a movie than as a writing device. Entertaining yet frustrating to hear the main character repeating her thoughts again and again.
Really exciting read! The mystery kept me hooked and coming back to learn more, and the horror elements felt very spooky and real. A part of me wishes the ending was like 10 pages longer, as it wrapped up a bit quickly for my liking, but still a solid story!
I have to wonder if this author has played Man of Medan or is familiar with the story it's based on, because so much of the plot ended up being like the game. Which was as disappointing in this book as it was in the game. The weird thing is that we have the five characters like in the games, and the Cassiopia is name-dropped. I can't tell if this is all coincidence or if the author was heavily inspired by Dark Pictures.
Let's talk about the biggest negative first: it is never explained how or why Claire sees dead people. It's also very inconsistent, like she doesn't see certain dead people but does see people who aren't dead, and at one point they stop showing up at all. It's waved off that her ghost visions somehow helped protect her, but she doesn't mentions seeing them at the end, so I guess she was cured? I have no idea.
It wasn't subtle, either. The Big Bad Business was slammed in your face all the time, and the company guy was obnoxious. One of the characters is named Dionysus. Come on, seriously? The god of madness? And there was a romance subplot. Why?
The ending was disappointing, too. I guess I was expecting something more traditionally horror: more melancholy, dark, maybe even leaving a sense of dread. I guess it had a bittersweet edge, but it was too satisfying, almost.
I'm not sure I buy the science of what happened, but sure. If we can have a bioweapon that causes fear-induced hallucinations and heart attacks, why not this? I just wish more was explained. Like how did Claire escape and why did she leave her crew? What happened to Lourdes? Why do this with rich people and royalty? I don't mind some mysteries, but a lot of it was just unsatisfying, confusing, or appeared to lack world-building.
I did like parts of it, though. I liked the tense and eerie atmosphere of the ship; I liked all the uncertainty and horror of how the previous passengers died; I liked the build of hallucinations and paranoia. I do wish we weren't stuck in Claire's head the whole time, but I was always intrigued and wanting to learn more. And once I made the MoM connection, I accepted it for what it was. I already assumed some Event Horizon or Dead Space stuff was going on. The reveal was still disappointing, but not a deal-breaker.
It won't be for everyone. Would I have preferred some supernatural stuff, a weird alien artifact, or a portal to a hell dimension? Sure. But I also like psychological horror, so I was entertained enough. The only thing that would have made it better is a mention of a man in a coat and bowler hat silently watching Claire.
Let's talk about the biggest negative first: it is never explained how or why Claire sees dead people. It's also very inconsistent, like she doesn't see certain dead people but does see people who aren't dead, and at one point they stop showing up at all. It's waved off that her ghost visions somehow helped protect her, but she doesn't mentions seeing them at the end, so I guess she was cured? I have no idea.
It wasn't subtle, either. The Big Bad Business was slammed in your face all the time, and the company guy was obnoxious. One of the characters is named Dionysus. Come on, seriously? The god of madness? And there was a romance subplot. Why?
The ending was disappointing, too. I guess I was expecting something more traditionally horror: more melancholy, dark, maybe even leaving a sense of dread. I guess it had a bittersweet edge, but it was too satisfying, almost.
I'm not sure I buy the science of what happened, but sure. If we can have a bioweapon that causes fear-induced hallucinations and heart attacks, why not this? I just wish more was explained. Like how did Claire escape and why did she leave her crew? What happened to Lourdes? Why do this with rich people and royalty? I don't mind some mysteries, but a lot of it was just unsatisfying, confusing, or appeared to lack world-building.
I did like parts of it, though. I liked the tense and eerie atmosphere of the ship; I liked all the uncertainty and horror of how the previous passengers died; I liked the build of hallucinations and paranoia. I do wish we weren't stuck in Claire's head the whole time, but I was always intrigued and wanting to learn more. And once I made the MoM connection, I accepted it for what it was. I already assumed some Event Horizon or Dead Space stuff was going on. The reveal was still disappointing, but not a deal-breaker.
It won't be for everyone. Would I have preferred some supernatural stuff, a weird alien artifact, or a portal to a hell dimension? Sure. But I also like psychological horror, so I was entertained enough. The only thing that would have made it better is a mention of a man in a coat and bowler hat silently watching Claire.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I initially DNFd this book, and was disappointed in bith myself, and in the book. I was really looking forward to it. I am so glad I gave it another chance!! Sci-fi horror, tense mystery, and a legit ghost spaceship!
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated