HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Loading...

Beholder

by Ryan La Sala

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
887306,945 (3.81)1
Fantasy. Horror. Young Adult Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML:From Ryan La Sala, author of the tantalizingly twisted The Honeys and riotously imaginative Reverie, comes a chilling new contemporary fable about art, aesthetic obsession, and the gaze that peers back at us from behind our reflections.

No one survived the party at the penthouse. Except Athan.

Athanasios "Athan" Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City's artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in.

Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Through hours of howls, laughter, and sobs, Athan stays hidden. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the corpses appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture—and Athan's mysterious savior is nowhere to be found. Athan—the only known survivor—is now the primary suspect.

In a race to prove his innocence, Athan is swept up in a supernatural mystery, one of secret occult societies and deadly eldritch horrors with rather distinctive taste. Something evil is waking up in the walls of New York City, and it's compelling victims toward violence, chaos, and self-destruction. Bound to him by a mysterious hereditary power, Athan has felt this evil hiding behind his reflection his entire life, watching him. Waiting. Now, it's taking over.

.
… (more)
None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 1 mention

Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
Gr 9 Up—As Athan races through an absolutely unhinged mystery on the hunt for his missing Yia-yia, the spirit that
has always followed him through the mirrors is catching up. La Sala invites readers to examine the space between
self and other, reality and its distorted reflection.
  BackstoryBooks | Apr 1, 2024 |
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun concept and idea, the characters were unique and well thought out and developed. I really enjoy inhabiting the world's this author builds in their work, especially when they start off with such strong concepts. Looking forward to more from this author, and more genre bending work! ( )
  eboods | Feb 28, 2024 |
Of note: I listened to this one on audio, and I am SO GLAD I did, because that was an amazing audio performance. Seriously, very, very creepy, with the voice changes and occasional background noises.

Athan was wonderfully frustrating as a protagonist, masking his fears, trauma, and worries under a maddening smirk and wisecracks. Dom, the strange boy who saves his life and then demands his help, deserved all the sympathy that I as a reader felt for him as he struggled toward the completion of a momentous task he'd obviously set himself long ago, only to have to deal with this maddening guy determined to flirt with him and who (how very dare!) actually insists on knowing what's going on. The chemistry is intense between the two...which makes it all the more tragic when they need to push past that due to the eldritch horror hunting them and the secret death/art cult killing everyone.

It was scary. It was mind-warping. I loved every minute. I also gotta question whether La Sala actually thought he was writing a happy-ish ending in that epilogue, because both my husband and I found it more foreboding than sweet. But I also think it's better that way, so. ( )
  clrichm | Feb 19, 2024 |
After devouring The Honeys in about 24 hours, I have been anxiously awaiting to read Beholder - and it did NOT disappoint. What a perfectly creepy way to round out the month of Halloween. I kept finding moments I had to immediately go back and reread because my brain couldn’t believe the words the first time. The way this world is crafted, similar to The Honeys, drops you immediately into a world you learn cannot be trusted. The writing has me on the edge of my seat and I can not wait to get my hands on Ryan La Sala’s next book.

The moments of charm or humor give such a delightful balance to the haunting moments of confusion & terror. The main character reminded me of so many people I know while still feeling alive on the page. The writing style kept my full attention through and wishing I could see some mock ups of the designs / artwork mentioned. I will definitely be rereading this one again soon! ( )
  Nlwilson607 | Jan 24, 2024 |
This is a weird one even for fantasy fans. As I sit here I am having describing the book. There are mirrors with which you can see the past wallpaper that kills people and mass murders with little apparent point. The main character is looking for his grandmother and he meets a parade of strange people and events along the way. Still scratching my head over this one. ( )
  muddyboy | Oct 22, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)
no reviews | add a review

» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Ryan La Salaprimary authorall editionscalculated
Adam, VikasNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

Fantasy. Horror. Young Adult Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML:From Ryan La Sala, author of the tantalizingly twisted The Honeys and riotously imaginative Reverie, comes a chilling new contemporary fable about art, aesthetic obsession, and the gaze that peers back at us from behind our reflections.

No one survived the party at the penthouse. Except Athan.

Athanasios "Athan" Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City's artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in.

Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Through hours of howls, laughter, and sobs, Athan stays hidden. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the corpses appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture—and Athan's mysterious savior is nowhere to be found. Athan—the only known survivor—is now the primary suspect.

In a race to prove his innocence, Athan is swept up in a supernatural mystery, one of secret occult societies and deadly eldritch horrors with rather distinctive taste. Something evil is waking up in the walls of New York City, and it's compelling victims toward violence, chaos, and self-destruction. Bound to him by a mysterious hereditary power, Athan has felt this evil hiding behind his reflection his entire life, watching him. Waiting. Now, it's taking over.

.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.81)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3 3
3.5 1
4 2
4.5
5 2

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 204,826,288 books! | Top bar: Always visible