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Grace
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26A haunting, atmospheric modern Gothic horror tale based on traditional Irish mythology, from the author of smash hit The Watchers. Ancient evil is awakened on a lonely isle off the coast of Ireland.
TO LEARN THE TRUTH
WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?
Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn't been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.
They are mistaken.
Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.
As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.
Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.
TO LEARN THE TRUTH
WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?
Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn't been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.
They are mistaken.
Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.
As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.
Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
933 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Shine
7 books1,472 followersA. M. Shine is an author of Literary Horror from the west of Ireland. It was there that at a young age he discovered a passion for classic horror stories, and where he received his Masters in history, before ultimately sharpening his quill to pursue a life devoted to all things literary and macabre. His writing is inspired by the trinity of horror, history, and superstition, and he has tormented, toyed with, and tortured more characters than he will ever confess to.
Owing to a fascination with the works of Edgar Allan Poe and his ilk, A. M. Shine’s earlier writings were Gothic in their style and imagination. When his focus turned to novels he refined his craft as an author of Irish horror – stories influenced by his country’s culture, landscape, and language, but which draw their dark atmosphere and eloquence from the Gothic canon of his past.
He is represented by John Baker of Bell Lomax Moreton Literary Agency.
Owing to a fascination with the works of Edgar Allan Poe and his ilk, A. M. Shine’s earlier writings were Gothic in their style and imagination. When his focus turned to novels he refined his craft as an author of Irish horror – stories influenced by his country’s culture, landscape, and language, but which draw their dark atmosphere and eloquence from the Gothic canon of his past.
He is represented by John Baker of Bell Lomax Moreton Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
November 28, 2025
You only get to have one of the exact same “big twist” in a book. Sorry, I don't make the rules. I mean, okay, I just made this one, but whatever. It probably goes without saying (but I guess not because *gesticulates wildly at this book*), but a twist is far less twisty when it's done for the second time in 150-ish pages.
Anyway, despite the title, Grace isn't really even the main character (and, in fact, disappears for a good portion of the book). This really feels more like Father O'Malley's story and we learn far more about him than anyone else on the island. The point of view changes with each chapter and Grace and a few of the (mostly unlikeable) islanders get to tell their sides of events, but mostly the narrative keeps coming back to O'Malley.
The setting is fantastic. Croaghnakeela is apparently a real island off the coast of Ireland, although I assume that some liberties have been taken with its history (for the sake of the people who live there, let's hope so). The Irish folklore is a super interesting, too. The author definitely knows how to write atmospheric prose, and the Bodach is a fascinating villain.
But, like, mostly the characters in this book just kind of skitter around the island while changing their minds a lot? The majority of them aren't particularly fleshed out, the history of the island (and the Bodach) isn't particularly fleshed out, and I don't even know what the heck that epilogue was supposed to be. The text switches between the present day and flashbacks without any warning, and the second half in particular was pretty underwhelming for me. Also, the twist(s) mentioned above made me literally LOL, especially the second time it happened. It started out decently strong and I loved the idea of an Irish island haunted by an ancient evil, but by the end I just kind of wanted the Bodach to slaughter them all.
Despite all of the above, however, this story is still entertaining-ish. I wasn't super invested in any of it, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. It has its flaws, but the premise is intriguing and the Big Bad is the stuff of nightmares.
3 stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 10, 2026.
Anyway, despite the title, Grace isn't really even the main character (and, in fact, disappears for a good portion of the book). This really feels more like Father O'Malley's story and we learn far more about him than anyone else on the island. The point of view changes with each chapter and Grace and a few of the (mostly unlikeable) islanders get to tell their sides of events, but mostly the narrative keeps coming back to O'Malley.
The setting is fantastic. Croaghnakeela is apparently a real island off the coast of Ireland, although I assume that some liberties have been taken with its history (for the sake of the people who live there, let's hope so). The Irish folklore is a super interesting, too. The author definitely knows how to write atmospheric prose, and the Bodach is a fascinating villain.
But, like, mostly the characters in this book just kind of skitter around the island while changing their minds a lot? The majority of them aren't particularly fleshed out, the history of the island (and the Bodach) isn't particularly fleshed out, and I don't even know what the heck that epilogue was supposed to be. The text switches between the present day and flashbacks without any warning, and the second half in particular was pretty underwhelming for me. Also, the twist(s) mentioned above made me literally LOL, especially the second time it happened. It started out decently strong and I loved the idea of an Irish island haunted by an ancient evil, but by the end I just kind of wanted the Bodach to slaughter them all.
Despite all of the above, however, this story is still entertaining-ish. I wasn't super invested in any of it, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. It has its flaws, but the premise is intriguing and the Big Bad is the stuff of nightmares.
3 stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is February 10, 2026.
November 10, 2025
Huge thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this one!
Back in the Halcyon days of Kendall Reviews, Gavin DM’d me to ask if I’d like to check out the debut novel of a new Irish horror novel. It was titled ‘The Watchers’ and the synopsis had me very intrigued. I read it, loved it, raved about it, and subsequently have enjoyed another two novels from one A.M. Shine. Shine, on his end, has hit homerun after homerun with his debut, the sequel (‘Stay in the Light’) and the horrifying ‘The Creeper,’ and ‘The Watchers’ was adapted into film and became a smash hit for Netflix.
All of that is to say, that I was beyond surprised when Shine DM’d me recently to ask if I’d be keen on reviewing his next novel. Truth was, after seeing it announced, I’d already preordered the Kindle edition, as I was certain a novel of this magnitude wouldn’t be available to request on Netgalley when it went live.
As with each of Shine’s books, there are three things you can expect. The first is remote location. The second is quality, well-fleshed characters. And the third is an absolutely creepy-as-all-hell atmosphere that seemed to blanket my Kindle with the same fog that appeared within this one.
I dove in, excited to learn what terror Shine was delivering this time, knowing full well that I’d be wishing I was sleeping with a light on.
What I liked: What happens when you take ‘The Reddening’ by Adam Nevill, ‘Eynhallow’ by Tim McGregor and ‘Behemoth’ from H.P. Newquist and mix them all in a blender? You get ‘Grace’ from A.M. Shine.
The novel follows a young woman, Grace, who discovers that she was adopted as a child. Her mother has passed away and has left her house to her. The only problem is that the house is on Croaghnakeela Island, some hundreds of kilometers away. Grace isn’t even familiar with the island and discovers she needs to take a boat – which even then is a challenge to arrange – to get to the island. The boat operator won’t step foot on the island, believes it to be cursed, but Grace doesn’t believe in such things.
Croaghnakeela Island is real – I Google mapped it, lol, but it’s safe to say Shine has taken significant liberties with the place, judging by what Google Maps shows. Saying that, the island does have Tobar Cáillín Holy Well, a religious relic, which seems to have inspired one aspect of the story. You see, the residents there toss coins into this ‘well,’ wanting to appease a benevolent creature that seems to be the root of this curse. And while I won’t spoil what this creature is, I will say that I have a short story inspired by the folklore behind it and have always found it fascinating, so when it popped up here, I was elated.
Shine sets things up nicely. We see the rise and fall of the island’s inhabitants. We are shown what might be the opening that allowed such a thing to arrive on the islands shorefront to begin with, and we see the cracks form between friends and ultimately the trust fail as they come to grips with what must be done to rid themselves of the islands infection.
I loved the characters Shine introduces, each one a crusty, weathered individual who you instantly like and dislike in equal measure. We learn of previous attempts to leave the island and we get the shit scared out of us time and time again.
