I have gone back repeatedly and attempted to finish this book but I ultimately decided to not finish. I was unable to fully enjoy it because everything felt so played out and long. Why the 300 pages. I felt like I knew exactly what was going on and wanted to hurry up and get to the end but there was just so much middle.

Ohh. This was a creepy one! I kept thinking I knew who “the watchers” were and what was happening, but nope. This book definitely kept me guessing the whole way through.

I would. Definitely recommend The Watchers if you’re looking for a gripping, claustrophobic horror novel. I can’t wait to watch the movie now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy.

The Watchers sounded just like a book that I would enjoy. However, I found that it was the opposite of what I was expecting. I hoped it would be an engrossing and creepy story; instead, I found it to be dull and lackluster. The only part of the book that I truly enjoyed was the last part.

The Watchers is a pulse pounding psychological horror story that I read in two sittings. The story starts from the POV of John and his wife Ciara, who decide to shake up their usual Sunday routine and go off for an adventure in their car. When the car just breaks down very suddenly in the middle of nowhere, the couples' lives are changed forever. The next POV, which is mostly the main one through the story, is of Mina, a struggling artist grieving the loss of her mother. When she's offered money to deliver a parrot to a buyer in the middle of nowhere, she too ends up lost and stranded in the middle of nowhere alone. Mina gets the frught of her life that first night when the sun sets and an unnatural screaming reverberates around her. With only the parrot as company, she sets out the next morning in search of help. But as night approaches again, Mina comes across a concrete bunker in the middle of a forest, being urged to get inside by a stranger. There, she meets Madeline, Danny, and Ciara. All captive during the night as unnatural creatures crawl from the earth to watch them like fish in a fishbowl. As Mina tries to learn more about each person and the 'watchers' outside, it's hard to know who she can trust and if they'll escape alive.
This book gave me chills. Some aspects reminded me a little of bird box with the unknowingness about the creatures until nearer to the end of the book and I didn't expect the direction the book went or that cliffhanger shocker of an ending that had my heart pounding and my breath hitching. I'm now diving into my ARC of book two as I'm desperate to find out what will happen next.

This one has serious creepy vibes with lots (I mean lots!) of questions that all help to “build up the tension. Just who (or what!) are The Watchers”? And why doesn’t anyone know of their story? Why!?!

As you follow Mina after her car breaks down, you’re introduced to the other inhabitants of the strange little house in the middle of the woods. And their unusual circumstances are slowly revealed. Each of the other characters have their own eccentricities, and isms - but I had serious questions about one of them (I want to keep this spoiler free so no more from me on that one!) But this is the beauty of TW - you’re second guessing the characters, your thoughts and the characters again. I also started thinking it was going to take me one direction, but then their journey did not go the way I was expecting. As more and more is revealed, the more the uniqueness of this tale becomes apparent.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Head of Zeus, and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

I recommend this to any Horror Reader, particularly if you enjoy unsettling atmosphere and Folk Horror that can get under your skin and stay there.

This is one of the most unsettling books I have read in years. Loved the premise and cannot WAIT to see the movie! Highly recommend and have already purchased several physical and digital copies for library collections. Also bought 20 copies for a book club bag!

Claustrophobic and tense - begs the question of who are the apex predators and how vulnerable are we to them - oh, and are they real? Imaginative take on the captured without a clue trope with shadows of "Devil". Creepy

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where horror and thrillers are popular.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK Audio in exchange for an honest review.

The best kind of horror is thought-provoking, and The Watchers is definitely that. One day and one wrong turn in a forest later, and Mina finds herself trapped with a few other humans, at the mercy of some mysterious creatures.

This book reminded me strongly of Bird Box, mostly in tone and themes rather than content. As I write this review it has been several months since I read this book and I can still vividly remember the characters and events, something which is quite impressive given the amount of books I read. That this book left such an impression on me is not to be ignored, and I think that it's because of the strong themes and atmospheric writing throughout.

My main criticism of this book is that it's a little long. The plot is interesting and goes places I definitely didn't expect it to, but in-between all that is a little bit too much stuff. It doesn't ruin the book by any means but I think it could have been punchier and the pace might have been stronger for it.

Overall, I definitely recommend checking this book out if you're a fan of horror centred around the human experience and survival situations. This is a book driven by themes and how characters respond to the situation they're in, and for that reason I enjoyed it immensely. The plot goes in a direction I didn't expect and it also has plenty of 'horror' moments to keep readers happy

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Dnf 40%

Sounded really intriguing but fell short as it felt too long in areas and easily lost your interest as a reader.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

The Watchers is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that blends elements of science fiction and thriller genres. Overall, I found it to be an enjoyable and entertaining read.

One of the strengths of the novel is its premise, which imagines a world in which a secretive organization known as The Watchers has developed the ability to manipulate reality through advanced technology. The concept is intriguing and well-executed, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers engaged.

Additionally, Shine's writing is strong, with vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters. The protagonist, Cassie, is a compelling and relatable character who drives the plot forward with her determination and bravery.

I did feel that the pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on. Additionally, some readers may find the ending to be unsatisfying or overly convoluted.

Overall, The Watchers is a well-written and entertaining novel. It is a strong debut from a promising new author, and one that is sure to appeal to fans of sci-fi and thriller genres.

This needed to be more of a novella. It had some very creepy moments that I definitely enjoyed, but the rest drug for me. I may try more shorter works from this author in the future.

You can't see them. But they can see you.

This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.
Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn't reach the bunker in time.
Afraid and trapped among strangers, Mina is desperate for answers. Who are the Watchers and why are these creatures keeping them imprisoned, keen to watch their every move?

I went into this book honestly not expecting much because I had read ‘The Creeper’ not too long ago and I was sadly disappointed with it. However… ‘The Watchers’ was FANTASTIC… Everything I love in a horror story.

It reminded me of old ghost tales… don’t go into the woods or ‘the watchers’ will get you. Filled with suspense and mystery, I just couldn’t put this book down until I knew what was going on and believe me when I say Shine keeps you waiting!

Shine created terror in the unseen and the unknown and I think that’s why it was so horrifying… I filled the gaps with my worst thoughts and my worst fears. Added to this Shine has a fantastic skill for creating characters, and the dynamics in the group was as intriguing to read as much as figuring out if they were going to make it out of the forest alive.

Not for the faint hearted… and should be read with the lights on 😜

This is a book of thrills and chills, with an emphasis on chills. I got spooked quite a bit by this, to the point where I had to take multiple breaks. But I think that's more because horror isn't a genre I read a whole lot of (I'm a big wuss when it comes to horror). All that said, I enjoyed the experience and I liked the writing.

This is a story about The Watched.

This was my first Irish horror novel, but I plan to immediately find more. This was so frightening! I don’t want to provide any details bc it will ruin the experience- but I’ll be avoiding any dead zones on my gps moving forward.

Thank you so much @netgalley and Aria & Aries for the eArc!

I freaking loved this story. It made my heart race, and my body shiver. Chilling and scary as Mina tries to get away from these creatures. Fantastic debut.

I’ve thought about reviewing this book for awhile…well for over a year.

I really liked parts of this book. The prologue didn’t work for me, it just didn’t fit. Once I got past that and on to Mina’s story I was hooked. The atmosphere was so well written I felt the isolation, I felt the cold, I felt the hopelessness.

We’re supposed to be in here before the light even comes on. That’s the rule. That’s the way it has to be.

The ending is where it fell apart for me. ***spoiler alert*** The story should have ended when they made it on the bus. Mina was gone for months and her apartment is untouched…is rent different in other parts of the world? After 30 days of not paying rent that apartment would have been opened and cleaned out. Same with Ciara’s house, she and her husband were gone for over 6 months. This plot hole ruined the book for me. I had more questions about rent and mortgages then I did about the Watchers!

I struggled to find my stride with this book initially and even though I liked the premise, I didn't think it was pushed to where it could have gone, especially with the horror elements. Sadly, I didn't take to any of the characters either so that impacted the stakes and how much I actually cared about these people's welfare. There was a surprising turn of events two thirds of the way through which flipped the whole thing on its head, and I really liked that part of the book and also an ending that was a little left field, but I think worked well. I would be interested in reading more from this author and as a debut it wasn't a bad effort.