Stay in the Light serves as a compelling and well-crafted sequel that delivers a satisfying continuation of the story. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book, and it successfully deepens the universe established in the first instalment.

Revisiting Mina was a treat, as her character remains engaging and relatable. However, I found that her points of view sometimes slowed the pacing, particularly in the first half of the novel. While I appreciated the insights into her thoughts and feelings, there were moments when the narrative seemed to drag, disrupting the otherwise thrilling momentum of the story.

On the other hand, I was eager to see more of Sean and his team's discoveries. The buildup surrounding their exploration and findings felt significant, but the resolution seemed to come too swiftly, leaving me wanting more depth and detail in their journey. Their side of the narrative had the potential for great tension and excitement, which I felt could have been expanded upon.

As always, A.M. Shine's writing style shines brightly throughout the novel. Several scenes kept me on the edge of my seat, showcasing the author's ability to create suspense and maintain reader engagement. The emotional weight and intensity of certain moments were palpable, drawing me further into the story.

The ending, in particular, left me breathless and craving more. It was a powerful conclusion that set the stage for future developments, and I am now left desperate for the next book. A.M. Shine has crafted a gripping world that I can't wait to return to, and I have high hopes for what lies ahead in this captivating series.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Early preview via Netgalley. This was another tremendous book by A.M. Shine. If you enjoyed 'The Watchers' you will LOVE 'Stay in the Light'. This book develops on the first and also gives a bit more backstory to where the watchers came from. As always there are plenty of twists, turns and drama but with beautiful characterisations as you would expect from A.M Shine. It is a real edge of the seat listen. The book is beautifully narrated by Jacqueline Milne whose soft, clear, lilting Irish accent complements the story beautifully.

Firstly, I’d like to thank A.M. Shine, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Stay in the Light in exchange for an honest review. Secondly, I’d like to apologise to A.M. Shine, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the incoherent mess that is about to unfold.

I loved this book, I loved it like I loved The Watchers.

I’ll admit I was apprehensive going into this as so often horror books lose their scary edge once that initial climax has been reached and faded again in the first book. There’s no denying that the book does have a slow start but that isn’t without reason as we start to unpack just how the events of book one have impacted the lives of Mina and Ciara. If you find the start a bit slow for your tastes I would implore you to persevere, it’s around the 25% mark that things start to ramp up, and boy do they ramp up.

A.M. Shine has developed the perfect concoction of horror for me, it has all the insurmountable terror of superhuman killing machines, the horror comes at you in waves so as to never lose its potency and it has my favourite horror device of all time, uncanny valley. The most difficult scene of the entire book for me to read alone plays heavily on this as Mina is first reunited with The Watchers in deeply unsettling fashion.

Initial pacing issues aside this book does not miss a beat as you’re dragged from chapter to chapter. I found myself unable to put this book down at times and too scared to pick it up at others.

There isn’t too much to be said for the characters other than it’s more of that same old recipe we know and love from The Watchers, Mina and Madeline are back like they never left, along with some new faces in an interesting new multi POV approach.

This book has everything I’d ever want from a horror novel. It’s gripping, it’s tense, it’s unsettling, it has an absolute moron doing all the things that we know he shouldn’t do but he doesn’t know not to do, it has a monster eating a croissant, it has seagulls referred to as white feathered hooligans (honestly this book is actually quite humorous in dispatches) and most importantly it has a set up for a third book.

I’m excited to see what comes of this terrifying world of Irish folklore A.M Shine is developing and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stay In The Light is the sequel to The Watchers which I read about 18 months ago. The story returns to our main character Mina, who’s escaped the terrifying cabin in the woods where her and her companions were terrorised nightly by unseen creatures. Mina is now trying to keep a low profile after realising that the creatures are changelings and that they are not confined to the woods… Should she try to tell the world of the threat, or would they condemn her as crazy?

This book delves much more into Irish folklore and myth. I found this one a lot tenser and more unsettling than the first, mostly because it’s set in the ‘real world’ rather than just a forest. It was quite spooky and in parts I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to turn the light off when it was bedtime. There’s some real nail biting moments and the story plays a lot on your basic human fears; cold, dark, confined spaces.

Highly recommend getting your hands on this early! It’s due out 10.10.2024!

This is not like the first book. I can't really explain what happened in the first 59% of this book. Everytime I put the book down and picked it back up I kept forgetting who everyone was and what had happened. At about 60% I became a bit more engaged. I started to understand that Sean and his team found some Chambers and were trying to find out what was down there and what the Chambers had been used for. Then Mina knew about the Fairy's but no-one believed her and thought she was insane.

I think with the first book I found it very atmospheric and I read it whilst being in a forest and I found it really creepy. This book was flat and boring and there was no atmospherics and just boring. Even the "scary" scenes nothing for me. It felt like the writing regressed for me. Not a fan.

