First off – this is a great debut from A.M. Shine.

Mina breaks down in a forest that’s not charted on any map and she finds herself wandering into the woodland before nightfall (as you do) only to be greeted by a woman urging her to run to a concrete bunker where she finds herself in a room with a wall of glass and a light that activates only at nightfall and three other occupants. And at night, The Watchers appear.

Incredibly tense and really quite chilling once the actual Watchers appear outside the bunker – this is a really well constructed debut horror novel.

A novel with constant threat – until about halfway through – where the threat remains but the plot steps up another level of intrigue, as Mina and the others begin to unearth the origin of the bunker and possibly to the creatures themselves.

And – with no spoilers – WHAT AN ENDING!

I’ve seen reviews that say this would make a great novella or short story but I think it works really well over 300+ pages.

If you are a fan of movies like ‘The Quiet Place’ or ‘The Silence’, or even dare I say it, ‘Lost’ (remember that?) I think you’ll love this. It’s a movie in book form.

Thanks to #NetGalley #Aria&Aries # HeadOfZeus and of course the author A.M.Shine for the opportunity to review this.

Well that had a lot of great twists!

When Mina’s car breaks down in the forests of Connemara Ireland, she decides to continue walk the road she was traveling. “All paths lead somewhere” is her mantra. As the sun starts to descend below the horizon she stumbles upon a building just as something starts screaming in the woods behind her. She is beckoned inside by an old woman and launches herself inside to find another young woman and young man. Turns out there are creatures in the forest that watch them through the mirrored windows every night. If you’re caught outside at night, you won’t last til morning. Mina and the others can only try to survive their predicament, they have little hope of escape. Shine adds in lots of great twists and this was an enjoyable quick read. Excellent for the Fall, heading into Halloween!

Thanks Netgalley for sending me this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

THIS STORY. It’s captivating. It’s chilling. I really enjoy how folklore is weaved into this modern-day horror retelling. Mina is such a likable character, and the TWIST—it was masterfully done. I definitely recommend this title if you’re up for a little terror.

The Watchers by A. M. Shine
‘You can't see them. But they can see you. This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its tree line. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.’

You know that moment, its dark outside, the curtains are open, the lights are on inside and for a split second you get that horrible feeling of being watched, that someone can see you but you can’t see them, only your own reflection staring back. Well, take that and dial it up a couple of mhz . The Watchers, by A. M. Shine is a fast paced, gothic horror that will play on your fears of what lurks in the dark.

Mina finds herself enclosed in the bunker with three others. During the day, the group grapple to understand the dynamics of their forced situation. At night they sit on display for what lives in the woods outside, watched, studied and toyed with. With their chance of escape dictated by the hours of daylight the premise is bleak.

This was up there with one of the best horror books I’ve read, fast paced and sinister, and although Mina is our main narrator, the small chapters from the other characters points of view, really contribute to the story, providing dynamics and highlighting the forlornness of the internal feelings of the group. The writing was very good, the sensory detail creating a creeping sense of unease, often making me feel uncomfortable.

I devoured it in two sittings, the ending making me hopeful for a second installment. It reminded my a little of the movie Bird Box, in fact this novel was so complete I would be more than a little delighted to see a movie adaptation.

Thank you @Netgalley and @HeadofZeus for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I’ve gotten really into horror this year, and especially the kind of horror that creeps you out rather than splatters you with gore. And The Watchers is exactly that. Uncanny, thrilling and creepy. Set in the wonderful area of Galway in Ireland – which made me love the book from the get-go as I spent one of my favourite ever trips there – this story is very atmospheric, which adds so much to it. I adored the setting and premise, which are really characters in their own right. I would say that this is definitely one for readers who like to be scared a bit while reading and enjoy books on the creepier end of the spectrum. It’s not merely a suspenseful thriller – more of a slower paced story that might keep you up at night. It would not surprise me if this one will get nominated for all the awards next year.

