Thank you so much to Aries Books and NetGalley for sending a copy of this my way in exchange for an honest review!

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. Although I did enjoy reading it. It kind of felt like the plot dragged where we got information about the characters which I like but not necessarily a whole lot about the watchers and why they were scary in the first place. with this being a advanced copy of the book. I do hope that changes in the final copy. Otherwise it really didn’t intrigue me enough.

Many thanks to the author, publisher & Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t typically read that many horror books, but I was supper intrigued by the description of this book and thought it would be a fitting addition to my October TBR.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would rate it 3.75/5. A lot of other readers found it quite slow paced, but I actually felt like the pacing was perfect for the plot and provided some required tension. I found the overall arc of the story strong and definitely creepily disturbing, even if not outright scary.

I did predict the twist towards the end of the book, but still thought it was a great addition. I found the character depth a bit lacking, and feel like the multiple POV was unnecessary.

First, I’d like to thank Lauren and HoZ books for planning the blog tour, for letting me be a part of it and for sending me a beautiful finished hard copy to review.

The Watchers is the fantastic, heart-thumping, page-turning debut from A. M. Shine that really left me no choice but to keep reading – to finish the tale at a pace, running from the shrieks in the night. This book gave me major Cabin in the Woods x Lost vibes: feels like they’re in limbo somewhere. The mystery is different, strange, because there’s rules and they know what hunts them … they just can’t see them at all. There’s but one warning for you before you read on, reader:

‘Stay in the light…’

The plot was addictive, it created a hunger in me to read, to turn the page; I love a good horror, bit don’t often read them anymore. And for me, the Watchers is up there with the best of them. From the very premise, I was hopelessly enthralled. We see a harrowing prologue that only raises questions, certainly doesn’t answer them. Then we’re with Mina, our protagonist, who – on a paid errand for a friend – gets stuck in the woods, her car having broken down; when she finally works up the courage to look for help, all that greets her is Madeleine, Daniel, and Ciara, all of which have got stuck in the same way, all of which who found this reinforced, concrete hideout in the woods. All that scream at her before night falls, the shrieks start, the light comes on and the doors are bolted shut. Essentially, the whole book takes place in one room and is as much about how the character survive in isolation as it is about the monstrosities that keep them there.

There’s four startingly different POVs that make for a pot that’s about to boil over; Madeleine’s a woman in charge, Daniels weak – or at least that’s the way he holds himself because of an abusive past – Ciara is mourning and Mina, she isn’t going to listen for long. All of the characters seem to share something: no one will come looking for them. Either because they turned up with all they hold dear, they hold nothing dear, or they’re a failure. Or a mixture. It led itself to seem like something setup, really pulling on that Cabin in the Woods comparison early on … not to mention, eh, the cabin in the wood. But, alas, like all good writers, Shine really took me on a wild goose chase, and I could really not guess what happened until it did. And what a happening it turned out to be. What I really loved is how the characters grew out of their initial, individual, quagmires; it really explored how, out of adversity, people really change. Despite all the horror people are confronted with, some languish in it, others grow, change, and find new joy in what’s around them. Or who’s around them. All that aside, it’s a character study. Of how wholesome, well-written characters can fall to bits in a blank room, then rebuild from those pieces.

Descriptions in bleak greys and whites and black, really sets the tone like I’m reading an old black and white horror – which only adds to the intrigue. There’s a definite tone to the writing, a colour palette that Shine has gone for and really comes out in the descriptions used.

Simile and metaphor used to great affect and adds to characterization as in voice these differ and reflect the worldview. Always enjoy writing like this that’s simple and effective. Effective writing proves that when you’re focused on the characters and the characters are all interesting, then you can set the entire novel in just one blank room, and it be gripping and intriguing. It’s clever writing that know itself that’s about to pull this off. I was fascinated – more than I usually am – but the setting. Only that it is basically nowhere with nothing. Only invisible monsters that come when dark falls and scream unless you stay awake. And eat you unless they can see you.

