What do you think?
Rate this book
The Station #4
Dying to Know
In the fourth installment of the bestselling Station series, Piper Willow finds herself not only struggling to juggle her new responsibilities as a Mentor, but her love life as well. After the Station loses one of its own, Piper's past returns, and she realizes that the happiness she seeks out for herself and her friends may come with a steep price. As her world changes and crashes down around her, Piper realizes that love isn't meant to be easy in the afterlife, and that happiness can't last forever...or can it?
- GenresYoung Adult
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2016
18 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 7, 2017
I've read all four books in this series, including the three novellas. I rated everything at 3 stars, except for Kerry-Anne, who got 4. This one gets 2, and it's indicative of what I feel is bad execution of a strong premise.
The premise of the series is those who choose to end their lives are given the opportunity to use their perspective to help the still-living avoid a similar fate. While the alternative is permanent purgatory, versus an automatic "move-onward" for the general population, it's not a balanced choice but is an intriguing one. The Station is similar enough in earth appearance to be recognizable, and the lack of time measurement adds just enough lost equilibrium to make the storyline satisfyingly disconnected from our world. (While I did appreciate in this book that Piper was attempting to track time by associating events with case history, there was an odd reference to "staff quarters" that didn't work well. There are no days and nights or downtime.)
The first novel involves Piper volunteering twice, once with Sloan, which sets up a major plot line, and then with Abby, who is instantly both forgotten and literally dropped. The second novel introduces the Jess/Cole volunteering trip, which is Piper's final effort before the story goes off the rails. She volunteers three times, resulting in one suicide. That's it. While I can appreciate the series was not set up to be "Touched by an Angel", nor would I have enjoyed it if it exclusively had, the shift in tone and plot was jarring.
Instead of being fed morsels as to how the Station functions, it's just aliens. They were bored, and tall, so they created the stations. They live on a planet very much like ours, aren't very alien-like in appearance, but they're Seers and wouldn't you know it, but Piper is a Mary Sue now (and alive! again?!) who is so bogged down by added-on plot that it detonates her relationships and character. I can't understand why a dead girl finding her place in the afterlife wasn't enough. Now she has to be a telepathic seer in a love triangle with an alien? Her relationship with Sloan can't function because she's a Mary Sue. She can't volunteer for the same reason. Despite arriving at the same time as Kerry-Anne (and having significantly fewer notches than Annabelle, whose plot line is dropped like a rock to fit in said love triangle), Piper is chosen for upgrade to mentor and admittedly is terrible at it. She spends much of the book running from place to place and sobbing everywhere.
In addition to the Mary Sue weight, Rush killed all initial story momentum. He treats Piper like a small child and she seems to love every minute of it this time around. He betrays her confidence and tells Sarg about Ryan Burke and she instantly forgets the moment she sees him. Prior to his introduction, we had a story about a cluster of characters, two of whom volunteered for two of the others but who were not able to save them. There was a fascinating potential there, but it was dropped in favor of Rush's alien gobbledegook. Book 2 opened the possibility of multiple characters participating in the same volunteer mission, without being able to directly communicate or identify each other, and that potential was ignored. Annabelle's story opened the doorway to a potential story involving a character being marooned on assignment. It was ignored. (I wasn't sure why it was referenced that the volunteer had to be in transit to their assignment, and not just at work.) We randomly got a plot line involving Carlson suddenly becoming a sexual abuser. I can't recall his life history (update: It was a focus of the Mallory vignette), but it seemed out of left field to force Piper off the badly managed station. (Why was our station running so below capacity but Ryan's station needed a new wing to keep up with demand?)
The wonderful throwaway from the last novel that at least 70 years have passed for Piper and the time disconnect - you can arrive after someone despite dying first - led to more potential for encountering characters from Piper's and the others personal lives. Her ability to see across the bridge left the possibility open that she might interact with her lost best friend, or others who proceeded directly across. That's not a dig. That wasn't the story here, but I feel there was more to do without going the alien route. I feel like sticking to the simple but inspired plot would have led to a much stronger story.
I wouldn't care to hear from Piper again, but if Trish Dawson decides to write more from Kerry-Anne or Ryan Burke's perspective, I'd be the first to buy it. There's more room for growth in this universe, but this is one of those cases where I wish the story I was reading was from the perspective of anybody else.
