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The Neath #1
Herrick's End
You did nothing. You were nothing. And so, you shall remain here, until the end of your days. As nothing.
Ollie's only friend disappeared a few days ago, and now, he's frantic to find her. But he doesn't have much to go on until a mysterious note arrives which reads:
"Still looking for your friend? I know where she is."
Unfortunately for Ollie, the trail leads to the last place he'd ever expect.
Somewhere dark.
Somewhere deep.
The kind of place where magic spills like blood, vengeance is merciless, and escape seems all but impossible.
Worse still, it soon becomes clear that someone-or something-was expecting him.
Now, time is running out.
If Ollie has any hope of ever seeing home again, he's going to have to summon every last scrap of courage, smarts, and tenacity he can find. And none of it will matter if he can't get some help. Fast.
Because Ollie might not know much about the vast underworld that's ensnared him, but he does know this:
He'll never make it out alone.
Ollie's only friend disappeared a few days ago, and now, he's frantic to find her. But he doesn't have much to go on until a mysterious note arrives which reads:
"Still looking for your friend? I know where she is."
Unfortunately for Ollie, the trail leads to the last place he'd ever expect.
Somewhere dark.
Somewhere deep.
The kind of place where magic spills like blood, vengeance is merciless, and escape seems all but impossible.
Worse still, it soon becomes clear that someone-or something-was expecting him.
Now, time is running out.
If Ollie has any hope of ever seeing home again, he's going to have to summon every last scrap of courage, smarts, and tenacity he can find. And none of it will matter if he can't get some help. Fast.
Because Ollie might not know much about the vast underworld that's ensnared him, but he does know this:
He'll never make it out alone.
284 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
14 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Blanchet
3 books39 followersT.M. Blanchet is an award-winning humor columnist, a former reporter, and a producer at A Mighty Blaze (AMightyBlaze.com), an initiative created in 2020 to help writers and indie bookstores reach readers during the Covid-19 pandemic. T.M. is also the host of A Mighty Blaze Podcast, which features weekly interviews with authors like John Irving, Cheryl Strayed, Anna Quindlen, Yaa Gyasi, and David Duchovny.
In 2013, T.M. founded Operation Delta Dog (OperationDeltaDog.org), a nonprofit organization with a mission to rescue shelter dogs and train them to work as service dogs for disabled veterans. The organization has since placed more than 50 trained dogs with New England veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and related conditions.
In 2013, T.M. founded Operation Delta Dog (OperationDeltaDog.org), a nonprofit organization with a mission to rescue shelter dogs and train them to work as service dogs for disabled veterans. The organization has since placed more than 50 trained dogs with New England veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and related conditions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 25, 2023
“Evil cannot exist on its own,” she interrupted calmly. “It requires a power source. In many cases, the power source is simply…nothing. Doing nothing. Saying nothing. Enabling. Implicitly agreeing by lack of action. All of these feed the abuse, empower it, embolden it.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I’ve just found my new favourite YA Fantasy author, and potentially trilogy!!! Impatiently waiting for book two to release now…
This book made me emotionally jumbled up,it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from the start. It made me sad, it made me laugh, it made me intrigued, angry, and it made me empathetic to the main characters. If I had the time to read it in one sitting I would have, it was just that good!
You never knew what was going to happen next, so much of the story was held in suspense, and Blanchet did an amazing job of writing characters Ollie and Tera. Their back stories made them relatable and feel real. They bring so much extra to this story.
I do, however, feel that a warning should be attached. A lot of the background and side stories are focused on abuse, physical and emotional. While there isn’t horrendous detailed scenes, it is one of the main themes throughout, but not front and centre.
If you love young adult fantasy, I urge you to give this one a go! The urban fantasy world of The Neath is my new favourite fiction place!
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I’ve just found my new favourite YA Fantasy author, and potentially trilogy!!! Impatiently waiting for book two to release now…
This book made me emotionally jumbled up,it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from the start. It made me sad, it made me laugh, it made me intrigued, angry, and it made me empathetic to the main characters. If I had the time to read it in one sitting I would have, it was just that good!
You never knew what was going to happen next, so much of the story was held in suspense, and Blanchet did an amazing job of writing characters Ollie and Tera. Their back stories made them relatable and feel real. They bring so much extra to this story.
I do, however, feel that a warning should be attached. A lot of the background and side stories are focused on abuse, physical and emotional. While there isn’t horrendous detailed scenes, it is one of the main themes throughout, but not front and centre.
If you love young adult fantasy, I urge you to give this one a go! The urban fantasy world of The Neath is my new favourite fiction place!
November 12, 2022
Herrick's End left me with a lot of questions but I guess that's why it's a series. Even though it took me quite awhile to get through, I really enjoyed reading about Ollie and his adventure in Neath. It could have been a little shorter but I basically feel that way with every book I read these days.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!
April 2, 2022
Ho trovato questo libero su Netgalley, come ARC, ho scelto di leggerlo perchè in alcune recensioni se ne parlava come di un novello "Nessun dove" (che è un capolavoro, secondo me), forse addirittura migliore...no, per niente...non è male, ma è un libro nella media, con alcuni spunti interessanti nella trama, non raggiunge certo le vette dell'opera di Gaiman. Solo due stelle.
***
I read this book because in some reviews it was referred to as a new "Neverwhere" (which is a masterpiece, in my opinion), maybe even better .. no, not at all...it's not bad, but it's a book on average, it has a sometimes interesting plot, but it certainly does not reach the heights of Gaiman's work. Only two stars.
***
I read this book because in some reviews it was referred to as a new "Neverwhere" (which is a masterpiece, in my opinion), maybe even better .. no, not at all...it's not bad, but it's a book on average, it has a sometimes interesting plot, but it certainly does not reach the heights of Gaiman's work. Only two stars.
February 16, 2022
Herrick's End by T.M. Blanchet is the first book in the young-adult fantasy series, The Neath. This book is a fast-paced rollercoaster ride that'll take you into the amazing and sometimes terrifying world of the vast underworld that will leave you wanting more!
This book had an exceptional characterisation; I was able to connect so deeply with the main protagonist Ollie and even most of the secondary characters. I found myself cheering for Ollie throughout the book and I really hope the author comes up with more books in this world with Ollie as the main character! I am really forward to the next book in this series!!
The writing is immersive and had a great flow, the pacing was great and the tension was high in most parts of the book which made this book un-put-down-able!
I would highly recommend this book to all readers of Young-Adult Fantasy - this book will not disappoint you!
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You can also read this review on my book blog: The Reading Bud
This book had an exceptional characterisation; I was able to connect so deeply with the main protagonist Ollie and even most of the secondary characters. I found myself cheering for Ollie throughout the book and I really hope the author comes up with more books in this world with Ollie as the main character! I am really forward to the next book in this series!!
The writing is immersive and had a great flow, the pacing was great and the tension was high in most parts of the book which made this book un-put-down-able!
I would highly recommend this book to all readers of Young-Adult Fantasy - this book will not disappoint you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can also read this review on my book blog: The Reading Bud
May 22, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Tiny Fox Press for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
"They saw the pleading, and the starvation, and the lies, and the hatred, and the hubris, and the persecutions, and the bodies jerking and twisting at the ends of knotted ropes.
The real witches watched it all.
And they did not forget."
I loved the premise of Herrick's End . A secret fantasy underworld, vengeful witches, righteous revenge against abusive partners - it all sounds fantastic. The story is fast-paced, the characters are vivid and interesting, and there's a high sense of urgency with plenty of twists. I just could not overcome the hurdle that is our protagonist, Ollie. The entire narrative is predicated on the fact that Ollie stands by and does nothing when others are in need; otherwise, he's a great guy. In truth, Ollie is the classic 'nice guy' - he doesn't listen, thinks he always knows best, has a major saviour complex, and blames everything on his weight. When you add this to the fact that the writing is YA fantasy level with dark fantasy content, I struggled to connect. Excellent concept, average follow-through.
"Why did power always seem to find the ones who deserved it the least?"
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
"They saw the pleading, and the starvation, and the lies, and the hatred, and the hubris, and the persecutions, and the bodies jerking and twisting at the ends of knotted ropes.
The real witches watched it all.
And they did not forget."
I loved the premise of Herrick's End . A secret fantasy underworld, vengeful witches, righteous revenge against abusive partners - it all sounds fantastic. The story is fast-paced, the characters are vivid and interesting, and there's a high sense of urgency with plenty of twists. I just could not overcome the hurdle that is our protagonist, Ollie. The entire narrative is predicated on the fact that Ollie stands by and does nothing when others are in need; otherwise, he's a great guy. In truth, Ollie is the classic 'nice guy' - he doesn't listen, thinks he always knows best, has a major saviour complex, and blames everything on his weight. When you add this to the fact that the writing is YA fantasy level with dark fantasy content, I struggled to connect. Excellent concept, average follow-through.
"Why did power always seem to find the ones who deserved it the least?"
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
Amazon | Blog | Bookstagram | Reddit
March 6, 2022
T.M. Blanchet’s Herrick's End is the thrilling, arresting tale of the loveable loser Ollie getting drawn into Boston’s supernatural underworld to search for his missing friend. I love underdog stories, and Ollie was a top-notch depiction of the unexpected hero. Blanchet’s swift pacing and smoothly flowing writing made Herrick’s End fun to read. The author’s attention to the worldbuilding made the Neath a tense and exciting place to explore. I can’t wait for the next book!
March 17, 2022
In this story you follow young Ollie as he struggles with self image and weight. His world forever changes when another member of his weight loss group and his friend, Nell, goes missing with what he suspects is domestic violence. Soon Ollie is thrust into a fantasy world, 'The Neath' where he encounters other survivors and creatures that thrust him on a path of adventure that will forever change his fate. I enjoyed Ollie a lot; he was kind and empathetic and mostly self-aware. The theme of surviving domestic abuse is prevalent and a relevant topic which I enjoyed them discussing. I also thought the world-building was particularly unique and something that I had not encountered before within a fantasy landscape. I do wish that some of the places within the world were elaborated on a bit more, and felt overall that the narrative, while intriguing, did take a while to fully enrapture me. After about 30% of the way through I found myself unable to put the book down, but before then it was slow going. A very interesting novel, and I will be reading the sequel when it comes out!
March 27, 2022
The intriguing cover art shows a gondola powered by an oversize crow (Mrs Paget) on a river in a cavern. Herrick's End is a YA Urban Fantasy about a secret world underNEATH Boston, the world building is impressive. We are introduced to our protagonist the 19 year old Ollie at a Weightwatcher's style group called Lighter Tomorrows. Ollie is a reluctant hero, he is still reeling from the death of his mother to cancer the previous year. When his friend from the group, Nell, goes missing, he bravely decides to investigate. An investigation which will take him to a fantasy world, and the dark Herrick's End.
Ollie is a very relatable protagonist, it would be difficult not to root for him. The book is fast paced and there is a lot of action, despite touching on dark themes like domestic abuse, the book has a lot of humor and there are strong relationships formed between the central characters. The fantasy does have echoes of Alice in Wonderland, where some things are opposite to what they appear and there are some riddles to be solved.
I found it an immensely enjoyable read, it is the first of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone. I had trouble remembering the title, maybe a problem with my memory not the title itself.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
Ollie is a very relatable protagonist, it would be difficult not to root for him. The book is fast paced and there is a lot of action, despite touching on dark themes like domestic abuse, the book has a lot of humor and there are strong relationships formed between the central characters. The fantasy does have echoes of Alice in Wonderland, where some things are opposite to what they appear and there are some riddles to be solved.
I found it an immensely enjoyable read, it is the first of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone. I had trouble remembering the title, maybe a problem with my memory not the title itself.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an eARC, I leave this review voluntarily.
Want to read
March 10, 2022This sounds like the young adult, American version of Neverwhere and I am HERE FOR IT because frankly, I wish that book had been better and this one sounds like it is up to the task.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
**4.5 STARS ROUNDED DOWN**
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tiny Fox Press, and T.M. Blanchet for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is definitely a dark fantasy. I tried to compile a list of possible content warnings as I was reading, but I may have missed a few.
Content Warnings:
My Review:
I really, really enjoyed my read of Herrick's End. From the get-go, I was intrigued by the premise and was so happy to receive my electronic copy. A dark underworld, a plus-size main character, Salem's witch trials... immediately yes.
I connected with the main character, Ollie, almost instantly. His struggles with weight, anxiety, and low self-esteem really hit home for me and it was refreshing to see the main character in a dark fantasy novel deal with problems that are so realistic and human. He had me rooting for him throughout his entire journey and it was so satisfying to see him grow. I loved experiencing the world through his eyes. Also, seeing him create a "found family" with the other characters—who are all interesting and lovable in their own right—was incredibly heartwarming.
The world-building was unique compared to other fantasy books that I have read and the vibes were reminiscent of the video game series "Bioshock" in a way that I absolutely love. There were so many cool elements introduced, ranging from the environment itself to the creatures within it. I was also really pleased with Blanchet's writing style and how skilled she is at setting the scene and creating an atmosphere that really sucks you in.
Additionally, I feel like Herrick's End addresses some really important topics. The power of people taking back control from their abusers is perhaps the most prominent, but there is also the message that standing back and doing nothing is the same thing as enabling those abusers.
The book starts somewhat slow—not boring, just slow because of world and character building—but around the 25-30% mark, it really picked up and had me thoroughly invested. From then on, it was pretty fast-paced and I didn't want to put it down because I was so desperate to see how things were going to unfold.
There were a lot of questions left unanswered at the end, but considering this is the first installment in a series, I'm not displeased with that as long as they will be addressed in the second book.
Overall, this was an incredible debut from T.M. Blanchet and I wish her and her series a ton of success! I'll be eagerly waiting to see what else the world of The Neath has in store.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tiny Fox Press, and T.M. Blanchet for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book is definitely a dark fantasy. I tried to compile a list of possible content warnings as I was reading, but I may have missed a few.
Content Warnings:
My Review:
I really, really enjoyed my read of Herrick's End. From the get-go, I was intrigued by the premise and was so happy to receive my electronic copy. A dark underworld, a plus-size main character, Salem's witch trials... immediately yes.
I connected with the main character, Ollie, almost instantly. His struggles with weight, anxiety, and low self-esteem really hit home for me and it was refreshing to see the main character in a dark fantasy novel deal with problems that are so realistic and human. He had me rooting for him throughout his entire journey and it was so satisfying to see him grow. I loved experiencing the world through his eyes. Also, seeing him create a "found family" with the other characters—who are all interesting and lovable in their own right—was incredibly heartwarming.
The world-building was unique compared to other fantasy books that I have read and the vibes were reminiscent of the video game series "Bioshock" in a way that I absolutely love. There were so many cool elements introduced, ranging from the environment itself to the creatures within it. I was also really pleased with Blanchet's writing style and how skilled she is at setting the scene and creating an atmosphere that really sucks you in.
Additionally, I feel like Herrick's End addresses some really important topics. The power of people taking back control from their abusers is perhaps the most prominent, but there is also the message that standing back and doing nothing is the same thing as enabling those abusers.
The book starts somewhat slow—not boring, just slow because of world and character building—but around the 25-30% mark, it really picked up and had me thoroughly invested. From then on, it was pretty fast-paced and I didn't want to put it down because I was so desperate to see how things were going to unfold.
There were a lot of questions left unanswered at the end, but considering this is the first installment in a series, I'm not displeased with that as long as they will be addressed in the second book.
Overall, this was an incredible debut from T.M. Blanchet and I wish her and her series a ton of success! I'll be eagerly waiting to see what else the world of The Neath has in store.
March 31, 2022
Herrick's End offers such a fun, Coraline/Spiderwick-esque escape! I adored Ollie from the start, it was wonderful to read from a man's POV who doesn't have 'chiseled abs, strong jaw and full lips'. He was just a normal guy doing his best and thrown into a completely wild situation!
The atmosphere in this book is brilliant, as I said it really gave me Coraline vibes and I absolutely loved it. It was such a cool setting and could easily picture everything and everyone! Even with the wormwalkers I still want to go.
Whilst there was a darker side to this book in regards to abuse and torture, it was balanced so well. I'm so intruiged by the world and the characters and I just more!
Also, kudos for the acknowledgements at the end with addressing D.A.
***SPOILERS FROM HERE***
The moment when Ollie sees Tera's painting of them was definitely a favourite moment of mine. I thought it was absolutely beautiful reading Ollie looking at himself through Tera's eyes. Definitely brought a tear or two to my eye.
Lazlo is fantastic, I was a little suspicious of him at first, but he was such a breath of fresh air whenever he appeared!
The flip at the end with Ollie and Lighter Tomorrow was fantastic. The parallel between that and the starting chapter was perfect!
The unplugging of the children was a brilliant moment, I love how the message Herrick left was a gradual figuring out in the latter half of the book. 'Rivers don't freeze' reminded me of the classic 'there is no spoon' and I will always something that's even slightly Matrix-y.
I loved how when Ollie went back to Herrick's End there's no one trying to stab him in the back with 'the plan', I was worried there would be a betrayal which I'm a bit bored of reading at the moment!
This book was such a wonderful breath of fresh air from the intense world of fantasy bookstagram/booktok and I am very much looking forward for more!
Here's to my first NetGallery ARC and many more!
The atmosphere in this book is brilliant, as I said it really gave me Coraline vibes and I absolutely loved it. It was such a cool setting and could easily picture everything and everyone! Even with the wormwalkers I still want to go.
Whilst there was a darker side to this book in regards to abuse and torture, it was balanced so well. I'm so intruiged by the world and the characters and I just more!
Also, kudos for the acknowledgements at the end with addressing D.A.
***SPOILERS FROM HERE***
The moment when Ollie sees Tera's painting of them was definitely a favourite moment of mine. I thought it was absolutely beautiful reading Ollie looking at himself through Tera's eyes. Definitely brought a tear or two to my eye.
Lazlo is fantastic, I was a little suspicious of him at first, but he was such a breath of fresh air whenever he appeared!
The flip at the end with Ollie and Lighter Tomorrow was fantastic. The parallel between that and the starting chapter was perfect!
The unplugging of the children was a brilliant moment, I love how the message Herrick left was a gradual figuring out in the latter half of the book. 'Rivers don't freeze' reminded me of the classic 'there is no spoon' and I will always something that's even slightly Matrix-y.
I loved how when Ollie went back to Herrick's End there's no one trying to stab him in the back with 'the plan', I was worried there would be a betrayal which I'm a bit bored of reading at the moment!
This book was such a wonderful breath of fresh air from the intense world of fantasy bookstagram/booktok and I am very much looking forward for more!
Here's to my first NetGallery ARC and many more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
I received a copy from Tiny Fox Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Ollie’s friend and crush goes missing, he’s determined to find her. Unfortunately, for him, it takes him on a journey to a world he never new existed. Along the way, he quickly learns that one can turn their abusers over to a very long hell in a world created by witches. It’s hell for abusers, but the rest of the place is a sanctuary for survivors. As an outsider, Ollie needs to listen and do his best to blend in, but he’s determined to do the exact opposite and learns a lot more than expected.
I think that this book has an interesting concept, but it’s one that I would’ve liked a lot better if it was told from a different perspective. We follow Ollie, who is supposed to be this great and nice person. The only thing he’s guilty of is standing by and doing nothing when he sees the signs of abuse on other people. It’s clear we’re supposed to be rooting for Ollie all book long, but I disliked him early on. He’s got a savior’s complex, doesn’t listen, and thinks he knows a lot more than he does. Ollie is the classic “nice” guy and he irked me all book long. This book turned out to not be a book for me, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be others who enjoy it.
I think the concept of Herrick’s end and its dual purpose as a sanctuary for survivors while being a total hellscape for abusers is very interesting. I wonder how this book would’ve gone if we followed the three witches who created it or any one of the many who have sought sanctuary. We briefly met Ollie’s crush, Nell, and it would’ve been interesting to follow the story from her perspective as well.
Instead, the story is pulled in several directions making it seem like a YA fantasy that then turned into a dark adult fantasy with a lot of blood and violence. There’s also magic because there’s three witches we see twice. All that’s clear is that Ollie is a savior that was foretold by a character we don’t really know much about. I’m left with far more questions than answers because the plot wasn’t resolved, but the idea of following Ollie for another book is far from appealing so I’m going to pass on finding out.
All in all, I won’t be continuing this series, but I do think that the overall concept is an interesting one. It just didn’t work out for me, but that’s okay. Every book has its audience, and it just turned out I’m not the audience for this series. There is also lot of talk about abuse, violence, and eating disorders in addition to the violence that takes place in the book, so if any of these are a trigger for you, this will be a pass for you.
When Ollie’s friend and crush goes missing, he’s determined to find her. Unfortunately, for him, it takes him on a journey to a world he never new existed. Along the way, he quickly learns that one can turn their abusers over to a very long hell in a world created by witches. It’s hell for abusers, but the rest of the place is a sanctuary for survivors. As an outsider, Ollie needs to listen and do his best to blend in, but he’s determined to do the exact opposite and learns a lot more than expected.
I think that this book has an interesting concept, but it’s one that I would’ve liked a lot better if it was told from a different perspective. We follow Ollie, who is supposed to be this great and nice person. The only thing he’s guilty of is standing by and doing nothing when he sees the signs of abuse on other people. It’s clear we’re supposed to be rooting for Ollie all book long, but I disliked him early on. He’s got a savior’s complex, doesn’t listen, and thinks he knows a lot more than he does. Ollie is the classic “nice” guy and he irked me all book long. This book turned out to not be a book for me, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be others who enjoy it.
I think the concept of Herrick’s end and its dual purpose as a sanctuary for survivors while being a total hellscape for abusers is very interesting. I wonder how this book would’ve gone if we followed the three witches who created it or any one of the many who have sought sanctuary. We briefly met Ollie’s crush, Nell, and it would’ve been interesting to follow the story from her perspective as well.
Instead, the story is pulled in several directions making it seem like a YA fantasy that then turned into a dark adult fantasy with a lot of blood and violence. There’s also magic because there’s three witches we see twice. All that’s clear is that Ollie is a savior that was foretold by a character we don’t really know much about. I’m left with far more questions than answers because the plot wasn’t resolved, but the idea of following Ollie for another book is far from appealing so I’m going to pass on finding out.
All in all, I won’t be continuing this series, but I do think that the overall concept is an interesting one. It just didn’t work out for me, but that’s okay. Every book has its audience, and it just turned out I’m not the audience for this series. There is also lot of talk about abuse, violence, and eating disorders in addition to the violence that takes place in the book, so if any of these are a trigger for you, this will be a pass for you.
March 18, 2022
Hmmmm. I'm still mulling this one over and trying to decide how I felt about it.
Things I liked: The pacing worked well for me, I was engaged the whole time I was reading. I liked the characters and a lot of the details about the world. The main character was very likable and I was definitely rooting for him and the people he meets along the way. I liked the journey from Ollie feeling like he's going to be some sort of hero and rescue someone, to him feeling like he's going to stand beside someone and they will work to rescue one another. Also, I would die for Meatball.
Things that worked less well for me: So, this is the first book in a series. I'm not a huge fan of leaving a whole lot of plot elements unresolved at the end of a book, and this had a bit more left unsettled than I would have liked. I don't mind the epilogue that is basically a teaser for the next book, but I dislike that there are still so many aspects of the world left unexplained. Some things just didn't make any sense to me. There were a lot of elements that felt disconnected from one another, like it was just trying to tie in too many things.
There were also some plot points that seemed kind of silly? There's a thing with keys toward the end that I just didn't vibe with, it almost felt like it belonged in a children's book.
And there were some plot elements with Ollie's family that also really felt off to me and sort of unnecessary? But maybe that will be addressed in future book in the series?
Things I felt conflicted about: This was a lot darker than I'd anticipated, especially in the beginning. There's just so much abuse and violence and it's really depressing and was quite hard to read in parts. As it went on, the tone of the story didn't always match the seriousness of some of the topics it addressed? Like as a fantasy book I found this entertaining and interesting. But it was also touching a lot on the nature of abuse and most of those elements just made me uncomfortable here. I'm just not sure what the message was in regards to abusers and the people they have hurt.
And OOF. Ollie's internalized fat phobia and negative self talk were really hard to read. They are somewhat addressed as the story goes on, but not to the degree I'd have liked.
I enjoyed parts of this, but I don't think I'll be seeking out the others in the series.
I'm not great at clocking CWs, but they weren't listed at the beginning of the book or anywhere on Goodreads as of the time I'm writing this and I definitely think they are needed, so I'll do my best:
Negative self talk about weight
Negative body image
Dieting
Internalized fat phobia
Physical and emotional abuse (including abuse of children and the elderly)
Death of parent from cancer
Graphic violence
Incarceration
Alcohol
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Things I liked: The pacing worked well for me, I was engaged the whole time I was reading. I liked the characters and a lot of the details about the world. The main character was very likable and I was definitely rooting for him and the people he meets along the way. I liked the journey from Ollie feeling like he's going to be some sort of hero and rescue someone, to him feeling like he's going to stand beside someone and they will work to rescue one another. Also, I would die for Meatball.
Things that worked less well for me: So, this is the first book in a series. I'm not a huge fan of leaving a whole lot of plot elements unresolved at the end of a book, and this had a bit more left unsettled than I would have liked. I don't mind the epilogue that is basically a teaser for the next book, but I dislike that there are still so many aspects of the world left unexplained. Some things just didn't make any sense to me. There were a lot of elements that felt disconnected from one another, like it was just trying to tie in too many things.
There were also some plot points that seemed kind of silly? There's a thing with keys toward the end that I just didn't vibe with, it almost felt like it belonged in a children's book.
And there were some plot elements with Ollie's family that also really felt off to me and sort of unnecessary? But maybe that will be addressed in future book in the series?
Things I felt conflicted about: This was a lot darker than I'd anticipated, especially in the beginning. There's just so much abuse and violence and it's really depressing and was quite hard to read in parts. As it went on, the tone of the story didn't always match the seriousness of some of the topics it addressed? Like as a fantasy book I found this entertaining and interesting. But it was also touching a lot on the nature of abuse and most of those elements just made me uncomfortable here. I'm just not sure what the message was in regards to abusers and the people they have hurt.
And OOF. Ollie's internalized fat phobia and negative self talk were really hard to read. They are somewhat addressed as the story goes on, but not to the degree I'd have liked.
I enjoyed parts of this, but I don't think I'll be seeking out the others in the series.
I'm not great at clocking CWs, but they weren't listed at the beginning of the book or anywhere on Goodreads as of the time I'm writing this and I definitely think they are needed, so I'll do my best:
Negative self talk about weight
Negative body image
Dieting
Internalized fat phobia
Physical and emotional abuse (including abuse of children and the elderly)
Death of parent from cancer
Graphic violence
Incarceration
Alcohol
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
January 2, 2024
→ my rating: 3.5 ★
“ There was no fairness here. There was no justice. Those were quaint, forgotten notions. Brickside notions. And he wasn’t on the Brickside anymore. „
Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this book expecting some kind of other world. A little scary, but harmless and whimsical for the most part. What I actually got was a dark, gruesome, and unforgiving underworld which, arguably, was so much better. The writing was great — the main character’s feelings of desperation and despair seeped through the pages, so much so I could feel the oppressive darkness of Herrick’s End and the Neath. And yet, it manages to remain a fairly light read with a funny cast of characters and enjoyable dialogue.
The characters themselves were okay enough, not the best I’ve encountered but fun to follow along regardless. My biggest issue with them is that I hardly had time to get attached. For so much of the beginning of the story we’re focused on Ollie and Nell’s friendship, only for Nell to almost disappear altogether with zero impact or input on the plot. I probably would have enjoyed this a lot more if it had spent less time setting up a character that had little to do with the story and put that focus on the characters you’re meant to get attached to instead. It almost felt like the characters were put there just to tell the story, rather than experiencing it themselves.
That being said, the ending (and when I say 'ending' I mean 60% onwards) was so much fun and incredibly difficult to put down. I’m excited to see what the Neath has planned in the next book!
“ There was no fairness here. There was no justice. Those were quaint, forgotten notions. Brickside notions. And he wasn’t on the Brickside anymore. „
Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this book expecting some kind of other world. A little scary, but harmless and whimsical for the most part. What I actually got was a dark, gruesome, and unforgiving underworld which, arguably, was so much better. The writing was great — the main character’s feelings of desperation and despair seeped through the pages, so much so I could feel the oppressive darkness of Herrick’s End and the Neath. And yet, it manages to remain a fairly light read with a funny cast of characters and enjoyable dialogue.
The characters themselves were okay enough, not the best I’ve encountered but fun to follow along regardless. My biggest issue with them is that I hardly had time to get attached. For so much of the beginning of the story we’re focused on Ollie and Nell’s friendship, only for Nell to almost disappear altogether with zero impact or input on the plot. I probably would have enjoyed this a lot more if it had spent less time setting up a character that had little to do with the story and put that focus on the characters you’re meant to get attached to instead. It almost felt like the characters were put there just to tell the story, rather than experiencing it themselves.
That being said, the ending (and when I say 'ending' I mean 60% onwards) was so much fun and incredibly difficult to put down. I’m excited to see what the Neath has planned in the next book!
Read
August 3, 2022I have to dnf this book for now. I am not in the right headspace to read this. We jumped from a prologue set during the Salem witch trials to a modern day weight loss meeting. This shift in tone was very abrupt and made it hard for me to even finish that chapter. I loved the prologue and was so excited to continue reading. The first line of the chapter was “I am not the fattest person in the room.” That immediately threw me off. As someone who struggles with disordered eating it was hard for me to keep reading. The entire scene where the mc is at the weight loss meeting was really hard. The motto of the weight loss group the main character attends is “Here today, lighter tomorrow.” For now I have to dnf this book. I’m not going to say I will bever pick it up again because I might. Right now I am just not in the place where I can read this if the tone is going to be similar to this. I feel bad not finishing but I have been trying for a while now and it is just not something I can read right now.
TW: fatphobia, eating disorders, abuse, self image issues
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
TW: fatphobia, eating disorders, abuse, self image issues
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2022
Like the best tiramisu, “Herrick’s End” offers layer upon layer of deliciousness. An unlikely but lovable hero, a quest gone wrong, a vicious villain, a dark and richly-realized underworld, and a badass love interest. A true “pick-me-up.” I want more.
September 1, 2022
Book #1 of the Neath trilogy arriving May 10th!
You did nothing. You were nothing. And so, you shall remain here, until the end of your days. As nothing. Ollie’s only friend disappeared a few days a go, and now, he’s frantic to find her. But he doesn’t have much to go on until a mysterious note arrive which reads: “still looking for your friend? I know where she is.” Unfortunately for Ollie, the trail leads to the last place he’d ever expect. Somewhere dark. Somewhere deep. The kind of place where magic spills like blood, vengeance is merciless, and escape seems all but impossible. Worse still, it soon becomes clear that someone-or something-was expecting him. Now, time is running out. If Ollie had any hope of ever seeing home again, he’s going to have to summon every last scrape of courage, smarts, and tenacity he can find. And none of it will matter if he can’t get some help. Fast. Because Ollie might not know much about the vast underworld that’s ensnared him, but he does know this: He will never make it out alone.
💫 Honest opinions 💫
I was lucky to receive this as an ARC
The writing style was 🤌 (chefs kiss) and had a fantastic flow. The pacing left me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Herricks End made for exceptional escapism. I fell in love with the world that Blanchet created. I quickly connected to each and every character and was so invested in the struggles they faced along the way. I found myself cheering for the main character throughout the book. I’m looking forward to hopefully learning more about Tera in the next book. She is one bad ass secondary character ❤️🔥
I would definitely recommend this book to all readers of YA fantasy.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: body image, DV ⚠️
Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
You did nothing. You were nothing. And so, you shall remain here, until the end of your days. As nothing. Ollie’s only friend disappeared a few days a go, and now, he’s frantic to find her. But he doesn’t have much to go on until a mysterious note arrive which reads: “still looking for your friend? I know where she is.” Unfortunately for Ollie, the trail leads to the last place he’d ever expect. Somewhere dark. Somewhere deep. The kind of place where magic spills like blood, vengeance is merciless, and escape seems all but impossible. Worse still, it soon becomes clear that someone-or something-was expecting him. Now, time is running out. If Ollie had any hope of ever seeing home again, he’s going to have to summon every last scrape of courage, smarts, and tenacity he can find. And none of it will matter if he can’t get some help. Fast. Because Ollie might not know much about the vast underworld that’s ensnared him, but he does know this: He will never make it out alone.
💫 Honest opinions 💫
I was lucky to receive this as an ARC
The writing style was 🤌 (chefs kiss) and had a fantastic flow. The pacing left me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Herricks End made for exceptional escapism. I fell in love with the world that Blanchet created. I quickly connected to each and every character and was so invested in the struggles they faced along the way. I found myself cheering for the main character throughout the book. I’m looking forward to hopefully learning more about Tera in the next book. She is one bad ass secondary character ❤️🔥
I would definitely recommend this book to all readers of YA fantasy.
⚠️ Trigger Warning: body image, DV ⚠️
Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
December 20, 2021
Thank you to T.M. Blanchet for sending me an ARC of her book in exchange for my review.
I loved this book . It isn't overly long, but SO MUCH HAPPENS!!
The main character, Ollie, is such a sweetheart. He worries about a friend when she goes missing g and sets out to find her. He ends up going on a fantastical journey to "The Neath". A safe haven for those who have been abused. This place was created by witches, hundreds of years ago.
I absolutely enjoyed every minute of reading this book. This world beneath is magical and amazing. Herricks End is a very scary place.
My favourite thing in the book were the Trogs, little furry critters with duck bills. So cute!
I loved this book . It isn't overly long, but SO MUCH HAPPENS!!
The main character, Ollie, is such a sweetheart. He worries about a friend when she goes missing g and sets out to find her. He ends up going on a fantastical journey to "The Neath". A safe haven for those who have been abused. This place was created by witches, hundreds of years ago.
I absolutely enjoyed every minute of reading this book. This world beneath is magical and amazing. Herricks End is a very scary place.
My favourite thing in the book were the Trogs, little furry critters with duck bills. So cute!
April 25, 2023
I loved this book! As a avid reader, I look for unique and compelling stories and this scores high on both counts. I felt immersed immediately as a Bostonian and then magically transported into "the Neath". I'll never walk the streets of Boston in the same way. Each character in this story is well developed and I found myself rooting for Ollie and Tera from the beginning. The descriptions of the neath were so fabulous that I could see myself in that world so clearly. What intrigued me the most what the question the book raises about justice and revenge. What is fair? What is a crime "worth"? I cant wait for the next installment of The Neath Series!
July 7, 2022
A good start to a YA fantasy series. I don’t often read this genre but the blurb intrigued me.
I enjoyed following the characters in this story, and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages. The storyline was well executed and easy to follow, but there were some unanswered questions - which is normal for a series book.
If you like YA fantasy, you should enjoy this!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
I enjoyed following the characters in this story, and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages. The storyline was well executed and easy to follow, but there were some unanswered questions - which is normal for a series book.
If you like YA fantasy, you should enjoy this!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book.
July 30, 2024
I had no idea what this was about I just wanted to read it because of the cover. Anybody? I love this cover!
This was a story about domestic violence against women and so much more. It started off strong and I was pulled in. This was weird and strange but worked for me. I liked the characters and the ending. Ollie who is the main character was a wonderful character and he really drove this story for me.
Thanks Tiny Fox Press via NetGalley.
This was a story about domestic violence against women and so much more. It started off strong and I was pulled in. This was weird and strange but worked for me. I liked the characters and the ending. Ollie who is the main character was a wonderful character and he really drove this story for me.
Thanks Tiny Fox Press via NetGalley.
July 10, 2024
*3.5 Stars*
Herrick's End had a really interesting premise, and I really loved the secret, dark underworld in which Ollie found himself, a world that exists under our own modern world, with secret entrances spread throughout the world. As a kid, I've always been fascinated by this idea ever since reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, so I am always drawn to these types of books as I have always wanted to just open a secret compartment and enter a fantasy world. However, the world in this book is no Narnia, one that is dangerous for Ollie, one that holds a lot of secrets for him. The story was pretty fast-paced, the world-building was great, and I loved the story of the witches and how the world was formed. My biggest issue was Ollie himself.
Ollie is the main character or the book and I really, really wanted to love him. He is supposed to come across the pages as this big, loveable guy who has confidence issues because he is overweight. Ok, that is fine. But when you blame everything that happens to him on this fact it becomes annoying and tedious after a while. Personally, I loved the weight-issue thing, that he wasn't this hero who looked like a god, who had faults as that is a breath of fresh air in YA books. I just felt his self-confidence issues and his phobia issues weren't addressed as well as they could have been in this book, but relied more on being a handicap for why he doesn't act in certain scenarios or why he got himself into certain situations. Not really convincing. But you will never convince me that he's a great guy when he doesn't necessarily help others in need and allows things to happen to him, and when bad things happen to other people, he only acts when it becomes harmful to him. When he was called out for it in one part of the book, I think you were supposed to feel sympathy for Ollie, but I actually thought the woman was right. He did grow and develop throughout the book, but blaming his weight didn't stop. Enough already. And not a fan of the hero complex thing either.
The other characters in this book were great however, and I enjoyed them quite a bit, to the point where I want their stories, the reasons for why they are in this world, especially Tera and Leonard.
The highlight for me was the world-building. I really loved this underground world and what it represented, and the twists and turns actually caught me by surprise. I thought they were great fun, and I enjoyed the fast-paced action of the story. Because this is the first book of a trilogy, I was not expecting the whole world to be developed, and I am definitely looking forward to what other surprises the author has in store for us. Beware however, what I thought was going to be a lighter book actually turned quite dark, with themes of domestic abuse being quite prevalent throughout the story as well as consequences for other types of abuse. I am also expecting these themes to be explored more thoroughly in the next two books. While I appreciate the theme running through the book, I am still unsure what the actual message is in this book as I don't feel it is clear.
Herrick's End was definitely not what I thought it was going to be, going from a fairly light read to one with very serious dark undertones, but I really enjoyed the world-building and except for Ollie, thought the characters were intriguing. I did think some of the themes and messages needed to be developed a bit more, and I wasn't a fan of the main character because he just doesn't listen to others, basing his actions off his own insecurities rather than for altruistic reasons. I did find the story interesting enough that I will be finishing the trilogy as I am curious as to certain elements and threads that have been started in this book. And while the book has some sort of conclusion, it does leave certain plot threads loose that will hopefully be continued in the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Herrick's End had a really interesting premise, and I really loved the secret, dark underworld in which Ollie found himself, a world that exists under our own modern world, with secret entrances spread throughout the world. As a kid, I've always been fascinated by this idea ever since reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, so I am always drawn to these types of books as I have always wanted to just open a secret compartment and enter a fantasy world. However, the world in this book is no Narnia, one that is dangerous for Ollie, one that holds a lot of secrets for him. The story was pretty fast-paced, the world-building was great, and I loved the story of the witches and how the world was formed. My biggest issue was Ollie himself.
Ollie is the main character or the book and I really, really wanted to love him. He is supposed to come across the pages as this big, loveable guy who has confidence issues because he is overweight. Ok, that is fine. But when you blame everything that happens to him on this fact it becomes annoying and tedious after a while. Personally, I loved the weight-issue thing, that he wasn't this hero who looked like a god, who had faults as that is a breath of fresh air in YA books. I just felt his self-confidence issues and his phobia issues weren't addressed as well as they could have been in this book, but relied more on being a handicap for why he doesn't act in certain scenarios or why he got himself into certain situations. Not really convincing. But you will never convince me that he's a great guy when he doesn't necessarily help others in need and allows things to happen to him, and when bad things happen to other people, he only acts when it becomes harmful to him. When he was called out for it in one part of the book, I think you were supposed to feel sympathy for Ollie, but I actually thought the woman was right. He did grow and develop throughout the book, but blaming his weight didn't stop. Enough already. And not a fan of the hero complex thing either.
The other characters in this book were great however, and I enjoyed them quite a bit, to the point where I want their stories, the reasons for why they are in this world, especially Tera and Leonard.
The highlight for me was the world-building. I really loved this underground world and what it represented, and the twists and turns actually caught me by surprise. I thought they were great fun, and I enjoyed the fast-paced action of the story. Because this is the first book of a trilogy, I was not expecting the whole world to be developed, and I am definitely looking forward to what other surprises the author has in store for us. Beware however, what I thought was going to be a lighter book actually turned quite dark, with themes of domestic abuse being quite prevalent throughout the story as well as consequences for other types of abuse. I am also expecting these themes to be explored more thoroughly in the next two books. While I appreciate the theme running through the book, I am still unsure what the actual message is in this book as I don't feel it is clear.
Herrick's End was definitely not what I thought it was going to be, going from a fairly light read to one with very serious dark undertones, but I really enjoyed the world-building and except for Ollie, thought the characters were intriguing. I did think some of the themes and messages needed to be developed a bit more, and I wasn't a fan of the main character because he just doesn't listen to others, basing his actions off his own insecurities rather than for altruistic reasons. I did find the story interesting enough that I will be finishing the trilogy as I am curious as to certain elements and threads that have been started in this book. And while the book has some sort of conclusion, it does leave certain plot threads loose that will hopefully be continued in the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the author.
March 31, 2022
We follow Ollie, a young man who just lost his mom and is now living on his own. A fat main character is rare enough to be mentioned, but Ollie is on a weightloss journey, where he has met Nell, his friend who has now disappeared under weird circumstances.
It is a relatively fast paced story once you reach the nitty gritty of it, which is Nell's disappearance and the Neath. I really enjoyed the different descriptions of the space we're in and how it's constantly compared to the Brickside. I generally tend to gravitate towards books heavy in world building and this definitely felt like enough. I found the plot generally interesting. It isn't what you necessarily expect from the getgo which was a welcomed surprise.
Tera was one of the characters that held my attention the most, and I wish we saw more of her. I'm sure it'll come in the next installments. Same for Leonard, who I think has a lot of potential.
Now, one of the reasons this didn't earn more from me is because I was bored through most of it. We see the time constraints and yet, there's just no feeling of urgency or of tension. I only got some of that later on into the plot.
Then, as a fat woman, Ollie was an uncomfortable character for me to read. He was essentialized to food so many times. Food here, food there. We get it, he's on a weightloss program, he's a fat guy who hates his body and the space he takes in the world. It bothers me that this experience is described just like that, with nothing positive attached to his weight or his bodytype. It truly felt like a mockery at first. The feelings of inadequacy around fatness could have been explored especially in regards to Tera, because they are mentioned at first but never built upon. It might come in the rest of the series but I wish there was at least *some* in this. Ollie, other than that, was an okay character, besides, you know, the hero complex and all.
This, I know, is personal taste but the insta-love romance was too much for me to bear. I wish there had been more building up to it, even if it came later in the series. It felt just plopped in there rather than something organic.
Finally, some parts of this felt clumsy around the discussion of abuse, between revenge and forgiveness as if there isn't a whole world in between those two extremes. Herrick's End being filled with abusers of all kinds, I feel like that conversation should have been handled with more care, less of a black and white approach to the idea of justice. For a topic that is background to the entire storyline, it's surprisingly rarely *actually* discussed.
Overall, this was okay at best in my book. It didn't feel super innovative or thrilling. There are some cool aspects, some things I could see myself returning for, but other than that, I think I'm good.
It is a relatively fast paced story once you reach the nitty gritty of it, which is Nell's disappearance and the Neath. I really enjoyed the different descriptions of the space we're in and how it's constantly compared to the Brickside. I generally tend to gravitate towards books heavy in world building and this definitely felt like enough. I found the plot generally interesting. It isn't what you necessarily expect from the getgo which was a welcomed surprise.
Tera was one of the characters that held my attention the most, and I wish we saw more of her. I'm sure it'll come in the next installments. Same for Leonard, who I think has a lot of potential.
Now, one of the reasons this didn't earn more from me is because I was bored through most of it. We see the time constraints and yet, there's just no feeling of urgency or of tension. I only got some of that later on into the plot.
Then, as a fat woman, Ollie was an uncomfortable character for me to read. He was essentialized to food so many times. Food here, food there. We get it, he's on a weightloss program, he's a fat guy who hates his body and the space he takes in the world. It bothers me that this experience is described just like that, with nothing positive attached to his weight or his bodytype. It truly felt like a mockery at first. The feelings of inadequacy around fatness could have been explored especially in regards to Tera, because they are mentioned at first but never built upon. It might come in the rest of the series but I wish there was at least *some* in this. Ollie, other than that, was an okay character, besides, you know, the hero complex and all.
This, I know, is personal taste but the insta-love romance was too much for me to bear. I wish there had been more building up to it, even if it came later in the series. It felt just plopped in there rather than something organic.
Finally, some parts of this felt clumsy around the discussion of abuse, between revenge and forgiveness as if there isn't a whole world in between those two extremes. Herrick's End being filled with abusers of all kinds, I feel like that conversation should have been handled with more care, less of a black and white approach to the idea of justice. For a topic that is background to the entire storyline, it's surprisingly rarely *actually* discussed.
Overall, this was okay at best in my book. It didn't feel super innovative or thrilling. There are some cool aspects, some things I could see myself returning for, but other than that, I think I'm good.
March 23, 2024
Herrick's End is a magical adventure that you will not want to put down!
Ollie finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he lands in an unfamiliar world while looking for his "missing" friend, Nell.
Ollie has also been one who never quit believed in himself and when he lands in Neath, everything he has come to know has been turned on its head. Nothing is as it seems and there are people who will do anything to protect the secrets in Neath. That is until Ollie meets Laszlo and Tera who help him on his quest. But what originally started out as get his friend Nell and get out, turns into something much much bigger than Ollie could have ever imagined.
Through this adventure, Ollie discovers his confidence and discovers the true meaning of friendship. And a cute little companion named Meatball who I feel steels the show!
Highly recommended for those who are looking to get lost in a world where nothing is as it seems and where the possibilities are also endless!
Ollie finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he lands in an unfamiliar world while looking for his "missing" friend, Nell.
Ollie has also been one who never quit believed in himself and when he lands in Neath, everything he has come to know has been turned on its head. Nothing is as it seems and there are people who will do anything to protect the secrets in Neath. That is until Ollie meets Laszlo and Tera who help him on his quest. But what originally started out as get his friend Nell and get out, turns into something much much bigger than Ollie could have ever imagined.
Through this adventure, Ollie discovers his confidence and discovers the true meaning of friendship. And a cute little companion named Meatball who I feel steels the show!
Highly recommended for those who are looking to get lost in a world where nothing is as it seems and where the possibilities are also endless!
March 28, 2022
Herrick's End by T.M. Blanchet is the story of Ollie who is trying to find his missing friend. He retrieves a mysterious note explaining he will have to follow a trailer to the vast underworld in an attempt to find her.
The pacing worked well for me and I was intrigued throughout the novel. There were a few details that i particularly liked such as Ollie and the way Blanchet describes the eeriness that he is going through.
I wasn't a huge fan of the unresolved plot that felt like they were only used for the purposes of a sequel. There was severe disconnection that felt like it was being made to be too mysterious instead of acting for the plot. The violence was really hard to read in parts and left me feeling uncomfortable. This may have been a personal feeling that wasn't intended by Blanchet but the message left wasn't one I was able to get on board with.
The pacing worked well for me and I was intrigued throughout the novel. There were a few details that i particularly liked such as Ollie and the way Blanchet describes the eeriness that he is going through.
I wasn't a huge fan of the unresolved plot that felt like they were only used for the purposes of a sequel. There was severe disconnection that felt like it was being made to be too mysterious instead of acting for the plot. The violence was really hard to read in parts and left me feeling uncomfortable. This may have been a personal feeling that wasn't intended by Blanchet but the message left wasn't one I was able to get on board with.
April 14, 2022
Got an arc of this book from NetGalley - thank you!
I'll try to be as spoilerless as possible.
This book was not what I expected from the description; the first part was a bit challenging to get through, because the main character gets abused before you can begin to care about him. But later it gets better, it's a continuous heist and you get to discover secrets of the fantasy setting - which is quite original and I appreciated it a lot.
My biggest remark is about the pitch, it doesn't really prepare to what is in the book. The main character has a food disorder and it's not a secondary aspect, and neither are the domestic abuse and his grief about the death of his mother.
Overall it's not a bad book, provided that you are not especially sensitive to the topics listed above.
I'll try to be as spoilerless as possible.
This book was not what I expected from the description; the first part was a bit challenging to get through, because the main character gets abused before you can begin to care about him. But later it gets better, it's a continuous heist and you get to discover secrets of the fantasy setting - which is quite original and I appreciated it a lot.
My biggest remark is about the pitch, it doesn't really prepare to what is in the book. The main character has a food disorder and it's not a secondary aspect, and neither are the domestic abuse and his grief about the death of his mother.
Overall it's not a bad book, provided that you are not especially sensitive to the topics listed above.
May 8, 2023
Delightful!
I love it when an author manages to create a believable fantasy world, and TM Blanchett succeeds in spades. You will be rooting for Ollie and his crew to save the day at Herrick's End.
I love it when an author manages to create a believable fantasy world, and TM Blanchett succeeds in spades. You will be rooting for Ollie and his crew to save the day at Herrick's End.
August 16, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Every time you think you know what is going on and what is going to happen next, something happens to take you on a completely different course into something you didn't expect. There were so many twists and turns with surprise after surprise over and over again. This book takes you on a journey like you've never been before. It has a super original plot and is very imaginative. I would love to spend a day in the mind of the author, because her imagination must be wild! How she came up with the ideas of what happens in this book is amazing to me.
The setting of this book is in an underground world beneath the city of Boston. The main character Ollie lives in Boston and he's not sure happy with his life. He's overweight, very self-critical, insecure, and generally feels like he's never good enough. I think Ollie is a really relatable character. Some of the thoughts in his head that we get to hear as the reader are thoughts that I've had go through my own head before in the past. I think a lot of people could really relate to this character.
In the beginning of this book, Ollie's friend, who he would like to be more than friends with, mysteriously disappears and goes missing. Ollie takes in upon himself to try to figure out what happened and go find her, with the hopes that if he rescues her, she will want to be with him.
This is how Ollie ends up in The Neath. The underground world full of mystery and magic. While following Ollie on his journey through The Neath, you as the reader are taken on a wild ride trying to figure out what the heck is going on around every corner. And it's so satisfying how the questions are answered along the way as you're reading.
One thing I love about this book is that it is a bit of an underdog story. The main character Ollie starts off as timid, scared, and insecure, but you get to see his confidence develop over the course of the book. And it's laid our in a really realistic way that's totally believable.
In this book you'll get to meet lovable character like Tera who pilots a boat powered by the giant bird named Mrs. Paget on the underground lake. And also Lazlo the Ukrainian acrobat who also likes to sing. And Meatball, the cute fuzzy trog who becomes Ollie's cuddly pet and companion.
There's also a touch of romance in the book. Nothing spicy, just sweet wholesome romance, and I totally loved it that way.
There is some darkness to this book that I was not expecting. Not in a bad way, but I was surprised by some of the dark themes in this book, since I went into this book completely blind without knowing much about it. But I think it covers these dark themes well, and really makes you think about the choices that you would make if you were in the same situations.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this book. I highly suggest you give this book a read. It will definitely take you on an unexpected journey and keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
The setting of this book is in an underground world beneath the city of Boston. The main character Ollie lives in Boston and he's not sure happy with his life. He's overweight, very self-critical, insecure, and generally feels like he's never good enough. I think Ollie is a really relatable character. Some of the thoughts in his head that we get to hear as the reader are thoughts that I've had go through my own head before in the past. I think a lot of people could really relate to this character.
In the beginning of this book, Ollie's friend, who he would like to be more than friends with, mysteriously disappears and goes missing. Ollie takes in upon himself to try to figure out what happened and go find her, with the hopes that if he rescues her, she will want to be with him.
This is how Ollie ends up in The Neath. The underground world full of mystery and magic. While following Ollie on his journey through The Neath, you as the reader are taken on a wild ride trying to figure out what the heck is going on around every corner. And it's so satisfying how the questions are answered along the way as you're reading.
One thing I love about this book is that it is a bit of an underdog story. The main character Ollie starts off as timid, scared, and insecure, but you get to see his confidence develop over the course of the book. And it's laid our in a really realistic way that's totally believable.
In this book you'll get to meet lovable character like Tera who pilots a boat powered by the giant bird named Mrs. Paget on the underground lake. And also Lazlo the Ukrainian acrobat who also likes to sing. And Meatball, the cute fuzzy trog who becomes Ollie's cuddly pet and companion.
There's also a touch of romance in the book. Nothing spicy, just sweet wholesome romance, and I totally loved it that way.
There is some darkness to this book that I was not expecting. Not in a bad way, but I was surprised by some of the dark themes in this book, since I went into this book completely blind without knowing much about it. But I think it covers these dark themes well, and really makes you think about the choices that you would make if you were in the same situations.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this book. I highly suggest you give this book a read. It will definitely take you on an unexpected journey and keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
May 29, 2022
This is a great imaginative story of a journey and contest between two totally different and opposing worlds. Particularly, about the love and the quest to serve justice to victims of violence or abuse, which is no wonder; reflects the author’s experience with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. There may be some other reasons to capture this story in rather a strange and mystical place such as Herrick’s End, but I strongly feel that; the author is trying to bring us to imagine and see that; there is a secretive, hidden and unknown world that exists for the victims and survivors of such violence.
Ollie Delgato’s journey from the Northern End of Brickside, all the way to the Herrick’s End of the Neath, shows us that; this secretive underworld or mystical place is created based on the constant struggle faced by victims of family-related violence and abuse. This constant struggle is the outcome of our society’s inactions, oppressions, insecurity, threat or any other similar conditions that prevent justice to be served to those victims.
He started off as an innocent, unsuspecting, and loving friend, but eventually grow to become a hero of justice at the end. This may, in other words, shows us that; many victims of family-related violence and abuses get themselves into these troubles innocently and unsuspectingly, because of love. They don’t know what will happen because they are blinded by love and then when their loving world becomes the opposite, they become its victims. A situation that they have created by themselves.
But, under such circumstances, under that blind love and our society’s inactions, oppressions, insecurity, or threats; they can fight for justice, for themselves, and their loved ones, if they do something and take action.
The settings of the contents of the book through the Prologue keep me wondering with interest how the initial ancient scenes will connect with the modern settings of the story when I started reading the first chapters. But as the story reach the part on the Freedom Trail, I started getting the idea that; it will be the change of scenes into something mystical or ancient. If similar connections have been developed and established on the book chapters' titles with specific story topics, rather than just the use of numbers, then I think it will be more engaging and well connected.
Yet, I give it a rating of 5 stars, because it is a great imaginative story that reflects the 2 types of worlds that exist for the victims of one of our society’s major social problems. One is the world that many may seem to portray to the public and the community in which they live under the auspice of normal and loving family life. And another is the world that exists under the banner of a blind and unsuspecting love, where there is abuse and violence and where victims are constantly struggling for justice in solitude. A justice to problems, they have somehow created by themselves.
Ollie Delgato’s journey from the Northern End of Brickside, all the way to the Herrick’s End of the Neath, shows us that; this secretive underworld or mystical place is created based on the constant struggle faced by victims of family-related violence and abuse. This constant struggle is the outcome of our society’s inactions, oppressions, insecurity, threat or any other similar conditions that prevent justice to be served to those victims.
He started off as an innocent, unsuspecting, and loving friend, but eventually grow to become a hero of justice at the end. This may, in other words, shows us that; many victims of family-related violence and abuses get themselves into these troubles innocently and unsuspectingly, because of love. They don’t know what will happen because they are blinded by love and then when their loving world becomes the opposite, they become its victims. A situation that they have created by themselves.
But, under such circumstances, under that blind love and our society’s inactions, oppressions, insecurity, or threats; they can fight for justice, for themselves, and their loved ones, if they do something and take action.
The settings of the contents of the book through the Prologue keep me wondering with interest how the initial ancient scenes will connect with the modern settings of the story when I started reading the first chapters. But as the story reach the part on the Freedom Trail, I started getting the idea that; it will be the change of scenes into something mystical or ancient. If similar connections have been developed and established on the book chapters' titles with specific story topics, rather than just the use of numbers, then I think it will be more engaging and well connected.
Yet, I give it a rating of 5 stars, because it is a great imaginative story that reflects the 2 types of worlds that exist for the victims of one of our society’s major social problems. One is the world that many may seem to portray to the public and the community in which they live under the auspice of normal and loving family life. And another is the world that exists under the banner of a blind and unsuspecting love, where there is abuse and violence and where victims are constantly struggling for justice in solitude. A justice to problems, they have somehow created by themselves.
August 8, 2022
Rarely read this type of book but it was highly recommended and I have recently gotten to know the author.
This is a magical book that will appeal to adult and YA readers alike. Part fantasy, part magical realism, part dystopian, all wonderful
This is a magical book that will appeal to adult and YA readers alike. Part fantasy, part magical realism, part dystopian, all wonderful
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