3.5.  The Scourge Between Stars is a solid sci-fi suspense debut novella following the first mate of a generational ship attempting to return to Earth after an attempt at developing a new colony on another planet failed. Jacklyn, acting as captain while her father hasn't been seen for a week, must navigate not only internal crew dynamics (including wards contesting bridge decision-making and seeking autonomy) but the threat of something mysterious lurking inside the ship.  A well written novella with a pace that kept me engaged, I appreciated Jacklyn as a POV character and the tension that built over the course of the book.  I didn't find this the most original by any means - it feels a lot like Alien and was rather predictable - but I had fun reading it and would absolutely read more by Ness Brown.

Content warnings: blood, gore, violence, death, murder, gun violence, body horror, grief, sexual assault (off page / clearly implied but not detailed)