The final quarter is revelatory. We learn secrets, we see some folks step up and do what needs to be done while others cower and show who they really are. And all the while Shine layers this last section with more fog and more insanity. It created a reading experience that was claustrophobic, visceral and had my heart jackhammering in my chest. Which led to an ending – and epilogue – that delivered exactly what I hoped for.
What I didn’t like: Funny story on this part. When Shine messaged me he even mentioned how he knew I don’t often mesh well with books with POV changes from chapter to chapter – which is what this book does. Hilariously (take that Shine!) that aspect worked phenomenally for me.
Instead, the one aspect that I wasn’t totally sold on for a bit was the dampening of Grace’s storyline (though it was necessary) and the switch to the Reverend. At least, I think he was a Reverend? I’m totally drawing a blank right now. I loved his character, but for me, Grace’s story drew me in far more than his, though his was paramount to what happens and how we get to the ending.
Why you should buy this: Over the last few years, A.M. Shine has cemented himself as a both a ‘must-read’ author for me but also one of a handful of authors who can easily scare the pants off me. His ability to create scenes and a tangible atmosphere in his books is world class and ‘Grace’ easily slots itself into the category of ‘Best Folklore Horror Novels of the Last 10 Years.’ Taking cues from ‘Starve Acre’ and ‘Cunning Folk,’ Shine wastes no time delivering creeps.
If you’ve not yet read any of A.M.’s work, this is a fantastic leaping in point. If you’re a dedicated Shine fan already, then you’ll be chomping at the bit to see release day arrive.
This novel turns the shadows in the corner darker, the blackness of the night blacker and the fog in the air thicker. And I can’t thank Shine enough for reminding me that sometimes the scariest things in lonely places are the ‘things’ that go bump in the night.
Fantastic.
Back in the Halcyon days of Kendall Reviews, Gavin DM’d me to ask if I’d like to check out the debut novel of a new Irish horror novel. It was titled ‘The Watchers’ and the synopsis had me very intrigued. I read it, loved it, raved about it, and subsequently have enjoyed another two novels from one A.M. Shine. Shine, on his end, has hit homerun after homerun with his debut, the sequel (‘Stay in the Light’) and the horrifying ‘The Creeper,’ and ‘The Watchers’ was adapted into film and became a smash hit for Netflix.
All of that is to say, that I was beyond surprised when Shine DM’d me recently to ask if I’d be keen on reviewing his next novel. Truth was, after seeing it announced, I’d already preordered the Kindle edition, as I was certain a novel of this magnitude wouldn’t be available to request on Netgalley when it went live.
As with each of Shine’s books, there are three things you can expect. The first is remote location. The second is quality, well-fleshed characters. And the third is an absolutely creepy-as-all-hell atmosphere that seemed to blanket my Kindle with the same fog that appeared within this one.
I dove in, excited to learn what terror Shine was delivering this time, knowing full well that I’d be wishing I was sleeping with a light on.
What I liked: What happens when you take ‘The Reddening’ by Adam Nevill, ‘Eynhallow’ by Tim McGregor and ‘Behemoth’ from H.P. Newquist and mix them all in a blender? You get ‘Grace’ from A.M. Shine.
The novel follows a young woman, Grace, who discovers that she was adopted as a child. Her mother has passed away and has left her house to her. The only problem is that the house is on Croaghnakeela Island, some hundreds of kilometers away. Grace isn’t even familiar with the island and discovers she needs to take a boat – which even then is a challenge to arrange – to get to the island. The boat operator won’t step foot on the island, believes it to be cursed, but Grace doesn’t believe in such things.
Croaghnakeela Island is real – I Google mapped it, lol, but it’s safe to say Shine has taken significant liberties with the place, judging by what Google Maps shows. Saying that, the island does have Tobar Cáillín Holy Well, a religious relic, which seems to have inspired one aspect of the story. You see, the residents there toss coins into this ‘well,’ wanting to appease a benevolent creature that seems to be the root of this curse. And while I won’t spoil what this creature is, I will say that I have a short story inspired by the folklore behind it and have always found it fascinating, so when it popped up here, I was elated.
Shine sets things up nicely. We see the rise and fall of the island’s inhabitants. We are shown what might be the opening that allowed such a thing to arrive on the islands shorefront to begin with, and we see the cracks form between friends and ultimately the trust fail as they come to grips with what must be done to rid themselves of the islands infection.
I loved the characters Shine introduces, each one a crusty, weathered individual who you instantly like and dislike in equal measure. We learn of previous attempts to leave the island and we get the shit scared out of us time and time again.
The final quarter is revelatory. We learn secrets, we see some folks step up and do what needs to be done while others cower and show who they really are. And all the while Shine layers this last section with more fog and more insanity. It created a reading experience that was claustrophobic, visceral and had my heart jackhammering in my chest. Which led to an ending – and epilogue – that delivered exactly what I hoped for.
What I didn’t like: Funny story on this part. When Shine messaged me he even mentioned how he knew I don’t often mesh well with books with POV changes from chapter to chapter – which is what this book does. Hilariously (take that Shine!) that aspect worked phenomenally for me.
Instead, the one aspect that I wasn’t totally sold on for a bit was the dampening of Grace’s storyline (though it was necessary) and the switch to the Reverend. At least, I think he was a Reverend? I’m totally drawing a blank right now. I loved his character, but for me, Grace’s story drew me in far more than his, though his was paramount to what happens and how we get to the ending.
Why you should buy this: Over the last few years, A.M. Shine has cemented himself as a both a ‘must-read’ author for me but also one of a handful of authors who can easily scare the pants off me. His ability to create scenes and a tangible atmosphere in his books is world class and ‘Grace’ easily slots itself into the category of ‘Best Folklore Horror Novels of the Last 10 Years.’ Taking cues from ‘Starve Acre’ and ‘Cunning Folk,’ Shine wastes no time delivering creeps.
If you’ve not yet read any of A.M.’s work, this is a fantastic leaping in point. If you’re a dedicated Shine fan already, then you’ll be chomping at the bit to see release day arrive.
This novel turns the shadows in the corner darker, the blackness of the night blacker and the fog in the air thicker. And I can’t thank Shine enough for reminding me that sometimes the scariest things in lonely places are the ‘things’ that go bump in the night.
Fantastic.
December 4, 2025
3.5 stars
Thank you Zeus books for an early ebook! I thought much about this story was unique and the Irish folklore was intriguing and spooky. I had a hard time with the more fantasy forward parts/ god loving character… and the jumping timelines at times felt disjointed to me
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTr5hE85N/
Thank you Zeus books for an early ebook! I thought much about this story was unique and the Irish folklore was intriguing and spooky. I had a hard time with the more fantasy forward parts/ god loving character… and the jumping timelines at times felt disjointed to me
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTr5hE85N/
Want to read
November 14, 2025˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
I enjoyed and got creeped out with “The Creeper,” so I'm excited to read another AM Shire book!🫣
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author — Aria & Aries, A.M. Shine, & NetGalley —for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed and got creeped out with “The Creeper,” so I'm excited to read another AM Shire book!🫣
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author — Aria & Aries, A.M. Shine, & NetGalley —for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2025
Grace
I really liked The Watchers and its sequel, so was really hyped the Netgalley gave me access to this one. Grace is an interesting one to review, I’d describe the book as faster paced Stephen King. Set in an unpronounceable (Croaghnakeela) Island off the coast of Ireland, the story starts with Grace running a bookstore (instantly relatable) and surprised to receive contact revealing an inherited house on said island.