I don’t want to say too much about the story itself as knowing too much will take away from the effect, but the concept of the watchers is *chef’s kiss* and the characters slot into the narrative structure and the atmosphere perfectly. And the plot definitely did not go where I thought it would. So a very excellent book. I don’t often get actually creeped out by reading a story, and this did have that effect on me, which made me love it even more.

It is a slightly slower paced story than many in the genre. This builds up tension more thoroughly in my opinion, focusing on the uncanny and the atmosphere rather than packing in as many events as possible. While this worked really well for me personally, I can see that this might put some readers off, so do check out a sample if that is something that tends to bother you.

So a huge rec for all fans of horror and uncanny stories.

I like myself a few creepy Halloween reads! In terms of horror novel criteria, this does succeed in being genuinely unsettling. I also enjoyed the extra depth from the more artsy writing portions. Just reading the blurb/description of this novel on Goodreads should be good enough for the reader to know just what they're getting into.

The Watchers was a fantastic and absolutely terrifying read! We follow Mina as she is gets lost in uncharted woods, and soon she discovers that once night falls, you aren't alone, and the creatures out there are both intelligent and vicious.⁠
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This book had me at the edge of my seat, and if you like folk horror, books that make you feel claustrophobic and keep you up at night, then this is the story for you! ⁠
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That ending sure was something, and I hope there is a second one in the works!

This book blindsided me, I absolutely can't believe this is a debut novel. I don't even know how to review it without spoiling it. I will start by saying it is really slow up until around the 60% mark but I feel the author did this purposefully so that we could imagine the isolation that the characters were feeling. It also left me rather anxious everytime they were trying to escape. When I found out what was going on I was absolutely gobsmacked! I mean I'm amazed that I've been able to remove my jaw off the floor. I am so envious of those that get to experience this for the first time as I will never have that again.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Aria & Aries and
A. M. Shine for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

3.5 stars

Mina, an artist that has lost inspiration and motivation, gets roped into delivering a golden conure bird for a bar friend as a way to make some easy money. On the way to the drop-off, her car suddenly stops working along with her cell phone. Far from civilization and the trees blocking any form of the horizon, she sets off with the bird in hopes of finding help and shelter. After hours of walking, she stumbles upon a woman standing in a doorway, yelling at her to run. Chased by horrific screams, Mina runs inside and discovers a brightly lit room with thick glass for a wall. She soon learns that there are vicious creatures that lurk in the night, watching their every move... and their only chance of survival is by staying in the light.

I hadn't anticipated reading a spooky book this month, but The Watchers caught my attention on Netgalley, and the next thing you know, I had it read in less than 24 hours. It has a plot that feels vaguely familiar, but I can't place it no matter how hard I try. I wouldn't necessarily say this was a scary read. It read more like an atmospheric thriller with fantasy elements. The writing is very, very descriptive and wordy. It's a slow burn type of read, and it would have benefited greatly had it been slightly shorter. It's only 250 pages, but it reads like it is muuuuuch longer. I guessed the twist early on, but it didn't take away from the story as there were still plenty of questions to be answered. The ending of the book, outside of the overall conclusion, was a nice touch and made me smile.

Books like this are always hard for me to review. Because on one hand, I did enjoy the story. But on the other hand, several aspects left me a little disappointed. This is one of those books that will have people divided: you either love it, hate it, or don't care to feel too much more about it.

I recommend this book for fans of: atmospheric reads, slow burn thrillers, Irish folklore, and light horror.

The Watchers by A.M. Shine is a horror novel, and a debut novel......and I can't wait for more by this author!

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Head of Zeus - Aries, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The forest is not on the map, but any vehicle that tries to pass it breaks down.  There is no cell service, and no other traffic.  There doesn't seem to be a choice.  People leave their vehicles and hope there is something at the other end of the forest.

The "lucky" ones, come across a concrete bunker, and meet others who have managed to stay safe.  Lights come on at dusk and go off at daylight.  The doors are locked at night, but the residents are awake, and on display.  For at night, they are watched by something that screams.

