I went back and forth on how to rate this debut novel, but ultimately decided to go with the full 4 stars.

I’ll start with the bad and say that the writing can get a bit too flowery at times- talking purple prose here. That’s not to say that Shine doesn’t write well; he certainly knows his way around a sentence. The writing could just be trimmed down some so as not to detract from the story… because the story is fantastic.

Some bloated writing aside, I loved this. I would go as far to describe this story as riveting. I finished it in just a few sittings as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. This is one of those stories where every bit of information had me more invested and engaged with each revelation. From beginning to end, I was hooked. There were more than a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I enjoyed every single one of them. The setting is spooky, the pacing is spot-on, and the ‘monsters’ are straight-up cool.

I don’t know that I have read anything quite like this before and I would certainly read more from the author in the future. The Kindle version is $2 on US Amazon store at the moment (10/31/21) so I would snap it up if I were you! It’s a perfect spooky read just in time for Halloween.

I recieved an e-arc of this from netgalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a stunning horror debut from an Irish author! This book was atmospheric, spooky and down right mind boggling at times. I have a fear of strangers and forests now 😭🤣

This book was devoured in one sitting and I had to put the book down and be like, I BETTER NOT BE READING THAT WHEN I START YOU AGAIN! A.M. Shine did a fantastic job of immersersing me into our characters and plot, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The ending was open ended which annoyed me because I wanted MORE 🤣🤣

Perfect horror with Irish Mythology that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. This book is insane. Think of a mash up between bird box, lost, and a quiet place. Strangers are thrown together in such a unforgiving circumstance and are struggling to survive together. This unfortunately does bring out the worst sometimes in all or us. It is heartbreaking to read at times and I will be honest it started losing me towards the end but definitely grabbed me right back up. I can totally see this as a movie or tv series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you're looking for a creepy ass book for spooky season then The Watchers is one for you. Anyone who wanders into the forest finds themselves lost and as night falls they are surrounded by unearthly screams before they are killed. Mina ends up in the forest, lost and alone. She suddenly spots a woman urging her to get into a bunker with her before dusk, before The Watchers come! At night these creatures emerge from somewhere in the forest to watch their captives through a wall of glass, but why? Trapped in the bunker with strangers, Mina is desperate for answers and a way to escape.
I had no clue going in what or who The Watchers were. Evil humans? Aliens? Paranormal beings? But I sure as hell wanted to find out. I really like how the book started with some action before then starting the story of the protagonist, Mina. Obviously the characters are stuck inside one room and so the world they are in is very small with action at a minimum which would normally not be my thing but I loved the intense claustrophobic feel and the creepy vibes throughout. The tensions between the characters and their various personalities were written just right. I ended up rooting for each of the characters to survive and escape but for different reasons. The twist towards the end was fantastic and as usual I didn't even slightly guess what was gonna happen ha ha ha....
I looked forward to getting stuck back into this book and it was on my mind when I wasn't reading. Both signs of a great book so I really do recommend this one for horror fans.

I think this was too drawn out with long walls of text and no dialogue - something I struggle with. I like a health balance of both.

It was certainly creepy at times, but I would say I felt the ending to be anticlimactic for what had been building up.

It was well written over all with good prose, perhaps a bit too in-depth for my liking at times - but I think others would enjoy something like that depending on your preferences. I did enjoy the setting a lot.

‘All paths lead somewhere’

Mina had planned on making some easy money when she agreed to deliver a parrot to a collector in Connemara. Mina’s car breaking down in the middle of nowhere was not part of the plan. Neither was winding up in a “prison of concrete and glass” in the depths of the forest.

There Mina meets Madeline, Daniel and Ciara. But they’re not alone. They’re being watched.

“Nothing should have to live in captivity”

At various times, A Quiet Place and Peadar Ó Guilín’s The Call popped into my mind as I was reading but I don’t think it’s fair to make comparisons as this story is its own monster. Or should I say, it contains its own monsters.

The watchers were an ever present threat, made all the more creepy by the fact that I got to know them by their shrieks. The fear of the unknown is almost always scarier than fears you can identify. Not knowing what the watchers were or even what they looked like for much of the story added to my unease.

