Review Detail

A FEAST FOR THE EYES is a YA thriller/horror about an all-seeing beast known as the Watcher. When Shay and her girlfriend get into a fight, they awaken the creature and are attacked. Making it out alive, Shay looks to Zoe, an aspiring photographer, for help to capture proof of the Watcher. Zoe is trying to craft a portfolio that will earn her a scholarship to attend art college. With a couple of other friends, they set out to find the Watcher and keep it from hurting anyone else.

What I Loved:
The Watcher is a cryptid in Shay and Zoe’s town. Something that is often only seen in brief flashes but has had more of an impact on the town than they know. There is a mystery to the Watcher. Something compelling but eerie at the same time. Crespo does a great job at crafting something intriguing but dark.

A found family that truly feels like one. Alex Crespo writes flawed characters who don’t always mesh well, but they still fight for each other. Even when the road gets rough and things get dangerous, the characters are reminded that they have people to lean on and that they don’t have to fight the world on their own.

The atmosphere of the book can get dark at times. Cryptid hunting isn’t for the faint of heart and the Watcher is an especially terrifying presence that looms over the story. Crespo crafts the atmosphere with a careful hand, making it creepy but keeping it from becoming too much for YA readers. The book isn’t overly gory or scary, but it does veer into horror territory. I recommend knowing your limits and backing out if it begins to be too much for you.

This is also a queer story and the teens are all queer in one way or another. This isn’t done in a way that seems forced, rather it feels very authentic to the story and the plot. There are honest discussions around their identities and experiences that readers can relate to and crafted with such care that it’s clear the author cared about making sure the characters were well-developed.

Final Verdict:
A creepy mystery/horror, A FEAST FOR THE EYES draws readers into the story. A well-crafted atmosphere and interesting characters keep readers hooked to the story.