S.A. Barnes is an excellent modern sci-fi horror author and I cannot wait to see what else they write. I truly loved Dead Silence and I was hoping I'd feel the same about Ghost Station, but unfortunately the book fell a little flat for me. The characters felt a little too one note and I really wasn't a huge fan of the main character. That being said the horror elements within this book were excellent and incredibly haunting.

"And then, the screaming starts....."

Wow. Just wow. That is all I can say for Ghost Station! I absolutely loved S.A. Barnes' novel 'Dead Silence' when I stumbled across it in one of the many horror book groups I'm in and recommend it to anyone and everyone that loves sci-fi and horror. Ghost Station did not disappoint. I think I'm experiencing what they call a "book hangover" And can we take just a second to Zura Johnson on her amazing narrating! The true panic she made me feel bringing the characters to life *chefs kiss*
Dr. Ophelia Bray is the black sheep of the well known Bray family and daughter of a known cult leader that was responsible for 29 brutal murders. She has dedicated her life to help people, to study and prevent ERS - the space based condition her father once suffered. She takes an assignment with a small crew after they've lost one of their team members, hoping she can help them as they travel to a long abandoned planet. But the crew is hiding something, just like Ophelia.
They start seeing things...hearing voices. Violence breaks out. The ships captain is found dead! Was it suicide - or murder? Is the deterioration of the crew and herself due to ERS -or something much, much sinister?

10/10 🌟 Check it out April 9th! Thank you Tor Nightfire, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audio copy! And thank you, thank you again to S. A. Barnes!

I was very excited about this one. I had really enjoyed the author’s debut, Dead Silence and I love a good space horror, there are so many elements to add to the scariness of situations like the isolation or the unknown. While this novel did have the space elements, at its core it was less horror and more a slow burn mystery. It did succeed at creating an unsettling atmosphere and some tension. I did however find myself questioning the main character's decisions a bit too much to fully appreciate her. I think this could have made a great novella but overall felt too long for the payoff for me.

As for the audio, I really loved Zura Johnson’s narration, it definitely contributed to me getting to the finish line. Despite the sci-fi elements the story is easy to follow as an audiobook.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one.

Thank you to - Macmillan Audio - and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

*Netgalley requires a star rating to be given so for their sake - 1 star

No star rating given on Goodreads because I didn't finish. I did find the narrator to be monotone however.

First, this book was a DNF because there’s a verbally abusive* familial relationship and emotionally manipulative friendship depicted within the first chapter and frequent use of coarse language. *(F*ck, B*tch) The audiobook method of consumption enhanced how uncomfortable I felt.

The following critiques are drawn from the little I read:
We’re dropped straight into the character’s head and she’s actively avoiding a situation that has had world-wide implications. The thing is: she never mentions what it is even though we’re in her head. Aside from the mention of technology that’s augmented to the main character and this “hidden past”, there’s nothing to orient yourself to the world as it is in 2199.

Additionally, the character undergoes what’s supposed to be a stressful event within the first couple of chapters and it lacked the necessary tension.

The main character is a psychologist and she uses her expertise to explain a person’s motivations instead of letting the reader infer why they made those choices, and I don’t like that.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel to read in exchange for an honest review.

Ghost Station was a great read. I enjoyed it from start to finish. The book is the perfect balance of science fiction and horror that fans of both genres could find entertaining. But on top of that it's also just a very well-written book that tells a good story, two things that don't always go hand-in-hand in the horror genre. I was pulled into the story right away, and kept immersed throughout by the rich details the author used to weave into the world. From the rich history belonging to the main character to the clear motivators driving supporting characters, it felt well thought out. You could tell that this was a world the author crafted with care.

I haven't previously read this author's work, but just based on how much I enjoyed this book I'm going to go back and read her other novel, Dead Silence. I will absolutely be looking forward to this author's future work.

Additionally, the audiobook was great to listen to!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved Barnes's debut, Dead Silence, I was highly anticipating this book. However, it was a let down for me. It was a serviceable book, but not anything I loved.

The characters felt like a recycling of the characters from Dead Silence, and not in a good way. They felt pretty bland to me here. I also did not feel that Ophelia's weird infatuation with the captain, Ethan, lent anything to the story. The pace of the novel was also pretty slow, and instead of creating suspense, it just ended up feeling a bit boring and repetitive.

I will read more from S.A. Barnes, because of how much I loved Dead Silence. Hopefully her third novel will be more to my liking than this sophomore one.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was everything I wanted Dead Silence to be. And yet, I liked Dead Silence more? How to explain...

So we open with Ophelia, who is getting ready to be put into cryo for a mission. But she has a secret past that she's keeping from the readers and trying not to think about, and wow, doesn't that sound familiar?? Probably because Dead Silence opened up in a similar fashion with the MC not revealing what they know. And the similarities for the first third of th book aren't lost on me. I found that a little disappointing in a lot of ways.

