A Feast for the Eyes

by Alex Crespo

Sawkill Girls meets Twin Peaks in a page-turning queer supernatural thriller, where four teens must track down a local cryptid that’s feeding off secrets, before their own hidden truths are exposed.

“Alex Crespo thrills with a meticulously crafted page-turner. A feast of twists, tension and secrets.” —C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Rise

On the dreary Oregon coast, an all-seeing beast—known as the Watcher—lies in wait. When Shay and her girlfriend, Lauren, get into a fight over whether to go public with their clandestine relationship, they awaken the creature. Although Lauren is badly injured, the girls escape with their lives but can’t shake the feeling of the creature’s eyes tracking them.

Meanwhile, aspiring photographer Zoe is desperate to put together a portfolio worthy of earning a scholarship to attend art college. Her photography teacher praises her skill but urges her to select more daring subjects for her submissions—a tall task when Zoe's camera acts as a barrier between herself and the rest of the world.

As rumors swirl about Lauren's injuries, Shay remains steadfast in that the Watcher is to blame, not her. She asks for Zoe’s help in snapping a photo of the local legend. Proof would help Shay clear her name and certainly be daring enough for Zoe’s scholarship. Together with their friends Jack and Parker, they set out to expose the Watcher before its ever-creeping eyes cast the secrets they’re all keeping from the town—and one another—into the light.

Eerily atmospheric and as piercing as a pair of eyes on the back of your head, Alex Crespo's LGBTQ+ supernatural thriller is a poignant story about the prices we pay to keep our secrets hidden—sometimes for good reason. Through creeping tension and mounting horror, readers will furiously turn the pages with their breaths held.

Perfect for readers who love:
-Sapphic yearning
-Popular girl/ Unpopular girl romance
-Slow Burn
-Secret Relationship
-Small Town with a Dark Secret
-Found Family
-Eldritch Abomination
-Hunter Becomes the Hunted

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Queer, LGBT, Thriller, Paranormal, Fantasy

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Born and raised by the Great Lakes, Alex Crespo writes about queer love, magic, and all the ways they intersect. When not writing, you can find him making art or daydreaming about Mothman. He currently lives in Chicago with an endless anime watchlist and his black cat Hex. You can find him on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram as @byalexcrespo.

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Wonderful, coming of age book with representation that I wish I had when I was younger.

Set in my home state of Oregon the story centers around 4 friends--Shay, Jack, Parker, and Zoe--who are trying to figure out why they seem to be targeted by the Watcher.

Set in the fictional town Pine Cove (loosely based on Seaside) the 4 start to unravel secrets about themselves that they never wanted to share or thought they would have to.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Powell's Books for the Advanced Reader Copy. And Alex, thanks for giving my home state some recognition you did well.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who else is a little obsessed with the idea of cryptids? 🙋🏻‍♂️ Just me?! Coolcoolcool. The whole conspiracy theories over Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Chupacabra… I find it so interesting. It all starts with folklore, like most things, but builds over time as sightings happen. The stories grow over time and become what we know today.

A Feast for the Eyes is a folk tale, wrapped in a moth’s cocoon, tied up and soaked in the lies of everyone around you. It’s filled with mystery, anticipation and a gaggle of high schoolers just trying to survive. But what they don’t know, at least until it’s too late, is that a being is watching and listening to them. The Watcher might have been a story from summer camp told at night to scare your bunkmate, but for these kids it’s real… and it feeds off of your lies.

With the story revolving around queer kids in high school trying not to be found out, you better believe a lie or two has been made. So that alone tells you that so many of these characters aren’t safe. And, of course, no one believes the people saying a make-believe creature is hunting them, so they just sound like they’re off their rockers. Which makes for a juicy story about a group of kids solving something themselves. As only teenagers can do in a YA Paranormal Mystery or maybe this is categorized as Horror. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Any way you look at it, this story was fun, albeit creepy seeing as how they’re being hunted by a monster, and a little sad in parts. Overall, it was well worth the read and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Check your triggers though, because there is talks of hazing, bullying, misgendering (even unknowingly or maybe the character guessed and was evil), abuse by a parent or guardian, a teenager living in his car, and there is probably more that I’m not thinking of now.

Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of the book.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Alex Crespo’s writing is always one I go back to. This book drew me in being more horror based and I wasn’t disappointed!