Right from the get go (well including the semi-typical horror prologue) the horror and tension is built masterfully, its obvious there are terrible secrets on the island, but no-one will speak of it. We are also introduced to a Young Priest who despite living on the island for several years hasn’t managed to crack the locals and has a few secrets of his own.
Shine has a skill in balancing writerly dread and more jump-scary immediate horror, and this book has plenty of both. I found the book quite hard to put down and was super invested in almost every single scene. Like a Stephen King story there is a real gaggle of locals to be introduced, but somehow Shine managed to trim the fat of the setting and you’re never bogged down in backstory, while still finding each character unique and interesting, some might not like that element, and I confess I would still read this book if it were twice the size!
There are a couple of twists in this tale which I suspect will turn some off – as always with an ARC review it’s a pain waiting for the full release and sufficient time has passed to discuss them but they are certainly very interesting and quite bold from a writing perspective.
In summary, SUPER enjoyed A. M. Shine’s Grace and very pleased to get a NetGalley copy.
I really liked The Watchers and its sequel, so was really hyped the Netgalley gave me access to this one. Grace is an interesting one to review, I’d describe the book as faster paced Stephen King. Set in an unpronounceable (Croaghnakeela) Island off the coast of Ireland, the story starts with Grace running a bookstore (instantly relatable) and surprised to receive contact revealing an inherited house on said island.
Right from the get go (well including the semi-typical horror prologue) the horror and tension is built masterfully, its obvious there are terrible secrets on the island, but no-one will speak of it. We are also introduced to a Young Priest who despite living on the island for several years hasn’t managed to crack the locals and has a few secrets of his own.
Shine has a skill in balancing writerly dread and more jump-scary immediate horror, and this book has plenty of both. I found the book quite hard to put down and was super invested in almost every single scene. Like a Stephen King story there is a real gaggle of locals to be introduced, but somehow Shine managed to trim the fat of the setting and you’re never bogged down in backstory, while still finding each character unique and interesting, some might not like that element, and I confess I would still read this book if it were twice the size!
There are a couple of twists in this tale which I suspect will turn some off – as always with an ARC review it’s a pain waiting for the full release and sufficient time has passed to discuss them but they are certainly very interesting and quite bold from a writing perspective.
In summary, SUPER enjoyed A. M. Shine’s Grace and very pleased to get a NetGalley copy.
October 18, 2025
I discovered A.M. Shine's work during the spooky season last year and quickly became a fan after reading both The Watchers books. I even enjoyed the movie adaptation. This year, I was lucky to receive an ARC of Grace and went in completely blind, knowing it would be great, and it absolutely was.
From the first page, the story hooked me with its eerie island setting off the coast of Ireland. The atmosphere is thick with mystery and tension, and Shine's writing is once again outstanding. It is a masterclass in efficient storytelling, fast-paced, sharp, and never wasting a word.
Though it is a relatively short book, the cast feels rich and real, giving the story weight and high stakes. By 30 percent, I was completely immersed, desperate to learn what the islanders were hiding. The questions kept piling up, and even the supposed good guys had secrets. The villain is truly unique, and once their motives became clear, I got actual chills.
At around 66 percent, I had to put it down for a breather, but I did not want to stop reading. The tension and atmosphere had completely pulled me in.
Grace gave me the same vibes as Midnight Mass with its isolated community, creeping dread, and questions about faith, guilt, and survival. It is haunting, emotional, and beautifully written, the perfect spooky season read.
A.M. Shine once again proves he is one of the most exciting voices in modern horror.
From the first page, the story hooked me with its eerie island setting off the coast of Ireland. The atmosphere is thick with mystery and tension, and Shine's writing is once again outstanding. It is a masterclass in efficient storytelling, fast-paced, sharp, and never wasting a word.
Though it is a relatively short book, the cast feels rich and real, giving the story weight and high stakes. By 30 percent, I was completely immersed, desperate to learn what the islanders were hiding. The questions kept piling up, and even the supposed good guys had secrets. The villain is truly unique, and once their motives became clear, I got actual chills.
At around 66 percent, I had to put it down for a breather, but I did not want to stop reading. The tension and atmosphere had completely pulled me in.
Grace gave me the same vibes as Midnight Mass with its isolated community, creeping dread, and questions about faith, guilt, and survival. It is haunting, emotional, and beautifully written, the perfect spooky season read.
A.M. Shine once again proves he is one of the most exciting voices in modern horror.
December 1, 2025
What a banger! The characters in this book were mostly unloveable, but the author did a great job at pulling in their humanity (when they had it). The atmosphere was everything! Cold, misty, with briny sea air, mold and rocks… I could practically smell the desolation in the salty air. The middle of the book did lag a bit for me, but it was worth hanging in for the ending. Totally surprised me! I am hoping there might be a second installation? I would absolutely recommend reading this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2025
Grace by A.M. Shine is a gothic horror about a woman who returns to the eerie island where she was born after her birth mother dies. Strange things start happening right away—crying children no one’s seen, creepy locals, and an island that feels alive.
The story took a while to grab me (started enjoying it more around the 40% mark), mostly because of the multiple POVs and unclear time jumps. Grace’s and Father Richard’s chapters were the easiest to follow, but some of the others were confusing at times.
That said, the writing is super atmospheric and the island’s history is really unsettling—in a good way. I just wish the ending had been less abrupt.
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story took a while to grab me (started enjoying it more around the 40% mark), mostly because of the multiple POVs and unclear time jumps. Grace’s and Father Richard’s chapters were the easiest to follow, but some of the others were confusing at times.
That said, the writing is super atmospheric and the island’s history is really unsettling—in a good way. I just wish the ending had been less abrupt.
Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 30, 2025
I can't believe it has taken me THIS DAMN LONG to read an A.M. Shine book. But here I am, finally, reviewing his upcoming book, Grace.
**ARC Review**
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing, A.M. Shine, and NetGalley for providing me an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#Grace #NetGalley #ePub #ARC #AMShine #Horror #NewHorror
💠EXPECTED PUB DATE: 10 Feb 2026
💠THEMES: Small-town secrets; the insidious nature of greed; how fear exposes the ugliness in people; passed down trauma
💠CONTENT WARNINGS / TRIGGERS:
Gore/blood, possession, death, allusion to physical abuse, graphic scenes, death of children, body horror, violence, disturbing imagery, drowning, profanity, alcoholism
💠RECOMMENDED FOR READERS WHO ENJOY:
• Slow-burn, atmospheric horrors
• Irish folklore
• Cursed lands
• Dark plot twists
💠PLOT OVERVIEW:
At the end of her shift, Grace unexpectedly receives a late-night call from Father Richard, a priest who informs Grace that her biological mother just passed away and left everything to her. Grace cannot remember her past; she was adopted around the age of four and has no memory of where she came from or who her bio parents were. Desperate for answers, Grace travels to her birthplace, the fog-shrouded island of Croaghnakeela. Told through the perspectives of Grace, Father Richard, and Croaghnakeela's mysterious inhabitants, Grace's arrival sparks a course of events that unearth dark secrets and an even darker presence.
💠FAVORITE LINE(S):
💠PRAISES:
• Atmosphere. I'm on the fence about reading atmospheric horror because it has to be done SO carefully; it must be well-crafted, and engaging, and creepy, and believable. Good atmospheric horror gives you that same unsettling feeling of being watched but you can't see who (or what) is watching you. Shine knocks this out of the park. Using a multitude of metaphors and alliteration, Shine brought me to the island right alongside Grace. I saw the jagged rocky cliffs dropping to a tumultuous tide, heard the creak of old wooden floorboards above my head, felt the primal fear of the islanders when the darkness took form.
• Tension. Right from the beginning, I was pulled into a narrative that slithered deep under my skin and left me in fight-or-flight mode. While the prologue only hints at what awaits Grace, it's transparently clear that, whatever it is, it is dangerous. So, tension is at an all-time high when Grace heads to the island, blissfully unaware of her predicament, while I'm forced to watch on helplessly. There were so many times throughout this book where I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until my lungs sputtered out an exhale.
• Character Complexities. The characters were complex, traumatized individuals whose moral compasses shifted like the tides, and I loved that I could never truly feel 'safe'. It kept me on my toes. I never knew who would be the next to go, who'd deceive someone for the right price, who'd crack a smile when chaos erupted. The characters were prone to their humanness -- to selfishness, greed, lust, jealousy -- and it made the characters feel so much more real.
💠CRITIQUES:
• The 'Roller Coaster Tycoon' ending. Anyone who victimized unsuspecting park-goers in Roller Coaster Tycoon has probably created a coaster that didn't exactly meet safety standards. What will happen if I decide to stop building the track 80% of the way through but I open the ride anyways? While I'm admittedly down and dirty for this psychotic method in a video game, I feel the opposite when it comes to books. I'm all for tragic endings, don't get me wrong. In fact, I think a happy ending would be entirely unfitting for this novel. But the ending to this felt so... abrupt? As sudden and unfinished as the track of one of those death coasters. It didn't feel like an ending at all. I actually kept trying to scroll past the last page, believing there MUST be more after it, some semblance of finality. Alas, there was no such thing.
💠REVIEW SUMMARY:
Overall, despite my dissatisfaction with how it 'ended', I truly enjoyed this book and Shine's writing style. I'd still recommend it wholeheartedly as a get-under-your-skin, atmospheric horror novel.
💠RATING:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
4.5 out of 5 stars
**ARC Review**
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing, A.M. Shine, and NetGalley for providing me an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#Grace #NetGalley #ePub #ARC #AMShine #Horror #NewHorror
💠EXPECTED PUB DATE: 10 Feb 2026
💠THEMES: Small-town secrets; the insidious nature of greed; how fear exposes the ugliness in people; passed down trauma
💠CONTENT WARNINGS / TRIGGERS:
Gore/blood, possession, death, allusion to physical abuse, graphic scenes, death of children, body horror, violence, disturbing imagery, drowning, profanity, alcoholism
💠RECOMMENDED FOR READERS WHO ENJOY:
• Slow-burn, atmospheric horrors
• Irish folklore
• Cursed lands
• Dark plot twists
💠PLOT OVERVIEW:
At the end of her shift, Grace unexpectedly receives a late-night call from Father Richard, a priest who informs Grace that her biological mother just passed away and left everything to her. Grace cannot remember her past; she was adopted around the age of four and has no memory of where she came from or who her bio parents were. Desperate for answers, Grace travels to her birthplace, the fog-shrouded island of Croaghnakeela. Told through the perspectives of Grace, Father Richard, and Croaghnakeela's mysterious inhabitants, Grace's arrival sparks a course of events that unearth dark secrets and an even darker presence.
💠FAVORITE LINE(S):
The tides had gnawed deep into the coastline, leaving the land jagged and torn from an eternity of tooth marks, and with only the salt water to cleanse its wounds there was everywhere a feeling of neglect and pain, of a sorrow that time hadn't consoled.
💠PRAISES:
• Atmosphere. I'm on the fence about reading atmospheric horror because it has to be done SO carefully; it must be well-crafted, and engaging, and creepy, and believable. Good atmospheric horror gives you that same unsettling feeling of being watched but you can't see who (or what) is watching you. Shine knocks this out of the park. Using a multitude of metaphors and alliteration, Shine brought me to the island right alongside Grace. I saw the jagged rocky cliffs dropping to a tumultuous tide, heard the creak of old wooden floorboards above my head, felt the primal fear of the islanders when the darkness took form.
• Tension. Right from the beginning, I was pulled into a narrative that slithered deep under my skin and left me in fight-or-flight mode. While the prologue only hints at what awaits Grace, it's transparently clear that, whatever it is, it is dangerous. So, tension is at an all-time high when Grace heads to the island, blissfully unaware of her predicament, while I'm forced to watch on helplessly. There were so many times throughout this book where I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until my lungs sputtered out an exhale.
• Character Complexities. The characters were complex, traumatized individuals whose moral compasses shifted like the tides, and I loved that I could never truly feel 'safe'. It kept me on my toes. I never knew who would be the next to go, who'd deceive someone for the right price, who'd crack a smile when chaos erupted. The characters were prone to their humanness -- to selfishness, greed, lust, jealousy -- and it made the characters feel so much more real.
💠CRITIQUES:
• The 'Roller Coaster Tycoon' ending. Anyone who victimized unsuspecting park-goers in Roller Coaster Tycoon has probably created a coaster that didn't exactly meet safety standards. What will happen if I decide to stop building the track 80% of the way through but I open the ride anyways? While I'm admittedly down and dirty for this psychotic method in a video game, I feel the opposite when it comes to books. I'm all for tragic endings, don't get me wrong. In fact, I think a happy ending would be entirely unfitting for this novel. But the ending to this felt so... abrupt? As sudden and unfinished as the track of one of those death coasters. It didn't feel like an ending at all. I actually kept trying to scroll past the last page, believing there MUST be more after it, some semblance of finality. Alas, there was no such thing.
💠REVIEW SUMMARY:
Overall, despite my dissatisfaction with how it 'ended', I truly enjoyed this book and Shine's writing style. I'd still recommend it wholeheartedly as a get-under-your-skin, atmospheric horror novel.
💠RATING:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
4.5 out of 5 stars
September 28, 2025
I had high hopes for this one, but it didn’t quite live up to it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ☆
Tropes:
- Irish folk horror
- Folklore but make it real
- Isolated, creepy island
- The locals know something you don’t
Was it scary?:
It had some creepy scenes throughout, however generally I didn’t find the book very scary.
Most memorable scene:
The scene where the Bodach tries to snatch a bitch up through the fireplace was pretty creepy and entertaining.
Overall thoughts:
I’ve loved some of A. M. Shine’s other novels, and so I was really excited for this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. One of the things that I see quite a lot in horror novels nowadays is the million person multi-POVs. If done right, this can really add to the story, but I’m increasingly finding in horrors that do this that they have the opposite effect: they take me out of the pacing and the story. I found it a bit confusing keeping track of who everyone was, the first half or so of the book was a bit slow-paced, and the ending felt a little abrupt for me.
Read if you want ➡️
Creepy folk horror based on Irish folklore written by an Irish author, with multi-POV throughout and a lot of twists and turns.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ☆
Tropes:
- Irish folk horror
- Folklore but make it real
- Isolated, creepy island
- The locals know something you don’t
Was it scary?:
It had some creepy scenes throughout, however generally I didn’t find the book very scary.
Most memorable scene:
The scene where the Bodach tries to snatch a bitch up through the fireplace was pretty creepy and entertaining.
Overall thoughts:
I’ve loved some of A. M. Shine’s other novels, and so I was really excited for this one. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. One of the things that I see quite a lot in horror novels nowadays is the million person multi-POVs. If done right, this can really add to the story, but I’m increasingly finding in horrors that do this that they have the opposite effect: they take me out of the pacing and the story. I found it a bit confusing keeping track of who everyone was, the first half or so of the book was a bit slow-paced, and the ending felt a little abrupt for me.
