I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is definitely a YA fantasy, with some adult themes.
I like that the author tackled some very touchy issues, such as weight, self esteem, domestic violence, the justice system, the witch burnings of old, and love.
It became much faster paced as the novel progressed. It’s probably not something I would personally read again, but I can see it becoming a favorite of younger audiences.
Ollie is a hero to admire.
3.5 stars

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 book for sure, but I probably won't seek out the other books 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

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!

This eye-catching urban-fantasy novel by T.M. Blanchet tells the story of 19-year-old Ollie Delgato, a young man searching for his missing friend, a girl named Nell, who he suspects was in an abusive relationship before her sudden disappearance. When Nell fails to turn up to the weight-loss support group they both attend for the third meeting in a row, Ollie starts to put the pieces together and realizes his friend may be in danger. Soon, Ollie is pulled into the mysterious depths of a supernatural underworld, where he must find his friend before time runs out.
Now, time for a list of things that drew me to this book and kept me hooked :)
Title and cover- This book caught my interest the second I saw it, entirely thanks to the imaginative, fantasy-esque title, and the beautiful art that matches the title perfectly. Altogether it reminds me of my favourite fantasy books from my tweens (Attica by Garry Kilworth or Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, for example).
Character struggles- I think many readers will relate to the many character struggles and insecurities represented in this book, from Ollie's heartbreaking but familiar body image issues, to many of the characters being survivors of abusive relationships. I feel it is important that issues like these are written about more often, even if it can be difficult and heartbreaking to read about.
The prologue- Yes, the prologue. I don't have much to say except this happened to be the perfect hook for me personally. What can I say, anything to do with witches has me instantly intrigued.
I would most definitely recommend this novel to a wide range of readers, including, but not limited to, my 13-year-old self ;)

I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. It was well written with a compelling and engaging storyline and well developed characters that were relatable and loveable and few of them I took to my heart really quickly. The world building was good, but I think may develop better over the rest of the books in the series.
It was a truly gripping read that was full of fantasy but was also dark and disturbing so of course I loved it, I can't wait to read more.

This was a FANTASTIC fantasy fiction novel. It’s actually the first of a new trilogy. (Which kind of sucks because now I have to wait for the other two books).

I loved the main character Ollie. He was SO relatable to me and him finding his people in a strange place he had never been to before just resonated so well.

Once I got about 30% through this book I had to finish it right away. It hooked me!

There were NO loose ends in this book. I felt like even what seemed to be small insignificant details were pulled back in to reveal their meaning.

There was a dark part in this book that lingered and at one point almost was too much for me. I even thought I would have to stop reading 😂😂 but thankfully even that part had a significant meaning and now doesn’t really seem like that big of a deal.

Herrick’s End is a fast-paced YA fantasy stock full of lovable characters. You quickly fall in love with Ollie, our awkward underdog turned prolific hero, and his band of misfit friends. I deeply appreciate that Blanchet gave each character individual motivations and interests outside of just supporting the protagonist’s journey. I find this not to be the case in most YA novels, especially when the protagonist is male. My main critique lies with the creation/creators of The Neath and their relation with the primary antagonist. It felt rushed/disjointed and I wish we got to see a little more development towards that resolution (and I suppose introduction!). Overall, the world-building was top notch, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Herrick's End is a fantastic sci-fi/fantasy book about a guy named Ollie who goes looking for a friend and ends up in Herrick's End. There are a lot of great characters to root for in this book. Ollie is such a wonderful and caring guy, Tera is strong and kind, Lazlo is odd but also caring and loyal, and then the whole rest of the group are great. The atmosphere is tense and mysterious. The plot is super original and I loved it, especially the ending. I really can't wait to read the next book. Just an all-around great book that I think people will really enjoy.

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!