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Night Realm Series #1
The Watcher
Sloane lives with her unconventional mother, who doesn’t know how to cook and looks at life through her elementary teacher lens. Sloane’s best days are when her car’s air conditioner decides to work.
However, that changes on the night of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have ever imagined.
In the Night Realm, a world plagued in darkness and monsters, Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. Here, she may finally learn the truth behind her father's disappearance and his key role in Earth's possible conquest.
Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers? Join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures.
However, that changes on the night of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have ever imagined.
In the Night Realm, a world plagued in darkness and monsters, Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. Here, she may finally learn the truth behind her father's disappearance and his key role in Earth's possible conquest.
Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers? Join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures.
- GenresYoung Adult
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2020
12 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Bowman
3 books20 followersK.R. Bowman has always enjoyed dreaming up stories since she was a child. After ten years of self-doubt, she finally decided to hit publish on 'The Watcher.'
Most days you can find her going on adventures, drinking wine, cuddling animals, or eating sweets.
Majority of the time, she daydreams.
Most days you can find her going on adventures, drinking wine, cuddling animals, or eating sweets.
Majority of the time, she daydreams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 24, 2021
I received a free copy of this book by the wonderful lovebookstour.... here is my honest review.
This is the kind of book that gets me excited about reading ! Gorgeous cover, great storyline.... you have no chance to escape it immediately hooks you in ! For a book that is 262pages it just flies by when you read it.
The characters in this book each add to the storyline , there is no character that you find irrelevant they just add more depth to the storyline and more intrigue as to what will happen. The author has written this book so beautifully that you can close your eyes and picture the Night Realm and 17 year old Sloane.
If you are someone who loves a book that keeps you reading until you realise you have to be up in a couple of hours then this is the book for you ! Even though this book is aimed at young adults I would say that Fantasy fiction fans of any age will absolutely love and devour this book !
Bring on book number 2!!!!
This is the kind of book that gets me excited about reading ! Gorgeous cover, great storyline.... you have no chance to escape it immediately hooks you in ! For a book that is 262pages it just flies by when you read it.
The characters in this book each add to the storyline , there is no character that you find irrelevant they just add more depth to the storyline and more intrigue as to what will happen. The author has written this book so beautifully that you can close your eyes and picture the Night Realm and 17 year old Sloane.
If you are someone who loves a book that keeps you reading until you realise you have to be up in a couple of hours then this is the book for you ! Even though this book is aimed at young adults I would say that Fantasy fiction fans of any age will absolutely love and devour this book !
Bring on book number 2!!!!
November 13, 2020
Sloane lives with her mum and leads a pretty normal and average life. Until her strange dreams and blackouts started leading up to her 18th birthday. Things take a turn though in one night when she wakes up in a completely different realm. A world that protects our world from darkness and the monsters that are trying to plague the earth.
Sloane is strong, likable, and adaptable to the new world around her. Her relationship with her mom proves to be just what she needs when it comes time for explanation. Her mom supports her and is able to explain things easily for everyone to get caught up in the story. Throughout the story, Sloane's character is revealed more thoroughly through her relationships with others. I really loved the connection between her Callum. As I "watched" their friendship turn into slightly more I was finding myself grinning more and more like a fool. There are a few characters that I don't quite trust yet, and I am very interested to see where they go from here.
The Watcher is action-packed with slow and sweet moments woven through so you get a well-rounded story. There are so many different aspects that the story covers, I don't know what I love most, though I know that I can't wait to see what happens next! The characters are brilliantly well-rounded and are easy to sympathize/empathize with throughout the story. They are young(ish) so it is a coming of age story that has them growing up in the eyes of the reader and maturing. The details of the Night realm- and even the Norm- are so clear and precise that you can see it happening in front of you and you feel like you are in the realms itself.
I loved this book and was lucky to have gotten my hands on it early. I can't say enough great things about this book- so go on go get it and be prepared to be taken on a fantastic adventure.
Sloane is strong, likable, and adaptable to the new world around her. Her relationship with her mom proves to be just what she needs when it comes time for explanation. Her mom supports her and is able to explain things easily for everyone to get caught up in the story. Throughout the story, Sloane's character is revealed more thoroughly through her relationships with others. I really loved the connection between her Callum. As I "watched" their friendship turn into slightly more I was finding myself grinning more and more like a fool. There are a few characters that I don't quite trust yet, and I am very interested to see where they go from here.
The Watcher is action-packed with slow and sweet moments woven through so you get a well-rounded story. There are so many different aspects that the story covers, I don't know what I love most, though I know that I can't wait to see what happens next! The characters are brilliantly well-rounded and are easy to sympathize/empathize with throughout the story. They are young(ish) so it is a coming of age story that has them growing up in the eyes of the reader and maturing. The details of the Night realm- and even the Norm- are so clear and precise that you can see it happening in front of you and you feel like you are in the realms itself.
I loved this book and was lucky to have gotten my hands on it early. I can't say enough great things about this book- so go on go get it and be prepared to be taken on a fantastic adventure.
March 25, 2021
A dark realm full of monsters that want to plague our world? Yes please! Sloane is reaching her 18th birthday and strange things are happening to her. She wakes in a realm that is said to protect our world from deadly monsters (Nightlings) and its darkness. That alone had me ready to dive in and I was not disappointed with what Bowman delivered.
The world building is imaginative and easy to follow without information drops or being bogged down in detail. Bowman’s storytelling abilities made the descriptive aspects vivid and alluring. Her writing style is action packed with Realmers and Nightlings, sprinkles of romance and a plot flow that kept me swiping Kindle pages faster than the little app could keep up. Did I mention dragons? Be warned though, this one ends on a cliffhanger!
I enjoyed the characters and the growth of Sloane. This book has the feeling of coming of age and though some aspects of Sloane’s persona can feel younger she has a strong, driven will that shines as her journey evolves. Callum compliments her character too. Their relationship had a natural feel to it and wasn’t rushed, which I highly appreciate in my reads. One thing I noticed that really resonated with me was the relationship between Sloane and her mom. Typically, we find teens who have hard lives, are orphans or have basically non-existent parentage. It was refreshing to have a MC who cherished and cultivated a bond with her mother. I did find some things slightly predictable and wanted more from the overall journey. I also ended with a good bit of questions, but it wouldn’t be a cliffhanger if I didn’t have those.
With dark realm, monsters, a vanished father, lore and powers this turned out to be a fast-paced action fantasy I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy elements like these. Thank you to Love Books Tours and K.R. Bowman for the gifted digital copy in exchange for review.
The world building is imaginative and easy to follow without information drops or being bogged down in detail. Bowman’s storytelling abilities made the descriptive aspects vivid and alluring. Her writing style is action packed with Realmers and Nightlings, sprinkles of romance and a plot flow that kept me swiping Kindle pages faster than the little app could keep up. Did I mention dragons? Be warned though, this one ends on a cliffhanger!
I enjoyed the characters and the growth of Sloane. This book has the feeling of coming of age and though some aspects of Sloane’s persona can feel younger she has a strong, driven will that shines as her journey evolves. Callum compliments her character too. Their relationship had a natural feel to it and wasn’t rushed, which I highly appreciate in my reads. One thing I noticed that really resonated with me was the relationship between Sloane and her mom. Typically, we find teens who have hard lives, are orphans or have basically non-existent parentage. It was refreshing to have a MC who cherished and cultivated a bond with her mother. I did find some things slightly predictable and wanted more from the overall journey. I also ended with a good bit of questions, but it wouldn’t be a cliffhanger if I didn’t have those.
With dark realm, monsters, a vanished father, lore and powers this turned out to be a fast-paced action fantasy I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy elements like these. Thank you to Love Books Tours and K.R. Bowman for the gifted digital copy in exchange for review.
November 13, 2020
Once you pick it up, you'll find it hard to put down. Seriously, you can just blow through this book. At about 300 pages, I thought it would take longer, but the thread of the story just pulls you along and begs you not to stop.
November 9, 2020
It's a coming of age story with a female lead. Filled with monsters and a Night Realm, where it's always night.
If you enjoy action-adventure, YA, slow-burn romance, fantasy, mystery stories then this story is for you! This is the first in a trilogy, so there's a cliffhanger at the end of The Watcher. You've been warned!
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy :)
If you enjoy action-adventure, YA, slow-burn romance, fantasy, mystery stories then this story is for you! This is the first in a trilogy, so there's a cliffhanger at the end of The Watcher. You've been warned!
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy :)
May 19, 2021
Amazing Fantasy Debut!!
K.R. Bowan has given us a fabulous debut that will leave you excited to keep reading! The Watcher is book one in a series of three! It is heavy on action & fantasy. Very light on romance. We see some awkward teen flirting, and maybe a stolen kiss or two, which is rather endearing!
This is an excellent book that focuses on finding who you are and how to be brave! It is set in an intriguing fantasy world called the Night Realm! I am so excited to see what happens next! I enjoyed reading as an adult, but I could see high school, and even later middle school kids loving it too!
K.R. Bowan has given us a fabulous debut that will leave you excited to keep reading! The Watcher is book one in a series of three! It is heavy on action & fantasy. Very light on romance. We see some awkward teen flirting, and maybe a stolen kiss or two, which is rather endearing!
This is an excellent book that focuses on finding who you are and how to be brave! It is set in an intriguing fantasy world called the Night Realm! I am so excited to see what happens next! I enjoyed reading as an adult, but I could see high school, and even later middle school kids loving it too!
March 27, 2021
Sloane lives with her unconventional mother, who doesn’t know how to cook and looks at life through her elementary teacher lens. Sloane’s best days are when her car’s air conditioner decides to work.
However, that changes on the night of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have ever imagined.
In the Night Realm, a world plagued in darkness and monsters, Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. Here, she may finally learn the truth behind her father's disappearance and his key role in Earth's possible conquest.
Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers? Join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures.
This book is a young adult fantasy that has the main character transported to a strange world that is in eternal darkness and inhabited by dangerous creatures. When she gets there, she meets up with a group of people and begins to discover that that there is more to her heritage than she realised. She quickly has to learn to fight and wield weapons, in order to protect the normal world and the people around her. I really enjoyed this book, and the characters are immensely likeable. I particularly liked the slow build up of her relationship with Callum and found myself rooting for them to become even closer. This book, however, was not focused on romance, but friendship. There was lots of action and fight scenes, that were very well done. This book was well written with a cliff-hanger ending that has left me eager for another book, in what looks set to become a great series.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
However, that changes on the night of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have ever imagined.
In the Night Realm, a world plagued in darkness and monsters, Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. Here, she may finally learn the truth behind her father's disappearance and his key role in Earth's possible conquest.
Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers? Join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures.
This book is a young adult fantasy that has the main character transported to a strange world that is in eternal darkness and inhabited by dangerous creatures. When she gets there, she meets up with a group of people and begins to discover that that there is more to her heritage than she realised. She quickly has to learn to fight and wield weapons, in order to protect the normal world and the people around her. I really enjoyed this book, and the characters are immensely likeable. I particularly liked the slow build up of her relationship with Callum and found myself rooting for them to become even closer. This book, however, was not focused on romance, but friendship. There was lots of action and fight scenes, that were very well done. This book was well written with a cliff-hanger ending that has left me eager for another book, in what looks set to become a great series.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2020
Sloane lives with her mum and has a pretty normal life. Until her strange dreams and black outs started leading up to her 18th birthday. Until one night she wakes up in a completely different realm. A world that protects ours from the darkness and monsters that are trying to plague the earth.
Once Sloane finds herself in the realm for a short time and wakes up back in her own bed, herself and her mum talk about it. I loved the relationship between Sloane and her mum. Her mum is so chill about the whole thing and when Sloane says that she needs to go back to the realm, her mum is all for it and completely understands. Sloane is strong and very adaptable to the new world around her, she is a very likeable character, which shows through her relationships with others. I really enjoyed the growing connection between Callum and Sloane and watching their friendship turn into slightly more.
The Watcher is so action packed and fast paced, but with slow and sweet moments woven through. Sloane and her friends find themselves on a journey and once they get to their destination are nearly thrown into action and war to protect 'the norm'. There are so many different aspects of The Watcher, that I can't wait to see what happens next. The ending was amazing and I didn't see it coming, especially because it finished in a cliff hanger, I need to know what is going to happen next!!
Once Sloane finds herself in the realm for a short time and wakes up back in her own bed, herself and her mum talk about it. I loved the relationship between Sloane and her mum. Her mum is so chill about the whole thing and when Sloane says that she needs to go back to the realm, her mum is all for it and completely understands. Sloane is strong and very adaptable to the new world around her, she is a very likeable character, which shows through her relationships with others. I really enjoyed the growing connection between Callum and Sloane and watching their friendship turn into slightly more.
The Watcher is so action packed and fast paced, but with slow and sweet moments woven through. Sloane and her friends find themselves on a journey and once they get to their destination are nearly thrown into action and war to protect 'the norm'. There are so many different aspects of The Watcher, that I can't wait to see what happens next. The ending was amazing and I didn't see it coming, especially because it finished in a cliff hanger, I need to know what is going to happen next!!
March 18, 2021
Sloane lives with her mum and has a pretty normal life, until she turns eighteen and she starts having strange dreams and several blackouts. Until one night she finds herself catapulted in another realm, which defends the Norm from darkness and from the Nightlings, ferocious monsters that destroy anything in their path.
Sloane is a strong and likeable character and she feels more at home in the new realm than at home, even if she has a really strong connection with her mother, who has always been super supportive with her and knows all her secretes escapes to the other world.
I enjoyed as well reading how the friendship between Callum and her devolved and I found myself smiling several times during their unique flirtatious behaviour.
The real is described by the author vividly and it makes it easier for the reader to be completely immersed into the story.
The ending leaves space to many possibilities and I’m for sure left wanting for more.
Sloane is a strong and likeable character and she feels more at home in the new realm than at home, even if she has a really strong connection with her mother, who has always been super supportive with her and knows all her secretes escapes to the other world.
I enjoyed as well reading how the friendship between Callum and her devolved and I found myself smiling several times during their unique flirtatious behaviour.
The real is described by the author vividly and it makes it easier for the reader to be completely immersed into the story.
The ending leaves space to many possibilities and I’m for sure left wanting for more.
November 16, 2020
I was lucky enough to be recruited to beta this amazing story.
Sloane is such a strong willed character. She is just your average teenager until her 18th birthday, Then everything changes. The first time she wakes up in the Night Realm it freaks her out but also intrigues her. The more she learns about this strange new world the more she wants to be apart of it. She learns it this Realm keeps up safe from all that go bump on the night.
The relationship she has with her mom is the kind of relationship every girl wants with their mom. She is so understanding about Sloane's blackouts and doesn’t get upset when she expresses the need to revisit the night realm.
During her time in the Night Realm she meets and grows close to Callum who seems to take an interest in the new girl but he definitely does it from afar. He can’t help but feel that he need to protect Sloane because she not use to this world and how to survive it.
This story is amazing I cannot wait to see what twist and turns book two has in it!!
Sloane is such a strong willed character. She is just your average teenager until her 18th birthday, Then everything changes. The first time she wakes up in the Night Realm it freaks her out but also intrigues her. The more she learns about this strange new world the more she wants to be apart of it. She learns it this Realm keeps up safe from all that go bump on the night.
The relationship she has with her mom is the kind of relationship every girl wants with their mom. She is so understanding about Sloane's blackouts and doesn’t get upset when she expresses the need to revisit the night realm.
During her time in the Night Realm she meets and grows close to Callum who seems to take an interest in the new girl but he definitely does it from afar. He can’t help but feel that he need to protect Sloane because she not use to this world and how to survive it.
This story is amazing I cannot wait to see what twist and turns book two has in it!!
March 12, 2021
Sloane is a normal, shy and anxious 17 year old about to celebrate her 18th birthday. As the clock strikes midnight she is transported to another place, a place of darkness and deadly creatures. Through this book we join Sloane on her adventures as she tries to find out about her family, and why her eyes turn white whilst everyone else’s turn black.
I loved the premise of the book as it was different to the other YA fantasy books I had read. My criticism is that it felt a bit rushed, so much was happening that needed to be expanded on and the attack at the end could have been so much longer with more depth to it as it was quite exciting. It’s not a very long book at 250 pages so I feel there was scope there.
Also Sloane....I just couldn’t warm to her. The character I really wanted to get to know was Callum, he seemed so much more interesting (if you like the dark brooding quiet types)! I hoping in book 2 we will get to see things from his perspective!
I recommend this book if you are after a nice easy to read series. I must warn you that this ends on a cliff hanger so if your impatient wait till book 2 is out!
Thank you to Love Book Tours and K R Bowman for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
I loved the premise of the book as it was different to the other YA fantasy books I had read. My criticism is that it felt a bit rushed, so much was happening that needed to be expanded on and the attack at the end could have been so much longer with more depth to it as it was quite exciting. It’s not a very long book at 250 pages so I feel there was scope there.
Also Sloane....I just couldn’t warm to her. The character I really wanted to get to know was Callum, he seemed so much more interesting (if you like the dark brooding quiet types)! I hoping in book 2 we will get to see things from his perspective!
I recommend this book if you are after a nice easy to read series. I must warn you that this ends on a cliff hanger so if your impatient wait till book 2 is out!
Thank you to Love Book Tours and K R Bowman for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
November 3, 2020
Sloane lives with her unusual mother, an elementary school teacher and a not so good a cook. Except her recurring blackouts once in a while and some unusual dreams, her life is pretty normal.
However that changes on the night of of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have imagined.
The Night Realm is a world plagued in darkness and monsters and Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. The story takes us on journey along with Sloane to discover the truth behind her fathers disappearance and her role on this world.
The relationship between Sloane and Callum was expressed well and transition from one phase to the next phase in the story was smooth. I did not want to put the book down!
The cliffhanger at the end was a solid one and I am anxious to read the next book in the series!!!
My favourite part was probably when Sloane defeated Callum during training with her wits and speed. It was an intense and exciting scene.
It was overall a good read.
I’d recommend this to all those who enjoy a little bit of monsters, different worlds and superpowers.
However that changes on the night of of her 18th birthday. At the stroke of midnight, she is transported to the Night Realm, where she discovers her family’s heritage is far more extensive than she could have imagined.
The Night Realm is a world plagued in darkness and monsters and Sloane is thrown into the midst of an unending battle between the Realmers and Nightlins. The story takes us on journey along with Sloane to discover the truth behind her fathers disappearance and her role on this world.
The relationship between Sloane and Callum was expressed well and transition from one phase to the next phase in the story was smooth. I did not want to put the book down!
The cliffhanger at the end was a solid one and I am anxious to read the next book in the series!!!
My favourite part was probably when Sloane defeated Callum during training with her wits and speed. It was an intense and exciting scene.
It was overall a good read.
I’d recommend this to all those who enjoy a little bit of monsters, different worlds and superpowers.
June 11, 2021
Dnf 60% of the way thru.......the cover got me again.
Where to begin and in the nicest way possible. I can honestly say I have never condemned a story for being too fast pace but here we are. Sloane, within 30 pages, is completely integrated into a brand new world that she had no previous knowledge of. On top of that I have no solid foundation for her character. It's almost as if an nightling crawled out of the book to eat half of it's pages.
One minute Sloane is a college student with no hobbies or life because I wasn't told of any the next she is the finest most special warrior in a new realm. The grueling training and hard work were all glossed over. It feels like Sloane is getting everything she wants and doesn't deserve a bit of it.
And of course Sloane is the Goddess we all envy... she can eat as much as she wants (repeated often) and not get fat. And just that quick she is the subject of all our eye rolling because she is also not comfortable with her perfect said body. So again more things she is undeserving of.
*Sigh* There is a lot of things I could not take seriously. In the beginning Sloane's mom just automatically believed her daughter visited another realm? No need for explanations here. I mean the obvious, Sloane has lost it. Maybe the stress of college. She is so perfectly skinny could be a blood sugar thing, I mean that's why she is passing out all the time. I should have finished this story to figure out she was hallucinating the whole time with a possible lion poster in her classroom to account for the golden eyes she dreams of.
For goodness sake at one point there are only six survivors and they all happen to be the main group of characters. Everything fit into place to perfectly, the main character isn't relatable, and the world building was practically non existent. My favorite thing was the moon and the dragons but still nothing terribly unique there.
Where to begin and in the nicest way possible. I can honestly say I have never condemned a story for being too fast pace but here we are. Sloane, within 30 pages, is completely integrated into a brand new world that she had no previous knowledge of. On top of that I have no solid foundation for her character. It's almost as if an nightling crawled out of the book to eat half of it's pages.
One minute Sloane is a college student with no hobbies or life because I wasn't told of any the next she is the finest most special warrior in a new realm. The grueling training and hard work were all glossed over. It feels like Sloane is getting everything she wants and doesn't deserve a bit of it.
And of course Sloane is the Goddess we all envy... she can eat as much as she wants (repeated often) and not get fat. And just that quick she is the subject of all our eye rolling because she is also not comfortable with her perfect said body. So again more things she is undeserving of.
*Sigh* There is a lot of things I could not take seriously. In the beginning Sloane's mom just automatically believed her daughter visited another realm? No need for explanations here. I mean the obvious, Sloane has lost it. Maybe the stress of college. She is so perfectly skinny could be a blood sugar thing, I mean that's why she is passing out all the time. I should have finished this story to figure out she was hallucinating the whole time with a possible lion poster in her classroom to account for the golden eyes she dreams of.
For goodness sake at one point there are only six survivors and they all happen to be the main group of characters. Everything fit into place to perfectly, the main character isn't relatable, and the world building was practically non existent. My favorite thing was the moon and the dragons but still nothing terribly unique there.
March 23, 2021
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
The watcher is the first in the Night Realm series and follows Sloane as she discovers her family’s heritage. On the night of her 18th birthday at the stroke of midnight Sloane finds herself transported to the night realm, a realm plagued with monsters and darkness (with only 8 minutes of light a day!)
Sloane finds herself engulfed in a battle between the Nightlins and the Realmers, whilst also discovering that she may find the answers to her father’s disappearance in the night realms. Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers?
We join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures, I really enjoyed The Watcher; it was a fast action paced gripping read that had plot twists aplenty. I found that the opening to the book was quite dark, and it paved the way for the future of the book. There were numerous plots in the book that I found very suspenseful and I was unable to predict the outcomes, although the book ending did annoy me, as it is such a cliff-hanger, but this just leaves you needing the next book, as I feel there are a lot more answers that need to be provided
In regard to the characters, I absolutely love Sloane, her introduction was great, and I immediately warmed to her from the get-go, she is a well written likeable character and her attitude and general behaviours just had me relating so much, and her behaviour in certain situations had me laughing out loud, such as the scene where she finds Ashlen and Harris, it was brilliant. I am not sure on majority of the other characters though, as I am not sure whether I trust them or not, I feel there is so dark betrayal coming around the corner.
The book is predominately from Sloane’s perspective however there are a couple of chapters from other
characters which I’ll always love multiple point of view, but this leads me to believe that gong forward the
other books may contain more perspectives. I found that the book had some Shadowhunter’s vibes with
the training camp and squad goals between the characters, and the introduction of each Groundling
having a different power and having to train them, plus there was some hints of Divergent vibes with the characters having to undergo initiation type training and tests.
Plus, I am getting a feel for a possible love triangle, I ship Sloane and Callum and think they are lovely together, however from this book I cannot get a feel for the books direction so I’m not sure I trust the author for this to be an easy ride for any of the characters. I am really intrigued for future books and cannot wait to get my hands on them
I would recommend this book to fans of Shadowhunter’s and those who like action packed, angst teen, good vs evil battles for the greater good
2.5
The watcher is the first in the Night Realm series and follows Sloane as she discovers her family’s heritage. On the night of her 18th birthday at the stroke of midnight Sloane finds herself transported to the night realm, a realm plagued with monsters and darkness (with only 8 minutes of light a day!)
Sloane finds herself engulfed in a battle between the Nightlins and the Realmers, whilst also discovering that she may find the answers to her father’s disappearance in the night realms. Will Sloane find her father? Will she master these strange new powers?
We join Sloane as she embarks on the first of many adventures, I really enjoyed The Watcher; it was a fast action paced gripping read that had plot twists aplenty. I found that the opening to the book was quite dark, and it paved the way for the future of the book. There were numerous plots in the book that I found very suspenseful and I was unable to predict the outcomes, although the book ending did annoy me, as it is such a cliff-hanger, but this just leaves you needing the next book, as I feel there are a lot more answers that need to be provided
In regard to the characters, I absolutely love Sloane, her introduction was great, and I immediately warmed to her from the get-go, she is a well written likeable character and her attitude and general behaviours just had me relating so much, and her behaviour in certain situations had me laughing out loud, such as the scene where she finds Ashlen and Harris, it was brilliant. I am not sure on majority of the other characters though, as I am not sure whether I trust them or not, I feel there is so dark betrayal coming around the corner.
The book is predominately from Sloane’s perspective however there are a couple of chapters from other
characters which I’ll always love multiple point of view, but this leads me to believe that gong forward the
other books may contain more perspectives. I found that the book had some Shadowhunter’s vibes with
the training camp and squad goals between the characters, and the introduction of each Groundling
having a different power and having to train them, plus there was some hints of Divergent vibes with the characters having to undergo initiation type training and tests.
Plus, I am getting a feel for a possible love triangle, I ship Sloane and Callum and think they are lovely together, however from this book I cannot get a feel for the books direction so I’m not sure I trust the author for this to be an easy ride for any of the characters. I am really intrigued for future books and cannot wait to get my hands on them
I would recommend this book to fans of Shadowhunter’s and those who like action packed, angst teen, good vs evil battles for the greater good
2.5
January 18, 2022
2.75 stars
Thank you so much to K.R. Bowman and BookSirens for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book!
I will say, this had a very promising plot. At the beginning, I was rather excited for this one. As time went on though and I read more, I found that this just wasn’t the story for me. Before I get into what I felt didn’t work, I did want to highlight that the teens felt like ACTUAL teenagers! So thank you so much Bowman for making believable teens as for some reason, the media is failing. Now, onto what I wasn’t a huge fan of.
First, the pacing felt too fast. At first, I rather liked the fast pace storytelling. However, it reached a certain point where it felt far too fast. I had a hard time connecting with the characters (which could very well be a me thing and not an author thing just so we all know). The relationship with Graham and the weird not love triangle love triangle felt weird?? It was a little funny though, and I will give that to Bowman. However, most of the jokes were taken from other popular media, so I felt like it cheapened it a bit.
Just a note: there is a lot of cursing. I personally didn’t mind it. As a teenager myself, it felt believable. I know others might have reservations against that though, so it felt important to mention.
Overall: it just wasn’t the one for me. Maybe if the pacing was a little slower and we spent more time with the characters I would have felt different.
Thank you so much to K.R. Bowman and BookSirens for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book!
I will say, this had a very promising plot. At the beginning, I was rather excited for this one. As time went on though and I read more, I found that this just wasn’t the story for me. Before I get into what I felt didn’t work, I did want to highlight that the teens felt like ACTUAL teenagers! So thank you so much Bowman for making believable teens as for some reason, the media is failing. Now, onto what I wasn’t a huge fan of.
First, the pacing felt too fast. At first, I rather liked the fast pace storytelling. However, it reached a certain point where it felt far too fast. I had a hard time connecting with the characters (which could very well be a me thing and not an author thing just so we all know). The relationship with Graham and the weird not love triangle love triangle felt weird?? It was a little funny though, and I will give that to Bowman. However, most of the jokes were taken from other popular media, so I felt like it cheapened it a bit.
Just a note: there is a lot of cursing. I personally didn’t mind it. As a teenager myself, it felt believable. I know others might have reservations against that though, so it felt important to mention.
Overall: it just wasn’t the one for me. Maybe if the pacing was a little slower and we spent more time with the characters I would have felt different.
March 26, 2021
Sloane is unlike other teenagers. She’s been suffering from unexplained blackouts and strange dreams. As the clock strikes midnight on her 18th birthday Sloane is transported from her bedroom into another realm. She has no idea how she got there but meets a number of different characters that will play an important part of her life including Brand, Callum and Ashley, Harris and Raleigh who eventually become her friends and fellow trainees in the Night Realm.
On her return home she realises her mother has been keeping secrets from her. Sloane’s mother gives her a dagger and compass which was owned by her father who disappeared before she was born. Her mother tells her that she knows of the Night Realm from Sloane’s father as she heard him talk about Watchers, Protectors and Hunters.
When Sloane returns to the Night Realm her experience is different as the camp is being attacked by Nightlins. So starts Sloane’s journey to discovering her true destiny, her true heritage, what happened to her father and her true role in life. She embarks on a steep learning curve learning about the history of the Night Realm and the different type of Nightlins. She embarks on gruelling combat training so she can take up her role to guard portals to stop the Nightlins crossing over into the normal world, preventing them from feeding on death and fear which represent itself in the normal world as death and crime. The more Sloane develops she will receive marks which will determine whether she is a Watcher, Protector or Hunter but Sloane is developing at an advanced pace and her role is yet to be revealed. The fight between good and evil has begun!
I loved the storyline especially the concept of it and the fact that there is a whole good v evil battle going on behind the scenes that people from the normal world are oblivious too. The battle scene at the end was intense and well written. I adored Sloane’s character. She adapted to the Night Realm quickly especially only having 8 minutes of sunlight each day. Her personality and love of Lord of the Rings made Sloane quirky and how she compared everything she saw or experienced to it made me smile. As the book progresses Sloane grows as a character and the love triangle Sloane is involved in added that extra bit of teenage drama.
This was a fantastic YA fantasy novel which ended on a complete cliffhanger. So I can’t wait to read the next book. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy or YA novels or those who are thinking of delving into the fantasy genre for the first time.
I received a gifted copy for an honest review
On her return home she realises her mother has been keeping secrets from her. Sloane’s mother gives her a dagger and compass which was owned by her father who disappeared before she was born. Her mother tells her that she knows of the Night Realm from Sloane’s father as she heard him talk about Watchers, Protectors and Hunters.
When Sloane returns to the Night Realm her experience is different as the camp is being attacked by Nightlins. So starts Sloane’s journey to discovering her true destiny, her true heritage, what happened to her father and her true role in life. She embarks on a steep learning curve learning about the history of the Night Realm and the different type of Nightlins. She embarks on gruelling combat training so she can take up her role to guard portals to stop the Nightlins crossing over into the normal world, preventing them from feeding on death and fear which represent itself in the normal world as death and crime. The more Sloane develops she will receive marks which will determine whether she is a Watcher, Protector or Hunter but Sloane is developing at an advanced pace and her role is yet to be revealed. The fight between good and evil has begun!
I loved the storyline especially the concept of it and the fact that there is a whole good v evil battle going on behind the scenes that people from the normal world are oblivious too. The battle scene at the end was intense and well written. I adored Sloane’s character. She adapted to the Night Realm quickly especially only having 8 minutes of sunlight each day. Her personality and love of Lord of the Rings made Sloane quirky and how she compared everything she saw or experienced to it made me smile. As the book progresses Sloane grows as a character and the love triangle Sloane is involved in added that extra bit of teenage drama.
This was a fantastic YA fantasy novel which ended on a complete cliffhanger. So I can’t wait to read the next book. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy or YA novels or those who are thinking of delving into the fantasy genre for the first time.
I received a gifted copy for an honest review
January 4, 2022
I was given a free copy from Love Book Tours for an honest review.
I hate giving bad reviews but I could not find anything I liked about this book and usually there is something 😞 it was way too fast paced, everything was glossed over and I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters let alone the main one. One second she’s a normal girl who looks sickly, next she’s in another world and back again. Tells her mum and her mum is like oh really that’s probably something to do with your father. Then she’s back in the other world and bye bye old life. I thought for sure it was improve but Sloane’s her training is just glossed over, the new world didn’t stand out to me either.
I ended up skimming the last half just to finish it as I’m on the book tour for the next book. Which if I wasn’t on that tour I wouldn’t bother reading it. I think it could have done with a lot of beefing up and this books could have been really good.
The first half of the book it seemed like all the characters communicated with winks which I thought was weird too and the writing didn’t flow very well for me.
I hate giving bad reviews but I could not find anything I liked about this book and usually there is something 😞 it was way too fast paced, everything was glossed over and I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters let alone the main one. One second she’s a normal girl who looks sickly, next she’s in another world and back again. Tells her mum and her mum is like oh really that’s probably something to do with your father. Then she’s back in the other world and bye bye old life. I thought for sure it was improve but Sloane’s her training is just glossed over, the new world didn’t stand out to me either.
I ended up skimming the last half just to finish it as I’m on the book tour for the next book. Which if I wasn’t on that tour I wouldn’t bother reading it. I think it could have done with a lot of beefing up and this books could have been really good.
The first half of the book it seemed like all the characters communicated with winks which I thought was weird too and the writing didn’t flow very well for me.
December 19, 2023
Totally new author and from the book I’m guessing a indie author.
The story wasn’t a bad one, with being quite fast paced and intriguing and interesting enough for me to plow through, but it wasn’t all that special to be awarded more.
Sloane lives in the norm with her unconventional mother, Sloane has episodes of fainting and no one knows what’s wrong with her, she just remembers odd dreams.
All that changes on her 18th birthday when she is transported to the night realm where she learns her family heritage is far more interesting and extensive then she could ever of imagined.
Sloane wants to find out every thing she can about her father and her family, so stays, where she makes a new friends who are like her, but she slightly different but no one knows what it is.
In the night realms, the world is plagued in darkness and monster, Sloane is thrown into the middle of an unending battle between the realmers and nightlins. She needs to learn the history and trained and along with her friends find the through behind her father’s disappearance and his key role in earths possible conquest, while in battle.
Let’s see what the final book brings?
The story wasn’t a bad one, with being quite fast paced and intriguing and interesting enough for me to plow through, but it wasn’t all that special to be awarded more.
Sloane lives in the norm with her unconventional mother, Sloane has episodes of fainting and no one knows what’s wrong with her, she just remembers odd dreams.
All that changes on her 18th birthday when she is transported to the night realm where she learns her family heritage is far more interesting and extensive then she could ever of imagined.
Sloane wants to find out every thing she can about her father and her family, so stays, where she makes a new friends who are like her, but she slightly different but no one knows what it is.
In the night realms, the world is plagued in darkness and monster, Sloane is thrown into the middle of an unending battle between the realmers and nightlins. She needs to learn the history and trained and along with her friends find the through behind her father’s disappearance and his key role in earths possible conquest, while in battle.
Let’s see what the final book brings?
March 23, 2021
As the blurb mentions this is book one of a series and gives as a sampling to wet our appetite. The concept is good and this has longevity to be a series. I felt like the first half of the book was gripping and thoroughly enjoyable and I read fast as we learnt more about each character. I enjoyed sloane’s history research and her training. However, when the team went on an expedition only to get almost there and come back again felt a bit of a waste. I am sure that book two will reveal much more though and shed light on this aspect. I’m not a very patient person and needed a lot more explained. The ending was left utterly open ready for book two.
I connected with the characters and the concept of the story but I needed more, I needed to get some sort of gratification or answers that didn’t come. However, it’s left me wanting to read book two so I guess it’s done it’s job!
March 27, 2021
I liked the character of Sloane from very early on, she’s funny, endearing and tough as old boots. The way she adapts to being thrown into this whole new existence and battle is commendable. Her companions in the night realm are all interesting, especially Callum who at first seems cold and distant. I enjoyed getting to know him as his personality and powers emerged throughout the book. The battle scenes and the imagery of the monsters were so well described it was like watching a movie in my head. It was a scary white knuckle ride at times! The ending had had me eagerly racing through the pages in quest to get answers…and it ended on a massive cliff hanger! The perfect opening to a series that ensures as reader you’ll be back for more!
November 19, 2020
A thrilling adventure
Wow, just couldn't stop reading. The author has a brilliant imagination and she blends the story in such a way that you cannot put it down. There is everything a fantasy author loves - action, adventure, mystery and dragons.
From the first chapter you are drawn into a girls life who has just turned eighteen and finds that she can teleport to another realm, the night realm. This is a fascinating yet dark world where her father seems to have vanished. She can of course choose to leave, but the lore is deep and her need to discover who she really is takes her on a journey which keeps the reader thrilled and engaged.
Can't wait for the sequel!
Wow, just couldn't stop reading. The author has a brilliant imagination and she blends the story in such a way that you cannot put it down. There is everything a fantasy author loves - action, adventure, mystery and dragons.
From the first chapter you are drawn into a girls life who has just turned eighteen and finds that she can teleport to another realm, the night realm. This is a fascinating yet dark world where her father seems to have vanished. She can of course choose to leave, but the lore is deep and her need to discover who she really is takes her on a journey which keeps the reader thrilled and engaged.
Can't wait for the sequel!
March 16, 2021
Wow this is not something I would usually pick up - fantasy, action, paranormal however this was written amazingly well. I was gripped from the very beginning and the cliffhanger ending leaves me incredibly impatient for the sequel.
The night realm is fascinating, the descriptions of people and places is brilliant.
All of the characters, however big or small a part they play in the story are varied and intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about the development of the core group.
A great read, roll on book 2!
The night realm is fascinating, the descriptions of people and places is brilliant.
All of the characters, however big or small a part they play in the story are varied and intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about the development of the core group.
A great read, roll on book 2!
March 29, 2021
Wow. It’s amazing from the first page it just takes you straight to the story. The flow is a little fast paced but easy to follow. The main protagonist seems to me like an entire badass. It reminds me of the character of Ninth house. Especially how she wanted to find out more about her family and everything about who she was. Her connection with others and the the night realms will just make you want to dive right in. This book was well written and makes you want to know what else will happen. Can’t wait for the next book.
December 22, 2021
The Watcher is Book 1 of the Night Realm Series by J R Bowman. The Watcher is an interesting story. Sloan is turning 18 and when she wakes up, she is in a different realm that is totally dark with black shadowy monsters. It was quite a change for a girl who was in a college class the day before. I liked the story, it was well written and very exciting. Sloan grows and developed her skills. Although the story has a good ending, it also leads to Book 2, The Protector. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
February 26, 2021
Outstanding! Woah i absolutely loved this book, i read it in one day because i was obsessed. I hadn’t read all week and this just made up for that because it is definitely going on my favourites shelf. I grew to love the characters and i adored that the world wasn’t full of complicating concepts that would boggle me for half the book. I definitely recommend because you will no doubt have to keep reading once you start.
March 23, 2021
Sloane is a regular 17 year old girl until the night of her 18th birthday. Sloane is taken to the Night Realm where she must train with the Realmers and fight in order to protect the “Norm” world from Nightlins.
The Watchers was the first book I signed up to read and review with @lovebookstoursand and it’s easily one of the best books I’ve read in my time as a bookstagrammer.
Sloane is a fantastic character - she is funny, thoughtful and relatable in the sense when it comes to men! Why can’t they just make sense!? Callum is my latest book boyfriend - at first we see this cold, commanding character only for him to open up and we see that there’s much more under the surface; I could not but help myself from smiling during his scenes with Sloane. Their relationship is a ship we all need - their sarcasm, their jokes and even their quiet moments just give me a sense of warmth.
This story had me gripped from the first line and I could not put it down - I read it within 24 hours and that 24 hours included a full nights sleep and a day of work so you can imagine how quickly I devoured every single word! For a debut novel this is nothing short of a triumph - writing about a fantasy world that has been inside your head for years can be tricky, you obviously want the reader to be there with your characters and feel a part of the story and Bowman did this flawlessly - the Nightlins are described in such detail it is clear in my mind how they look and I won’t be forgetting their appearance any time soon! The imagery used throughout is vivid and as scary as the world is, I want to go to the Night Realm please!
This book was fantastic and is perfect for any fantasy book lover. Enthralling characters, a twisted, yet realistic world and a story that is nothing short of an escape from the real world - what more could you want? I am absolutely desperate for the follow up to The Watcher and will be pre-ordering my copy as soon as it becomes available.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and of course to @krbowmanauthor for allowing me take part in your book tour and for the gifted copy of The Watcher - it has earned a spot on my “to keep and treasure” bookshelf.
#lovebookstours #thewatcher #krbowman
The Watchers was the first book I signed up to read and review with @lovebookstoursand and it’s easily one of the best books I’ve read in my time as a bookstagrammer.
Sloane is a fantastic character - she is funny, thoughtful and relatable in the sense when it comes to men! Why can’t they just make sense!? Callum is my latest book boyfriend - at first we see this cold, commanding character only for him to open up and we see that there’s much more under the surface; I could not but help myself from smiling during his scenes with Sloane. Their relationship is a ship we all need - their sarcasm, their jokes and even their quiet moments just give me a sense of warmth.
This story had me gripped from the first line and I could not put it down - I read it within 24 hours and that 24 hours included a full nights sleep and a day of work so you can imagine how quickly I devoured every single word! For a debut novel this is nothing short of a triumph - writing about a fantasy world that has been inside your head for years can be tricky, you obviously want the reader to be there with your characters and feel a part of the story and Bowman did this flawlessly - the Nightlins are described in such detail it is clear in my mind how they look and I won’t be forgetting their appearance any time soon! The imagery used throughout is vivid and as scary as the world is, I want to go to the Night Realm please!
This book was fantastic and is perfect for any fantasy book lover. Enthralling characters, a twisted, yet realistic world and a story that is nothing short of an escape from the real world - what more could you want? I am absolutely desperate for the follow up to The Watcher and will be pre-ordering my copy as soon as it becomes available.
Thank you to Love Book Tours and of course to @krbowmanauthor for allowing me take part in your book tour and for the gifted copy of The Watcher - it has earned a spot on my “to keep and treasure” bookshelf.
#lovebookstours #thewatcher #krbowman
March 24, 2021
Really enjoyed this book!
It was fast paced, easy to read and full of great descriptions. The Night Realm was fascinating and I found my self eager to learn more. Sloane is a brilliant character - I loved her! I’m totally rooting for her and Callum 👀 The world building was good and wasn’t too overwhelming. Interested to see what happened to Sloane’s dad and uncle. And that cliffhanger, what?!! Would definitely buy the second book 🙌🏼
It was fast paced, easy to read and full of great descriptions. The Night Realm was fascinating and I found my self eager to learn more. Sloane is a brilliant character - I loved her! I’m totally rooting for her and Callum 👀 The world building was good and wasn’t too overwhelming. Interested to see what happened to Sloane’s dad and uncle. And that cliffhanger, what?!! Would definitely buy the second book 🙌🏼
February 26, 2021
Interesting premise
A college age girl discovers that the heritage she inherited from her unknown father is part of another world,. The book was entertaining. The reason for 4 instead of 5 stars could be out of the author's control. Lots of missing commas, to the point I had to reread paragraphs to figure out what was really said.
A college age girl discovers that the heritage she inherited from her unknown father is part of another world,. The book was entertaining. The reason for 4 instead of 5 stars could be out of the author's control. Lots of missing commas, to the point I had to reread paragraphs to figure out what was really said.
October 7, 2021
3.5
I had to take a point off for language. At least 15 curse words and half of those f#’*. It’s disappointing to mix a wonderful story of amazing creativity, characters, world building, adventure and mystery with verbal sewage. Will I read the next one… na. I got better and more uplifting things to do with my time.
I had to take a point off for language. At least 15 curse words and half of those f#’*. It’s disappointing to mix a wonderful story of amazing creativity, characters, world building, adventure and mystery with verbal sewage. Will I read the next one… na. I got better and more uplifting things to do with my time.
December 14, 2020
I received the book as a Goodreads giveaway. Great story, would be great for a teen interest is fantasy/sci fi. I enjoyed the book enough that I will be looking at reading the next in the series.
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