Read if you want ➡️
Creepy folk horror based on Irish folklore written by an Irish author, with multi-POV throughout and a lot of twists and turns.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 14, 2025
I’m struggling to rate this tbh because the first half was a 5⭐️ read but the second half was more like a 3⭐️ so I’ve just gone with a 4⭐️ overall.
The first half had me GRIPPED! It is classic AM Shine - very atmospheric, very creepy and definitely gave me chills while I was reading it. He really set the scene on this isolated island.
However the second half for me just completely fizzled out and it didn’t hold my attention as much. I think it was the sheer number of POVs to keep track of, it just lost me a bit. I also felt like it ended really abruptly, I kept checking there wasn’t pages missing from my copy 🤣🙈.
Overall I did enjoy it and I would still recommend for anyone who is a fan of AM Shine’s previous books and anyone who loves a bit of folklore horror
The first half had me GRIPPED! It is classic AM Shine - very atmospheric, very creepy and definitely gave me chills while I was reading it. He really set the scene on this isolated island.
However the second half for me just completely fizzled out and it didn’t hold my attention as much. I think it was the sheer number of POVs to keep track of, it just lost me a bit. I also felt like it ended really abruptly, I kept checking there wasn’t pages missing from my copy 🤣🙈.
Overall I did enjoy it and I would still recommend for anyone who is a fan of AM Shine’s previous books and anyone who loves a bit of folklore horror
Read
November 17, 2025DNF @ 50% atmospheric, but very slow paced. I found that I just didn't care enough to continue the read.
October 17, 2025
If you love atmospheric horrors that slowly creep under your skin give “grace” a try, the Irish folklore will immerse you deeper into the eery world created by the author.
I was a fan of the watchers and so excited to dive into this book. “Grace” is dark and twisty and switches between slow and fast pacing, keeping you on your toes.
I personally liked this more than the watchers, I enjoyed the mystery being the decades old unknown that was keeping the locals trapped on the island. If you enjoy haunting and isolating settings this book has plenty.
A great pick for spooky season.
Disclaimer: this book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
I was a fan of the watchers and so excited to dive into this book. “Grace” is dark and twisty and switches between slow and fast pacing, keeping you on your toes.
I personally liked this more than the watchers, I enjoyed the mystery being the decades old unknown that was keeping the locals trapped on the island. If you enjoy haunting and isolating settings this book has plenty.
A great pick for spooky season.
Disclaimer: this book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
October 5, 2025
Book store owner Grace returns to the small island where she was born to pack up her mothers things for sale. After being adopted at just four years old, Grace doesn't remember much about her life before, but the island's few inhabitants make it clear she's never leaving.
Grace is a gothic folk horror full of atmospheric suspense. The island, itself a character, is surrounded by fog and a raging icy sea. The few people who live there are trapped by more than just geography. The Bodach, a dark entity that hides in the darkness, had been snatching children in the dead of night. Even some adults went missing over the years but for some time it's been quiet. When Grace returns, something is awakened and the nightmares start all over again.
I think Shine took some inspiration from Stephen King. The Bodach reminded me of Pennywise, a mysterious creature who instils fear and feeds off of it, a changeling who hides in shadow. This was creepy and got pretty gory towards the end. It was a little repetitious in the middle and the ending felt rushed but ultimately a great wintery spooky read.
**Thanks to Aria & Aries (Head of Zeus) for my free ARC via Netgalley.
Grace is a gothic folk horror full of atmospheric suspense. The island, itself a character, is surrounded by fog and a raging icy sea. The few people who live there are trapped by more than just geography. The Bodach, a dark entity that hides in the darkness, had been snatching children in the dead of night. Even some adults went missing over the years but for some time it's been quiet. When Grace returns, something is awakened and the nightmares start all over again.
I think Shine took some inspiration from Stephen King. The Bodach reminded me of Pennywise, a mysterious creature who instils fear and feeds off of it, a changeling who hides in shadow. This was creepy and got pretty gory towards the end. It was a little repetitious in the middle and the ending felt rushed but ultimately a great wintery spooky read.
**Thanks to Aria & Aries (Head of Zeus) for my free ARC via Netgalley.
July 31, 2025
The novel Grace is pure, unadulterated horror of the darkest and creepiest kind. It’s atmospheric, unsettling, and vividly written by A.M. Shine, who once again returns to Irish folklore to create a macabre tale worthy of keeping us awake all night.
The main character, Grace, is lovely; it’s hard to not fall in love with her. She owns a bookshop specialising in rare books. One night there’s a loud knock on the door, yet no one is there. Then she receives a call telling her that her birth mother, whom she does not know, has passed away, leaving Grace a house on a remote island. So off she goes.
The island is shrouded in myths and deep fears. There’s the fog that never lifts and the sounds of cracking bones. The ferryman taking Grace to the island refuses to even step on the bleak land. Then there’s the priest, Father Richard, isolated in mystery both current and past. The characters are well developed, as are the plot and storylines. However, I had difficulties towards the end. The tension was building and the pace accelerating, and there were too many POVs involved, which left me confused. Otherwise, I highly recommend this haunting horror.
Thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
I really enjoyed A.M. Shine’s previous book The Watchers, so I went into Grace with high expectations. The atmosphere and scene setting here are exceptional. I could almost smell the petrichor in the graveyard and feel the ocean spray on the ferry.
The beginning hooked me right away. It is dark, unsettling, and full of promise, and I couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery through Grace’s eyes. But this is where I started to disconnect a little. The switching into multiple points of view made it harder for me to keep track of who was who and how they were connected. With each chapter changing perspective, I found the momentum of the story broke, and I lost some of the tension I’d been so drawn into and built with our first few characters.
Like many horror stories, the suspense was strongest in the build up. Once the “monster” was revealed, the story felt less unsettling. Personally, I preferred the mystery and creeping dread of the first half to the more straightforward horror of the second.
Overall, Grace is beautifully atmospheric, with a strong opening and a lovely little twist at the end. Fans of Gothic settings and eerie atmospheres will definitely find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher Aria &Aries for the ARC via NetGalley.
The beginning hooked me right away. It is dark, unsettling, and full of promise, and I couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery through Grace’s eyes. But this is where I started to disconnect a little. The switching into multiple points of view made it harder for me to keep track of who was who and how they were connected. With each chapter changing perspective, I found the momentum of the story broke, and I lost some of the tension I’d been so drawn into and built with our first few characters.
Like many horror stories, the suspense was strongest in the build up. Once the “monster” was revealed, the story felt less unsettling. Personally, I preferred the mystery and creeping dread of the first half to the more straightforward horror of the second.
Overall, Grace is beautifully atmospheric, with a strong opening and a lovely little twist at the end. Fans of Gothic settings and eerie atmospheres will definitely find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher Aria &Aries for the ARC via NetGalley.
September 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
On paper, ‘Grace’ is very much my bag. It sounds like the ideal small town folk horror, with secrets and trouble brewing, with people poking around at exactly what they shouldn’t be poking around at.
I found the different characters interesting in a variety of ways. I do think a single focus might have carried the story a little better, but I understand that why it was crafted that way.
The atmosphere was definitely strong, although I do feel like it could have been built up a little bit more. There was certainly a vibe but it didn’t quite hit all the notes I may have expected in an Irish folk horror.
I feel like the ending kind of ruined it all a bit for me too. Without giving too much away, it wasn’t quite as much oomph as I would liked, and it felt a bit trite. I do think this has the makings of some amazing stuff, but it just didn’t quite reach the heights I was hoping for.
On paper, ‘Grace’ is very much my bag. It sounds like the ideal small town folk horror, with secrets and trouble brewing, with people poking around at exactly what they shouldn’t be poking around at.
I found the different characters interesting in a variety of ways. I do think a single focus might have carried the story a little better, but I understand that why it was crafted that way.
The atmosphere was definitely strong, although I do feel like it could have been built up a little bit more. There was certainly a vibe but it didn’t quite hit all the notes I may have expected in an Irish folk horror.
I feel like the ending kind of ruined it all a bit for me too. Without giving too much away, it wasn’t quite as much oomph as I would liked, and it felt a bit trite. I do think this has the makings of some amazing stuff, but it just didn’t quite reach the heights I was hoping for.
August 9, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
There are no words for how excited I was to get the email with an invite to read and review this book, I've been patiently waiting for a new A.M. Shine book since I finished Stay In the Light, and I was not disappointed at all.
A.M. Shine knows exactly how to creep me out (in the best possible way), every single time, which is why he has become one of my favourite authors. But this book… Wow.
I left writing this review for a few days after I finished the book (which I could not put down) because I didn’t know how to put my thoughts about it into words, but it didn’t help; I still really don’t know how to explain it besides “Wow”. Everything about it is amazing. The writing, the characters, the setting, the plot; everything is just perfection.
If you like Gaelic folklore, eerie atmospheric settings, creeping horror, beautifully flawed characters, and twists you won't see coming; add this to your list asap. You won't regret it.
I can't wait to see what Shine comes out with in the future because I will be there for whatever it is!
There are no words for how excited I was to get the email with an invite to read and review this book, I've been patiently waiting for a new A.M. Shine book since I finished Stay In the Light, and I was not disappointed at all.
A.M. Shine knows exactly how to creep me out (in the best possible way), every single time, which is why he has become one of my favourite authors. But this book… Wow.
I left writing this review for a few days after I finished the book (which I could not put down) because I didn’t know how to put my thoughts about it into words, but it didn’t help; I still really don’t know how to explain it besides “Wow”. Everything about it is amazing. The writing, the characters, the setting, the plot; everything is just perfection.
If you like Gaelic folklore, eerie atmospheric settings, creeping horror, beautifully flawed characters, and twists you won't see coming; add this to your list asap. You won't regret it.
I can't wait to see what Shine comes out with in the future because I will be there for whatever it is!
November 2, 2025
Grace was adopted at four years old and has never known where she came from. When she receives a mysterious phone call, it leads her back to the island where she was born — and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.
I absolutely loved The Watchers by this author, so I was really keen to read this! It’s a little different from the types of books I usually pick up, as it’s a gothic, folklore-inspired horror story.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! The atmosphere was incredible, and the story was gripping throughout. There were some great twists, and I think I’m finally starting to come around to enjoying the supernatural genre more!
I absolutely loved The Watchers by this author, so I was really keen to read this! It’s a little different from the types of books I usually pick up, as it’s a gothic, folklore-inspired horror story.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! The atmosphere was incredible, and the story was gripping throughout. There were some great twists, and I think I’m finally starting to come around to enjoying the supernatural genre more!
July 25, 2025
Grace returns to the island of her birth after the death of her birth mother. A place where the inhabitants harbour secrets and guilt decades long.
This is a grim look at what people are prepared to do for a better life as part of folk horror. It explores the complexity of the human character and while some areas of the plot needed greater detail in my opinion ( the orphanage) this was a great read.
No spoilers so this will sound vague but I hope this is the start of a series due to the source of the creature.
This is a grim look at what people are prepared to do for a better life as part of folk horror. It explores the complexity of the human character and while some areas of the plot needed greater detail in my opinion ( the orphanage) this was a great read.
No spoilers so this will sound vague but I hope this is the start of a series due to the source of the creature.
August 10, 2025
As soon as I saw AM Shine had announced this book, it was pre-ordered so quickly and then I was lucky enough to get an ARC. I started reading it straight away and was not disappointed. I didn’t feel the same dread as I did from The Creeper but there was definitely tension and creepiness and I enjoyed the mystery of the story. There were a number of twists that I didn’t see coming and so many POV’s which I love. It’s giving Midnight Mass vibes.
Thank you so much to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you so much to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 18, 2025
3.5 Stars
This honestly feels like a perfect book to curl up to under a blanket with a candle lit while it's freezing outside.
Eerie, creepy and atmospheric in the best way. It was both a bit slow paced and a slow burn, but the pace does pick up around the second half of this story.
The prose was also maybe a little too flowery for me at times, and I think the dialogue suffered a bit from it, but the writing is beautifully done and had me sucked in either way.
Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury for the arc!
This honestly feels like a perfect book to curl up to under a blanket with a candle lit while it's freezing outside.
Eerie, creepy and atmospheric in the best way. It was both a bit slow paced and a slow burn, but the pace does pick up around the second half of this story.
The prose was also maybe a little too flowery for me at times, and I think the dialogue suffered a bit from it, but the writing is beautifully done and had me sucked in either way.
Thank you to netgalley and Bloomsbury for the arc!
December 5, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.5 stars rounded to 4,0.
A.M. Shine books always tick a lot of boxes for me and this has been no different. This story had tons of atmopshere and eerie mythology woven into the heart of the plot. There’s interesting characters and the way the dynamics played out in this made me want to keep reading.
The ending is a little mystical for me and I prefer an ending that leaves no questions remaining. Other than that I really recommend this for horror fans who enjoy a some folklore/supernatural vibes.
A.M. Shine books always tick a lot of boxes for me and this has been no different. This story had tons of atmopshere and eerie mythology woven into the heart of the plot. There’s interesting characters and the way the dynamics played out in this made me want to keep reading.
The ending is a little mystical for me and I prefer an ending that leaves no questions remaining. Other than that I really recommend this for horror fans who enjoy a some folklore/supernatural vibes.
October 16, 2025
Grace is a dark, gothic story full of folklore and spirituality. The island residents are haunted by something that has kept them captive for decades and Grace may be the answer. There was very little happiness or brightness in this story. The island is old, decrepit, and sinister. Shine managed to keep this story in balance of being a slow burning gothic tale and a paranormal fast paced thriller.
Despite the twists being somewhat expected, they were still quite effective. My only issue is that there were many stories being told quickly and flipping through many characters. It was interesting to learn about all their experiences, but some of it wasn’t necessary.
Overall, a solid moody thriller from Shine, dethroning the watchers in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Despite the twists being somewhat expected, they were still quite effective. My only issue is that there were many stories being told quickly and flipping through many characters. It was interesting to learn about all their experiences, but some of it wasn’t necessary.
Overall, a solid moody thriller from Shine, dethroning the watchers in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
October 30, 2025
Grace by A.M. Shine is a bleak, dread-soaked gothic horror that lingers long after the final page. Set on a desolate island off the coast of Ireland, Shine crafts a haunting tale steeped in grief, greed, and the dark corners of human desperation. It’s the kind of story that leaves you staring at the wall afterward, asking yourself, “What did I just read?”
Shine masterfully blends supernatural terror with psychological unease, exploring how far people will go to survive when faced with the unimaginable. The atmosphere is chilling and immersive, and the sense of hopelessness that permeates the book is both unsettling and compelling.
That said, I did struggle with some aspects of the execution. A few scenes were difficult to visualize, and certain plot threads felt underdeveloped or unresolved. The climax, while gripping, came a bit too quickly, and the frequent timeline shifts (sometimes mid-chapter) made it challenging to stay fully grounded in the story.
Despite these issues, Grace remains a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking read. Its flaws don’t overshadow the eerie brilliance of Shine’s world-building or the emotional weight behind his horror. If you enjoy classic folklore that leans heavily into atmosphere and existential dread, this one is worth picking up.
Shine masterfully blends supernatural terror with psychological unease, exploring how far people will go to survive when faced with the unimaginable. The atmosphere is chilling and immersive, and the sense of hopelessness that permeates the book is both unsettling and compelling.
That said, I did struggle with some aspects of the execution. A few scenes were difficult to visualize, and certain plot threads felt underdeveloped or unresolved. The climax, while gripping, came a bit too quickly, and the frequent timeline shifts (sometimes mid-chapter) made it challenging to stay fully grounded in the story.
Despite these issues, Grace remains a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking read. Its flaws don’t overshadow the eerie brilliance of Shine’s world-building or the emotional weight behind his horror. If you enjoy classic folklore that leans heavily into atmosphere and existential dread, this one is worth picking up.
July 23, 2025
3.5 Until the last 30% or so, I thought I’d found a new favourite. The story opens dripping with folk horror atmosphere and raising a lot of intriguing questions about the island. The pacing was great and well matched to the story unfolding. I liked Grace and Robin as characters.
But then… as the secrets of the island are revealed, we diverge from our two MCs and start perspective hopping around to islanders, the pace speeds up to absolute breakneck, and suddenly it’s over. I found the ending a bit disappointing (and kind of twee) and was left holding a few questions.
Certainly worth the time I spent with it, but The Watchers is still the one to beat for me!
My request to review this was approved by Aria and Aries on NetGalley.
But then… as the secrets of the island are revealed, we diverge from our two MCs and start perspective hopping around to islanders, the pace speeds up to absolute breakneck, and suddenly it’s over. I found the ending a bit disappointing (and kind of twee) and was left holding a few questions.
Certainly worth the time I spent with it, but The Watchers is still the one to beat for me!
My request to review this was approved by Aria and Aries on NetGalley.
August 8, 2025
Set in a quiet Irish island during off-season, A.M. Shine's Grace is an eerie horror story about an ancient evil coming back to life. The protagonist, Grace, who was adopted at four years of age, has no memory of her past, but strange telephonic information got her back to the island where she was born. At the core of the story is an evil that has been haunting the island for years and is now being awakened. As the darkness grows with strength, Grace is not safe anymore, along with everyone else around her.
Grace's experiences thrust her into a journey of self-discovery as she learns to deal with the supernatural. She must now step into harms way to confront past evils and learn the secrets of the island. Some people help her, while others set her back as she seeks to survive through these events. The side characters, especially Robin, demonstrate different facets of the curse and of Grace's identity. With greater strength, Grace confronts her fears and seeks her roots to battle evil. She develops bonds, copes with trauma, and investigates the ways the past retain influences on the present.
The themes in the book signify a kind of loneliness; ancient evil continues to exist; and truth can be hard to swallow. These themes depict a modern agenda: how past trauma haunts families, the fear of the unknown, and how communities confront (or sidestep) their histories. The island's solitude mirrors neglect toward orphans. The problem is simply unresolved.
Shine excels at describing realistically scary haunted locations. He combines contemporary horror with Irish myths to send shivers down your spine. His prose creates a feeling of tension that follows with melancholy and mystery in an island map. There is the ever-present wondering of doom that keeps the Gothic aura discuss. Suspenseful revelations owe much to Shine's sleight of hand. The horror is utterly believable; thanks to his point of view, Grace's fear and feelings are transferred to the readers.
From reading Grace, one is left with feelings of discomfort and pity for what Grace is suffering. With tone and horror moments, this pulls you into the story even more, making it much more than simply horror. It makes you reflect on unknown evils and how to deal with the past. It concerns how people and communities deal with their histories. It is a memory to have all through their lives.
Grace combines modern Gothic horror tendencies with Irish mythology. Akin to Shine's The Watchers, yet Grace's tale is quite personal and intimate. Old stories are woven into the current issues, separating it from others of its kind. The horror aspects then are traced over with themes concerned with identity and the weight of the past. Those touches connect it to modern life.
What went far in strengthening the atmosphere of the book was its sense of sadness, solitude, and agonizing realization of doom. The island, in a way, makes the story. Shine doesn't tell everything, leaving the reader enough space to draw assumptions out of the story, giving it yet another layer of mystery.
Grace combines emotional depth with horror elements, making a story both terrifying and emotionally impactful. It serves as a prime example of how modern horror explores the depths of human existence. It pushes difficult questions on identity, the past, and fear. The present narrative is based on the struggle of confronting external and internal struggles. It is also about how the past continues to shape the present. This makes for an unforgettable and chilling read.
Grace's experiences thrust her into a journey of self-discovery as she learns to deal with the supernatural. She must now step into harms way to confront past evils and learn the secrets of the island. Some people help her, while others set her back as she seeks to survive through these events. The side characters, especially Robin, demonstrate different facets of the curse and of Grace's identity. With greater strength, Grace confronts her fears and seeks her roots to battle evil. She develops bonds, copes with trauma, and investigates the ways the past retain influences on the present.
The themes in the book signify a kind of loneliness; ancient evil continues to exist; and truth can be hard to swallow. These themes depict a modern agenda: how past trauma haunts families, the fear of the unknown, and how communities confront (or sidestep) their histories. The island's solitude mirrors neglect toward orphans. The problem is simply unresolved.
Shine excels at describing realistically scary haunted locations. He combines contemporary horror with Irish myths to send shivers down your spine. His prose creates a feeling of tension that follows with melancholy and mystery in an island map. There is the ever-present wondering of doom that keeps the Gothic aura discuss. Suspenseful revelations owe much to Shine's sleight of hand. The horror is utterly believable; thanks to his point of view, Grace's fear and feelings are transferred to the readers.
From reading Grace, one is left with feelings of discomfort and pity for what Grace is suffering. With tone and horror moments, this pulls you into the story even more, making it much more than simply horror. It makes you reflect on unknown evils and how to deal with the past. It concerns how people and communities deal with their histories. It is a memory to have all through their lives.
Grace combines modern Gothic horror tendencies with Irish mythology. Akin to Shine's The Watchers, yet Grace's tale is quite personal and intimate. Old stories are woven into the current issues, separating it from others of its kind. The horror aspects then are traced over with themes concerned with identity and the weight of the past. Those touches connect it to modern life.
What went far in strengthening the atmosphere of the book was its sense of sadness, solitude, and agonizing realization of doom. The island, in a way, makes the story. Shine doesn't tell everything, leaving the reader enough space to draw assumptions out of the story, giving it yet another layer of mystery.
Grace combines emotional depth with horror elements, making a story both terrifying and emotionally impactful. It serves as a prime example of how modern horror explores the depths of human existence. It pushes difficult questions on identity, the past, and fear. The present narrative is based on the struggle of confronting external and internal struggles. It is also about how the past continues to shape the present. This makes for an unforgettable and chilling read.
July 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries | Aries for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 12 Feb 2026
“Is this what faith has become? Had the world strayed so far from the Lord that they now sought out the sanctity of the devils?”
I was so ecstatic when it was reviled that A. M. Shine has a new book coming up next year, and to be approved for the ARC a few weeks later felt like I’ve received the grace of God /pun intended/.
I will keep my review tamed, because there are good twists that can be easily given away. I didn’t know the plot at all but still had some expectations base on Shine’s previous works. I am so happy to report that this book is indeed everything I hoped for – rich Irish folklore, unsettling atmosphere, flawless prose, unexpected twists, and pure horror, just as I like it.