This focuses on a local town cryptid and the secrets it is trying to claw to the surface. We have rotating POV between Shay & Zoe, two girls who are thrown together after Shay is attacked by The Watcher and recruits Zoe to take its picture. The Watcher is a local monster who has been terrorizing the town for decades. While some don’t believe in its existence, the creature has had a major role in more lives than they know about. The Watcher’s attacks all have something in common and they are determined to get to the bottom of it before the creature takes them out.

The major themes in this book are done very well. Not being ashamed of who you are, standing up for what’s right, and knowing you have people to lean on and don’t have to do things all on your own. I know myself I have a problem letting people know about my burdens and this book shows how great it is to have people on your side who can listen and help.

While the main focus of this book was The Watcher, it isn’t really shown as often. This is one of those stories where the monster is important but not the most important thing. We see glimpses and flashes of it while the crew is dealing with their own personal issues and trauma. I wish we could have gotten more of The Watcher and a bit about it, but it being just a scary legend with no real backstory is also interesting. This book was a well done horror that doesn’t get too far into the terrifying category. I would recommend this for people who like monster fics that aren’t too gory.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got an arc from the Publisher 4.5/5

Another fantastic way to kick off the Halloween season, I can see the Twin Peaks influence and it’s very atmospheric! I love the characters and the dynamic of their friend group, I wish I’d had a book like this in high school because I would’ve wished I had FRIENDS like this. I think I would’ve liked a little more from the ending but I’m not sure how much of that was the narrative flow and how much was me stopping in the middle of what I realize how was the climax and not realizing how much book I had left, but overall this was very enjoyable!

[Starr ❇✌❇]

DNF @ 30%

I think Crespo's writing might just not be for me, since I'm having similar issues with this book as I did with Saint Juniper's Folly- it feels very meandering and passive, and the characters are too thin to feel interesting to me. I love the concept of The Watcher and queer teens going cryptid hunting was nearly enough to make me push through, but I've gotta give myself a chance to read books that are going to work better for me.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Feast for the Eyes by Alex Crespo is part supernatural thriller, part small-town coming-of-age story, and part meditation on the things we hide even from ourselves. Set against the foggy backdrop of Oregon’s coast, the story introduces the Watcher, a cryptid that doesn’t just stalk its prey but feeds on secrets. It’s a pitch-perfect metaphor for the way shame, gossip, and hidden truths can devour a community from within.

When Shay and her girlfriend Lauren clash over whether to go public with their relationship, their argument literally wakes the Watcher, leading to a brutal attack that leaves Lauren injured and Shay desperate for answers. Enter Zoe, a talented but guarded photographer struggling to assemble a portfolio bold enough to earn an art scholarship. Her camera gives her distance from the world until Shay asks her to help capture the creature on film.

Crespo brings together an ensemble cast of Shay, Zoe, and their friends Jack and Parker each hiding something that could ruin them if revealed. As the four teens venture into the mist and menace of the Oregon coast, they’re not just hunting a monster; they’re trying to reckon with their own truths before the Watcher does it for them.

What makes the novel stand out is its mix of moody atmosphere, layered characters, and genuine suspense. Crespo writes the Watcher as both terrifying cryptid and symbolic force, but never lets the metaphor swallow the plot; the mystery remains compelling right up to the final reveal.

If you’re looking for a story that blends cryptid-hunting adventure with heartfelt exploration of identity, loyalty, and the power and peril of truth, it will definitely sink its claws into you.

⚡️Thank you Peachtree Teen and Alex Crespo for sharing this book with me!

[Clara Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed it ! not usually a fan of ya but i guess we r branching out lately (thanks libro.fm n ur alcs). definitely disagree with the twin peaks comparison - its more like a contemporary, more lighthearted life is strange. asks the real questions like are you the black coffee couple or the vanilla milkshake couple.

[Cris (Shadows In My Pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
review coming soon

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous cover and a fun yet emotional crytid catching story. I wanted to give the 4 teens the biggest hugs, I love them so much

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Feast for the Eyes is a sci-fi thriller mixed with a tale of friendship, keeping secrets and self-esteem. When two teenage girls are attacked in the woods, the rumor of a local creature named “The Watcher” that has tormented the town through the years reignites. Hoping to snap a photo of The Watcher for her college scholarship portfolio, Zoe teams up with some classmates to put an end to the terror. What starts as a sci-fi story quickly mixes one too many subplots that lack what it takes to make this tale heart racing and visceral enough for fans to invest in.

