For NetGalley purposes I’m rating this book 3 stars but as far as I personally enjoyed it, I would probably rate it 2 stars.

My main issue was the pacing in this book and also the whole ending sequence felt kind of rushed and also a bit lackluster. Also, none of the characters felt very well fleshed out, and neither did the monsters.

I feel like this story definitely had potential and there were interesting concepts in it, but I just think the execution of those concepts wasn’t very good.

Also I’m a bit confused because I’ve seen it marked as both YA and adult and I’m pretty sure, after reading it, it’s actually YA, but on Goodreads I think it’s marketed as adult fiction. Which is a bit confusing to me.

imo this book should not have been comped to Ninth House, btw. It’s just…not that. Like, at all.

I also counted 39 uses of the word “vibration”/“vibrations” which is WAY too often to use that word in a book, imo. Every time I saw that word it took me out of the story, because of how frequently it kept coming up.

I think it could be a much better, more cohesive story with another round of editing to tighten up some issues and also cut out some of the redundancy in words/sentences. Like, I just felt like so much of what I was reading was just the same things being explained over and over again. It kind of felt like an attempt to pad the story out more—which imo wouldn’t be necessary anyhow, because instead of just repeating the same information that we as readers have already learned in a previous section of the story, the author could’ve spent more time developing the characters’ relationships with one another and in general make the characters feel more real:

I struggled here, but there were bright spots within the din...

When Addie goes off to the elite school that her mother attended, she is filled with excited trepidation. Her mother refuses to talk about her time at the school, but Addie manages to get her hands on notebooks filled with her mom's old notes.

Upon arrival, it is clear that something bad happened her while her mother attended, but it is all so shrouded in mystery. She is recognized by alum as clearly being the daughter of the well loved Vera, but allude to the tragedy that happened surrounding her and her group of friends. Addie needs to find out the truth, not realizing how close to becoming wrapped up she already is.

There are some really wild, visceral things that happen, and the characters are all unique to themselves, but I had a really hard time connecting with them or the story most of the time. I felt like all of the pieces were there, all of them bits and pieces that I usually enjoy, but the disconnect was real and I just didn't FEEL anything about it.

Overall, I will absolutely read this author again, considering I absolutely LOVED their previous YA horror. This just wasn't for me.

This is my second book by this author and I vastly enjoyed the other book more than this one. It definitely had great dark academia vibes like Ninth House but I was expecting a little more spookiness like When Ghosts Call Us Home. The writing was still fantastic in this book and it really flew by for me mainly thanks to the short chapters, which I always appreciate. This may sound harsh but it felt like the subject matter was a little dull compared to the other book I read. While some of the descriptions and scenes did freak and creep me out I did find myself bored a couple of times while reading. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a book about the Gods or what but it didn't hold my attention the way I wanted it to. It also felt like the characters were just plopped into my lap and I knew nothing about them. The setting was fantastic though!

Many thanks to Page Street Publishing YA for the gifted copy for my honest review!

3.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Katya de Becarra's "They Watch From Below" was a dark academia following FMC Addie as she returns as a legacy to the college her mother attended. Growing up, Addie's mother Vera didn't speak much of her time in college....but there were moments that Vera would fade away looking off into the distance that made Addie wonder what impact her past had on her. Once Addie arrives at Arches University the secrets start to come out.

I liked the writing and pace of this book, however I found the plot to be somewhat predictable and I was expecting the book to be a bit creepier. I also thought there would at least be a lil romance but there was none. This book was YA and I think it does read a bit younger than some of the other YA novels, making it a great read for a younger audience. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, although my favorite was Addie's roommate Olga.

I would suggest this book to younger readers and those who are looking for a quick dark YA academia.

Creepy as hell, fast-paced, and dripping with stylish, twisty intrigue---just how I like my dark academia. Throw in rumours of old gods, secret societies, and generational weirdness, and you've got yourself a winner.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It starts with Addie getting ready to go an early orientation program at University Of The Arches. Addie wants to see if this is the way she can understand her mother better and get more information about the school as her mom won’t talk about it. Even when Addie steps into the school weird things starts to happen and there’s a huge dark mystery that unravels. For me it was three stars because the evil entities were needed to be present more often in the story. It seems like everything tided up in the end too fast and your still left wondering a lot of things.

Book:
THEY WATCH FROM BELOW by Katya de Becerra
Thank you PageStreetPub and Netgalley for the EARC (Oct 29)

Review:
2.5⭐
THEY WATCH FROM BELOW is a horror novel that follows Addie, who receives an invitation to an early orientation-eqsue thing for college. All her life, she's been seeing shadows, which she learned to control. At the school, however the shadows are hard to control, the vibrations are greater, and there's evil lurking that draws the legacies in.
I struggled with this one. The beginning was my favorite part...like the first half vs the second. There was mystery and horror, but that mystery and horror fell flat in the second half. I don't know how to describe it. It started to feel boring. I mean, I was intrigued by the premise, and I loved how fast paced it was, but I felt like there wasn't enough backstory and the wrap up of the book didn't seem complete. It was almost like the bulk of the book(the part that should have been horrifying and interesting) was squeezed in just a few chapter---where it would have been better if the author drew it out more and delved into more things from the beginning and middle, offering more of a backstory and tying things up in a way that didn't feel rushed.

I read this book over Halloween, and it was the ideal spooky read for the season. The story is deeply unsettling, with a mysterious, atmospheric setting that immediately drew me in. The University of the Arches, with its dark history and eerie legends of the 'Buried Ones,' made for a gripping backdrop that kept me on edge throughout. Addie’s investigation into the campus’s secrets, combined with elements of the occult and an old unsolved mystery, made for a thrilling, page-turning experience. Fans of The Secret History and Ninth House will love the complex, darkly magical world this book creates. Highly recommend it for those looking for a haunting and engrossing read!

"But the idea of monsters sleeping underground sets off the alarm bells in my subconscious, bringing a visceral feeling of discomfort."

The dark mystery in this story is compelling. The school, its secrets, its legacy. I couldn't read fast enough. The setting and the little oddities all over were riveting and brought the spook of this story up about ten notches. The characters were equally complex and intriguing. I loved this and will be looking for more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“They Watch From Below” by Katya de Becerra is a mix of dark academia and mystery, set against the haunting backdrop of Arches University. The book dives deep into eerie atmospheres and long-buried secrets, making it a perfect read for fans of moody and mysterious stories. If you’re a fan of dark academia, then you will absolutely love this book, especially if you’re looking for a more mature YA book as the main character is entering college.

The book follows Adria "Addie" as she attends Arches University, her mother's mysterious alma mater. Her mother, Vera, has always been strangely evasive about her time at Arches, a detail that only fuels Addie's determination to uncover the truth about her family's past. The unsettling vibes at the university immediately draw readers in, with its decaying buildings, strange symbols etched on the walls, and a creepy well that seems to hold untold mysteries.

The setting of Arches University is one of the book's greatest strengths. De Becerra paints an atmosphere so vividly eerie that it almost becomes a character itself. The dilapidated buildings and the secrets hidden within their walls create an unsettling aura that pulls you into the story. The use of old religion and the mysterious history of the land adds layers of darkness that make the setting feel both captivating and menacing.

The story is told through a mixed-media format, including video clips that help set a suspenseful and creepy tone. This format adds to the sense of unease and keeps you on edge, always wondering what lurks in the shadows as these transcripts from videos were included between every chapter. I absolutely loved these video clips, especially the ones centering around Addie as a child as they felt so creepy and haunting. The pacing is generally well-handled, with the videos serving as a nice way to slow down and center the plot when needed.

Character development is another highlight of the novel. Addie is a well-rounded protagonist whose journey to understand her mother's past and her own connection to Arches feels genuine and relatable. Her friendships with the non-legacy students, Olga and Daphne, provide some of the book's most heartfelt moments, though they could have been explored a bit more deeply. The legacy students' bond is intriguing, but some of their relationships, like with Nick, could have been more developed to match the intensity of the book's climax.

It takes a while for the story to truly kick into gear, and when it does, the climax feels somewhat rushed. The horror elements, while effective, could have benefited from a few more encounters and lead-ups before the final showdown to make the ending more satisfying. I wanted a bit more closure from the ending though the ambiguous nature of the ending adds to the overall eerie vibe of the story and leaves the door open for a potential sequel.

Overall, “They Watch From Below” is a chilling YA paranormal horror that focuses on dark academia while adding in elements of old religion and mystery. It’s a great fit for readers looking for an atmospheric and haunting story that keeps them guessing until the very end.

As far as my own personal enjoyment, I’m giving this book 2 stars…it was sold as “perfect for fans of NINTH HOUSE and THE SECRET HISTORY” and and liked both of those books and it shouldn’t be mentioned near either of their names, especially the sacred THE SECRET HISTORY. This is YA for YA. A YA, however, would likely enjoy this book, so if I were able to look back in history, way, way back, to a time when I was a YA, I would likely have given it 3 stars (I was never a fantasy fan) so that averages out to 2.5 stars (see how, as a YA, I was so excellent at the math?), so I’ll give it 3 stars as a rating. Grudgingly. I don’t feel great about it, but it’s really because I don’t like fantasy. I need the reading world to move on from this love affair with fantasy quickquickquick.

So, Addie Velde gets an invitation to attend the early orientation program at the University of the Arches and she is thrilled. It’s right on the beach and her mother went to school there. However, when she arrives she’s assigned to Mokosh, a different dorm than most of the other freshman. It’s nicknamed “the Crypt” and she believes there are secrets to discover.

She learns about an old campus mystery that both students and faculty seem to be afraid of; the Buried Ones that are believed to forecast death. Then there is the matter of a disappearing professor, an occult society and the possibility her own family has been involved with all of this….there’s a lot more to college than midterms and quarterbounce, Addie!

Given that this book was compared to adult books, I didn’t realize that this was YA when I started and read the trigger warnings and the beginning. One was smoking (observed). So, I guess it’s triggering if one of the book’s characters just sees someone smoking.

Not ten minutes ago I finished a book where a guy started watching snuff films to deal with the death of his girlfriend. I thought it might also be YA.

Smoking (observed).

It’s a strange world.

Oh, and the author really, really, REALLY likes the word “esoteric.” She uses it a lot. Sometimes multiple times in the same paragraph.

I really want to give this 2 esoteric stars. (Observed).

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.