This book was very emotionally charged thanks to the distinct and flawed characters, for which I still cared about. Let me just tell you I got actual goosebumps on 64% and I couldn’t predicted this twist even if I was actively trying to. I was just enjoying reading, being on that island with the islanders, which was so scary and sad at the same time. I loved that we got a short perspective from almost everyone, but my favorite character is most definitely Father Richard.
Another big positive for me was the body horror, so visceral and actually terrifying, this is what was lacking for me in the last Shine book – Stay in the light. But here it was done exceptionally well. This book fits right into the world of The Watchers and Stay in the light, without being a sequel. I could absolutely picture these events taking place during the same time as the ones in the previous two books took. Also, the setting reminded me so much of one of my favorite TV series - Midnight mass.
If you liked the previous works of the author I can absolutely recommend you this book as well. Even if you’ve never read from him before, this could be a really good starting point. Since I’ve read all of his published works, I think this one is absolutely sharing the top spot with The Watchers. I couldn’t pick which is the better book, as they are both an amazing folk horror and I have an emotional attachment to both of them.
Pub Date 12 Feb 2026
“Is this what faith has become? Had the world strayed so far from the Lord that they now sought out the sanctity of the devils?”
I was so ecstatic when it was reviled that A. M. Shine has a new book coming up next year, and to be approved for the ARC a few weeks later felt like I’ve received the grace of God /pun intended/.
I will keep my review tamed, because there are good twists that can be easily given away. I didn’t know the plot at all but still had some expectations base on Shine’s previous works. I am so happy to report that this book is indeed everything I hoped for – rich Irish folklore, unsettling atmosphere, flawless prose, unexpected twists, and pure horror, just as I like it.
This book was very emotionally charged thanks to the distinct and flawed characters, for which I still cared about. Let me just tell you I got actual goosebumps on 64% and I couldn’t predicted this twist even if I was actively trying to. I was just enjoying reading, being on that island with the islanders, which was so scary and sad at the same time. I loved that we got a short perspective from almost everyone, but my favorite character is most definitely Father Richard.
Another big positive for me was the body horror, so visceral and actually terrifying, this is what was lacking for me in the last Shine book – Stay in the light. But here it was done exceptionally well. This book fits right into the world of The Watchers and Stay in the light, without being a sequel. I could absolutely picture these events taking place during the same time as the ones in the previous two books took. Also, the setting reminded me so much of one of my favorite TV series - Midnight mass.
If you liked the previous works of the author I can absolutely recommend you this book as well. Even if you’ve never read from him before, this could be a really good starting point. Since I’ve read all of his published works, I think this one is absolutely sharing the top spot with The Watchers. I couldn’t pick which is the better book, as they are both an amazing folk horror and I have an emotional attachment to both of them.
July 23, 2025
When Grace receives a mysterious phone call about her unknown birth mother, she finds herself heading to the small island of Croaghnakeela. It is a strange island, with secretive residents, suppliers that won’t set foot on land, and no children at all…
Once again, A.M. Shine cements himself as a master of Irish folk horror. His descriptions and use of multiple POVs allow the story to slowly unfold in unexpected ways, and really ramps up the tension. The horror and suspense build slowly, with small chills that creep down your neck like rain drops that build to an intense storm in the finale.
There are some very sweet moments in this story, some unexpected twists, and a lot of Shine’s trademark use of dread-inducing folklore that requests the reader stretch their imaginations in a heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled nightmare against an unseen/unstoppable foe.
The characters are generally likeable, warm, and complex. I loved Grace, and the clever way in which she leads the reader to the unexpected. This was not the book I thought it would be, and I loved Grace that Shine surprises me every time. Do I think this is his best? No, The Watchers still holds that title, and I felt the ending of Grace was a little rushed. But does this cement my belief that A.M. Shine is a master of Irish folk horror? Yes. Yes it does
Once again, A.M. Shine cements himself as a master of Irish folk horror. His descriptions and use of multiple POVs allow the story to slowly unfold in unexpected ways, and really ramps up the tension. The horror and suspense build slowly, with small chills that creep down your neck like rain drops that build to an intense storm in the finale.
There are some very sweet moments in this story, some unexpected twists, and a lot of Shine’s trademark use of dread-inducing folklore that requests the reader stretch their imaginations in a heart-stopping, adrenaline-fueled nightmare against an unseen/unstoppable foe.
The characters are generally likeable, warm, and complex. I loved Grace, and the clever way in which she leads the reader to the unexpected. This was not the book I thought it would be, and I loved Grace that Shine surprises me every time. Do I think this is his best? No, The Watchers still holds that title, and I felt the ending of Grace was a little rushed. But does this cement my belief that A.M. Shine is a master of Irish folk horror? Yes. Yes it does
August 30, 2025
'Grace' is a gothic horror by A.M Shine. It follows the story of Grace, who was adopted when she was young and returns to the island where she was born at the death of her biological mother, Chrissy. Grace returns to the island of Croaghnakeela where almost immediately strange and unsettling things begin happening. She hears the crying of children when none have been born on the island in the past 30 years, the boat captain who ferries her to the island and delivers supplies refuses to step foot on it and the locals are a mix of people all touched by tragedy.
She is invited back to the island by the local priest, Father Richard, and he seems to be the only person on the island who seems immune to its strangeness.
I haven't read any other books by this author so it's possible that I am not used to their writing style but I found this book challenging to get into. It took me about 100 pages to really get into the story and make sense of all the different POV and characters. Grace's scenes were easiest since she was our window into island life and had an outsider perspective on things. This was helpful since, as the reader we are also outsiders to what is happening on the island. Even Father Richard's POV was easy to understand, although it did confuse me at first having his chapters under 'Robin.
The other POV chapters were an assortment of the different locals that live on the island and each offer insight into the horrors of Croaghnakeela both past and present. Once I got past the halfway point of the story, I really began to enjoy these insights into the history of the island and it had some truly scary scenes.
Unfortunately this is also my biggest issue with the various POV chapters is that I found it difficult to know for sure when the section I was reading was a flashback or when it was 'now.' It could change paragraph to paragraph and I would have to go back and read sections to get a clearer picture on what was happening.
I did love how the writing was rich in description and atmosphere. The island almost feels like a character with the way it's described.
However I was frustrated at how the story ended since it was just suddenly over after one final twist. I was left confused and then had to go back and reread sections to see where I had missed something.
Thank you NetGalley for and ARC of this book
She is invited back to the island by the local priest, Father Richard, and he seems to be the only person on the island who seems immune to its strangeness.
I haven't read any other books by this author so it's possible that I am not used to their writing style but I found this book challenging to get into. It took me about 100 pages to really get into the story and make sense of all the different POV and characters. Grace's scenes were easiest since she was our window into island life and had an outsider perspective on things. This was helpful since, as the reader we are also outsiders to what is happening on the island. Even Father Richard's POV was easy to understand, although it did confuse me at first having his chapters under 'Robin.
The other POV chapters were an assortment of the different locals that live on the island and each offer insight into the horrors of Croaghnakeela both past and present. Once I got past the halfway point of the story, I really began to enjoy these insights into the history of the island and it had some truly scary scenes.
Unfortunately this is also my biggest issue with the various POV chapters is that I found it difficult to know for sure when the section I was reading was a flashback or when it was 'now.' It could change paragraph to paragraph and I would have to go back and read sections to get a clearer picture on what was happening.
I did love how the writing was rich in description and atmosphere. The island almost feels like a character with the way it's described.
However I was frustrated at how the story ended since it was just suddenly over after one final twist. I was left confused and then had to go back and reread sections to see where I had missed something.
Thank you NetGalley for and ARC of this book
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