Really liked the vibes on this one as it went on, getting darker and darker. 4 stars, would recommend, tysm for the arc.

Addie Velde is thrilled when she’s invited to an orientation program at University of the Arches, her mother’s prestigious alma mater. However, her excitement quickly turns to dread as she uncovers a sinister secret lurking within the university—one that endangers not only her life but also the lives of her classmates.

While I don’t typically read much dark academia, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the mystery and the horror elements throughout the book. Parts of the story were really creepy!

I thought this was a very atmospheric and engrossing read. I recommend this book to fans of dark academia and ya horror. I love the author’s writing and I can’t wait to dive into her other books.


3.5⭐️


Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this book via NetGalley for review.

I liked this . I thought that this book was atmospheric, and the campus was interesting--the quirks of the campus and the other students were pretty well integrated into the story. I also thought that the characterization of our main characters was interesting but needed a bit more depth to make me really feel them, but I enjoyed watching them interact with their surroundings. The one major thing that I didn't enjoy about this story was the ending. I was hoping to see the ending come to a slow build and climax, but it ultimately felt very rushed. I also felt a little confused at the very end about a few things--the Buried Ones, some of the side characters, how this setting fit into the world at large, etc. Also, comparing this book to Ninth House, an adult dark academia book, was really a detriment to it--this book is firmly YA, which is okay but don't set the expectation that it's going to be something else.

Overall, this was not horrible. I do wish that the book had more depth to it because it could feel a little boring at moments, but I would definitely read more from this author. This was such an interesting idea, so I'm interested to see what this author puts out next.

I want to start off by saying I think this book has a really interesting premise, but unfortunately I don't think it was well-executed. It felt more like a first draft than a completed book. This book was very slow paced. I feel like a ton of the beginning chapters could've been condensed because nothing important happened. There was a lot of telling, but not much showing. This is especially disappointing to me because part of the appeal of dark academia is the lush descriptions of setting. I don't feel like I had any clue what this college looked like at all. Similarly, there wasn't much characterization. Addie didn't seem to have much personality and all of the side characters felt flat, too. I kept hoping this book would pick up for me, but it never did.

This was a quick read that I couldn’t seem to put down. This book follows Adria as she follows her mother’s foot steps by attending her mother’s Alma mater. This book takes place during a bit of an orientation week where Adria gets an introduction to the campus, its oddities, and other legacy students. There is a strange connection between them all as they all attempt to put together all the weird things happening since arriving to campus. The first half of the book had a lot of potential. However, the ending felt rushed and still didn’t get a true understanding of what the purpose of the Buried Ones. I wish we would have gotten to have more insight into the side characters as they had a lot of potential but felt superficial. However, this didn’t take away from the horror aspect of this book and the pacing was excellent.

The University of the Arches has been calling Addie Velde's name ever since she can remember, she feels as if it's been ‘circling her all her life, breathing down her neck.’ Like many college freshmen, she plans to attend her parent's alma mater; in this case, her alum mother Vera Velde seems to still have a weird connection to the Arches, which has added to her anxiety about going, but also inexplicably draws her in deeper to explore its mysteries.
Addie attends a freshman orientation there and connects with other ‘legacy’ students whose parents also attended the college—one that’s laden with myths and secrets—including handsome twins Alister and Nick. The legacy cohort discovers their connection may be rooted to a secret society that worships ‘at the altar of the Buried Ones,’ who dwell in tunnels below the college. But what do these ‘gods’ want? Will Addie finally find out why her mom has hidden so much about her time at the Arches?

This is a tale steeped in folk horror, dark academia, and secret societies. Katya de Becerra has become a staple in YA horror, and as with all her other novels, They Watch From Below weaves in her vast knowledge of folklore, myths, and legends, along with the study of anthropology. Her characters are saddled with coming-of-age complexities such as family issues, relationships with friends, burgeoning romances, and finding their place in the world, all amid some very creepy and sinister circumstances. This all adds a layered approach to her storytelling, reminding the reader that there’s a thin line between horror and reality, the darkness feels omnipresent. The main character Addie has always felt like an outsider, as though something made her feel different. Even though we realize it’s something truly dark and unexplained, the feeling is relatable.

Like her previous novel When Ghosts Call Us Home Katya uses the device of video footage to tell some of the story; the sections are glimpses into Addie’s past, keeping pace with the short chapters that make up most of the novel. This is a fast read, and readers may want even more of Addie and the Arches when they reach the conclusion (as I did). Katya’s trademark writing style is rich in visceral and descriptive language; it has a way of enveloping you when you read her books and drawing you into the mystery. They Watch From Below is another strange, dark, and beautiful jaunt into Katya’s literary world; a perfect Halloween treat.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start off by giving my rating: 2/5 stars. This book was compared to Ninth House (which I absolutely loved) and another adult fantasy, so going into this I thought it would be written more like an adult book rather than YA, or at least like new adult. But it is very YA.

I really wanted to like this book, but it let me down. The premise of underground hungry gods at a college campus sounded so intriguing. But it felt so lackluster. Nothing was explained or felt climactic. It was slow and boring basically the whole book. None of the characters felt dynamic or interesting and their relationships were very out of place to me.

This was just overall a boring book with a horribly executed premise. I feel like it could've been so much more if the author actually thought about backstory and character development. And even imagery. Nothing was remotely scary besides maybe two small scenes.

Also, the word "vibe" was used on what felt like every page which was pretty annoying. There are definitely other words you could use.

Maybe if you're a YA who just wants an atmospheric slightly creepy story, this could be for you. But I wouldn't recommend it to the general population.

Book Review: They Watch From Below by Katya de Becerra

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Okay, so I just finished They Watch From Below, and wow, what a ride! First off, can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover? Seriously, it’s stunning! It immediately drew me in and set the tone for what was to come.

So, here’s the scoop—Addie Velde is our main character, and she’s kind of a vibe. She gets an invite to an early orientation at the University of the Arches, which is this gorgeous beachside campus that her mom adored. Naturally, Addie is super excited to make her own mark there. But things take a dark turn as soon as she steps foot on campus. Her dorm, ominously dubbed The Crypt, gives off major creepy vibes, and it’s not long before she realizes that there are some heavy secrets lurking in the shadows.

As she digs deeper, Addie stumbles upon a chilling campus mystery linked to these ominous figures called “The Buried Ones.” Legends say they’re harbingers of death, and with a missing professor and an occult society thrown into the mix, Addie finds herself in way over her head. It’s thrilling to see her unearth these secrets, especially since her own family might have ties to this eerie history.

I devoured this book in just two days because it was so engaging! The writing is sharp and fast-paced, making it impossible to put down. The setting is brilliantly crafted, with the blend of eerie symbols, old religious elements, and the land's haunting backstory adding an extra layer of creepiness.

The characters? Let’s just say they’re not one-dimensional—each one brings something unique to the table, making you genuinely invested in their journeys. And while the ending provides some closure (thank goodness!), there are still enough questions left dangling that keep you thinking about Addie’s fate long after you’ve turned the last page.

Overall, They Watch From Below is a perfect mix of mystery and horror that kept me on my toes. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to check out more from Katya de Becerra. If you’re into stories that weave together suspense and a touch of the supernatural, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

If you're looking to get into more paranormal or horror and want to start somewhere gentler than Pet Sematary I highly recommend this book. I'm a "the scarier the better" person myself so this was more of a comfy horror for me, but I was not left wanting. Dark academia vibes, secret society, ancient gods and exceptional pacing. I will definitely be reading again.

For NetGalley purposes I’m rating this book 3 stars but as far as I personally enjoyed it, I would probably rate it 2 stars.

My main issue was the pacing in this book and also the whole ending sequence felt kind of rushed and also a bit lackluster. Also, none of the characters felt very well fleshed out, and neither did the monsters.

I feel like this story definitely had potential and there were interesting concepts in it, but I just think the execution of those concepts wasn’t very good.

Also I’m a bit confused because I’ve seen it marked as both YA and adult and I’m pretty sure, after reading it, it’s actually YA, but on Goodreads I think it’s marketed as adult fiction. Which is a bit confusing to me.

imo this book should not have been comped to Ninth House, btw. It’s just…not that. Like, at all.

I also counted 39 uses of the word “vibration”/“vibrations” which is WAY too often to use that word in a book, imo. Every time I saw that word it took me out of the story, because of how frequently it kept coming up.

I think it could be a much better, more cohesive story with another round of editing to tighten up some issues and also cut out some of the redundancy in words/sentences. Like, I just felt like so much of what I was reading was just the same things being explained over and over again. It kind of felt like an attempt to pad the story out more—which imo wouldn’t be necessary anyhow, because instead of just repeating the same information that we as readers have already learned in a previous section of the story, the author could’ve spent more time developing the characters’ relationships with one another and in general make the characters feel more real:

I struggled here, but there were bright spots within the din...

When Addie goes off to the elite school that her mother attended, she is filled with excited trepidation. Her mother refuses to talk about her time at the school, but Addie manages to get her hands on notebooks filled with her mom's old notes.

Upon arrival, it is clear that something bad happened her while her mother attended, but it is all so shrouded in mystery. She is recognized by alum as clearly being the daughter of the well loved Vera, but allude to the tragedy that happened surrounding her and her group of friends. Addie needs to find out the truth, not realizing how close to becoming wrapped up she already is.

There are some really wild, visceral things that happen, and the characters are all unique to themselves, but I had a really hard time connecting with them or the story most of the time. I felt like all of the pieces were there, all of them bits and pieces that I usually enjoy, but the disconnect was real and I just didn't FEEL anything about it.

Overall, I will absolutely read this author again, considering I absolutely LOVED their previous YA horror. This just wasn't for me.

This is my second book by this author and I vastly enjoyed the other book more than this one. It definitely had great dark academia vibes like Ninth House but I was expecting a little more spookiness like When Ghosts Call Us Home. The writing was still fantastic in this book and it really flew by for me mainly thanks to the short chapters, which I always appreciate. This may sound harsh but it felt like the subject matter was a little dull compared to the other book I read. While some of the descriptions and scenes did freak and creep me out I did find myself bored a couple of times while reading. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a book about the Gods or what but it didn't hold my attention the way I wanted it to. It also felt like the characters were just plopped into my lap and I knew nothing about them. The setting was fantastic though!

Many thanks to Page Street Publishing YA for the gifted copy for my honest review!

3.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Katya de Becarra's "They Watch From Below" was a dark academia following FMC Addie as she returns as a legacy to the college her mother attended. Growing up, Addie's mother Vera didn't speak much of her time in college....but there were moments that Vera would fade away looking off into the distance that made Addie wonder what impact her past had on her. Once Addie arrives at Arches University the secrets start to come out.

I liked the writing and pace of this book, however I found the plot to be somewhat predictable and I was expecting the book to be a bit creepier. I also thought there would at least be a lil romance but there was none. This book was YA and I think it does read a bit younger than some of the other YA novels, making it a great read for a younger audience. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, although my favorite was Addie's roommate Olga.

I would suggest this book to younger readers and those who are looking for a quick dark YA academia.

Creepy as hell, fast-paced, and dripping with stylish, twisty intrigue---just how I like my dark academia. Throw in rumours of old gods, secret societies, and generational weirdness, and you've got yourself a winner.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It starts with Addie getting ready to go an early orientation program at University Of The Arches. Addie wants to see if this is the way she can understand her mother better and get more information about the school as her mom won’t talk about it. Even when Addie steps into the school weird things starts to happen and there’s a huge dark mystery that unravels. For me it was three stars because the evil entities were needed to be present more often in the story. It seems like everything tided up in the end too fast and your still left wondering a lot of things.

Book:
THEY WATCH FROM BELOW by Katya de Becerra
Thank you PageStreetPub and Netgalley for the EARC (Oct 29)

Review:
2.5⭐
THEY WATCH FROM BELOW is a horror novel that follows Addie, who receives an invitation to an early orientation-eqsue thing for college. All her life, she's been seeing shadows, which she learned to control. At the school, however the shadows are hard to control, the vibrations are greater, and there's evil lurking that draws the legacies in.
I struggled with this one. The beginning was my favorite part...like the first half vs the second. There was mystery and horror, but that mystery and horror fell flat in the second half. I don't know how to describe it. It started to feel boring. I mean, I was intrigued by the premise, and I loved how fast paced it was, but I felt like there wasn't enough backstory and the wrap up of the book didn't seem complete. It was almost like the bulk of the book(the part that should have been horrifying and interesting) was squeezed in just a few chapter---where it would have been better if the author drew it out more and delved into more things from the beginning and middle, offering more of a backstory and tying things up in a way that didn't feel rushed.

I read this book over Halloween, and it was the ideal spooky read for the season. The story is deeply unsettling, with a mysterious, atmospheric setting that immediately drew me in. The University of the Arches, with its dark history and eerie legends of the 'Buried Ones,' made for a gripping backdrop that kept me on edge throughout. Addie’s investigation into the campus’s secrets, combined with elements of the occult and an old unsolved mystery, made for a thrilling, page-turning experience. Fans of The Secret History and Ninth House will love the complex, darkly magical world this book creates. Highly recommend it for those looking for a haunting and engrossing read!

"But the idea of monsters sleeping underground sets off the alarm bells in my subconscious, bringing a visceral feeling of discomfort."