And finally, a twist I literally never saw coming. Never. Like, wow, first time I’ve been duped so hard, and it was there to see. I’ve mentioned it previously, but this one really, REALLY, took me by surprised and it was so clever, so intelligent I loved it.

Overall, read it. It’s worth your time, and then some.

I generally love all the faere and folklore that can be brought into a proper Irish tale, but I think in the beginning, this book gets caught up in being Gothic and atmospheric, and some readers might have a hard time keeping with it. It's hard to talk much about the book, without giving away too much info...My suggestion is to read it bits and hang on, as the last third of the book is where the true horror book comes out, and where the reader will keep interested, and the final part may produce some shock and surprises, as a proper horror book should!

My thanks to Aria and Aries, A.M. Shine and Netgalley.
I've put off this review for a few months now.
It's not a difficult review, it's just that it gave me a few nightmares. Alot!
It shouldn't have. Really, it's not that terrifying! But, for some reason it got stuck in my head.
I'm not going to review this. Just know that the forest is deep. Once you're in, it's difficult to get out. And what follows by the wayside..

A forest with seemingly no end and no beginning. A forest that appears on no map ever crafted. A forest that causes all cars to break down on its borders and for those stranded individuals to venture into the canopy of trees. A forest that will swallow them whole. A forest with beings who watch from the shadows. A forest that is eagerly waiting its next victims to come and join it.

This seemed like the perfect set-up for a sinister story-line and it initially was. I loved the focus on the character's fears and attempts at survival. Their heightened emotions emanated from the pages and I felt as breathless with anticipation for what would next occur as the characters who were going through their harrowing ordeals.

However, this initial focus soon became overshadowed by the questions that plagued all events. Who/what were the watchers? What were their motives? What are the other characters doing to ensure their continued survival? Is anyone looking for them? How long have they been isolated for? WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON?

Unfortunately I never felt I got a satisfactory explanation for any of these queries and events only continued to become more fast-paced and convoluted, right up until the novel's close. I can definitely say this is a read like no other but also that I anticipated something more concrete from my time with it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, A.M. Shine, and the publisher, Head of Zeus, for this opportunity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this!

I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This book instantly drew me in. I really enjoyed this book and the plot. This author did amazing. I loved the writing style.

I don't have that much experience with pure horror fiction, and reading this is one of my attempts at rectifying that. And while it is not a genre I usually enjoy, I really enjoyed this story!

In this story, we follow four characters (and a golden bird), as they are trapped in a house in a forest infested by Watchers. Each night these watchers come out, and this makes it impossible to actually escape this forest, They are, for all intents and purposes, trapped.

What I liked the most was the strong sense of character we get from these four. The story is mostly told through the perspective of Mina, the newest person trapped in this house, but we also get to see the others perspectives as well, although on a way smaller scale. Although I would have liked to have more backstory, I was satisfied with the characterization and personality of them. It was always very clear what everyones strenghts and weaknesses were.

The watchers themselves were original in the way that they were inspired by Irish folklore, which I enjoyed. Other then that I found them kinda creepy, but not really scary. That kinda sums up the whole of the novels horror element for me as well - creepy but not scary.

All in all I really enjoyed it, and it was a great debut! Thank yous so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Rounded up to 4. This was quite a creepy read. The deep, dark forest was a very atmospheric setting for such a story and it was a refreshing take on a part of Irish mythology. The ending was sinister. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I love stories that are horrors based on olf folklore and mythology and even more so when they're set in a totally creepy forest!! I couldnt wait to read this and wasn't disappointed, it really does give you chills and keep you on the edge of your seat. It's one of those books that gets under your skin and you know it's just a story...... but....... all the same...... you won't be walking the dog in the woods at night alone for a while

The Watchers - A.M. Shine

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book follows our main character Mina, a relatable women who doesn’t really know where she is going in life. An aspiring artist whose only family is a sister who doesn’t understand her. To make a bit of money she decides to do a favour for a friend and deliver a parrot to a buyer. On her journey as the sun begins to set her car breaks down at the edge of a forest.

Armed with a parrot and nothing else Mina travels through the forest looking for help.

As the sun begins to set a woman appears at a concrete bunker screaming at Mina to get inside. Once inside the bunker the true horror of her situation is unveiled.

This is one of those books where from this point on the less you know the better.

I ended up giving this book a 3.5 out of five. It would have been a four star read had it not been for the purple prose in parts. Unfortunately at times this took away from the overall creepy atmosphere.

However the plot and the characters where fantastic and the ending left an opening for a sequel yet was still satisfying.

This was a very quick read (finished it in one sitting) and the story really does get going quickly.

I do think that this book could have either done with being a bit shorter and turned into a novella or been longer to fully introduce each character and give them a backstory.

This book gave me Cabin in the Woods vibes crossed with fairy tales that aren’t so sweet!

If you like thrillers/horrors and enjoy atmospheric reads this one is definitely for you!

The Watchers by A.M. Shine is a creepy folkloric tale set in Ireland, in a mysterious forest that doesn't seem to appear on any map.

Mina, an artist, is asked by a guy in the pub to deliver a parrot to someone he knows. In return, she can keep some of the money being paid for the parrot. So far, so Tuesday in rural Ireland.

Mina breaks down on the way and finds herself on the edge of the forest, which she wanders into and soon finds herself confronted by a woman shouting at her to get inside a strange bunker.

Once inside the bunker it becomes apparent there are things outside that come out at night and very much want to get in. Mina finds herself a member of a odd group who have all become trapped together by the terrifying creatures outside that can only be held at bay by daylight.

Things unfold pretty quickly, the group struggle to survive on the small amount of food and water they are able to forage in the forest. They also try to work out what are the creatures that relentlessly wait outside, shrieking every night? I liked the nod to Dracula in Mina's name and the suggestion that the creatures may be vampires which have to retreat in daylight to burrows around the forest.

The group inside the bunker must come together to survive, but it's obvious they don't trust each other and the ultimate reveal of the "big bad" is a twist I didn't see coming.

The book moves along at pace, tension building every step of the way and the characters are well drawn and rounded out.

I really enjoyed this book, it is genuinely scary and horrifying, a Gothic horror deserving of the name. Just make sure you stay in the light while reading it.

This felt like the perfect spooky season read so I was super excited to receive a copy from NetGalley and Aria and Aries, even the cover gives off spooky vibes.

You can’t see them. But they can see you.

Set amongst a remote forest in Galway Ireland this atmospheric read was certainly intense enough to hold my interest.

On her way to deliver a bird to a complete stranger in the middle of nowhere (yes, random I know), Mina’s car breaks down and she is left stranded no sign of life anywhere nearby. Deciding the only course of action is to start walking into the forest things start to take a frightening turn as darkness swirls around her.

Just as night falls she stumbles across a woman shouting at her, urging her to run towards her and the concrete bunker that stands behind her. With no idea what to do or where she is Mina stumbles towards the woman, throwing herself into the bunker as the door is slammed behind her while all around the terrifying screams begin.

Trapped inside a glass fortress Mina finds three other strangers inside the bunker, all looking withdrawn and exhausted. What on earth has she stumbled into, what are those terrifying noises she can hear outside?

Oh the premise of this one is soooooo good. Hiding amongst the forest are the Watchers, terrifying creatures that live in the dark and appear to feast on any kind of flesh that happens to mistakenly stumble into their woods. The only safe time to step out of the bunker is when daylight breaks and the light comes on, for it seems the Watchers cannot survive in the light.

Argh, even as I write this I’m excited all over again by the story. And yes, it was a good read, but it could have been so much more. It was a really short read and the beginning will absolutely hook you in but it all just got a little lost for me.

Mina seemed to just stumble into a bunker with random strangers while killing machines lurched and howled outside like the living dead, yet she seemed as terrified and overwhelmed as someone who had possibly just stumbled across a dead spider, no big deal. I think killer ghouls from a dark eerie forest would possibly have you a little more freaked out.

Unfortunately the whole story was a little like this, on the surface, really good, but just not quite enough to make you fully invested. And for those of you that don’t like horror, don’t worry, it’s actually quite tame.

It feels as though the ending could possibly have been set up for a sequel which I think I would still be interested to pick up and I’d definitely be prepared to read more works by this author.

Thank you again NetGalley and Aria and Aries for the opportunity to read this one.

3.5 stars

I gobbled this book up, but I am admittedly a total sucker for Irish mythology, survival tales, and horror. The less you know about this one going in, the better: it is a claustrophobic, haunting story of a forest that shouldn’t exist, that traps you and smothers you and keeps you close. “The Watchers” falls nearly into the folk horror genre; fans of wilderness survival stories may also enjoy it.

I adored all the characters in this one - everyone was realistically built with obvious strengths and weaknesses. I particularly enjoyed the range of women in this book - there were several female characters with various motives, personalities and drives. The atmosphere was particularly well-done too - the woods were so cheerlessly and evocatively painted that I felt like I lived there.

Read this one if you’re a fan of folklore, or movies like “The Cabin in the Woods”. The twists in this one will prey on my mind for a while.

The plot of this book sounded great, but unfortunately for me, it didn't live up to it's potential. The writing was way overdone at times and would be considered purple prose which did tend to pull me out of the story and slow things down I loved the Irish mythology and the setting was well done. The final chapter was superb and the atmosphere throughout the story is great. The book is creepy and it gave me the chills in parts. I loved the concept but for me the overwriting let it down and what could have been a 5 star story quickly became a 3 star.

I am normally not a huge fan of horror, but this book was great! Other than the purple prose, this book was highly enjoyable. However, I rated this 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4 because I didn’t really get attached to the characters and lose myself within the story. The writing was beautiful and almost poetic in a way. It was fast paced and kept me entertained until the last page.
Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mina's car breaks down near the forest and as she goes thru the forest she hears a scream telling her to take shelter quickly. What a great way to start a book with a bang! I liked this book but I didn't love it, it wasn't as scary as I was hoping it would be but it was suspenseful. I loved the gothic vibe of the forest setting and the different points of view of each character. This was a very descriptive and atmospheric read as well. The problem I had was that I found the writing to be verbose and trying too hard to be arty or poetic. All in all not a bad read and I got some enjoyment out of it.

This book is terrifying. I would place it somewhere between sci-fi horror and a thriller. It’s a fast paced story that immediately sets up the stakes for the characters. I Haley enjoyed it.

When Mina’s car breaks down on the edge of a forest, she doesn’t expect the mysteries and dangers it holds. Is it possible to leave these woods once you’ve entered them? And who are the frightening Watchers observing her and her fellow sufferers?

The plot is promising. However, I’m not going to lie, I had a hard time reading this book. In itself, I have nothing particular to reproach it. As I said before, the story is interesting and the book is well written, but I didn’t manage to immerse myself in it as I would have liked. Maybe it’s because I didn’t get attached to the characters, which is a crucial point for me when I read a book?

Still, my interest was only really piqued in the last quarter of the story and at this stage of the book, I already knew where the author was leading us even if I have to admit that the last chapter managed to surprise me a bit.

I think it was unfortunately a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ with this book.

I still recommend, it wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Arias & Aries and A.M. Shine for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not the biggest fan of survival horror in the style of A Quiet Place or Bird Box, though I love a good forest-horror, and the cover of this was too enticing to pass up. However, this book wasn't my favorite, and I found the huge 'twist' ending to be not as staggering as some apparently did. I did appreciate the writing most of the time and found it very atmospheric, but the plot didn't fully grab me.