I wondered if this story would have packed more of a punch if it was a novella, but it was a quick, compulsive read. I had some trouble for the longest time trying to figure out why it was so difficult for the characters to escape the forest when they were able to make their way into its depths in the first place, but ultimately decided that I didn’t care. I was having too much fun flip flopping between hoping for a bloodbath and wanting everyone to survive. I’m keen to see what horrors the author will introduce me to next.

“Stay in the light”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Aries, an imprint of Head of Zeus, for the opportunity to read this book.

Firstly, if you don’t like books that just throw you into the story with little or no backstory, maybe this isn’t for you. I felt like this was a book that was missing some explanations.

It’s also a book of 2 halves. The first half is quite a slow burn, albeit you a thrown in. It’s a tense start to what is a strange horror-esque novel. It wasn’t scary or creepy it was just a wee bit odd.

I didn’t feel very engaged with the characters and they’re not particularly likeable. I felt there wasn’t much depth to them although the story was interesting and I did read to the end.

This is probably one for a movie adaption to bring out the creep and eerie-ness that isn’t as well conveyed in a novel.

This could have been excellent.......if it was cut by at least 125 pages.

Mina's car breaks down in the forest. Desperate for help, she walks until she finds three people in a bunker. But these people aren't there to help....oh no, these people are pets.

During the day, they are free to wander and look for an escape, but in the dark, they must hide from The Watchers. The Watchers - the horrible, stuff of nightmares.

It has the feel of a fairy tale - not the pleasant, wrapped in a bow kind, but the bloody, Grimm version. It's perfect for the Halloween season.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A concrete building in the middle of an uncharted forest is the unlikely home to a group of strangers... strangers who every night are watched by creatures unknown to them. They must live by their captors' rules, or suffer the consequences.

A horror set in Ireland? Inspired by Irish folklore? This was an immediate yes for me, and it thoroughly exceeded my expectations.
Think Maze Runner and Bird Box, but creepier. This is a real get-in-your-head and stay with you long after you finish kind of story. A really interesting concept and beautifully executed. This book honestly felt cinematic to read, I was immersed in the unknowns of the Irish countryside-amplified and terrifying.
The one aspect I might have changed is the rotating points' of view. I feel as though it would have benefited from being either entirely in Mina's POV or a more omniscient 3rd person narration if the aim was to give insight into other characters' state of minds. This, however, largely didn't take from my reading experience as the overall narrative was so immersive, except for the odd instance where it wasn't entirely clear whose POV it was meant to be.

Nonetheless, this was an entirely unique take on Irish folklore to create a chilling horror story, with a perfect ending to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

Unlike a lot of the reviews,I didnt find this book very creepy.
I did however find it very readable,and flew through it wanting to know what exactly was going on.
I enjoyed the writing,and there were a few things that made me go "oooh". There were a few times the tension was wound so tight.

The mix of characters and their interaction with each other was my favourite bits.

Enjoyable,and definitely one to recommend for a great read.

A claustrophobic horror adventure set in the remote unknown forests of Galway, where mysterious creatures keep humans as pets for observation, from debut Irish author A.M. Shine.

We are first introduced to our protagonist – Mina. She has been walking down a self-destructive path of drinking, smoking and ignoring her sisters’ calls. When her friend Peter offers her a job of delivering a parrot to a mate for money, she jumps at the chance to wander somewhere new. Little does she know she will soon live to regret her decision …

Mina drives through an eerie, ancient woodland when suddenly her car breaks down. She soon finds herself outside a concrete monstrosity of a building, being screamed at by strangers ushering her into ‘the coop’. Mina soon learns that mysterious, deadly creatures rule the woods called ‘The Watchers’ and if anyone is caught outside after dark, they are ripped to shreds.

Inside the coop are Ciara, whose husband is missing, Danny, a young lad and Madeline, the mother of the group. Inside the coop there is a light that comes on at night when the watchers begin the nightly prowl from their burrows. As long as they stay in the light – everything will be okay. But the glass separating them from the watchers won’t hold forever …

What are the watchers? Why do they watch? Who built the cement building and why? All of these mysteries are answered as the novel progresses. A.M. Shine masterfully builds up suspense and tension through the novels’ narrative arc. We are left with more questions with every chapter and consumed with a need to discover the answers. Even up until the last page we are kept in a perpetual state of suspense with twists and turns at every step. My favourite part was the injection of Irish folklore and the hints of mythology, woven into the concept behind the watchers and their ancient purpose. It is deliciously aligned with the true fairy tales of old with sinister endings and cruel plot twists. This book would fit nicely into the horror genre with its gore, level of fright and fear factor. For lovers of folklore, thrillers and page-turners this debut fits the bill.

