In order to avoid spoilers, this is the type of review where the less said the better. Beholder is bizarre, chilling, and mesmerizing. You won’t be able to look away from the horrific events in this novel.

You may start out thinking this story is one thing, but I promise you’ll be wrong. When Athan gazes into mirrors he sees things other than his reflection – terrifying things. He’s also able to “rewind” time when peering into mirrors or reflections to discover what happened in the past. The imagery is vivid and occasionally disturbing, but it’s not done for shock value. It fits within the storyline and events.

That’s all I’ll say about this novel – just read it. I’d recommend Beholder to fans of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone. I promise you’ll never look at mirrors or reflections in quite the same way – I know I won’t.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book.

The Yellow Wallpaper retelling with lots of mirror-horror I didn't know I needed but I'm so glad I got.

This is creepy and speculative and interesting! I can't wait to see more from Ryan.

CW: body horror, death, fire

Did Ryan La Salas's last book </i/>The Honeys</i/> grab me by the throat and not let up even though I screamed my safe word several times? Yes, yes it did! Now was I expecting the same bar to be set in this book, not even gonna lie a little yes I was expecting it. Did this story deliver that same feeling? Yes, it absolutely did just in a different way. The lyrical beauty and unique, strange storyline just drew me in and kept me coming back for more the entire book. It is so hard to even describe this book without spoiling it, so just go read it! This book definitely left a lasting impression on me as I thought about this story for quite some time after I finished it. If you like weird, bizarre acid trip-type books that leave you wondering is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide with no escape from reality then this is the book for you.

Many, many Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher, for this Arc!

while i didn't like this one as much as i liked "the honeys," la sala's previous novel, i thought that this was a rich, gorgeously descriptive novel with leanings of folk horror and the gothic. athan was such a compelling protagonist and the structure of this novel was so interesting and unique. the use of art and sensory elements to push this narrative forward coupled with generational terror makes for a perfect blend of accessible horror for fans of all speculative genres.

I will never look at wallpaper the same....or mirrors. What an interesting take on beauty and art and all that mirrors see in their lifetimes. I can't wait to see what is next from Ryan La Sala.

Wow! This book was wild. The premise was out there and the details got stranger and stranger, but it never left me in the dust or had me too confused to keep reading. I was compelled and engaged and frequently moved. I love the incorporation of a complicated LGBTQIA+ romance, I loved the morally gray sides of some of the characters, and I really dug the incorporation of a Greek character and some Greek folklore within the premise of the story. Athan was easy to root for and likeable, though flawed.

I keep thinking about this book since I finished it, and it doesn't remind me of anything else that I have read. Those are two hallmarks of a great book!

Took some time to grab me but once it finally did I enjoyed it a lot. I really enjoyed the use of scrying powers. Very cute romance

What a wild spin on a concept that I didn’t think could be terrifying. I thoroughly enjoy how La Sala starts his horror books with a bang. Instant engagement and investment in whatever is going to happen. While the setting of New York City was lost on me (probably one of my least favorite book settings) I thought this was a wild ride. I loved the entire concept, the ending, everything. It’s a great YA horror.

sooo...I'm not exactly sure what I just read, because there were a lot of moving pieces, but I enjoyed it.

Beholder was written in La Sala's usual beautiful style and combined mystery and horror elements to keep readers engaged while telling a story about art-obsessed Patrons, ancient evil magic, and a boy who can look into mirrors and see anything they have previously seen.

Definitely quite strange and unique. I highly appreciate that in today's world of homogeneous fiction. I highly recommend this book.

Don’t look into mirrors when you don’t know what’s looking back—it’s a rule Athanasios Bakirtzis has followed for as long as he can remember. Because as much as he tells himself it’s just a silly Greek superstition his grandmother foolishly believed, deep down Athan knows it’s true because he’s seen it. But just because he isn’t looking doesn’t mean someone—or something else—isn’t looking at him.
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Ryan La Sala totally knocks it out of the park once again with another surrealistically beautiful horror story. Instead of bees, we get a cult that worships art and one heretic who worships mirrors. And our hero Athan, is at the heart of it all because of his ability to manipulate what mirrors show him—making him a target for the Patrons. The literal nightmares he endured were bone chilling, and at times I really questioned his sanity. But La Sala kept me hooked and did an amazing job revealing it all at the end. Harrowing but captivating, an incredible daytrip I’d happily take again.

🖤loved:
- the party’s aftermath
- “evil eye” superstition
- rewinding mirrors
- Athan & Dom 🫶🏼
- monster’s POV
- secrets of the Patrons
- Athan’s mysterious past
- all the macabre art
- the Beholder

This was amazing! I loved the concept, and I really think Ryan La Sala hit this one out of the park. Athan's story was so compelling and frightening. The combination of mirrors, monsters, interior design, and family powers was perfect. And the ending was so sweet. It had me tearing up for Athan!

This book had a really interesting idea. I did enjoy it, but it did feel a little rushed towards the end. I also wasn’t crazy about the ending.

La Sala has a beautiful writing style and that is on full display in Beholder. I loved the world building and variety of the characters. The thrill of it all kept me eager to keep reading.

I really enjoy Ryan La Sala’s books. Beholder isn’t my favorite of theirs but it was still really good. The vibes were excellent and creepy. Definitely would recommend it and their backlist.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic for the eArc of this book! (And sorry I've been a slow reader. How embarrassing for me, am I right?)

This is among one of the stranger books I've read. I figured it would be, given how I felt about Reverie, but this book had many times where it straight up just didn't make sense. I liked it at times, and I liked how the ending took place. It actually kept me reading, unlike the rest of this novel. (I actually forgot to add it to my Goodreads when I first started, but this took me a month and a half. Yes, part of the reason for that is because I needed to finish other books for my classes, but still. That's embarrassing.)

I also felt like motives were a little unclear. They all were there, but I didn't understand why. The villain wanted the Eye of God. But why??? I don't know.

I think this had the potential to be great, and for the right reader, it might be. But due to the confusion I had, and the lack of attachment I formed for the characters, it just did not land. Wished it was more like Reverie.

Thanks for the free ebook and including me on the book tour! @ireadya  @theryanlasala @coloredpagesbt

Rating 4/5☆
E-book
352 pages
Pub day October 3, 2023 - upcoming release
Push / Scholastic
Gr avg. 4.30/5⭐

Something about YA thrillers just hit different. I find them scarier and more enjoyable then adult thrillers or suspense books. I binged both this book and his prior book Honeys and loved both of them and realized he has more backlist to dove into.

Suggest picking it up

Really enjoyed this one despite not being a habitual reader of the horror genre at any level. There was a nice balance of character, plot, and the growing creepiness and dread as Athan and Dom slowly uncover more of the central mystery.

The book starts off on such a shocking and gory scene that it did take me a minute to really get into the story itself (again, not a horror reader by nature), but much like Athan was able to agree to work with Dom after the shock had lessened, I was also eventually able to follow.

I will need to contemplate more if I felt truly satisfied with the ending (and also to process the imagery involved) but one thing remains true about Ryan La Sala books: he's going to make the words pretty to read.

There is one quote from the beginning that has stuck with me since I started reading:
I wish someone would peer into the chaos of my interior and pull me into peaceful composition.
Sometimes the things in the mirror look back at you.

This story is so unique and interesting. The writing is gorgeous and lyrical.

This book takes you on a journey of family, love and discovering one's self. All the while reflecting these images back at you. What do you see in your own reflection?

It is quite difficult to describe this book without spoiling it, so just go read it. I was left pondering this story for quite some time after I finished it.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.