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.

The author created a strong, creepy atmosphere right away. From page one I was hooked on finding out more about Vera’s mysterious collegiate past and the shadows of Addie’s youth. The college setting was interesting and added a nice creepy dimension to the story. I do wish we had gotten to know the characters better - including Addie - to give them some more depth. The short chapters helped keep the tension up well.

What a phenomenal horror read! This book is an absolute stunner. The plot follows Adria, a young girl about to start college, having been accepted at the University of Arches, where her mom and grandma were also students.

On arrival, Adria gets acquainted with the other legacies, fellow students whose parents were alums as well. They all feel a unique pull towards the Arches, a calling or a premonition. Beneath the idyllic University, horrors unimaginable reside, waiting for them.

Right from the very first chapter, this book sets the tone. This is no joke, the book is seriously creepy, eerie and scary! The initial half of the book is absolutely fantastic. I loved the use of old videos to explore the lore and establish worldbuilding. The symbology is brilliant!

I loved the characters as well. The twins gave me Damon and Stefan vibes more than once, amazing use of pronouns for the Queer character.

The ending felt a little rushed, but set a promising scope for a sequel! Also a little more depth to the friendship amongst the legacies would have probably been better. I absolutely recommend this book for the lovers of everything creepy and eerie!

Dark academia is usually not my jam but Becerra paints a vividly eerie picture that made even this outcast want to go to this college..

…until you start to learn more of what’s actually going on there. Piecing together the puzzle kept this novel moving and had me picking it up to read every chance I got.

I loved the old religion aspects of this story and the unknown history of the land made it that much more sinister. The ending is not ambiguous, there is some closure, but there is enough to leave you questioning what exactly will happen to the FMC in the end and I thought that was interesting. This is a perfect one to read during spooky season!

I was hooked from the beginning of this novel by its premise. Addie's mother Vera went to the fictional Arches University but has been cagey and weird about her time there for Addie's entire life. We see some early backstory moments of Vera spacing out entirely whenever Arches is brought up. Obviously, this just makes Addie want to attend the Arches too, not just for its stellar academic record but to finally understand her mother and uncover some answers. The first half of the book was amazing, perfectly leading the reader into the spooky atmosphere of the university and introducing us to the small group of legacy students. Any type of dark academia setting is always intriguing and the Arches was no exception with its creepy well and endless mysteries.

Unfortunately, I don't think They Watch From Below completely stuck the landing for me. I liked Addie and her friendship with non-legacy students Olga and Daphne more than I cared for her relationships with the other legacy students, except maybe Nick. I would have enjoyed some more time spent building those relationships too, especially since they risk their lives for each other at the end - that level of devotion seemed unearned. Also, I expected some more encounters with the horror entities and lead-ups before the final confrontation. It seemed to me that everything was tidied up a little too fast at the end.

Some specific gripes - how long were those wires? What even was the point of Olga/Daphne in the grand scheme of the book? Why was Addie put in a different dorm than the other legacies in the first place?

So this was hard to rate because I liked the main character, loved the premise and vibes, and think it could have been something great but the main climax was just too rushed and unsatisfying.

This book drew me in immediately with that stunning cover and amazing sounding summary, unfortunately it fell a little flat. I still enjoyed it but I struggled to get into it at the beginning.

This drew me in so immediately at the beginning - a girl returns to the university where her mysterious mother studied. All I needed to hear was university tbh LOL.

Anyway, she gets there and weird things are happening, there's a small tight-knit group of friends and I was TERRIFIED. Things went ever so slightly downhill from there, I was less intrigued once the real mystery was semi-revealed, but I think it will still stick with me a little bit!