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The Shock #1
Dead Shock
"A truly terrifying novel set in space." —Amazon ReviewTrapped aboard an abandoned spaceship. Cut off from the rest of the galaxy. Every step taking you deeper into the darkness. The sound of something monstrous waiting among the undead.After a brutal attack leaves them marooned aboard an empty ghost town of a ship, Guerra and his group of diplomats must band together to reach a distant communications post. To get them back to civilization.Or just to get the hell out of there.Only, something appears to be lurking among the undead creatures, stalking the claustrophobic hallways of the unpopulated vessel. Something gargantuan and inhuman—and violently hungry.Questions mount as the ill-equipped peace officers make their way through the devastated ship, avoiding catastrophe after catastrophe on their quest to solve the mystery of what happened on The ARK.Will they succeed? Will they survive? Or will they just succumb to their destiny aboard this floating casket among the stars?Fans of S.A. Barnes's Dead Silence, Caitlin Starling's The Luminous Dead, and Kali Wallace's Dead Space won't be able to put down the three books in this tense, pulse-pounding sci fi horror series.Reviews for books in the Shock "Dead Shock is a ferociously dark tale of the things that go bump in the night, turned up to 11! Absolutely loved this novel! It reminded me of some of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced in any medium." —Amazon Review"If you’re into space horror and love a well-constructed and terrifying story that lets you go traipsing through some of the most hellacious places you’ve never been with abominations that are guaranteed to send a chill up and down your spine, then you couldn’t do better that to give this masterpiece of horror in space a try." —Amazon Review"I really like the premise of the story. It reminds me a lot of the game dead space, which is why I read it. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and will continue reading." —Amazon
- GenresHorrorScience Fiction
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2020
130 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 18, 2024
0️⃣-Spoiler-Review: Wow, advertised as a terrifying novel set in space, this holds promise as an Alien-type shocker. However, for anybody who knows the who is who of the sci -fi horror video games genre, the title tells it all. And what was to be suspected if not expected is a maximum inundation of plot, setting and characters in video-gamey type cliche. Characters are arch-stereotypical and the whole plot inclusive the action is too video-gamey, as in simplistic and lacking depth. I can’t say anything about the quality or nature of the ending because I gave up halfway through. Nevertheless, I could imagine that fans of Dead Space and Bioshock videogames get kicks of varying degree out of it. Ultimately, what was the most terrifying for me was the prospect of having to read on to the bitter, most likely cliched end; hence I quit.
March 26, 2022
A truly terrifying novel set in space
Dead Shock is ferociously dark tale of the things that go bump in the night, turned up to 11! I absolutely loved this novel! It reminded me of some of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced in any medium, particularly that unmitigated champion of terror in space—for me, anyway—the deliciously frightening PC game, Dead Space. And Dead Shock brings all those marvelous memories pouring back and adds plenty of its own new ones, as well. This is simply one very scary novel!
But even the greatest tale of horror in space (my favorite genre within a genre) would be just okay without the requisite amount of skill in prose, narrative and character development to make it all come to life in a plausible, convincing way. Mr. Henry delivers beautifully here too. His characters are believable and lifelike; some honorable, likable and pleasing, others selfish, repulsive and disgusting—just like in life. His descriptions and writing style are similarly excellent and his insights into human nature really make the suspension of disbelief so much easier.
If you’re into space horror and love a well-constructed and terrifying story that lets you go traipsing through some of the most hellacious places you’ve never been with abominations that are guaranteed to send a chill up and down your spine, then you couldn’t do better that to give this masterpiece of horror in space a try.
Dead Shock is ferociously dark tale of the things that go bump in the night, turned up to 11! I absolutely loved this novel! It reminded me of some of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced in any medium, particularly that unmitigated champion of terror in space—for me, anyway—the deliciously frightening PC game, Dead Space. And Dead Shock brings all those marvelous memories pouring back and adds plenty of its own new ones, as well. This is simply one very scary novel!
But even the greatest tale of horror in space (my favorite genre within a genre) would be just okay without the requisite amount of skill in prose, narrative and character development to make it all come to life in a plausible, convincing way. Mr. Henry delivers beautifully here too. His characters are believable and lifelike; some honorable, likable and pleasing, others selfish, repulsive and disgusting—just like in life. His descriptions and writing style are similarly excellent and his insights into human nature really make the suspension of disbelief so much easier.