But as the story progresses, the differences in novels comes out, and I was so happy to see the body horror and the psychological horror come together in a crazier way. I loved the fact that we got some moments where I was like freaking out, hanging on to every word to find out what was happening. So then, why did I not love this as much as I felt like I should have?

My issue was the way everything ended. It wrapped up a little too neatly, in my opinion. The action was resolved too fast, and the epilogue felt like it was meant to just put a pretty bow on everything. That's not to say I don't appreciate a happy ending, but I expected this to end in a not so ideal way and I would've been content with that ending. But I feel like ending it the way that it did cheapened everything that they fought for.

He audiobook itself was great. The narrator was clear and did a fantastic job bringing the book to life.

Okay so I just finished this audiobook and I wanted to drop my thoughts right off first off there's a lot of creeping dread I kind of got the feeling like I was in a dangerous place so the World building was good but when it came to the characters I just really didn't enjoy any of them they were all kind of stale and just overall I didn't like it, I will give it three stars because of the creepiness of the world and some good action throughout, this is the second book that I've tried from this author and I don't think I'll be trying another one,Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC for an unbiased and Honest review

S. A. Barnes' story starts with a thrill in the opening chapter of this new novel. I was hooked trying to figure out what was going on, and who knew what and when. The narrator did a fantastic job, pacing matched the action as the characters struggled to survive, not knowing who or what was the danger. As a novice in space opera-thriller-type stories, I found this an easy entry into the genre and once my heart rate returns to normal I'll be adding more of Barnes' work to my TBR.

This book was fine. I had heard a lot of good things about the author’s other book so I went in with pretty high expectations that I can’t say were quite met. Maybe it was a me issue but I just felt like the story moved a little too slow.

Our main character Ophelia, is a psychologist who due to some unfortunate circumstances finds herself joining a short term space mission. The crew is dealing with some unfortunate circumstances of their own as they just lost a colleague. Ophelia is keeping secrets, the crew are keeping secrets, and they just landed on a super creepy planet... What could possibly go wrong? Where this book excelled is when it kept its readers guessing between psychological horror and body horror. Where it fell a bit flat was overall plot cohesiveness. I enjoyed it, but I wasn't excited about it.

This is my first book from the author, but my expectations were too high after hearing a lot of praise for Dead Silence. And unfortunately, this didn't work for me. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator, Zura Johnson. She has range and a pleasant voice to listen to (for me). But it felt like it took forever to get through the first half, and it could have benefited from being condensed to make it feel less slow. Despite this, I kept going for the narrator, the premise of the book, and the atmosphere and sense of foreboding. Even though this wasn't the book for me I found reasons to keep reading it, and I'm definitely more interested in trying out Dead Silence now.

This was a pretty good space horror. The premise reminded me a lot of Solaris, the Stanislaw Lem classic, but much more accessible and less literary.

This story follows a team of 5 people on an exploratory mission to another planet. Ophelia is there to assess the mental health of the team after they lost one of their original members. That’s not going especially well, and then weird stuff starts happening on their mission.

The characters are often annoying, so be warned if that’s a no-go for you. It’s not always easy to root for Ophelia. I wish we’d gotten a scene or two of her effectively being a psychologist before she started sucking at it with this team. I get why she sucks because of the strain of the situation, but it makes her look pretty incompetent without something to balance it out.

There’s a lot of effective creepiness in what starts to go down with the team. Nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a formula that works! I liked the horror a lot. The scene at the “towers” was great.

My main complaint is that this was too long. There’s a good bit of ho-hum making the story drag in the beginning and middle. Even in the end, when they are trying to leave, it felt like it went on and on too much.

There’s also a reveal somewhere in the middle that I thought was pointless as a reveal. I think we’re falling in love with twists too much, throwing them in when it’s not necessary. I’d rather have known the info from the start. It would just add to the characterization.

Finally, there are hints of a romance that are extra pointless. Not enough was done with it to warrant it being there at all. But because there was so little of it, it didn’t ruin my reading experience. I just didn’t care about it.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised because some folks I follow didn’t seem to like this one much. You’ll have more success if you go into it 1) okay with annoying characters - which feels pretty standard for horror imo - and 2) expecting a genre space horror good time, nothing spectacular. I feel like that sounds mean, but I’m trying to say this was really solid entertainment!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was an amazing follow up to Barney’s debut. It shares the same genre twisting excitement as well as intriguing interpersonal relationships, but the concept was fresh and interesting. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and will definitely be recommending this book to everyone!

Delving into the psychology of what an isolated crew might experience during space exploration, Ghost Station takes the psychological thriller to space, and it was so good.

The quick pace kept me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Sci-Fi can sometimes be overwhelming, but this is a human story told in the context of space and is very relatable,





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S.A. Barnes does it again not only with the story but this cover is fantastic!