Shay and Lauren are best friends who have started hooking up. Lauren doesn’t want to go public with their relationship and they begin to argue. Suddenly, a creature attacks and Lauren is badly injured. Lauren refuses to see Shay or anyone after the incident, but Shay is concerned as she has started to feel like the creature, a local phenomenon known as “The Watcher,” is tracking her and she believes Lauren feels it, too. Meanwhile, classmate Zoe Ramos, who has a passion for photography, is hoping to land a college scholarship in order to attend an art school. Unfortunately, her photography teacher thinks her portfolio isn’t up to par. Zoe allows Shay and her pal Jack to convince her that taking a photo of The Watcher would be just what she needs to punch up her work. Adding to the pack is Parker, who is friends with Zoe and Jack and a believer in the supernatural and folklore. They insert themselves into the mission and, thus, the four of them team up to expose the creature. And did I mention that Zoe has a crush on Shay, Jack’s home life is a mess, and Parker is struggling with their identity? Yeah, there is a lot going on with this book.

Author Alex Crespo overwhelms readers with so many aspects of the storyline rather than focusing on The Watcher and his demise. Eventually, readers learn that it’s the keeping of significant secrets that draws The Watcher to them. I would have loved to have centered more on the creature and its origin story, but with all the various subplots going on there just wasn’t enough space for it. We get a bit of backstory through others who have had their own run-ins with the creature, but no talk of the year it all started or possibly how it came to exist. I do love the suspense though that Crespo has peppered throughout the story. You never know when The Watcher will appear, and you desperately hope that Zoe can snag the photo she needs for that scholarship. And I did like that each main character had their own internal struggles that needed addressing – Jack’s home life, Parker’s identity and swim team concerns and Shay coming out to her family and friends? It feels like two stories told in one – with not enough focus on the beast and where it all began. My other qualm is with the ending of the book as there is vagueness surrounding the finality of one matter in particular; however, I can’t go any further so as not to ruin reading the story for yourself.

They saying, “Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone,” is never truer than in the book A Feast for the Eyes. However, with so much going on, the focus of the heart of the story that initially hooks readers – a local creature terrorizing a town over the years – gets diluted. This would be a decent tale to tackle in time for Halloween, but don’t expect any frights or moments to startle enough to truly make it a proper thriller.

[TheLibrariansDaughter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Statement begins...

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Feast for the Eyes is a twisty, edge-of-your-seat horror novel perfect for fans of shows like Riverdale and Twin Peaks. The story follows four teens: Zoe, Shay, Jack, and Parker,  who embark on a journey to go cryptid-hunting for a horrifying creature known as the Watcher, which has haunted their small Oregon coast town for decades. One of the teens, Zoe, is determined to capture a photo of the Watcher for her photography portfolio in hopes of winning a coveted scholarship, and she enlists the help of Shay, a girl who had recently witnessed the Watcher in an attack on her and her girlfriend. As the teens track the Watcher, they uncover long-buried secrets among the townspeople and are forced to confront the hidden truths they’ve been carrying themselves. The main characters are all queer, and various main and side characters are of different ethnicities. 

A Feast for the Eyes captures readers’ attention from the first page, and does not let go until the final chapter. Crespo’s writing is timely and fresh, and accomplishes the difficult task of staying relevant with teen interest and slang while not appearing to try too hard. I loved all four of the teens in this book, and thought that the author did a good job of making them all unique, fully-fleshed out characters. They had great camaraderie with one another, despite coming from very different backgrounds, but still managed to find common ground. I was so fascinated by the concept of the Watcher, and how its appearances in the town (similarly to Pennywise the clown in Stephen King’s It) have been a constant throughout the town’s history. The watcher’s role as both a cryptid and a metaphor for guilt/keeping secrets left me with a lot to think about.  This book tackled tough topics in an informative and sensitive way, such as hazing, homelessness, queerphobia, and dermatillomania. Balancing both horror and heart, A Feast for the Eyes should aim to be on everyone’s To Be Read pile! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Feast for the Eyes follows aspiring photographer, Zoe, as her world turns upside down when a classmate winds up in the hospital and claims the Watcher did it. The local cryptid has haunted their dreary Oregon town for decades and no one has gotten a photo. Zoe will be the first. With the help of her friend Parker, and Shay and Jack, two classmates who saw the Watcher, they’re going to get proof the Watcher exists and stop it from terrorizing their town.

I love a cryptid haunting a small town kind of story. This one was really fun and the concept of the Watcher was super interesting. I really liked the ending and how everything came together. It was a bit slower and more focused on the teens and their problems than I was anticipating. I think I wanted a bit more horror and thriller. It was still very good and had a lot of conversations and topics brought up about gender and being queer that I think a lot of teens will be able to relate to and hopefully find inspiration or comfort in.