The premise of the series is those who choose to end their lives are given the opportunity to use their perspective to help the still-living avoid a similar fate. While the alternative is permanent purgatory, versus an automatic "move-onward" for the general population, it's not a balanced choice but is an intriguing one. The Station is similar enough in earth appearance to be recognizable, and the lack of time measurement adds just enough lost equilibrium to make the storyline satisfyingly disconnected from our world. (While I did appreciate in this book that Piper was attempting to track time by associating events with case history, there was an odd reference to "staff quarters" that didn't work well. There are no days and nights or downtime.)
The first novel involves Piper volunteering twice, once with Sloan, which sets up a major plot line, and then with Abby, who is instantly both forgotten and literally dropped. The second novel introduces the Jess/Cole volunteering trip, which is Piper's final effort before the story goes off the rails. She volunteers three times, resulting in one suicide. That's it. While I can appreciate the series was not set up to be "Touched by an Angel", nor would I have enjoyed it if it exclusively had, the shift in tone and plot was jarring.
Instead of being fed morsels as to how the Station functions, it's just aliens. They were bored, and tall, so they created the stations. They live on a planet very much like ours, aren't very alien-like in appearance, but they're Seers and wouldn't you know it, but Piper is a Mary Sue now (and alive! again?!) who is so bogged down by added-on plot that it detonates her relationships and character. I can't understand why a dead girl finding her place in the afterlife wasn't enough. Now she has to be a telepathic seer in a love triangle with an alien? Her relationship with Sloan can't function because she's a Mary Sue. She can't volunteer for the same reason. Despite arriving at the same time as Kerry-Anne (and having significantly fewer notches than Annabelle, whose plot line is dropped like a rock to fit in said love triangle), Piper is chosen for upgrade to mentor and admittedly is terrible at it. She spends much of the book running from place to place and sobbing everywhere.
In addition to the Mary Sue weight, Rush killed all initial story momentum. He treats Piper like a small child and she seems to love every minute of it this time around. He betrays her confidence and tells Sarg about Ryan Burke and she instantly forgets the moment she sees him. Prior to his introduction, we had a story about a cluster of characters, two of whom volunteered for two of the others but who were not able to save them. There was a fascinating potential there, but it was dropped in favor of Rush's alien gobbledegook. Book 2 opened the possibility of multiple characters participating in the same volunteer mission, without being able to directly communicate or identify each other, and that potential was ignored. Annabelle's story opened the doorway to a potential story involving a character being marooned on assignment. It was ignored. (I wasn't sure why it was referenced that the volunteer had to be in transit to their assignment, and not just at work.) We randomly got a plot line involving Carlson suddenly becoming a sexual abuser. I can't recall his life history (update: It was a focus of the Mallory vignette), but it seemed out of left field to force Piper off the badly managed station. (Why was our station running so below capacity but Ryan's station needed a new wing to keep up with demand?)
The wonderful throwaway from the last novel that at least 70 years have passed for Piper and the time disconnect - you can arrive after someone despite dying first - led to more potential for encountering characters from Piper's and the others personal lives. Her ability to see across the bridge left the possibility open that she might interact with her lost best friend, or others who proceeded directly across. That's not a dig. That wasn't the story here, but I feel there was more to do without going the alien route. I feel like sticking to the simple but inspired plot would have led to a much stronger story.
I wouldn't care to hear from Piper again, but if Trish Dawson decides to write more from Kerry-Anne or Ryan Burke's perspective, I'd be the first to buy it. There's more room for growth in this universe, but this is one of those cases where I wish the story I was reading was from the perspective of anybody else.
July 25, 2018
If I'm being honest, I still have quite a few questions about the goings on at the Stations and about Rush and his world.
I really enjoyed the first book, Piper was a fun character and the premise was really interesting.
I couldn't wait to see what happened between Piper and Sloan, and then Rush. I missed the 'volunteering' aspect of the stories once Piper was deemed to be a 'Seer'... book one centrals on helping other suicidal individuals, book two less so, and in books three and four Piper is no longer able to volunteer and that aspect of the story no longer occurs.
Rush isn't human.. we go from the afterlife, to portals in alien worlds? I'm still confused.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy this, and the series overall. I did. I like Piper, I liked her friendships and her believable interactions with others.