This was very well written with excellent plat and the cast of characters were very interesting. I will read anything S.A. Barnes writes. The author definitely knows how to write horror and this book did not disappoint.

Narration was fantastic as well kept you wanting to listen to the story and find out what was going to happen next.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Claustrophobic Chills in Ghost Station: A Review
S.A. Barnes delivers another dose of space horror with Ghost Station, a gripping novel that will leave you both terrified and wanting more.

The story centers around Dr. Ophelia Bray, a psychologist haunted by a past tragedy involving a phenomenon known as ERS (Extreme Reality Syndrome). When she joins a crew tasked with investigating an abandoned research station on a desolate planet, she finds herself facing not only the harsh alien environment but also a crew harboring secrets and a sense of unease.

What keeps you turning the pages:

Masterful Atmosphere: Barnes excels at creating a sense of claustrophobia and dread. The abandoned station, with its decaying structures and chilling secrets, feels like a character itself.
Unreliable Narrator: Ophelia's past trauma and the ever-present threat of ERS make you question her perceptions, adding another layer of suspense.
Exploration of Trauma & Fear: The novel delves into the psychological effects of isolation and the constant battle against inner demons.
Points to Consider:

Slow Burn: The pacing can be deliberate at times, focusing on building tension rather than fast-paced action.
Familiar Tropes: Some horror elements might feel like familiar territory for seasoned sci-fi horror readers.
Overall:

Ghost Station is a chilling and suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of space horror and psychological thrillers. Barnes's masterful worldbuilding and exploration of human fear create an immersive and unsettling experience. While the plot might not break new ground, the execution is sure to send shivers down your spine.

I was so excited to get and ARC copy of Ghost Station because Dead Silence was such an amazing story. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I did her debut. The horror aspect was fine, I like the isolated setting of space in horror.

My only issue was the MC but because the whole book is from her perspective she ruined all my enjoyment. I hated reading from her perspective. Her inner monologue grated on me to the point I couldn't enjoy the story. She is self centered, always caring what other people think about her and prone to saying things that make her more unlikable. She's a therapist, a shit therapist, she needs to deal with her own trauma and get a new job.

It took me forever to get through the first half so I switched to the audio book. I don't recommend the audio book only because part of the horror is hallucinations and its very hard to tell when they're happening in the audio book.

I will definitely read whatever S.A Barnes puts out next, and I don't think this book will bother most readers like it did me.

Space horror is the genre of my dreams (Alien is in my top 5 fave movies) and I’ve been itching for more (a pun I had to make- IYKYK) since I read her book Dead Silence. I’ve been anticipating this one since the cover reveal and was so excited to get an early copy! I gotta say- this book is really good and did not disappoint.

The year is 2199 and, spoiler alert, the world still sucks. Space exploration is common with many humans settling on other planets, moons, and space stations. Jobs in space are extremely common, too. Whether that’s R&E teams, mining communities, or exploration. Big corporations haven’t gone anywhere either. Enter Dr. Ophelia Brey. A psychologist trying to right past wrongs and prove to everyone and herself that she’s not like her family. Things go from bad to worse when she joins a space team and realizes she’s surrounded by secrets, her own included.

Barnes sure knows how to write an unsettling slow burn while also starting a story at the beginning of all the action. The first half of the book takes its time with some excellent world-building, character development, mystery, and just enough suspense to build some dread in the reader. The second half really ramps up as it becomes blindingly clear that things just aren’t right. I literally couldn’t put the last 30% down if I tried. I’m still trying to decide if I loved the ending or hated it. While I was reading it I couldn’t help but think ‘how cool!’ but now that I’m thinking about it, it felt a bit easy and unsatisfying. And so many of my questions went unanswered! BUT it did read like a movie, lending a very cinematic quality. I felt completely immersed in the story and could envision each scene vividly. Especially the horrific parts. So I can’t deny it was well written. Overall, highly recommend to any fan of sci-fi, space horror, slow burns, and isolated settings.

Narrator/Audiobook Review: Zara Johnson killed it with this one! She kept me 100% invested in the story and made it easy to follow along. Can’t go wrong with this one on audio if you like the format.

The story follows Ophelia Bray, a psychologist with a haunted past, who embarks on a mission fraught with uncertainty and foreboding. As she and her fellow crewmates set foot on the enigmatic planet, tasked with retrieving artifacts, they are immediately met with an unsettling atmosphere.
As this is a slow-paced narrative, I did find my attention waning quite a bit at times forcing me drop it and pick it back up a couple of times. My break in listening did help me refocus.
With its eerie setting and dark undertones, this novel is sure to captivate fans of science fiction and psychological thrillers alike. It's a journey into the unknown that will leave readers haunted long after the final page is turned.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this Audiobook ARC.