Madeline has been there for over two years, and runs the place.  She is strong-willed.  David is 19, and trying to help, although his lack of confidence makes him weak.  He is in charge of setting the traps to bring in birds for dinner.  Ciara goes to the spring and brings fresh water, as well as picks  berries.  She is struggling, as her husband went out one morning to try and find a way out of the forest.  He has never returned.

Mina has just arrived, toting a parrot that she was to deliver in return for payment.  She barely made it to the bunker before night fell and the creatures arrived.  She  has many questions, but not sure Madeline is providing sufficient answers.

Together, they are in for the fight of their lives.  Their individual strengths and weaknesses will be put to the test, and not all will make it.


My Opinions:   
First, I loved the cover.

This book grabbed me from the get-go and didn't release me til the end...and even then my thoughts stayed with the characters.  This a creepy, atmospheric horror tale, filled with monsters, built on Irish mythology and fairy tales.  Those fairy tales would not be suitable for children.

The book is written from different points of view, although the main one is Mina. I loved the different personalities of the 4 individuals in the coop, and how each played a vital role in their escape attempt.  They were all well-developed characters.  

The pace was fast, and overall it was a fast read (although that could be because I couldn't wait to see what happened next).

I admit that the first major twist was not a big surprise to me...the author had provided a major clue. My knowledge did not detract from the plot, and I still questioned that twist occasionally.   However, that ending was a real surprise....and I loved it.

For a debut novel, this was simply amazing,

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

The watchers by A.M. Shine.
You can't see them. But they can see you.
This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.
Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn't reach the bunker in time.
Afraid and trapped among strangers, Mina is desperate for answers. Who are the Watchers and why are these creatures keeping them imprisoned, keen to watch their every move?
A chilling spooky eerie read. I loved it. Great story and characters. 5*.

Perfect read for the month of October and any time of the year. This book was great, quick, fun and scary read all at once. It had the perfect elements that one looks for in a horror/scary book. Sometimes it was scary and creepy, at other you just want to know what is going on and where it all leads. Mia was a great character to follow and read. This is my first time reading this author and I loved this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful arc!

What a spooky and quick read that is coming out right in time for Halloween! Mina is a great character to follow through this horrifying experience. I must admit that I got the shivers a few times and possibly had to turn on another light for bedtime reading!

This story involves a cryptic scenario that seems to come straight out of a nightmare. I highly recommend this as a quick scare that can be read in one sitting!

The Watchers is a chilling and atmospheric read, which was absolutely perfect to kick off my spooky season reading! I don't normally read many scary books, but I was intrigued by the premise for this one, and I'm really glad I gave it a go.

When Mina agrees to a simple delivery for a friend to make some extra cash, she has no idea of the horror that awaits her. As her car breaks down outside a Connemara forest that isn't charted on any map, she is plunged into a nightmare, alive only thanks to a mysterious woman and the bunker she locks behind them.

I loved the setting for this book: the forest is bone-chillingly creepy and almost seems to come alive off the page as an extra character. It was definitely the creepiest part of the book, even though I felt it to be more akin to a thriller than a full-on horror. It was certainly a very tense read though, and I grew very attached to the characters, especially Mina. The psychological tension was spot on for me, much scarier than the Watchers themselves.

I appreciated how we got to see the book from multiple POVs, even though Mina's was always prevalent. The characters were beautifully complex and it was great to get inside their heads a little bit. There were quite a few surprises I hadn't seen coming, which really added to the tension as the book progressed. The inclusion of Irish folklore and mythology was also masterful, and I loved how well it was integrated within the rest of the storyline. The ending was also brilliant and absolutely chilling!

The writing is quite lyrical, which I personally appreciated for the most part, even though at times it just felt like the narrative was being drawn out a tad too much. This wasn't a terrible flaw for me, but it did slow down the pace and broke some of the tension for me.

Overall, The Watchers is a captivating and chilling read, perfect for those looking for a spooky season read with Gothic vibes that's not too scary - just stay in the light when reading...

What a great debut! 👏🏻

If you’ve ever been afraid of what scary things could lurk in the dark…this book will not help with that.