'Stay in the Light' was a truly solid sequel to 'The Watchers'!

Whilst it the horror element wasn't quite as strong as in the first book & Mina's chapters (despite being a brilliant character) dragged a bit, the storyline was well thought out & executed. & those last few chapters...! They were explosive & tied everything together very nicely, so now I can't wait to see if there'll be a third instalment (here's to hoping!).

Overall, I'm giving this book 4.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up) as A.M. Shine has written a gripping & unnerving sequel that is almost(!) as good as it's predecessor & that is pretty impressive in my eyes!

Thank you to NetGalley, A.M. Shine & Head of Zeus for allowing me to read & review the ARC of 'Stay in the Light'; all views are honest & my own.

In Stay in the Light, A.M. Shine crafts a haunting and atmospheric sequel that shifts from the raw terror of The Watchers to a more atmospheric, uneasy horror. Mina, still scarred by her previous encounters, is desperate to uncover the truth behind the Watchers while battling her own doubts and those of the people around her. While this book doesn't quite match the intensity of the first, it offers an intriguing exploration of the mysterious lore surrounding the Watchers. and still captivates with its eerie tension.

Though the new characters don't quite match the depth of those from the first book, they are engaging enough to help carry the story forward, and the creeping sense of dread keeps you engaged. The book shines in its rich and intriguing lore, leaving readers eager to see how it all unfolds in the next chapter. A solid follow-up that fans of the first book will appreciate.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/A few months after the events of The Watchers, Mina is hiding in a secluded cottage on the west coast of Ireland. Meanwhile, Sean Kilmartin, the son of the original Kilmartin, embarks on an expedition to prove his father's theories. The narrative unfolds in parallel, with the first half focusing on Mina’s emotional breakdown, while Sean’s story gradually builds tension and mystery. It’s around the 50% mark that the pace intensifies.

I appreciated this approach to the sequel as it fleshes out the story allowing the reader to take a breath from the first one. It enables readers to explore Mina’s recovery after the traumatic events of the first book, while also letting the author steadily increase the excitement through Sean’s storyline. This dual narrative also weaves in new layers of mythology, enhancing the story.

Overall, this is an excellent sequel to The Watchers and a strong middle book in what I expect will be a trilogy.show/6850772562

Mainly enjoyable. This one has less horror than the first. I wanted to know more about Mina. I feel her character still needs development.

The sequel to The Watchers although I haven't read the first book it didn't spoil my read of this book ( though I'd recommend reading it first ). Ciara hiding from the watchers who are shapeshifters and they can disguise themselves as real people. Creepy and full of tension this well written book is worth the read, I can't recommend it highly enough. Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this review ARC

This was a great sequel but one that I did not expect. I hope this is also made into a movie. It was great to be back however I wished for more of the horror element of book one.

I loved being back in the world of the Watchers!

I had so many questions on how life would continue for Mina and Caira, and what Madeline would do, after escaping the coop. A M Shine portrays grief, pain, and the struggle to readjust following a traumatic experience so well; the feelings of the characters are palpable.

I wasn't expecting to go back to the Kilmartin family but was pleasantly surprised. I think this added to the story.

This is such an amazing companion to The Watchers and very much needed to answer the questions the readers may have after book 1.

High praise for A M Shine.

Stay in the Light - A.M.Shine
4.5 🌟

The first 60% of this book gave me the same vibes as season 4 of Lost, when the cast finally get off the island and things feel so different that it's almost not even the same show - BUT is somehow still fantastic. It's quite interesting. That first 60% didn't feel like a horror novel, more of a crime thriller. But the final 40%? One of the best examples of horror I've ever read. In fact, chapter 19 left me feeling a state of dread I've never felt before. And at one point during chapter 20, a dog barked outside and I physically jumped.

I can't say much about characters without spoilers but one thing that absolutely kept up from book 1 was Shine's ability to describe a space, every single scene in this book was so clear in my mind. Which made it all the more unnerving.

If I were to nitpick, I really enjoyed the primary setting of book 1. In fact, the woods was almost a character in its own right, an integral one too. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't missed in book 2.

A must read for fans of The Watchers, clearly Shine intends this to be a trilogy as Stay In The Light is essentially a set up for a final showdown, one I greatly look forward to given my love for the first book.

Whilst I enjoyed the second it does somewhat suffer from a common problem, following the reveal of book one whilst setting the scene for a third left this installment feeling like filler.

Dr Kilmartin had a son! Who knew. A carbon copy of his father, here he is reliving those mistakes with an obsessive search for evidence of changelings, the only difference being Sean isn't working alone.
The Kilmartin theories are revisited but unchanged as a new location is unearthed with fresh surprises in store. Sean isn't likeable, in fact none of his team are, thankfully we still have Mina.