I quite enjoyed the main four characters. They felt very found family by the end . Jack had great humour and I loved how protective he was. I really loved Zoe and Shay’s relationship. It was so sweet. Both girls were great main characters and I really loved their growth and where their story ended. They were very realistic and relatable. Parker was so great too and what they going through was crazy. I really liked how strong they were and what they overcame.

Overall, if you love coming of age stories with a cryptid haunting a town, I’d definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the arc!

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good! In the small town of Pine Cove Oregon two girls are having a disagreement only they aren’t alone. Arguing over a secret they are being hunted, but by what? For years the town has had sightings of the cryptid The Watcher. All accounts differ in wha it looks like but the one thing that seems to stay the same is the glowing eyes, but there aren’t just two. Shay and Lauren were attacked and once word gets out everyone is looking at Shay differently, after all maybe she just attacked Lauren. Zoe is building her photography portfolio for a scholarship but she’s still looking for something specific. Jack also saw The Watcher when he saved Shay and Lauren. In order for people to know that Jack and Shay are telling the truth they need photographic evidence. So they team up with Zoe and her friend Parker, who is a cryptid expert. Together the four of them are on the hunt for The Watcher. But why secrets are they hiding from each other? And how much danger are they putting themselves in? I loved Parker, Zoe, Shay, and Jack! I loved all the secret keeping and the mystery of The Watcher! Thrilling, intense, queer, and so entertaining!!

[blackbirds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice, spooky treat to read in October! While the interpersonal high school drama is mostly the center focus, the monster definitely gets its creepy times in and is a really good backdrop for all of the main character's issues. Queer teens take on a cryptid is always a good premise for a novel, let's be real. I do wish we could have had Jack and Parker POVs too, but Crespo does a really good job of rounding them out even though we're limited to Zoe's and Shay's POVs. Speaking of the two, I loved Shay's battle with anxiety and I adored how focused and direct Zoe was. Their POVs are very distinct and I loved both of them. My teenage self would have absolutely devoured this book, so I'm glad I was able to read it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

This was more a mystery than a thriller to me, but I still enjoyed it. I felt like the focus was much more on this group of teens being honest with each other and with themselves than it was about the cryptid that was watching them.

Jen Zhao does a good job with the audiobook narration.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Peachtree Publishing, and Peachtree Teen in exchange for an honest review.

[Buzz51 · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, I haven't read a book this engaging in soooo long! A PNW horror story centered around queer teens is just my cup of tea. I also enjoyed that all characters in the group had time to flesh themselves out, rather than prioritize one over another. I will admit some parts of the story dragged, but honestly, I like that it was less about the Watcher and more about the characters' dilemmas. Would definitely recommend 4.75/5.

[Tara Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic YA horror! A group of high schoolers try to find out why a horrifying monster is targeting them. I loved how as they try to figure out what's driving the monster they also uncover a lot of secrets in their town. This was a fun and spooky adventure. Great representation of lgbtqia+ and anxiety. This would be great for teens and young adults.

[Donna Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

A solid 3.5 stars for this YA Horror book.⭐ This was a really cool and unique take on a local cryptic who is hunting down some teens. The tension was intense as we saw the group of teens trying their best to find a cryptid that hunts people down who refuse to tell the truth. The characters were alright, but I enjoyed Parker and Jack more than our main duo, Shay and Zoe. The small town Oregon setting was perfect for this book, and I enjoyed the tension between them all. Some points of the story feel unevenly paced, but it really did a great job at pulling everything together. I would have loved to have a little more screentime of the Watcher as it haunted the teens, but the unnerving paranoia of being watched was good. Overall, if you are looking for a unique horror book focusing on a cryptid, this is it.

[Wren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it’s very obvious in its metaphor, this book is still a fun read. It packs a lot into its page count. I appreciate its portrayal of guilt and anxiety in different forms. The copium is real, you know?

[Rebekah Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gay /pos
Quick read and likable characters. I giggled and kicked my feet at some points. I enjoyed the concept of this book and the idea of a new Oregon cryptid! YA novel. No sex (/pos again)
Also the slip cover glows in the dark which is cool as hell

[Hone]

(Audio courtesy of Penguin Random House Audio, Alex Crespo, and the Libro.fm Audiobook Listening Copy Program.)

[daniiiee]

so basically if the wanderer was actually scary then??

ah well the cover looks awesome would love to read :D

[Joplyn Raavel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! Characters, build up, plot, and a creative monster!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four queer teens hunt a cryptid. We love to see it.

[librarilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A precious gem.