{Blog Tour} A.M. Shine’s ‘Stay In The Light’ Review & 20% Discount Code.

Stay In The Light: A.M. Shine

Reviewed By Steve Stred

CAUTION: Contains mild spoilers for The Watchers.

Stay In The Light – 20% Discount

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Stay In The Light: A.M. Shine

Reviewed By Steve Stred

Three years after Shine’s debut, ‘The Watchers,’ (my review of which you can read HERE) rampaged across an unsuspecting horror world, we get a sequel, ‘Stay in the Light,’ which was both unexpected and wholly expected.

I say unexpected, as Shine had written and released a very bleak and unnerving novel, ‘The Creeper,’ (my review of which you can read HERE) and how things were left in ‘The Watchers’ signaled that it very well could’ve been one and done. BUT. But, with how things were left, there was more to unravel and reveal AND of course, there is the fact that ‘The Watchers’ was made into a movie with the Shyamalan name all over it. So, there was the expectation that more would come and, frankly, I was super excited to see that a sequel was releasing later this year!

Now, if you’ve not read the first one, you’ll want to stay far away from this review as unfortunately, there will be some spoilers. In this rare case, they’re unavoidable, because of the events that take place in book one. If you’ve read book one, this review will be spoiler-free for you!

What I liked: In book one, we ended with Mina having escaped with her parrot from the concrete bunker in the woods and making it back to the city. There, she notices the watchers that are watching her, them with their odd faces mimicking humans and long, lean bodies.

‘Stay in the Light’ picks up not long after those events. Mina has fled to the coast, heeding Madeline’s warnings that she needs to get away, and while there, she’s befriended an older couple, who let her live in their daughter’s place, while she’s away. Mina follows the rules, keeps a vigilant eye out, and calls Ciara frequently.

Shine does a great job of completely adjusting the tone in storytelling here. Whereas ‘The Watchers’ was completely claustrophobic and unnerving, this one spends the first fifty percent focused on whether Mina is in the midst of a complete mental breakdown. Did the events of book one happen? Or was it something Mina made up? Her twin sister would suggest Mina’s gone off the deep end, now an alcoholic who believes monsters exist. But Mina, against all odds, trusts that these things happen, even as she waits for Madeline to find her.

The second storyline that we get is Sean, the son of a key figure from book one, who believes he’s made a wondrous discovery at a well-known historical landmark. He assembles a team who’ll get inside and prove that his father was right. But he doesn’t know what awaits below, and Shine is ready to reveal all.

It’s these archaeological moments where we learn the truth about who the watchers are and what is about to happen, and I have to say, I was so happy that it wasn’t a standard trope, or a well-trodden ‘good versus evil’ battle. This was uniquely based on Ireland and Ireland’s history, and it was such a revelation and refreshing.

The ending was spot on and not only answered some lingering questions from book one but also sets up the potential for a third book. I’d be fine if it ended here, but I’d also be completely on board seeing how all of this wraps up and what Shine has planned.

What I didn’t like: This was a rare case where I wish the book was another hundred pages longer, simply because I wanted more of Sean’s scenes and more revelations as the team went further below ground. Shine has such a way with his prose and the descriptions he gives us are immaculate, which made me want that much more of the subterranean scares.

Additionally, I would’ve loved a quick recap at the start about where things had left off and who was who, as I forgot Ciara completely until her backstory was shared again.

Why you should buy this: If you loved ‘The Watchers’ as much as I did, then you’ll be all over this one. I haven’t managed to watch the movie yet, but I’d also imagine that if you didn’t read book one but watched the movie, then you’ll want to learn more. Shine’s writing is stellar and once again, this world is brought alive through that wonderful writing, and the amazing characters and is highlighted by Mina and Madeline’s odd connection, a connection that should not be, but is, and used perfectly to pull the readers along.

A stellar sequel and one that will make many readers very happy.

Stay In The Light is published 10th October 2024

Please be sure to check out the other stops on the #StayInTheLight blog tour.

Stay In The Light

From critically acclaimed Irish horror writer A.M. Shine, the sequel to The Watchers, now adapted into a major motion picture produced by M. Night Shyamalan.

YOU MAY HAVE ESCAPED… BUT YOU’LL NEVER BE FREE.

After her terrifying experience at the hands of the Watchers, Mina has escaped to a cottage on the west coast of Ireland. She obsessively researches her former captors, desperate to find any way to prolong the safety of humankind.

When Mina encounters a stranger near her home, she fears the worst – for she knows the figure is not what it seems. Soon, people she has encountered start to disappear.

Mina knows the Watchers’ power is growing. She flees for her life, but when she reports her fears she finds her sanity questioned. Can she convince people that the Watchers are real, and ready to strike – or will she suffer the fate she has dreaded since she first encountered those malevolent beings?

A chilling modern twist on the Gothic horror novel, perfect for fans of Kealan Patrick Burke, T. Kingfisher and classic horror.

You can buy Stay In The Light from Amazon UK & Amazon US

Steve Stred

A multiple-award nominated author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.

Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.

His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.

He is an Active Member of the HWA.

Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com
Twitter: @stevestred
Instagram: @stevestred
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16356875.Steve_Stred
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/steve-stred
Amazon: amazon.com/author/stevestred