The story ends with an HFN... they've created another Station and, in my mind I still can't figure out what the bloody place looks like with it's 'milky floors' and cold white walls, brightness and fountains lol.
I really enjoyed the first book, Piper was a fun character and the premise was really interesting.
I couldn't wait to see what happened between Piper and Sloan, and then Rush. I missed the 'volunteering' aspect of the stories once Piper was deemed to be a 'Seer'... book one centrals on helping other suicidal individuals, book two less so, and in books three and four Piper is no longer able to volunteer and that aspect of the story no longer occurs.
Rush isn't human.. we go from the afterlife, to portals in alien worlds? I'm still confused.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy this, and the series overall. I did. I like Piper, I liked her friendships and her believable interactions with others.
The story ends with an HFN... they've created another Station and, in my mind I still can't figure out what the bloody place looks like with it's 'milky floors' and cold white walls, brightness and fountains lol.
July 22, 2017
Short but Sweet
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that another book was added to The Station Series, so I dove right in. It was nice catching up with the characters but it was so short. I read it in less than 2 days. It was nice see some loose ends tied up, but it definitely left me wanting more and needing answers.
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that another book was added to The Station Series, so I dove right in. It was nice catching up with the characters but it was so short. I read it in less than 2 days. It was nice see some loose ends tied up, but it definitely left me wanting more and needing answers.
April 20, 2022
This is the final instalment in a series which I really enjoyed reading.
A new character is introduced only to meet a truly appalling fate. I was disturbed by how quickly this plot line is dropped. Everyone seems to be over it by the next day. Most of them should have been too scared to do their job.
Also, it seems like there should be more. The ending is a bit abrupt.
A new character is introduced only to meet a truly appalling fate. I was disturbed by how quickly this plot line is dropped. Everyone seems to be over it by the next day. Most of them should have been too scared to do their job.
Also, it seems like there should be more. The ending is a bit abrupt.
July 12, 2022
I enjoyed the series very much. There were some things left up in the air with no explanations, like the event that occurred at the station. Seems like everyone just moved on or forgot it even happened. Also, the ending was a little disappointing. I was hoping there would be a little more to the story.
January 8, 2022
That's it? That's all?
I enjoyed thus book series very well. I relate well to Piper. I am a little bummed though because I feel like their may be more to do and say in at 'The Station' especially with Piper.
I enjoyed thus book series very well. I relate well to Piper. I am a little bummed though because I feel like their may be more to do and say in at 'The Station' especially with Piper.
February 21, 2017
I wish there were more
These books had me in a trance throughout them. They are brilliant and I wish I could read more. This series should have no ending
These books had me in a trance throughout them. They are brilliant and I wish I could read more. This series should have no ending
June 3, 2017
I enjoyed the first few books in the series much better. I think she had a good storyline but took it into too many directions in this one and it wasn't where I thought it would go.
September 26, 2017
*sigh* I love it. Simple as that.
September 5, 2016
Cover: Professional and fitting with the rest of the series, no complaints.
Editing/Proofing: Professionally done. No distractions from the reading experience, good continuity, etc.
Formatting: Unable to comment as I was provided with an advanced reader's copy in order to evaluate the book.
I'm a long time, huge fan of Dawson. I enjoy the Station series an all the little novellas (teasers as I call them) she also put out while we waited for this, fourth installment of the series. As always with Dawson, it did leave me wanting more which drives me nuts because historically there's a lot of time in between her books. But - this one isn't killing me. I want more, more out of curiosity and attachment to the characters than a burning need to know (which is what I have going on with her Find Me series - she is KILLING me).
Piper is still true to character and her situations with Sloan and Rush, respectively, went as predicted - in a satisfying way if that makes sense.
The book's prologue is a great refresher for the series, which was much-appreciated since it's been so long since #3.
Early into the book, we are shown Bug's story - Piper shares it with the reader and it is profoundly heartbreaking. I rarely get any real feels from fiction - but this was so well done, and sadly, so true to life for so many people today - that it physically hurt, as I ready the heart-wrenching details. I was impressed with Dawson's ability to draw that out of me and as sad as the scene was, I found it to be brilliantly and perfectly executed. Now I was emotionally invested (as if I wasn't already with this whole series). Pay attention to Bug's story, because it contains a very important message that we need to remember when back to reality.