An e-arc was gifted via NetGalley for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book and although so parts felt quite dragged out and maybe not necessary this story genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. The ending 😳

So, I loved the idea behind the novel, the opening, and the ending. I wasn't a fan of the overwritten middle, though. It could have been so much stronger if not for the writing leaning toward purplish and purplish writing never seats well with me.
That said, it's not that long so I can forgive overwritten parts.

As I’m writing this review my youngest nephew is out camping in the woods, and all I can say is I’m glad he hasn’t read A.M. Shine’s The Watchers. For Mina it was supposed to be a quick trip, no more than a day’s journey. The job seemed simple enough, her friend had sold a bird and she was going to deliver it. But when her car breaks down in the woods, things go from bad to worse as she realizes she’s not alone, something is in the woods. And when she stumbles upon a house and a woman appears, beckoning to her, insisting she needs to run, to hurry, she knows that if she’s still outside when darkness falls she likely won’t survive the night.
The Watchers is a fairly short book than can easily be finished in a few sittings. Featuring a small cast of memorable characters, it has a rather old school/classic horror feel to it. An intriguing and creepy story with a number of twists and turns (a few I saw coming) that will still have you thinking even after you’ve finished.
I’d like to thank Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Watchers.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-watchers-am-shine/1138717473?ean=9781801102124&bvnotificationId=165e43b9-2ed9-11ec-9e68-0a0b2f5459bf&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/189004231

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3TNSMNCZ1E54Y/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This book was quite honestly a pleasant surprise. I'm shocked things turned around for me in the end because I was certainly wavering on enjoying it throughout. The book really opens with a bang as a man named John is desperately running in the woods for his life. The Watchers are on him and I really got a lot of creature vibes even though the detail was minimal setting the stage perfectly.

The heroine is a young woman, Mina, who is sent to deliver a parrot and runs into the horror genres equivalent of hell on earth when she has car trouble. Alone, with no signal and only a parrot as company, Mina has no other choice but to leave the safety of her car. Mina sets out to seek help somewhere in the middle of the countryside in Ireland where she just barely make out the silhouette of safety and others. The closer Mina gets the more frantic the strangers voices are beckoning Mina to run, to hurry. It’s here that the story really begins and I have to say I had questions and my questions had questions. I was particularly interested in who and what the Watchers actually were. How did all these random strangers find themselves stuck together in the woods? Who the heck built this super protective sanctuary in the middle of nowhere and why? Things do get answered in due time but I did feel like the central part of the story wrapped up too quickly. I was so taken aback by the resolution of things that I was completely unprepared for the real climax and truth bombs to land their final blow. 🤯🤯🤯

I really enjoyed this book and I’m glad I gave it my all. A good blend of mystery and creepy elements that kept me guessing. I enjoyed that the book was set in Ireland, it’s too bad the heroine spends most of the book in the wilds. <Spoiler>Even with the constant reminders of the books setting and folklore I still have a hard time accepting the Watchers as Fae. I think perhaps it’s just all the past movie and book influence over the years that has me thinking these creatures are more like monstrous creatures or even beasts but I can’t help it 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣 On that note I really enjoyed the conclusion. It definitely gives me more sci-fi vibes seeing as there’s any number of Watchers loose upon society, maybe even the world and can imitate humans and adapt among society like chameleons. I mean, that’s a total ‘Oh, Shit’ moment. At this point we still know little to nothing about them or what their intentions could be. And while I want answers test again everything just fell into place. The open end wrapped up a book full of questions with one more giant one and now I’m not so sure Mina wasn’t safer staying locked away in the woods? </spoiler> Made for the perfect type of weird and creepy book for this time of year.

This started out strong with a very suspense filled opening but slowly deteriorated from there.
The overall concept of the novel was really interesting, I liked the link to Irish folklore and legend but I don't think this was explored enough within the story. As a reader I never felt like we got a proper understanding of creatures within the the book and what they meant to the story. I also felt that the characters were under developed and kept doing and saying things that seem un realistic to me. Without a connection to the characters I never really felt emotionally connected to them so the moments of suspense didn't have as much impact.
This is definitely a good ground work for a book but I think this needs more time to be crafted into a bigger and more complex tale.

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.