The dark mystery in this story is compelling. The school, its secrets, its legacy. I couldn't read fast enough. The setting and the little oddities all over were riveting and brought the spook of this story up about ten notches. The characters were equally complex and intriguing. I loved this and will be looking for more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“They Watch From Below” by Katya de Becerra is a mix of dark academia and mystery, set against the haunting backdrop of Arches University. The book dives deep into eerie atmospheres and long-buried secrets, making it a perfect read for fans of moody and mysterious stories. If you’re a fan of dark academia, then you will absolutely love this book, especially if you’re looking for a more mature YA book as the main character is entering college.

The book follows Adria "Addie" as she attends Arches University, her mother's mysterious alma mater. Her mother, Vera, has always been strangely evasive about her time at Arches, a detail that only fuels Addie's determination to uncover the truth about her family's past. The unsettling vibes at the university immediately draw readers in, with its decaying buildings, strange symbols etched on the walls, and a creepy well that seems to hold untold mysteries.

The setting of Arches University is one of the book's greatest strengths. De Becerra paints an atmosphere so vividly eerie that it almost becomes a character itself. The dilapidated buildings and the secrets hidden within their walls create an unsettling aura that pulls you into the story. The use of old religion and the mysterious history of the land adds layers of darkness that make the setting feel both captivating and menacing.

The story is told through a mixed-media format, including video clips that help set a suspenseful and creepy tone. This format adds to the sense of unease and keeps you on edge, always wondering what lurks in the shadows as these transcripts from videos were included between every chapter. I absolutely loved these video clips, especially the ones centering around Addie as a child as they felt so creepy and haunting. The pacing is generally well-handled, with the videos serving as a nice way to slow down and center the plot when needed.

Character development is another highlight of the novel. Addie is a well-rounded protagonist whose journey to understand her mother's past and her own connection to Arches feels genuine and relatable. Her friendships with the non-legacy students, Olga and Daphne, provide some of the book's most heartfelt moments, though they could have been explored a bit more deeply. The legacy students' bond is intriguing, but some of their relationships, like with Nick, could have been more developed to match the intensity of the book's climax.

It takes a while for the story to truly kick into gear, and when it does, the climax feels somewhat rushed. The horror elements, while effective, could have benefited from a few more encounters and lead-ups before the final showdown to make the ending more satisfying. I wanted a bit more closure from the ending though the ambiguous nature of the ending adds to the overall eerie vibe of the story and leaves the door open for a potential sequel.

Overall, “They Watch From Below” is a chilling YA paranormal horror that focuses on dark academia while adding in elements of old religion and mystery. It’s a great fit for readers looking for an atmospheric and haunting story that keeps them guessing until the very end.

As far as my own personal enjoyment, I’m giving this book 2 stars…it was sold as “perfect for fans of NINTH HOUSE and THE SECRET HISTORY” and and liked both of those books and it shouldn’t be mentioned near either of their names, especially the sacred THE SECRET HISTORY. This is YA for YA. A YA, however, would likely enjoy this book, so if I were able to look back in history, way, way back, to a time when I was a YA, I would likely have given it 3 stars (I was never a fantasy fan) so that averages out to 2.5 stars (see how, as a YA, I was so excellent at the math?), so I’ll give it 3 stars as a rating. Grudgingly. I don’t feel great about it, but it’s really because I don’t like fantasy. I need the reading world to move on from this love affair with fantasy quickquickquick.

So, Addie Velde gets an invitation to attend the early orientation program at the University of the Arches and she is thrilled. It’s right on the beach and her mother went to school there. However, when she arrives she’s assigned to Mokosh, a different dorm than most of the other freshman. It’s nicknamed “the Crypt” and she believes there are secrets to discover.

She learns about an old campus mystery that both students and faculty seem to be afraid of; the Buried Ones that are believed to forecast death. Then there is the matter of a disappearing professor, an occult society and the possibility her own family has been involved with all of this….there’s a lot more to college than midterms and quarterbounce, Addie!

Given that this book was compared to adult books, I didn’t realize that this was YA when I started and read the trigger warnings and the beginning. One was smoking (observed). So, I guess it’s triggering if one of the book’s characters just sees someone smoking.

Not ten minutes ago I finished a book where a guy started watching snuff films to deal with the death of his girlfriend. I thought it might also be YA.

Smoking (observed).

It’s a strange world.

Oh, and the author really, really, REALLY likes the word “esoteric.” She uses it a lot. Sometimes multiple times in the same paragraph.

I really want to give this 2 esoteric stars. (Observed).