Piper is both kind of wise beyond her years and at times, still kind of a boy-crazy teenager so that dichotomy is fun to read, as it was in the rest of the books too. For all the serious, Dawson brilliantly arranges some fun as well.
Overall the book fits well with the rest of the series; I don't think it's my favorite installment, I think Book 1 still is, as it's the one that hooked me, but it's very well done and did not disappoint even after the long wait for it.
I also enjoyed something Rush said that most people would do well to remember:
"...every failrure leads to a more fulfilling success."
Words to live by.
Anyway- well done. No complaints, wouldn't change anything and see no reason to rate this any less than five stars.
Editing/Proofing: Professionally done. No distractions from the reading experience, good continuity, etc.
Formatting: Unable to comment as I was provided with an advanced reader's copy in order to evaluate the book.
I'm a long time, huge fan of Dawson. I enjoy the Station series an all the little novellas (teasers as I call them) she also put out while we waited for this, fourth installment of the series. As always with Dawson, it did leave me wanting more which drives me nuts because historically there's a lot of time in between her books. But - this one isn't killing me. I want more, more out of curiosity and attachment to the characters than a burning need to know (which is what I have going on with her Find Me series - she is KILLING me).
Piper is still true to character and her situations with Sloan and Rush, respectively, went as predicted - in a satisfying way if that makes sense.
The book's prologue is a great refresher for the series, which was much-appreciated since it's been so long since #3.
Early into the book, we are shown Bug's story - Piper shares it with the reader and it is profoundly heartbreaking. I rarely get any real feels from fiction - but this was so well done, and sadly, so true to life for so many people today - that it physically hurt, as I ready the heart-wrenching details. I was impressed with Dawson's ability to draw that out of me and as sad as the scene was, I found it to be brilliantly and perfectly executed. Now I was emotionally invested (as if I wasn't already with this whole series). Pay attention to Bug's story, because it contains a very important message that we need to remember when back to reality.
Piper is both kind of wise beyond her years and at times, still kind of a boy-crazy teenager so that dichotomy is fun to read, as it was in the rest of the books too. For all the serious, Dawson brilliantly arranges some fun as well.
Overall the book fits well with the rest of the series; I don't think it's my favorite installment, I think Book 1 still is, as it's the one that hooked me, but it's very well done and did not disappoint even after the long wait for it.
I also enjoyed something Rush said that most people would do well to remember:
"...every failrure leads to a more fulfilling success."
Words to live by.
Anyway- well done. No complaints, wouldn't change anything and see no reason to rate this any less than five stars.
August 26, 2016
Three things kept me from loving this book. No, four. Five really. Ugh. Let's start at the beginning....
1) I cannot stand a love triangle. Women, even young ones are not all confused flighty dingbats trying to decide between two or three guys that they are just MADLY in love with. Piper is too mature to still be acting like a middle school cheerleader.
2) Since when is it OK for women to be violently pounding on the chests of men or to be seriously considering slapping their boss in the face? Assault is never ok and abuse should not be glorified in books. I see more and more women becoming abusers and stories like this make it seem normal. No. Just no.
3) Typos. Ugh.
4) It feels like the major storyline at the beginning, which was very interesting, was completely forgotten in order to focus on the god awful love triangle. No resolution at all which leads to. ...
5) This book barely felt like a novella it was so short. Trish is an amazing author who can fill endless pages with heart wrenching stories and this book gave us brief glimpses of that but nothing like I expect from her. The whole book felt rushed. Hurry up and tie up the loose ends as quickly as possible so we can move on to something else I guess. It makes me so sad because so much could have been done with the original storyline while still wrapping things up nicely, it just would have taken a lot more pages but it would have been amazing.
I desperately hope the author won't rush to end her other two series. She is a much better author than that. Her readers and her characters deserve better.
1) I cannot stand a love triangle. Women, even young ones are not all confused flighty dingbats trying to decide between two or three guys that they are just MADLY in love with. Piper is too mature to still be acting like a middle school cheerleader.
2) Since when is it OK for women to be violently pounding on the chests of men or to be seriously considering slapping their boss in the face? Assault is never ok and abuse should not be glorified in books. I see more and more women becoming abusers and stories like this make it seem normal. No. Just no.
3) Typos. Ugh.
