Stay in the Light

By: Mariah Thomas

A.M. Shine’s book Stay in the Light is a sequel to The Watchers published in 2022. The central story of The Watchers follows Mina as she embarks on a journey of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She works at a pet shop and is tasked with delivering a parrot deep in the Irish countryside. Unfortunately, upon arrival her car breaks down and electronics give out. So, she finds herself stranded near a forest with a looming darkness. She soon meets others in the forest and learns about “The Watchers.” As the story continues, the worlds between horror as we know it today and folklore merge. Mythical creatures and humans at war. In the end, Mina escapes with a few others trapped in the coop with her. There is a sense of safety that is quickly swept away. In a twist during the final moments, the story has honestly just begun. Shine does a wonderful job bridging both novels while allowing them to exist and be enjoyed on their own. While context is important, this book is able to stand on its own with new horrors.

Stay in the Light sets the tone by following up with Mina as she works through the trauma she endured in the forest. She is left with fears of the night and anxieties about what is to come. Mina has now fled to a coastal town, living in a cottage on the west coast of Ireland. Madeline’s warning to get away was listened to and with the ending of the first novel, she has an increased desire to understand. Therefore, she obsessively studies her former captors. Mina has an understanding of the deeper lore of their existence and the threat they pose to humanity with their hatred. She soon comes across a stranger near her home and fears the worst. Over time, people she has known begin to disappear. Deep down, she knows what is really happening. Mina is aware that The Watchers grow stronger every day. When she attempts to escape once again and inform others of what is happening, her sanity is questioned. This puts her in a place of needing to find a way to make people believe her and really help to put an end to The Watchers. Just like the end of book series, the conclusion here leaves you ready for the next.

A.M Shine has a gift for world building in a horror setting. Word by word, you are brought further into this world. The tiniest of details allow you to hear the floorboard creak or a candle flicker. To me, these books are as if MGM’s series “From” merged with Alice in Wonderland. Like Alice, as the reader you are placed to question Mina’s reliability in storytelling. A carnal desire to understand creatures that inhabit an isolated location is reminiscent of “From.” It’s hard to narrow down a favorite moment without spoilers. However, I can say the existence of hope in tragedy is something I loved the most of this book. When all seems lost within this world, you trust the main character’s ability to find a way through. Additionally, this is a wonderful horror series surrounding strong women. M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed a movie adaptation to The Watchers and I hope to see an adaptation of Stay in the Light as well.

If you are a fan of The Watchers either in book or movie form, I highly recommend keeping up with the sequel. It continues the story in a new way. For this spooky season, this is the perfect horror read. It is just the right amount of scary and simplicity. By that I mean it is an easy book to get lost in and dive into Mina’s story.