What I loved about the first book; the creepiness, the slow build, the condensed amount of characters within the story and the mystery, just didn't hit right with the second book. The creepiness wasn't even there, there were new characters to learn about and I frankly wasn't even interested in the same way because they weren't developed in the same way. Even though there was a mystery and some slow burn, it just wasn't right. It felt like it could have been seriously condensed down and made shorter, but overall that would have made it feel a lot better.

I wish I'd left it alone and just pretended that the first book was a stand alone, but then they go and throw in another cliffhanger and it's making me want to pick up the third book, simply because of the characters we got to know in the first book. I completely understand that to make it feel fresh and to add something extra to it, you need the new characters and plot, but I wish they were introduced and written a little bit better, as I found myself wishing those chapters would end.

Creepy. exciting, and gripping: an excellent follow up to The Watcher, another trip into nightmares. AM Shine is an excellent storyteller and deliver another excellent horror story.
The narrator did an excellent job and keeps the tension alive
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A tense sequel to The Watchers, the narrator crafts Mina’s narrative voice well to bring the character to life for the reader. We understand and feel all of Mina’s fears and frustrations and she tries to understand what is going on with the Watchers. The reading is well paced, and consistently clear throughout.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the E-ARC and Audio-ARC. As an immersion reader this really helps.

Jacqueline Milne’s narration of Stay in the Light brings A.M. Shine’s dark, suspenseful world to life with impressive skill and nuance. Milne has a voice that’s both clear and haunting, perfect for the atmospheric tension of this story. Her impeccable pacing allows the eerie silences and suspenseful pauses to build up naturally, enhancing the unsettling ambience Shine has created.

Milne’s ability to embody the characters is especially notable. Her portrayal of Mina is full of emotion and vulnerability, capturing the complexities of Mina’s struggles with mental illness and personal fears in a way that makes her journey even more compelling. When it comes to Sean, Milne subtly adjusts her tone, giving him a sense of determination tempered by underlying fear, which ties beautifully into his family’s dark history.

Milne’s performance makes Stay in the Light an even more immersive experience. Her narration is engaging and perfectly suited to Shine’s style, amplifying the suspense and making every twist hit just a little harder. If you’re considering the audiobook, Jacqueline Milne’s narration is a fantastic choice that adds an extra layer to this already intense horror tale.



My review of the Ebook.
As a big fan of A.M. Shine's The Watchers, I eagerly anticipated Stay in the Light, and it absolutely delivered. Shine expertly builds on the eerie atmosphere and suspense that made the first book unforgettable, introducing new layers of psychological depth and horror.

One of the standout aspects of Stay in the Light is the storyline surrounding Mina, which explores themes of mental illness with nuance and sensitivity. Shine doesn’t just create a terrifying situation; he delves into Mina’s inner world, showing how her personal struggles with mental health affect her experience and perception of the strange, dark forces at play. This added complexity made her journey even more immersive and emotional, grounding the supernatural elements with a sense of real-life vulnerability and inner conflict.

The addition of Sean, the son of a character from The Watchers, adds a fascinating generational thread to the story. Sean’s presence brings a sense of continuity and deepens the horror of Shine’s universe, suggesting that the darkness can haunt not just individuals, but entire families across time. His character feels fully realized and connected to the past events, which amplifies the tension and stakes as he faces the same lurking threats that have haunted his family.

Stay in the Light is an excellent follow-up to The Watchers. With its combination of psychological exploration, family ties, and atmospheric horror, it’s a must-read for fans of modern horror who appreciate depth alongside thrills. Shine has again crafted a gripping, haunting tale that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

'Nothing good ever comes from beneath the earth.'

The story follows Mina, from the first book, struggling to come to grips with life outside of the forest. We gain a new character, Sean (the son of a character from book 1), who is leading an archaeological dig which reveals a lot and has... consequences...

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator was amazing. I'm looking forward to the third!

I really enjoyed the first book, THE WATCHERS, and was looking forward to this sequel—— it did not disappoint! Following on directly from book one, this was dark, eerie + creepy as hell. The slower, more character driven first book sets up perfectly for this one and answers all the questions we were left with the first time.

These books are the perfect blend of lore, horror and fantasy. The fact the Watchers are now taking on human form is expertly chilling, and makes the plot even more tense + unsettling, now they’ve left the woods + are back in the “normal world”.

I loved that we got more emphasis on Irish mythology + really enjoyed the addition of Sean’s character, continuing his Father’s research—— the dark, super claustrophobic atmosphere of the archeological digs added to the horror of the book. The final twist massively took me by surprise but was also left open-ended enough to make me think we may get a third book?

The beautiful Irish narration made this a super easy + enjoyable listen. If you’re looking for a creepy, supernatural, chilling story, I’d recommend picking this up, but definitely read book one first, as it does a lot of scene-setting!

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑍𝑒𝑢𝑠 & 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤. 𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐼𝐺 (@𝑟𝑒𝑑ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙), 𝐺𝑅 & 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ.