4) It feels like the major storyline at the beginning, which was very interesting, was completely forgotten in order to focus on the god awful love triangle. No resolution at all which leads to. ...
5) This book barely felt like a novella it was so short. Trish is an amazing author who can fill endless pages with heart wrenching stories and this book gave us brief glimpses of that but nothing like I expect from her. The whole book felt rushed. Hurry up and tie up the loose ends as quickly as possible so we can move on to something else I guess. It makes me so sad because so much could have been done with the original storyline while still wrapping things up nicely, it just would have taken a lot more pages but it would have been amazing.
I desperately hope the author won't rush to end her other two series. She is a much better author than that. Her readers and her characters deserve better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2017
It's a five star if there's one more book, four if this is the end. I think there's more to go, because it didn't really end. There was more I wanted to know. I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, because it really isn't... more that I have questions about somet things not answered.
You cannot start with this book, if you haven't read the first three... there's just too much that has happened in those books for this one to make much sense. When I wrote this Book 1 is free, the other two are $3.99, but it's worth the price.
If you've made it this far you are involved with the characters, which for the most part are strong, slightly snarky comebacks. Things do change from Book 3, but those are all spoilers and you'll have to read about. The world, or afterlife if you will is interesting and in this one you'll learn how stations are created, if you always wondered.
I hope the series continues because I think there's more in the afterlife that Piper has to do. If it's the end, well I'll be sad to see the series end.
You cannot start with this book, if you haven't read the first three... there's just too much that has happened in those books for this one to make much sense. When I wrote this Book 1 is free, the other two are $3.99, but it's worth the price.
If you've made it this far you are involved with the characters, which for the most part are strong, slightly snarky comebacks. Things do change from Book 3, but those are all spoilers and you'll have to read about. The world, or afterlife if you will is interesting and in this one you'll learn how stations are created, if you always wondered.
I hope the series continues because I think there's more in the afterlife that Piper has to do. If it's the end, well I'll be sad to see the series end.
June 30, 2016
Dying to Know is a great addition to the Station series. As always, we are taken on quite the emotional journey with Piper. With a few unexpected bits of excitement. I couldn't put it down. There's adventure, love, friendship, struggles, sadness, and so much more in this book.
There are a few parts where in the book that I felt things were sped along too quickly. Where a situation or event, in past books would have been expounded upon. But in this one it was just quickly summarized. I understand that it was probably because it may have felt like things were being said that had already been said before. And most people probably are grateful for the summarizing. But I love the whole explanation. I love being in the environment of the book as deeply as possible. Even if that means repeating something that was said in a previous book.
Anyway, overall the book was great and I can not wait to see where Piper's story takes us next.
There are a few parts where in the book that I felt things were sped along too quickly. Where a situation or event, in past books would have been expounded upon. But in this one it was just quickly summarized. I understand that it was probably because it may have felt like things were being said that had already been said before. And most people probably are grateful for the summarizing. But I love the whole explanation. I love being in the environment of the book as deeply as possible. Even if that means repeating something that was said in a previous book.
Anyway, overall the book was great and I can not wait to see where Piper's story takes us next.
July 5, 2016
I love reading books in a series, as the story continues and you don't have to say goodbye just yet. The good news is that there are now four books in the station series. If you start at book one you have a lot of wonderful words to read before you finish book four. These are definitely meant to be read in order. There are a lot of details so the shorter time frame you read them in the better. This book provides a lot of closure for Piper. The ending is satisfying unlike other books I've read in a series that leave you waiting for more. I highly recommend the series and purchased the first three and was provided an advanced copy of book four in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2016
If you have read any of Dawson's Station Series then you are already familiar with its heroine Piper Willow. This book picks up with a conflicted Piper in the Station, with her newly discovered abilities she is finding it harder to fit in the after life then she did while she was still alive. Piper discovers that even love is hard and confusing in the afterlife but that she must focus herself to really help where she is needed in the Station. Can she handle the responsibility that Rush has given her as a Seer...read this great book to find out.
July 6, 2016
Loved it, wrapped up most very well. Could have prolly done the Piper/Sloan thing a bit slower but it was still great
August 15, 2016
A great end to the series. However, I would love to read more of Piper and Rush's story.
October 27, 2016
An amazing book. I didn't want the series to end
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews