Beholder - by Ryan La Sala (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for Beholder

School Library Journal Best Book

"Unnerving, intricate, and glittering with La Sala's trademark wit. You'll be scared of your own reflection after this one." -- Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls and Burn Our Bodies Down

"Beholder takes readers through a glass darkly, and into a spellbinding, spine-tingling world no one but Ryan la Sala could have dreamed up." -- Caleb Roehrig, author of Last Seen Leaving and The Fell of Dark

"If it's unhinged horror of the mind, you know it's a La Sala. This berserk beauty is a joy to behold, and when you're done reading, you'll be avoiding mirrors for weeks!" --Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons

★ "La Sala balances inventive gruesomeness with thematic depth in this bewitching horror novel, a tale laced with spine-chilling gore.... The result is a top-notch horror novel and a tearjerker." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This book is a wild ride..." -- USA Today

"New York City, with all its grime and shine, is a fitting backdrop for this novel, which also weaves in elements of folklore and urban fantasy, giving the story a uniquely ominous and epic feel.... Gritty and imaginative: modern noir that'll leave you wary of your reflection." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Dead of Summer

"The Dead of Summer is like a Mike Flanagan movie: visceral and unsettling. The perfect creepy read!" -- Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Blood

"La Sala is back with a fresh new freakshow! Not only is The Dead of Summer a terrifying, fast-paced, maritime body horror, it's a timely plea to embrace your community when you can no longer trust those in charge. This is one beach read that will have you sprinting away from the ocean!" -- Adam Sass, award-winning author of Your Lonely Nights Are Over

"A blistering tale of seaside horrors unleashed upon a beloved queer community, The Dead of Summer combines intricate plot with unforgettable characters. Every Ryan La Sala book is a gem." -- Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting

"Ryan La Sala's The Dead of Summer is a coastal New England fever dream that is equal parts heart-rending and horrifying. As in his previous work, La Sala masterfully balances elements of humor and horror to create a story that is as propulsive as it is poignant. Often told through a chilling epistolary lens, the truth behind what happened to the residents of Anchor's Mercy is pieced slowly together, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions in a way that will keep them guessing up until the breathtaking end." -- Kelly Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Made of Death

"Ryan brings their A-game with The Dead of Summer. As much a work of art stylistically as it is structurally, Ryan's sharp, signature prose reminds us all of the siren-song power of their craft. An engrossing read that'll absolutely pull you under." -- Kosoko Jackson, USA Today bestselling author of The Forest Demands Its Due

"The Dead of Summer contains La Sala's signature multitudes: sometimes delightfully campy, always stomach-turningly horrifying, with dread rising like the tide. The perfect beach read to really get that adrenaline going." -- Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture

"La Sala's story puts the 'gore' in 'gorgeous prose.'" --Washington Post

★ "A propulsive paranormal thriller." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "La Sala once again demonstrates extreme prowess for integrating themes of belonging, grief, and yes, even queer joy into this horrifying and fresh approach to a zombie apocalypse." --Booklist (starred review)

★ "A deeply human, absolutely riveting, and expansively inclusive marine biology nightmare." --School Library Journal (starred review)

"An original, page-turning horror story that emphasizes the importance of queer community." --Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Honeys

"A dark and redolent tale of familial bonds, grief, and a secretive summer camp tucked away in the heart of forests vast and dizzyingly wild. The Honeys creeped me out and I loved every moment of it." -- Erin A. Craig, New York Timesbestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrow

★"La Sala gives real-life fears a supernatural twist, cleverly using folk horror and psychological-thriller elements to heighten Mars' understandable tension and infuse this idyllic location with dread.... The eerily ambivalent conclusion is pure horror gold." -- Booklist (starred review)

★ "La Sala's slow plot reveal is gripping, and the narrative's lush prose crafts both deliciously creepy horror scenes and a nuanced, self-assured protagonist consumed by grief and longing for acceptance." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "This layered, complex, and at times truly disturbing novel creates an ever-heightening level of suspense, ratcheting up to an explosive conclusion that readers will not see coming but will find imminently believable and completely unforgettable. A sparkling and powerful exploration of grief, gender roles, and escaping the strong grip of expectations..." -- School Library Journal (starred review)"La Sala delivers a sharply observed, imaginative tale of grief, destruction, and the transcendent nature of the reinvention that follows the aftermath of death.... As rich and complex as dark amber honey." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Ryan La Sala is a bestselling and award-winning author known for his genre-defying, queer-centered horror and fantasy, including The Dead of Summer, The Honeys, and Beholder. His work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, and more. He writes to you from New York, overseen by his cat, Haunted Little Girl. He can hold his breath for one minute and three seconds. You can ping him on his shell phone at ryanlasala.com.