Mina has escaped to the West Coast of Ireland spending her days researching her former captors and trying to figure out how to save humankind. When people Mina knows start to disappear. Mina knows The Watchers power is growing when she reports her findings her sanity is questioned. Can she convince people The Watchers are real or will she suffer the same fate she has dreaded since her nights in the coop.

I listened to this book by audio and I loved the narrator the accent added to the atmosphere and setting of the book and I would give the audio an easy 5 stars

The story itself was big let down to me. I absolutely LOVED The Watchers and was hooked from start to finish but this was so much more of a slow burn and the story didn't pull me in or keep me engaged if it wasn't for enjoying the narrator I maybe would have DNF this one. The story felt drawn out and didn't have the edge of your seat tension The Watchers had. It seems that likely there will be a third book which I will still read and hope for more of the tension that was in the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Head of Zeus and A.M Shine for an advance copy of this book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A truly fantastic read.
This tale is put together perfectly, taking your hand on a creepy journey, making you feel the fear to claustrophobic heights.
Beautifully written and chilling in its prose it is one for fans of Dean Koontz and the late James Herbert.

Highly recommended and the audio version is stunning in its narration by Jacqueline Milne.

10/10.

A solid follow-up to The Watchers, though it didn’t quite hit the same level of tension and pacing for me. While The Watchers had an almost relentless atmosphere of suspense, this book felt more like a slow burn, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. The eerie setting and unique premise are still there, but the story didn’t pull me in as strongly this time. Some sections felt drawn out, and I missed the constant sense of urgency that made the first book so gripping.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable read, especially for those invested in the world A.M. Shine is building. There are hints that Stay in the Light is laying the groundwork for a third installment, and I’m curious to see where the story goes next. If you enjoyed The Watchers, this is worth picking up, but temper your expectations for a slower, less intense journey.

🎧3.75⭐️ which I’ve rounded up

I had the audiobook read by Jaqueline Milne( the same narrator as the watchers) I felt that she was more involved with this book, and enjoyed the narration more.

Having escaped and returned to the city Mina is warmed by Madeline that the watchers are watching her still and that she needs to run.

For much of book 2 Mina’s sanity is in question demonstrating that there’s a fine line between believing in the existence of something unusual and mental illness. There’s a new character introduced Sean who takes the fear factor up a notch for Mina.

I liked the juxtaposition of leaving the reader questioning Mina’s sanity and whether book one was all a part of her delusion, while at the same time increasing the threat level with the introduction of Sean. I really felt that the tension was far more palpable in this book, which ramped up more in the 2nd half. I felt that there was more going on for me in this book.

It’s set up well for a third book.

I am not sure if I preferred this sequel to the first book, I felt the pacing was better, there was a much better building of tension but it didn't feel overtly scary.

This was a great sequel but one that felt flat on the vibes of book one. There were still some great parts that I'm hoping now to see on screen.

Whilist this is a high quality audio I found myself bored. This may have been the second in the series but it lacked excitement. I was waiting for something major to happen and then when it finally did it was over so quickly. It was all matter of fact with a couple of dark scary scenes thrown in. I liked tge way the two stories eventually came together but the ending screamed possible next book or if not they had run out of steam and couldn't make the ending fit. I liked the idea but all it did was make me want to go to the original . This had 2 scary moments for me the rest of the time the violence seemed matter of fact. I think it was the story as a whole . Tge natrator did a good job . Just not dark and engaging enough. Anyone who read the first one might enjoy this . It was a short listen that felt long. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks netgallery and publisher and author and narrator

I loved the story in book 1 so I was excited for this audio. The narrator was the same and she is wonderful.

This story adds on a new character story which I wasn’t as interested in, but overall did turn out satisfying. It had a few lulls, and for the most part you know what you ate going to get but there are still a couple reveals and unexpected moments.
I really look forward to the potential book 3.

Definitely read book 1 first, this isn’t a stand alone.

I recently watched M. Night Shyamalans adaptation of The Watchers and if you haven’t read the first book or seen the film I’d urge you to stop here and go pick that book up before digging into this one.

Okay so here we go. One thing that I thought really ruined the movie was the portrayal of the Watchers, this is not something the book lacks. The writing is magnificent and finally the watchers really are everything I’d hoped they’d be. I can truly see why A.M.Shine is held in such high esteem in the horror genre.

Minas story starts pretty much where the first leaves off, following what seems to be a woman’s complete mental breakdown to everyone around her, whilst we the read are totally gripped by how frantic she feels at warning of what’s to come and what is happening around them. A special mention has to go to the yellow one, as someone who is always watching horrors wondering what happened to the animals, this gets the thumbs up from me. We then see Madeline’s character grow throughout this story, and it really made me love her so much more than I thought I would throw that together with the contrast of Sean’s character she really was the breath of fresh air that we needed alongside Mina. A thrilling gothic horror that gets a full 5 stars from me.