If you’re into space horror and love a well-constructed and terrifying story that lets you go traipsing through some of the most hellacious places you’ve never been with abominations that are guaranteed to send a chill up and down your spine, then you couldn’t do better that to give this masterpiece of horror in space a try.
July 20, 2023
The premise was interesting, but it felt as though there was too much taken from other media. As an avid gamer I’ve played Dead Space, and this had a lot taken from Dead Space in terms of creature design and infection.
The characters had promise but I feel like the characters that would be the most interesting to see more of/have the story told from their perspective were relegated to being pushed aside. Katarina and Sahana were the most interesting in my opinion and we get more of Coulson’s extremely repetitive swearing and blaming everybody and Guerra’s philosophizing at the worst times than development.
The characters had promise but I feel like the characters that would be the most interesting to see more of/have the story told from their perspective were relegated to being pushed aside. Katarina and Sahana were the most interesting in my opinion and we get more of Coulson’s extremely repetitive swearing and blaming everybody and Guerra’s philosophizing at the worst times than development.
October 4, 2022
Dumb, crappy rip off of Dead space but with shitty characters.
February 29, 2024
Dead silence clone, it is not.
But if you want to read dead space the novel in 3 parts, this should be a fun ride.
But if you want to read dead space the novel in 3 parts, this should be a fun ride.
June 1, 2023
I had high hopes for the book despite general ratings, because it's a favourite trope of mine. Silent ship mystery, crew goes to investigate, encounter horrors.
But ..
This book would have done better written as a horror. I love sci-fi, and definitely love dark humour, but it just did not come together here. The funny bits weren't funny enough, but destroyed any levity that would have been the book's saving grace.
I finished listening an hour before the ending as i felt the plot was not progressing at all and i wasn't loving the characters either.
But ..
This book would have done better written as a horror. I love sci-fi, and definitely love dark humour, but it just did not come together here. The funny bits weren't funny enough, but destroyed any levity that would have been the book's saving grace.
I finished listening an hour before the ending as i felt the plot was not progressing at all and i wasn't loving the characters either.
February 16, 2023
Doom, Event Horizon, and Resident Evil had a baby
Take just about every horror, space, and Sci fi movie, toss them in a blender, and this is what you get. Overall pretty good book. Gore and horror abound. The main character isn't all that likeable and seems to zone out whenever there is a fight. I'm interested to see what happens to him in the next book. There's a few editing errors. There's also several times where the author just seems to ignore certain characters. One character just seems to appear every so often when she's needed for a conversation. She's with the group but hardly ever mentioned. There's a group of new characters towards the end, but only one of them is described. Once a fight starts, they aren't mentioned at all. I'm not sure if this was a first draft or there was a ton of stuff cut out, but it just seems like some needed background info or other sentences are missing.
Take just about every horror, space, and Sci fi movie, toss them in a blender, and this is what you get. Overall pretty good book. Gore and horror abound. The main character isn't all that likeable and seems to zone out whenever there is a fight. I'm interested to see what happens to him in the next book. There's a few editing errors. There's also several times where the author just seems to ignore certain characters. One character just seems to appear every so often when she's needed for a conversation. She's with the group but hardly ever mentioned. There's a group of new characters towards the end, but only one of them is described. Once a fight starts, they aren't mentioned at all. I'm not sure if this was a first draft or there was a ton of stuff cut out, but it just seems like some needed background info or other sentences are missing.
August 31, 2024
Here’s a little list of absurd inconsistencies I gathered in just the first 30% of this book:
•They keep their space helmets on for air purifiers but can somehow smell the garden and a guy spits on the ground.
•They can cut through the crazy bulk head airlock door with the torch in a matter of minutes but have to climb the garden fence because there’s a measly chain on it.
•When running from monsters the chained gate they had to jump magically disappears?? Because they don’t have to jump back over it to run back to their ship while being chased.
•You cannot just hold your breath in the vacuum of space and survive, your lungs would rupture.
•The MC is in space in a spacesuit but describes the monster as smelly
In general this book is just bad. I think the author has a very hard time translating what he envisions in his head to the page. Everything is very jumbled and ends up being kind of confusing
•They keep their space helmets on for air purifiers but can somehow smell the garden and a guy spits on the ground.
•They can cut through the crazy bulk head airlock door with the torch in a matter of minutes but have to climb the garden fence because there’s a measly chain on it.
•When running from monsters the chained gate they had to jump magically disappears?? Because they don’t have to jump back over it to run back to their ship while being chased.
•You cannot just hold your breath in the vacuum of space and survive, your lungs would rupture.
•The MC is in space in a spacesuit but describes the monster as smelly
In general this book is just bad. I think the author has a very hard time translating what he envisions in his head to the page. Everything is very jumbled and ends up being kind of confusing
December 14, 2022
A warning: this is the first instalment in a series, and ends on a cliffhanger.
Entering a giant spaceship ruled over by a despotic leader, our heroes find it apparently deserted, until the monsters appear. This is a short, fast-paced and gory novel which follows their journey through the ship. It was an easy read and I quite enjoyed the story though it seemed to lose its way near the end - having not read the rest of the books in the series I accept the other books may resolve this. Bottom line is I got this for free on an Amazon promotion. If other books in the series are eventually offered for free I'd probably pick them up, but I don't really feel invested enough in the story to pay the asking price for more.
Entering a giant spaceship ruled over by a despotic leader, our heroes find it apparently deserted, until the monsters appear. This is a short, fast-paced and gory novel which follows their journey through the ship. It was an easy read and I quite enjoyed the story though it seemed to lose its way near the end - having not read the rest of the books in the series I accept the other books may resolve this. Bottom line is I got this for free on an Amazon promotion. If other books in the series are eventually offered for free I'd probably pick them up, but I don't really feel invested enough in the story to pay the asking price for more.
October 14, 2022
Descriptive
First, cliffhanger. I would not have bought this had I known. I would have given it two stars had it been complete.
There are quite a few errors or plot holes in the book. But for the most part it was just too wordy. If one word could describe a situation the author used ten. If he needed to tell the reader something he said it, then said it again, then said it a third time.
I don't feel like I know or care about any of the characters. I want the bad guy to win. I won't be continuing the series.
First, cliffhanger. I would not have bought this had I known. I would have given it two stars had it been complete.
There are quite a few errors or plot holes in the book. But for the most part it was just too wordy. If one word could describe a situation the author used ten. If he needed to tell the reader something he said it, then said it again, then said it a third time.
I don't feel like I know or care about any of the characters. I want the bad guy to win. I won't be continuing the series.
August 4, 2023
A knockoff of dead silence (and honestly dead space) that starts out super awkwardly, dialogue is cheesy as hell, but then it settles in, and the characters are a little charming. Hate that this ended on a cliffhanger, and it started to go towards more sci-fi that horror in the last chapter. Also don't know why, but I couldn't figure out if this was under water or in space. Assuming by this version of the cover, it's in space???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2024
Well, this is it. The first book iI have ever put on the DNF list 😅 It's not the authors fault though. It's mine. I thought it would be kind of like a sci-fi psychological thriller type, but it is definitely not. It's a perfect mix of the video games Dead Space and BioShock. I know i read that the story took inspiration from those games but I didn't think it would be as cliche as it is. I'm sure fans of this genre would love it, but it is not my thing.
March 10, 2025
Dead Shock
Sci-Fi, Horror
Wallace Henry
⭐️⭐️
• ꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ • ᴢᴏᴍʙɪᴇꜱ • ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ •
I was so disappointed with this book, which is a shame.
The premise itself had a lot of potential but there were just too many inconsistencies and not enough plot progression to keep me engaged and interested.
The characters were flat and I didn't connect to anyone in particular. The humour didn't quite fit and Coulson annoyed me.
Sci-Fi, Horror
Wallace Henry
⭐️⭐️
• ꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ • ᴢᴏᴍʙɪᴇꜱ • ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ •
I was so disappointed with this book, which is a shame.
The premise itself had a lot of potential but there were just too many inconsistencies and not enough plot progression to keep me engaged and interested.
The characters were flat and I didn't connect to anyone in particular. The humour didn't quite fit and Coulson annoyed me.
