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).

This book is seriously creepy! The first half had me checking every shadow, and the second had me terrified to look too close because some things can't be unseen. Katya's writing just keeps getting better, which is great news for my nightmares, but not so much for daytime me.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. They Watch From Below was the ultimate dark academia horror read, PERFECT for spooky season. It was dark, atmospheric, and I'm a sucker for a secret society. Ms. de Becerra does an amazing job weaving together creepy tones & constant twists that the reader can't predict. I read it all in one sitting, I couldn't tear my eyes away! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

2.5 stars

Thank you Page Street YA and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

The premise of this one was really interesting and the atmosphere was beautifully created. The whole book had an eerie not-quite-right feel to it and the short choppy chapters added to that.

It was also a relatively quick, easy read which is what I was looking for when I picked this one up.

However it just kinda missed the mark for me. It took until well over 50% for the plot to really feel like it was moving somewhere and by the end I was left feeling like there was so much left under explored, so many things we only saw a small amount of that I would have loved to have seen explored further. Things like the Crying Rock and other on-campus landmarks.

There was also the stuff with Addie’s roommate Olga and her girlfriend that felt very under-used and kind of redundant in the end. Too many characters do practically nothing in this book.

I still enjoyed reading this book, but I just wanted so much more from it.

When 17-year-old Addie is given an early orientation to the University of Arches, she accepts. It’s the same university her mother attended, and Addie knows something happened to her amongst its Gothic walls, an event that still haunts her mother and makes her see things that aren’t there. Addie sees them too, the strange shadows. She wants to find out more, and at the university, she’s put in a legacy group of kids whose parents also act like her mother does. Together, they go searching for the truth, and discover something ancient and horrifying.

Well written by talented author, Katya de Becerra, the chapters are interspersed with video recordings of the creepy encounters Addie had growing up, which adds thrilling layers to this quick and clever book, making it hard to put down. Creepy shadow figures, mysterious disappearances, a spooky college campus setting, myths, and great characters and relationships round the book out, which I highly recommend for fans of horror.

They Watch From Below is such an interesting read. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

I just finished reading this book a couple days ago and what a ride. The book centers around Adria (just stepping into her college years) who is going to the University of Arches, where her grandma and mom attended (so lots of family ties).
From the beginning Adria meets other students, and we are introduced to a strange connection between them all. However, this university holds lots of deep dark secrets…
The creepy atmosphere kicks in from the first chapter, and it’s genuinely spine-tingling! I was really impressed with how the first half unfolds, especially with the inclusion of old videos that add so much depth to the story.
The only true downside to this book would have been the ending, while it left room for a possible squeal, it left me feeling like it was rushed. However, I highly recommend this book!

This novel features one of the creepiest settings in Dark Academia. Addie has always seen shadows and her emotionally distant mother kept tuning out at random times. When she gets admitted to University of the Arches, her Mom’s alma mater, she suddenly finds out why. The campus is described in such a spooky way, that it was easy to understand the fascination that both attracts and repels Addie and other legacy students. The dilapidated buildings, the strange symbols carved on all the walls and what’s hidden underneath. The characters are well rounded and I was invested in Addie. The adults are not as well portrayed as the teenagers, which was OK because they’re not the protagonists. My problem was with the pacing, it takes a while for Addie to get to Arches, and even longer to get to the meat of the story. Then, the book is over. I wanted more of the delicious creepiness. That said, I was engrossed and turning the pages. I didn’t notice these issues until after I finished reading, which means that I enjoyed it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Page Street YA.

i received an e-ARC for an honest review

firstly, in case the author sees this, the last few chapters gave the wrong name for ellie 9/10 times, saying ‘eli’ instead.
this was a tough read. the main character was hard to like and i found myself cringing more often than not. the weird romance was very out of place and was just awkward. so many things didn’t tie up, which im assuming is for a second book of some sort? or, well, hoping so.
anyways. the main character being compared to wednesday addams what, 5 times? hard to read. the relationships were all confusing and the ending was just weird. i understand it, but so many things were introduced during it then never finished.

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

First of all, I loved the gothic and spooky vibes of the book. The atmosphere is set up so well and the setting and plot was so eerie. I was hooked at the start. Sadly, I think there was a lot to be desired plot wise as it was fairly boring until the 60% mark. The pacing was just off. However, like I said, I loved to vibes and I think this will make a great addition to a lot of people's fall and dark academia reading lists! I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy this book, it just was not for me.

I had chills from the Author's Note.

Where do I even start?

I really enjoyed how Addie's point of view was written, I could really feel the push and pull of the conflict she was facing (sorry trying to word this without spoiling is hard, but I think you'll get what I mean when you read it.)

I like how there is romance slightly sprinkled in. It's there but it doesn't distract from the main story.

It felt like House of Anubis with the atmosphere of A Study in Drowning, and a special third mystery thing that makes it all its own.

This book is such a good fall read!

Well, the Queen of Nightmares has done it again!!!!

They Watch From Below will be released just in time for Halloween, and it will be the perfect "read with the lights on" creepy read you will be looking for.

Dark, disturbing, and sinister... this is a story of secrets, hidden evil, family legacies, and bravery.

From the moment you meet Addie, you can feel the mystery surrounding her, with her strangely distant mother and the dark shadows she has seen all her life.

Things only get more chilling when she arrives at The Arches for early orientation.

With the shadows closing in on her more than ever, the mystery surrounding missing staff and students, and arcane symbols everywhere, Addie will need more than the protection of the evil eye necklace her Grandmother gave her to survive the ancient evil that dwells below the University

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Whew! This one was creepy and fun. it's definitely a scary YA horror book in a dark academia setting - not dark academia in the traditional sense, necessarily, but definitely horror. And there were some real jump scares. I enjoyed the folk horror aspect as well - it brought together a lot of scary elements. If you enjoy YA Horror and dark academia settings, I highly recommend this book.

This was a great YA paranormal horror. I think it is great for kids in the 12-15 age range and it isn’t too grotesque or vivid to where it would be sensitive for them. It is however moody and atmospheric, and at times rather creepy. This makes for a great reed. The video scenes set an ominous tone throughout the book that makes you wonder what is going on, there is always something lurking in the shadows or hiding behind a wall, and I was always trying to figure out what it was. The mixed media format was perfect to set the tone of this eerie and creepy vibe for the entire book.

I enjoyed the story of Adria and her going off to college. She’s not really sure what she wants to do and is thrown for a loop when she doesn’t get the standard dorm. Then strange things start happening. Thankfully she meets the other legacies, and they have each other to spitball ideas off of and just connect.

The pacing was nice. It moved along nicely, and then we were slowed down intentionally with a new video clip, which was a nice play to center the read in the plot. I enjoyed this a lot.

This is one I would love to see a sequel (it was only their freshman year!) and I think that an opening was left for one.

If you are looking for a moody and eerie YA horror then check this one out.

Addie Velde begins a new chapter at the University of the Arches. From the outset, Addie's excitement at attending the prestigious, beachside university is overshadowed by the oppressive atmosphere. Even with its idyllic facade, the campus hides a much more sinister underbelly. The university's mysterious past, mainly the lore surrounding the shadowy figures believed to be harbingers of death.

Addie's character is increasingly drawn into the dangerous secrets of the campus and the ties to her mother. As Addie and her friends investigate the unexplained disappearance of a professor, whispers of an occult society implicate not only the school but all their families. This connection raises the stakes for Addie.

The story blends dark, gothic academia with ghostly folklore. The atmosphere creates a looming presence that is genuinely creepy and where the lines between reality and how the past can cast a long shadow on the present. It is a perfect spooky thriller that leaves readers with feelings of unsettled supernatural haunts.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Page Street Publishing.