Thank you to A.M.Shine, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for this ELC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for providing a copy of this audiobook as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love the learning about the mythology in this story, and it builds on it even more in this sequel. For anyone who was a fan of that aspect of the first book, you will love this release.

For anyone looking for the same level of anxiety and horror, in my opinion it didn't live up to the first book. I was wanting more during the middle part of the book, but the end was fantastic once again

Hope there is more to come - let's say I think there might be and I'm super excited for it!

Huge thanks to Net Galley, A.M. Shine and John Baker at Bell-Lomax for the digital ARC of this!

First of all, I was lucky enough to be a given an Audiobook ARC via Net Galley of this book, and whilst I was so grateful and loved the storyline I really struggled with the narrator. Jacqueline’s voice is so soothing and relaxing and it totally took away the 'vibe' and it was making an impact of my enjoyment of the book. I reached out to A.M Shine and his agent John Baker, and between them they arranged to send a copy to my kindle - I am so grateful for this and reading it 100x improved my enjoyment of the book!

I am a massive fan of The Creepers, and I will ALWAYS recommend The Watchers so I was of course desperate to get my hands on a copy of this!
The book was essentially a build-up, and was full of anticipation of what would happen. And whilst I felt that it was very apparent what was going to happen when Sean went down into the Burren there was a twist I didn't see coming.
The ending of the book came just as we were getting to the ‘main event’ that would normally occur, and it totally set the scene for a 3rd book. But it didn’t impact my reading experience, just made me annoyed and impatient for what happens next. So if you could get on that ASAP A.M Shine that would be great.

Definitely do not read this if you haven't read 'The Watchers' **I haven't watched the movie adaptation so I'm unsure if you could watch that then jump into Stay In The Light. But I wouldn't recommend reading this as a stand-alone as you will struggle to get the full understanding behind it.

I recommend you read The Watchers, and then jump straight into this! A perfect Gothic Horror - the ties to Irish Folklore are so interesting and will leave you wanting to do more research!

Stay In The Light by A. M. Shine

Thank you to Head of Zeus for my copy of the book and audio!

So I read an early copy of The Watchers and loved it and of course watched the film when it came out earlier this year ao when I heard there was a sequel I was ecstatic! I prepped by listening to the audio of The Watchers this time and then Head of Zeus and Aries Fiction were kind enough to grant me access to the audio for Stay In The Light which made my day because then I could listen when I had to do the tasks of life like work and cook etc!

This story picks up right where we left off in The Watchers pretty much! Mina is hiding out in a cottage and obsessing over what she's learned. Her only company the bird she now cannot be parted from - The Golden Conure. That little guy really comes into his own and I was absolutely living for it!!

As usual A.M. Shine will have you riddled with anxiety within the first few pages and keep bringing you to the brink before snapping you back so fast you'll feel like you have whiplash!

I loved this story so much and I feel like even if you hadn't read the first book you could absolutely read the second and not have any problems keeping up with the storyline.

I really enjoyed the dual POV and felt like this added much more depth to the Watchers legend than we had previously. Sean as the son of Professor Kilmartin is an interesting character and through him we learn more about the elusive professor from The Watchers book.

I was happy to see a shift of focus in this book and am hoping after THAT ending that we will get a 3rd book which will give us even more!!

Overall I loved this book and I honestly cannot wait to see where A. M. Shine takes this story next! There are so many avenues this can go down!

Stay in the Light is the creepy follow-up to the superbly chilling The Watchers. Rich in sinister atmosphere, this is the perfect unsettling read for the season. There are a couple of really fear inducing scenes and the A.M Shine creates a great sense of anxiety and fear. A great horror listen, the audiobook narrator does a great job of capturing the frightened nature of the protagonist as she is stalked once again by the watchers. #stayinthelight #amshine #sequel #netgalley #horror #spookyseason

Thank you Head of Zeus audiobooks, Netgalley and A.M Shine for the audio Arc of Stay In the Light.
Narrated by Jacqueline Milne

Having read " The Watchers" when it was released in 2021, I re listened to the audiobook before listening to Stay In the Light. Id recommend that these books need to be read in order as the 2nd book picks right up after the 1st. I loved the premise of these books and enjoy the character development and dynamics between our MC, Mina and others. We are introduced to a new character, Sean in this second book and I found him well developed.

The pacing of this book is similar to the 1st, medium paced overall, some slow burn atmospheric creepy places and some faced paced spikes. These different pacing adds to the overall, creepy, atmospheric feel to the narrative which leads into a page turner to be sure. It also gives the reader places to breathe after some tense scenes. I loved the entwining of Irish folklore/mythology of The Watchers, which is details more in this second book. It will leave you shuddering in places, looking over your shoulder, wondering who you can trust. If they are a watcher or not. I really do hope that this isn't the end and we have another book to make this a trilogy !

Jacqueline Milne narrated this book and I loved listening to her. Her voice matches the pacing of the book perfectly as does her naturally Irish lilt. Wonderful!

4.5 stars on Storygraph. 5 stars on Amazon, Goodreads