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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
No
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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Dead Silence, a woman and her crew board a decades-lost luxury cruiser and find the wreckage of a nightmare that hasn’t yet ended. Detailed descriptions lend to a terrifying, atmospheric experience. The mystery keeps the reader guessing. The second half consists of more action, with multiple aspects to the climax. This is a chilling horror story.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gory and Spooky
I wasn't sure what I would rate this while reading. I loved the ghost ship aspect of this book. That is one of my nostalgic movies, one I can watch over and over again.
I wasn't sure what I would rate this while reading. I loved the ghost ship aspect of this book. That is one of my nostalgic movies, one I can watch over and over again.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced