Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy of The Watchers by A.M. Shine in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Watchers was a fantastic spooky and atmospheric October read! It reminded me of a bizarre mash-up of A Quiet Place and LOST. It follows Mina as she is traveling country back roads to deliver a rare Golden Conure parrot to a collector. After getting lost and disoriented, her car breaks down on the edge of eerily quiet woods. Intrigue! There is a definite creepy sense of wrongness as Mina goes on foot deeper into the woods seeking help. As animals tend to be the first to sense danger, the golden bird is clearly disturbed by an unseen threat getting closer. Soon, the quiet of the woods is charged with the savage shrieking of something unearthly. Mina and her bird have no choice but to get back to the car to hide for the night. The next day though, they have no other choice but to emerge, desperately seeking food, water and assistance. A sliver of hope as they encounter a house deep in the woods labyrinth. Mina's relief is quickly shattered when the occupant, a frail and haunted looking woman named Madeline, is desperately screaming at her to run and get in the house. Now begins the real nightmare, when she discovers that there is a small group of survivors trapped in the house every night at sundown to be observed by the "The Watchers", the same creatures whose savage unnatural shrieks terrified her earlier in the woods. WHO are The Watchers and WHY are they being watched? WHY can't anyone escape the woods before sundown arrives? I had SO MANY QUESTIONS. I was truly horrified for Mina and her group. There were so many heart pounding and chilling moments in the story and I really enjoyed it until the last few pages. I felt the story ended rather abruptly and I am really hoping that means there is a sequel. If that was the true end to this story, it may have been better received as a novella. Overall though, it definitely satisfied my craving for a truly scary October read.

When I read the blurb I thought this would be perfect for this time of year. I enjoyed the characters in the book and the overall plot, but I found it slow going at times

After her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, Mina is forced to venture into the nearby forest in the hope of finding someone to help her. Nearing the end of an exhausting day of desperately searching through the desolate woodland, she finds a woman screaming at her from a concrete hut to get inside. Over the night that follows, Mina learns of the Watchers - horrific creatures who are keeping a group of strangers prisoner in this strange bunker. Mina is determined to discover what these creatures are and find a way to escape the living nightmare she has found herself in.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Mina, Madeline, Daniel and Cara - this very cleverly gives a better insight into the way in which each character is coping with their horrific situation and is a great way to introduce them into the narrative one by one. I also loved the way that bits of history and folklore were worked into the story as it progressed and this created a really unsettling tone as the truth about the Watchers was revealed.

When I was younger, The X-Files was my favourite TV Show, and The Watchers gave me the same kind of feeling - elements of sci-fi, elements of horror, an uneasiness and creepy atmosphere which built throughout the story. On top of this, there were some very unexpected twists and turns which led to a completely shocking ending which I did not see coming, and am actually still thinking about now. I won't go into any more detail because this is a story you need to go into cold to get the full impact - but it is the perfect blend of horror and mythology for spooky season, and a very impressive debut!

Unfortunately this one just didn't work for me, so I didn't finish reading it. I found it difficult to get into, and I kept skimming and missing details. Mina wasn't a particularly interesting or sympathetic character, and although there was quite a bit if description I never felt drawn into the setting or story. I'm not even sure why: the writing wasn't bad, it just didn't hook me.

First off – this is a great debut from A.M. Shine.

Mina breaks down in a forest that’s not charted on any map and she finds herself wandering into the woodland before nightfall (as you do) only to be greeted by a woman urging her to run to a concrete bunker where she finds herself in a room with a wall of glass and a light that activates only at nightfall and three other occupants. And at night, The Watchers appear.

Incredibly tense and really quite chilling once the actual Watchers appear outside the bunker – this is a really well constructed debut horror novel.

A novel with constant threat – until about halfway through – where the threat remains but the plot steps up another level of intrigue, as Mina and the others begin to unearth the origin of the bunker and possibly to the creatures themselves.

And – with no spoilers – WHAT AN ENDING!

I’ve seen reviews that say this would make a great novella or short story but I think it works really well over 300+ pages.

If you are a fan of movies like ‘The Quiet Place’ or ‘The Silence’, or even dare I say it, ‘Lost’ (remember that?) I think you’ll love this. It’s a movie in book form.

Thanks to #NetGalley #Aria&Aries # HeadOfZeus and of course the author A.M.Shine for the opportunity to review this.

Well that had a lot of great twists!

When Mina’s car breaks down in the forests of Connemara Ireland, she decides to continue walk the road she was traveling. “All paths lead somewhere” is her mantra. As the sun starts to descend below the horizon she stumbles upon a building just as something starts screaming in the woods behind her. She is beckoned inside by an old woman and launches herself inside to find another young woman and young man. Turns out there are creatures in the forest that watch them through the mirrored windows every night. If you’re caught outside at night, you won’t last til morning. Mina and the others can only try to survive their predicament, they have little hope of escape. Shine adds in lots of great twists and this was an enjoyable quick read. Excellent for the Fall, heading into Halloween!

Thanks Netgalley for sending me this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

THIS STORY. It’s captivating. It’s chilling. I really enjoy how folklore is weaved into this modern-day horror retelling. Mina is such a likable character, and the TWIST—it was masterfully done. I definitely recommend this title if you’re up for a little terror.

The Watchers by A. M. Shine
‘You can't see them. But they can see you. This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its tree line. 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.’

You know that moment, its dark outside, the curtains are open, the lights are on inside and for a split second you get that horrible feeling of being watched, that someone can see you but you can’t see them, only your own reflection staring back. Well, take that and dial it up a couple of mhz . The Watchers, by A. M. Shine is a fast paced, gothic horror that will play on your fears of what lurks in the dark.

Mina finds herself enclosed in the bunker with three others. During the day, the group grapple to understand the dynamics of their forced situation. At night they sit on display for what lives in the woods outside, watched, studied and toyed with. With their chance of escape dictated by the hours of daylight the premise is bleak.

This was up there with one of the best horror books I’ve read, fast paced and sinister, and although Mina is our main narrator, the small chapters from the other characters points of view, really contribute to the story, providing dynamics and highlighting the forlornness of the internal feelings of the group. The writing was very good, the sensory detail creating a creeping sense of unease, often making me feel uncomfortable.

I devoured it in two sittings, the ending making me hopeful for a second installment. It reminded my a little of the movie Bird Box, in fact this novel was so complete I would be more than a little delighted to see a movie adaptation.

Thank you @Netgalley and @HeadofZeus for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I’ve gotten really into horror this year, and especially the kind of horror that creeps you out rather than splatters you with gore. And The Watchers is exactly that. Uncanny, thrilling and creepy. Set in the wonderful area of Galway in Ireland – which made me love the book from the get-go as I spent one of my favourite ever trips there – this story is very atmospheric, which adds so much to it. I adored the setting and premise, which are really characters in their own right. I would say that this is definitely one for readers who like to be scared a bit while reading and enjoy books on the creepier end of the spectrum. It’s not merely a suspenseful thriller – more of a slower paced story that might keep you up at night. It would not surprise me if this one will get nominated for all the awards next year.

I don’t want to say too much about the story itself as knowing too much will take away from the effect, but the concept of the watchers is *chef’s kiss* and the characters slot into the narrative structure and the atmosphere perfectly. And the plot definitely did not go where I thought it would. So a very excellent book. I don’t often get actually creeped out by reading a story, and this did have that effect on me, which made me love it even more.

It is a slightly slower paced story than many in the genre. This builds up tension more thoroughly in my opinion, focusing on the uncanny and the atmosphere rather than packing in as many events as possible. While this worked really well for me personally, I can see that this might put some readers off, so do check out a sample if that is something that tends to bother you.

So a huge rec for all fans of horror and uncanny stories.

I like myself a few creepy Halloween reads! In terms of horror novel criteria, this does succeed in being genuinely unsettling. I also enjoyed the extra depth from the more artsy writing portions. Just reading the blurb/description of this novel on Goodreads should be good enough for the reader to know just what they're getting into.

The Watchers was a fantastic and absolutely terrifying read! We follow Mina as she is gets lost in uncharted woods, and soon she discovers that once night falls, you aren't alone, and the creatures out there are both intelligent and vicious.⁠
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This book had me at the edge of my seat, and if you like folk horror, books that make you feel claustrophobic and keep you up at night, then this is the story for you! ⁠
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That ending sure was something, and I hope there is a second one in the works!

This book blindsided me, I absolutely can't believe this is a debut novel. I don't even know how to review it without spoiling it. I will start by saying it is really slow up until around the 60% mark but I feel the author did this purposefully so that we could imagine the isolation that the characters were feeling. It also left me rather anxious everytime they were trying to escape. When I found out what was going on I was absolutely gobsmacked! I mean I'm amazed that I've been able to remove my jaw off the floor. I am so envious of those that get to experience this for the first time as I will never have that again.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries and
A. M. Shine for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

3.5 stars

Mina, an artist that has lost inspiration and motivation, gets roped into delivering a golden conure bird for a bar friend as a way to make some easy money. On the way to the drop-off, her car suddenly stops working along with her cell phone. Far from civilization and the trees blocking any form of the horizon, she sets off with the bird in hopes of finding help and shelter. After hours of walking, she stumbles upon a woman standing in a doorway, yelling at her to run. Chased by horrific screams, Mina runs inside and discovers a brightly lit room with thick glass for a wall. She soon learns that there are vicious creatures that lurk in the night, watching their every move... and their only chance of survival is by staying in the light.

I hadn't anticipated reading a spooky book this month, but The Watchers caught my attention on Netgalley, and the next thing you know, I had it read in less than 24 hours. It has a plot that feels vaguely familiar, but I can't place it no matter how hard I try. I wouldn't necessarily say this was a scary read. It read more like an atmospheric thriller with fantasy elements. The writing is very, very descriptive and wordy. It's a slow burn type of read, and it would have benefited greatly had it been slightly shorter. It's only 250 pages, but it reads like it is muuuuuch longer. I guessed the twist early on, but it didn't take away from the story as there were still plenty of questions to be answered. The ending of the book, outside of the overall conclusion, was a nice touch and made me smile.

Books like this are always hard for me to review. Because on one hand, I did enjoy the story. But on the other hand, several aspects left me a little disappointed. This is one of those books that will have people divided: you either love it, hate it, or don't care to feel too much more about it.

I recommend this book for fans of: atmospheric reads, slow burn thrillers, Irish folklore, and light horror.

The Watchers by A.M. Shine is a horror novel, and a debut novel......and I can't wait for more by this author!

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Head of Zeus - Aries, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The forest is not on the map, but any vehicle that tries to pass it breaks down.  There is no cell service, and no other traffic.  There doesn't seem to be a choice.  People leave their vehicles and hope there is something at the other end of the forest.

The "lucky" ones, come across a concrete bunker, and meet others who have managed to stay safe.  Lights come on at dusk and go off at daylight.  The doors are locked at night, but the residents are awake, and on display.  For at night, they are watched by something that screams.

Madeline has been there for over two years, and runs the place.  She is strong-willed.  David is 19, and trying to help, although his lack of confidence makes him weak.  He is in charge of setting the traps to bring in birds for dinner.  Ciara goes to the spring and brings fresh water, as well as picks  berries.  She is struggling, as her husband went out one morning to try and find a way out of the forest.  He has never returned.

Mina has just arrived, toting a parrot that she was to deliver in return for payment.  She barely made it to the bunker before night fell and the creatures arrived.  She  has many questions, but not sure Madeline is providing sufficient answers.

Together, they are in for the fight of their lives.  Their individual strengths and weaknesses will be put to the test, and not all will make it.


My Opinions:   
First, I loved the cover.

This book grabbed me from the get-go and didn't release me til the end...and even then my thoughts stayed with the characters.  This a creepy, atmospheric horror tale, filled with monsters, built on Irish mythology and fairy tales.  Those fairy tales would not be suitable for children.

The book is written from different points of view, although the main one is Mina. I loved the different personalities of the 4 individuals in the coop, and how each played a vital role in their escape attempt.  They were all well-developed characters.  

The pace was fast, and overall it was a fast read (although that could be because I couldn't wait to see what happened next).

I admit that the first major twist was not a big surprise to me...the author had provided a major clue. My knowledge did not detract from the plot, and I still questioned that twist occasionally.   However, that ending was a real surprise....and I loved it.

For a debut novel, this was simply amazing,

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

The watchers by A.M. Shine.
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?
A chilling spooky eerie read. I loved it. Great story and characters. 5*.

Perfect read for the month of October and any time of the year. This book was great, quick, fun and scary read all at once. It had the perfect elements that one looks for in a horror/scary book. Sometimes it was scary and creepy, at other you just want to know what is going on and where it all leads. Mia was a great character to follow and read. This is my first time reading this author and I loved this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful arc!

What a spooky and quick read that is coming out right in time for Halloween! Mina is a great character to follow through this horrifying experience. I must admit that I got the shivers a few times and possibly had to turn on another light for bedtime reading!

This story involves a cryptic scenario that seems to come straight out of a nightmare. I highly recommend this as a quick scare that can be read in one sitting!

The Watchers is a chilling and atmospheric read, which was absolutely perfect to kick off my spooky season reading! I don't normally read many scary books, but I was intrigued by the premise for this one, and I'm really glad I gave it a go.

When Mina agrees to a simple delivery for a friend to make some extra cash, she has no idea of the horror that awaits her. As her car breaks down outside a Connemara forest that isn't charted on any map, she is plunged into a nightmare, alive only thanks to a mysterious woman and the bunker she locks behind them.

I loved the setting for this book: the forest is bone-chillingly creepy and almost seems to come alive off the page as an extra character. It was definitely the creepiest part of the book, even though I felt it to be more akin to a thriller than a full-on horror. It was certainly a very tense read though, and I grew very attached to the characters, especially Mina. The psychological tension was spot on for me, much scarier than the Watchers themselves.

I appreciated how we got to see the book from multiple POVs, even though Mina's was always prevalent. The characters were beautifully complex and it was great to get inside their heads a little bit. There were quite a few surprises I hadn't seen coming, which really added to the tension as the book progressed. The inclusion of Irish folklore and mythology was also masterful, and I loved how well it was integrated within the rest of the storyline. The ending was also brilliant and absolutely chilling!

The writing is quite lyrical, which I personally appreciated for the most part, even though at times it just felt like the narrative was being drawn out a tad too much. This wasn't a terrible flaw for me, but it did slow down the pace and broke some of the tension for me.

Overall, The Watchers is a captivating and chilling read, perfect for those looking for a spooky season read with Gothic vibes that's not too scary - just stay in the light when reading...

What a great debut! 👏🏻

If you’ve ever been afraid of what scary things could lurk in the dark…this book will not help with that.

The Watchers takes place in a isolated uncharted forest of Galway, Ireland. It is a creepy little creature feature that will have you captivated.

I really enjoyed this claustrophobic horror tale, and it gets extra points for the inclusion of Irish folklore. 🖤

Overall, I felt impressed with the writing, the pacing, and the imagery that AM Shine conjured. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in the future.