The Watchers takes place in a isolated uncharted forest of Galway, Ireland. It is a creepy little creature feature that will have you captivated.

I really enjoyed this claustrophobic horror tale, and it gets extra points for the inclusion of Irish folklore. 🖤

Overall, I felt impressed with the writing, the pacing, and the imagery that AM Shine conjured. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in the future.

I'm not usually into Horror but "The Watchers" by AM Shine is creepy as anything. Admittedly it does take a couple of chapters to get into, and I did have to go back and read the synopsis but after that, I was sucked in. Why are these four people (and a parrot) stuck in the coop? Why can they only go out when the light goes out? Why do they have to stay indoors when the light goes on? All because of the Watchers... Part claustrophobic, part "Lost" in vibe, this book will have you hooked right until the end.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag. At times, it was the best horror I've read of recent times but at others, it felt weak and underdeveloped. The story was interesting and i liked how the story had several dramatic peaks. The group of characters were interesting and i found them an interesting group to follow. The writing helped build the atmosphere and it gave the story a real dense of dread. I liked Mina as the main character and it was interesting to see what happened to her. The book kind of fell apart in the final stages and I didn't love how it ended as it was a little messy with what happened.

Thank you to @AMShineWriter and @AriesFiction for this advanced copy of The Watchers in return for an honest review.

Description 🔖

This particular forest isn’t available on a map and it holds many horrors. Anyone that comes to it’s treeline ends up breaking down with no option but to go into the forest. This is exactly what happens to Mina. She’s stranded, trying to find a way out of the forest when she is confronted by a woman screaming at her to run towards a concrete bunker and get inside.

The bunker houses others that have met the same fate. It’s a viewing chamber for the watchers. The humans can’t see the watchers, but they can see them. Every night, they come out in large numbers to watch the captives. Anyone who doesn’t make it to the bunker in time is going to wish that they’d moved faster.

General Thoughts 🤔

I decided to read this book due to the time of year. Who doesn’t love some horror in October?! It’s not my usual kind of book but I didn’t absolutely hate it. I struggle with books that don’t feel “real” in the most part however if they have a strong storyline, I can find myself lost in them. Unfortunately for me, The Watchers just missed the mark and I didn’t fall in love with it, but I certainly didn’t hate it.

The concept of the story was really interesting and it could have been really good rather than just good. I didn’t feel like I empathised or grew to know the characters enough to become invested in their plight. I don’t think I cared about them enough to completely and unconditionally want to see them to safety.

Characters 👫👬👭

Mia was the main character in the book and the one I learnt the most about. I admired her for her bravery and I think she was courageous enough to not go along with the status quo that had been established within the coop. However towards the end of the book, there was so much more I wanted to know about her and her life.

Daniel could have been such an interesting character, but again, I didn’t feel like I knew enough about his background to really understand him and his actions. His life prior to the forest is touched upon, but fleetingly. I think that this could have been developed upon to add depth to his character and his story.

Writing Style ✍️

As I mentioned, horror isn’t my usual genre but I do think horror books encompass many of the same things as thrillers. They should build tension and make the reader feel on edge. I think that A.M. Shine did a good job of doing this. During the scenes in the book where the watchers were present, I did have a shiver run down my spine and I was eager to see what was going to happen.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖️

Reading back my review it sounds like I really didn’t get along with this book but that isn’t really true. There were sections that I really enjoyed and they were spine chilling I just think that some more character development and bit more depth to the storyline would have ramped this book up to the next level.

I have three busy young kids so I can always judge a good book based on if I am willing to stay up late and sacrifice sleep to finish it... and The Watchers was definitely worth being a zombie for a day! I loved that the plot was different from so many thrillers I have been reading lately but still kept you on the edge of your seat. I suspected the plot twist towards the middle of the book, but even though I was correct I was still intrigued to keep reading and find out more. The only part of the book I didn't like was the ending, the author leaves you with a big cliffhanger. I wondered if they were setting the stage for a sequel, but I wish the story would have gone on a little longer so you weren't left to wonder!