I was VERY disappointed by this book….
After reading and thoroughly enjoying S.A. Barnes’ first book Dead Silence, I was super excited to pick up a copy of her new book Ghost Station. Unfortunately, after loving her first book, I was really disappointed by the second.
Here are some of my main issues with Ghost Station:
📖 I finished Dead Silence in less than 24 hours because the premise and storyline really kept me hooked. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. It took me probably a month to finish Ghost Station because I just never really wanted to pick it up. It did not hold my interest very well at all.
📖 The story felt very disjointed, vague, and confusing at times. There would be hints or flashbacks to events from the MC’s past but they often didn’t make sense or help the plot much. I felt like there were also events and mysteries in the plot that were barely explained or not explained at all. That left me feeling very frustrated.
📖 For a “horror” book, it just wasn’t all that scary. Dead Silence had many genuinely creepy and terrifying moments, but this book just fell flat in that regard.
📖 For me, the worst part was the ending. It felt extremely rushed and many of the events that led up to the ending were simply never explained or expanded on. I felt very confused and annoyed and was left thinking, “That’s it?”
What I liked about Ghost Station (MILD SPOILERS AHEAD):
📖 Exploration of futuristic society; For example, modes of transportation and communication, medical care, and the like
📖 Description of the ancient alien species that once lived on the planet they were working on. I really wish she had written more about this instead of leaving so many unanswered questions.
⭐️Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️/5
Even though I didn’t enjoy this book, I’ll still give this author another chance and read her next book when/if she publishes another. I may just check it out from the library or use Kindle unlimited instead of buying a hardcover copy! 🤦🏻♀️
Have you read Dead Silence or Ghost Station? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! And feel free to recommend any good sci-fi or horror books while you’re at it! Thanks for reading my post. 🥰
#spookybookreview #sabarnes #scifi #horrorbooks #deadsilence #ghoststation
It's always a bit of a gamble when an author you adore releases a new book, isn't it? Especially when their previous work, like Dead Silence for me, was an absolute hit. We go in with such high hopes, picturing ourselves lost in another thrilling world. But sometimes, those hopes can be dashed, and it leaves you wondering why. One thing I've noticed in the book community is the 'sophomore slump' – that tricky second book syndrome. After a brilliant debut, there's immense pressure, and sometimes the follow-up doesn't quite hit the mark. It makes me think about what truly makes a sequel or a new standalone from a beloved author successful. Is it continuing a compelling narrative, deepening character development, or simply capturing that same magical spark? With *Ghost Station*, I felt like it was trying to do big things, exploring a fascinating futuristic society and ancient alien species, which I genuinely appreciated. However, the execution felt like it lost its way. And speaking of expectations, how much do book covers influence us? I remember seeing the Ghost Station cover – that eerie astronaut in a dark corridor, with a fallen figure and blood on the floor. It perfectly screamed 'sci-fi horror' and set the scene for something truly terrifying and mysterious. You'd expect a story that delivers on that promise, perhaps with heart-pounding suspense or genuinely creepy moments. But when the story itself struggles to maintain tension or deliver those scares, that striking book cover just becomes a reminder of what could have been. It's almost ironic when the visual promises so much more than the narrative. A truly effective sci-fi horror novel, in my opinion, needs more than just a spooky setting. It needs a coherent plot that builds suspense, characters you can root for (or be terrified by), and explanations that don't leave you scratching your head. The feeling of a disjointed plot or unexplained mysteries can really pull you out of the story, making it a chore rather than an escape. It's like being on a rollercoaster that suddenly stops mid-loop – frustrating and disorienting. When hints and flashbacks don't coalesce into a clear picture, it’s hard to stay invested. For those of us who appreciate a good scare grounded in futuristic concepts, it’s frustrating when a book doesn’t deliver. We crave those moments where you can't put the book down, where every page turn brings a new revelation or a fresh wave of dread. So, while my experience with Ghost Station wasn't what I hoped for, it definitely sparked a conversation about what makes a great read in this genre. What are your thoughts on book covers setting expectations, or the challenges authors face with follow-up novels?