The Watchers is a horror story set in the forests of Galway.
Mina needs to deliver a bird to a friend of a friend. On her
way, her car breaks down at the edge of a forest – one that you won’t find on any
map. Unbeknown to her, the forest hides dark, deadly secrets and once you’re
in, you aren’t coming out. Taking the bird with her, she enters the forest to
seek help. Hearing a woman screaming at her draws her to a bunker where she
finds three people hiding who tell her a tale that sounds far too implausible.
Apparently, they have been there a while and by night hide within the light in
the bunker and by day sneak out for food. But never too far, as what is out
there will kill them before they reach the edge of the forest. The Watchers are
waiting, and there is nothing anyone can do…
The book started off very slowly to me and there was a
lengthy section where I almost didn’t continue with it as I thought it would
just be the rest of the story about that. I’m glad I was wrong, as once it
picked up, the story drew me in. The concept of the evil out there being
unknown and unseen made it far more scary than a “monster” novel. The idea that
you don’t know what they are or how to escape them (as verified by those there)
made you think perhaps there was no way out.
The characters grew as the story progressed, and while Mina’s
was the main POV, it was interesting to have some of the other chapters from
the other characters’ point of view. This really helped to understand their
back stories and the reasons they reacted as they did. This allows you to see
how Mina views herself as so boring that no one would even miss her if she
never came back. It shows how Daniel’s treatment as a child has broken him down
so much that he is constantly on the edge. Ciara’s story has us seeing her going
from one who is filled with optimism to a shadow of her former self. And Margaret,
well, Margaret is a force unto herself. One minute you hate her and her attitude
and ways, and the next you appreciate her decisions.
There were elements of the story that seemed a bit too much
of a stretch, like the whole boat situation, but the plot twists definitely
surprised me. You expected certain things to happen and were then presented with
something else, so the story had you on your toes at times. The proofing of the
book was done well, with no major errors glaring at you and interrupting the
reading experience.
While not your average horror story, this one was creepy
enough. I would love to have found out more about the Watchers themselves, and
I was definitely rooting for “The Golden One” the whole way through.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.