I hope for some development for Mina in the future. Stay In The Light shows us how she has survived since escaping the woodland, as bleak as her life beforehand. Living by the rules in a spiralling paranoia just waiting for the day the watchers reappear.

The watchers were the highlights of the novel, their scenes as terrifying and brutal as ever. These are the creatures I return for.

The drawing together of established characters and rise of a new bigger and stronger threat to the beautiful if dreary Irish setting has me looking forward to the final part, hopefully with a faster pace and more action.

I actually preferred this sequel to the first book, I felt the pacing was better, there was a much better building of tension, and now that the characters are referring to the bird as “the yellow one” as though it’s his name, and it’s not just the author referring to him as that randomly, I find it much less cringy.

I love the incorporation of Irish folklore, the creatures are creepy as hell, and the prose is often quite pretty and somewhat introspective, but the ending felt like a bit of a cop out so that AM Shine can turn this into a trilogy and milk it for all it’s worth. I’ll probably still read the third book but I think it could have been wrapped up pretty nicely in this one if it was slightly longer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC!

A sequel to The Watchers, this very finely written book scared the bejesus out of me. Living in Ireland, unusual happenings are the norm. Tales abound here of strange goings-on and the whole South West coastal area has an air of shivering promise about it. So the story is all too real. I loved the characters, the determination to live alone and shun all but those closely known. The sisters have a complex relationship, they are quite annoying to be around sometimes, so that's like reality too! Very happy reading.

Part of a series so should probably be read in order.

More fantasy than horror, so not really my thing

Interesting enough to keep reading but I'm not longing to find out what happened next.

Having escaped the forest and concrete bunker with her life intact, Mina is now living in a cottage on Ireland's west coast. Aware that the Watchers won't stop searching for her, she desperately tries to find a way to ensure the survival of humanity. When a stranger arrives and people start disappearing, Mina knows the Watchers have found her. She now faces an uphill battle to persuade others of the immediate danger around them. Is this the beginning of the end or can she escape once more?

Stay in the Light is the sequel to The Watchers and shouldn't be read out of publication order. I didn't feel it had quite the same impact as its predecessor but I think that was to be expected — the Watchers' brutality and contempt for human life was already known after the first book. However, it was still a fantastic read and I loved discovering what happened to Mina and the others. The truth about who the Watchers are becomes clear during an archaeological dig which sets a catastrophic series of events in motion. The ending is such that a third book could possibly follow. Overall, great characters and a gripping continuation of Mina's story.

After her adventures escaping the Watchers, Mina keeps a low profile living in a coastal cottage, trying to remain unnoticed. The events she experienced at the hands of these monsters, along with Madeline's warning, make her very cautious. She is determined to prevent anyone else from going through what they did, and the presence of the Watchers must remain a secret.

Not far from there, Sean Kilmartin is determined to continue his father's research, and it seems he's on the verge of making an important discovery. Day and night, his team digs into the earth to get closer to the point where the secret is hidden. But the eagerness for discovery could unleash something terrible upon humanity.

In this novel, the lore of the Watchers expands further, offering answers to some of the questions that curious readers may have, while also introducing new avenues to explore. What were once creatures of folklore reimagined as elements of horror become, in this book, the protagonists of an almost fantastical story. This put me off a bit, as I’m not sure how far the story of the watchers could go, despite the interesting folklore behind it. The author twists it to fit into his world, which can be fine, but in the end, I found that the watchers remained quite one-dimensional.

As for the characters, Mina continues to be a character that I don’t find interesting. She felt unlikable in the first book, and in this one, she doesn’t manage to improve my impression of her. Sean is also presented from the beginning as quite an unpleasant person, although it is believable that it is his ambition blinding him. However, towards the end, each character seems on the verge of becoming a caricature. Their motives also end up being difficult to justify, ignoring the most obvious warnings and reducing the suspense to near zero.

To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the first book much, so this one probably wasn’t aimed at me. I think the book will delight those who liked the first one and it expands the universe, so fans will likely enjoy it deeply.

Moreover, its admirers will be pleased because it seems the author leaves the door open for another sequel, which I don’t think I’ll read, but it will surely continue to expand the world A.M. Shine has created using Irish folklore.

A brilliant gothic slow burn of a sequel to The Watchers, I’m still reeling from the ending!

I think this book does what every good sequel should do. We got new characters, fleshed out some character from the first novel more, the world within the book expanded and we got a clearer lore. It even set up the next book really well (there had better be a next book!)

I only give it a 4 instead of a 5 because it really took longer than I felt it needed to, to really get going. I loved setting up the scene and letting us know what Mina is doing to keep her self safe but I could have done with something more there. Just a slight pacing issue, probably a 4.5 rather than a 4 😅

But overall, I loved this and I’m so happy I got to read it already!