December 29, 2022
For the audiobook.
So boring I just quit at the 2:31:40 mark.
That was an hour more than I should have given this book, the narration was OK, but uninspired, this could have been pumped out by that new GPT fake AI software.
I can't see anyone giving this more than 3 stars, and I can't believe there are two more books.
So boring I just quit at the 2:31:40 mark.
That was an hour more than I should have given this book, the narration was OK, but uninspired, this could have been pumped out by that new GPT fake AI software.
I can't see anyone giving this more than 3 stars, and I can't believe there are two more books.
July 16, 2023
idea is interesting but I got lost
I like the idea but I feel like there could have been more world building or descriptors. Some scenes I had no idea how the UG ship was laid out or how the crew space walked or how the begining chase scene played out I was lost either the design of both ships in general but I do like the premise of the book
I like the idea but I feel like there could have been more world building or descriptors. Some scenes I had no idea how the UG ship was laid out or how the crew space walked or how the begining chase scene played out I was lost either the design of both ships in general but I do like the premise of the book
February 2, 2024
DNF at 29%
LOVED the idea, hated the execution.
I was a little concerned when I saw the book was only 198 pages, and I should have listened to myself. That is not enough to do this story idea justice. Everything was way too rushed! I wasn't connected with the characters before shit hit the fan (and it happenedy too soon) and some of the writing was just too silly for me to continue.
LOVED the idea, hated the execution.
I was a little concerned when I saw the book was only 198 pages, and I should have listened to myself. That is not enough to do this story idea justice. Everything was way too rushed! I wasn't connected with the characters before shit hit the fan (and it happenedy too soon) and some of the writing was just too silly for me to continue.
June 11, 2024
I'm rating this four stars just for the sheer potential I see in the author. The story was great. Great enough that I couldn't put it down despite all the typos and inconsistencies. It didn't make my blood run cold like S.A. Barnes' Dead Silence or Caitlin Starling's The Luminous Dead, but it definitely came close. And for that, I give it props.
October 16, 2022
Great characters, but kind of a weird story. I liked it well enough but I don't think I'll be reading anymore of the series. Mix human atrocities with aliens with shadow-runner type modifications, add a dash of cult-like devotion and an inhuman godmanbeast and you've got the gist!
August 27, 2023
Disappointing
The concept had a lot of potential, but I was disappointed in the execution as a whole. Tighter narration, more comprehensive world building, and character development could easily bring this into 4 star territory. As is, it's a bit of a mess.
The concept had a lot of potential, but I was disappointed in the execution as a whole. Tighter narration, more comprehensive world building, and character development could easily bring this into 4 star territory. As is, it's a bit of a mess.
February 10, 2024
Dead space Meets Bioshock
Dead Shock by Wallace Henry is a fun story. The overall story was great as long with the pacing. There is a lot of action and this is truly a non stop thrill ride. It kind of felt like Dead Space meets Bio Shock. I enjoyed all of the characters quite a bit.
Dead Shock by Wallace Henry is a fun story. The overall story was great as long with the pacing. There is a lot of action and this is truly a non stop thrill ride. It kind of felt like Dead Space meets Bio Shock. I enjoyed all of the characters quite a bit.
June 27, 2024
As with all stories you’ll find some incredibly stupid characters. I think that’s where the story lacked for me. People doing idiotic things and knowing that they’re idiotic. Overall, it could make a good sci-fi channel B horror movie.. narration was great storyline moved fast
September 2, 2024
This was my first DNF book,I got about halfway through and normally I try to read on but just couldn’t with this one. The synopsis and book cover really drew me in but some of the writing and the repetitiveness just killed it for me.
January 7, 2023
Did not finish
May 1, 2023
strong dead space vibes with this one
February 5, 2024
Not worth the time
Characters are the worst stereotypes. The setup is ludicrous. I didn't make it past the 4th chapter. Save your money and time.
Characters are the worst stereotypes. The setup is ludicrous. I didn't make it past the 4th chapter. Save your money and time.
March 18, 2024
Not bad . But not great…
January 21, 2026
Book one had me pretty hooked on the story. It is a bit tropey but there's plenty of action and horror. Not a fan of ending on a cliffhanger.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews