This book had an INCREDIBLE premise and I genuinely wanted this to be my new favorite book. When I read the synopsis before requesting this NetGalley ARC I genuinely thought, OK this sounds perfect. Sadly, it was not perfect to me. I found parts of this book very insenstive and extremely hard to read. The pacing seemed choppy at times and it just wasn't for me. I could see the idea the author had, but the execution was just not it.

I didn't enjoy this book. From the voice to the writing it was simply not for me. I also found the writing to be a bit rough. I was unfortunately unable to finish this book. Could not get into it and can't say I'd recommend it.

Having read reviews, I was very sceptical going into this. Unfortunately, I have to say that I agree with all the negative reviews. There are a number of insensitive terms spread throughout the book, and I'm not sure that there is a single likeable character throughout. While I tried to enjoy the story, it was difficult to do with such an unlikeable and whiny narrator.

I wish this had been a better experience for me, particularly as I enjoyed Midsommar and this has been compared to the film. I can't honestly say I saw any comparison.

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it and we have to leave a star rating.

The Cherished was an interesting and quick read. I definitely got the horror vibes, but it was more in the range of creepy than just straight up horror.

The Cherished follows Jo after she receives a letter saying she has inherited her estranged grandmother’s house. The letter also gives Jo some very ominous directions as to what she’ll have to do once she takes over the house. Jo’s grammy doesn’t spell it all out, but essentially she explains that Jo has no choice but to take over the responsibility that comes with the house.

Jo’s mom and step dad want to sell the house, so Jo and her mom go to see what kind of shape the property is in. Once there they meet the strange residents of Laddston. Jo has been here before when she was little, but doesn’t remember too much about it. Everything just keeps getting stranger, as it seems Jo and her mom are the only ones in town that don’t know the secret of her family home.

I don’t want to spoil what’s really happening in the town, because it does a take a minute before you get to the big reveal. It is an interesting twist and really made this read that much more fun.

"The Cherished" by Patricia Ward presents a horror thriller that weaves a tale of inheritance, mysterious instructions, and the unsettling discovery of family secrets. While the novel introduces intriguing elements and a sense of foreboding, it falls short of fully realizing its potential.

The premise of Jo inheriting her grandmother's house, land, and a letter with sinister instructions sets the stage for a suspenseful narrative. The eerie atmosphere and the odd tenants mentioned in the letter contribute to a sense of unease, creating a compelling backdrop for the unfolding mystery. Ward's writing skillfully builds tension, and the hints at a dark and decrepit presence in the old shack add an element of suspense.

Jo's exploration of the strange property and her growing belief in her father's past delusions introduce psychological elements that add complexity to the narrative. The gradual blurring of the line between reality and the supernatural keeps readers guessing about the true nature of the inherited legacy.

However, the novel struggles with pacing issues, with the suspenseful buildup occasionally giving way to moments of stagnation. Some elements of the plot feel underdeveloped, leaving certain threads of the story unresolved or lacking in clarity. The oddity of the tenants and the dark presence in the shack could have been explored more deeply to enhance the overall sense of dread.

While the atmosphere is effectively eerie, the characters, including Jo, could benefit from more depth and dimension. Jo's fears and uncertainties are palpable, but there is room for greater exploration of her internal struggles and the emotional toll of unraveling family secrets.

The conclusion of "The Cherished" is both satisfying and unsettling, leaving room for interpretation and lingering questions. Ward manages to create an ending that aligns with the mysterious tone of the narrative, offering a sense of closure while still maintaining an air of ambiguity.

In summary, "The Cherished" introduces a captivating premise and builds an eerie atmosphere, but it falls short in fully exploring certain aspects of the plot and developing its characters to their fullest potential. Despite its shortcomings, the novel manages to deliver a haunting and enigmatic experience for readers who enjoy atmospheric horror and psychological suspense.

A super solid dark fae YA novel - for fans of Rory Power and Holly Black. I LOVED that the central relationship here was familial - there's so much to the mother/teenage daughter aspect that can be (and here is!) used to great faerie-effect. I loved the descriptions of landscape here and also the empowerment of our main character. A novel for younger readers that doesn't avoid showing teeth!

Wasn't a fan, struggled to get through the book. I had such high hopes for it as well, but I just didn't gel with it.

I was excited to read The Cherished since it's being marketed as being in the same vein as Midsommar, which is one of my absolute favorite films. However, this is another book where the premise felt too rushed and one without true character growth and enrichment. I couldn't stick with it because I didn't feel connected to the characters or the plot.

I was expecting gothic, coming-of-age tale, but instead found myself disappointed by weak writing and a story that seemed to go nowhere. There were a number of culturally insensitive terms that surprised me. I don't thinkI would recommend this book to anyone.

This sounded like such a good premise, but the dad and step mom are so horrible I can't stand to read about them. The layout is a solid use of tropes and the author makes them their own though.

2.5 Stars

This really wasn't enjoyable. The main character came across as very whiny and childish. It was hard to connect with any of the characters. If I connected with any of them it was Hattie and even she wasn't a fully fledged out character. This story had potential but I just don't think it was written well enough to pull off the story. There were some racial and mental illness aspects in the book that were also not handled very well either.

I would not read a sequel for this or recommend it.

I received an eARC via the publisher and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I put off this one for quite a bit. If I could sum this book into a few words it would be: fairies, family drama, teenage character.... I wish I liked this book more, but honestly it didn't start to get interested until maybe 60% into the book. The beginning to middle of the book was primarily family drama about Jo (main character) who was gifted her late grandmother's house even though they didn't stay in contact. Jo wants to keep the house, but what do you know her parents want her to sell it. Although, here's the catch... Nothing can happen to the house until Jo turns a proper age. So this conflict takes up more than half the book only it's told from a teenager perspective to add more sass and immaturity into the mix.

Jo and her mother visit the house to get it fixed up to put on the market. Jo's grandmother wants Jo to be the guardian and caretaker of another younger girl. Interesting right? Weird things start to happen once Jo and her mother arrive... Something gets opened, even though it's supposed to stay locked leaving Jo and her mother unsafe. Jo understands what is going on, only if she was to describe it to anyone else she would sound crazy.

What did I like? the author's inclusion of mental health (schizophrenia) and the fairy aspect even though they weren't really included into the story until the last 30% of the book. Another book where I didn't have any special interest with the main character and that deterred me from liking the book more. Would I recommend it? not really no

I don't know what this author thought they were doing with the disrespectful way that the protagonist described her racial heritage, own physical appearance, and her mother's pregnancy. I pushed through to the end of the novel, even though I had already seen several unfavorable reviews, in order to see if the author tried to do anything with this initial portrayal- maybe it was a setup for a drastic character arc? Alas no. And the fantasy/horror elements were not even interesting enough to distract me from the initial problems.

I didn't hate this book. I think its a meh okay book but I'll probably forget it by next year. I'd like to see what else the author can do in the future.

Great book to kick off spooky season, it’s not September yet but it sure does feel like it. And The Cherished really set the mood for the fall vibes. I really enjoyed this, the description of these Carie’s was perfect as I was able to picture it perfectly in my mind and it creeped me out all in the best ways! I highly recommend this this fast approaching fall season!

2/5 Stars

Honestly... this one was a struggle to make it through. I’d be willing to reread it and alter my rating if the author made some drastic revisions before publication, but as it is currently, it's rough. The cover is gorgeous. I received an ARC of this work through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found this read kind of offensive. The way of thinking was just not for me. It felt like we took 10 steps back. I wasn't engaged in the writing. This was a DNF for me. I stopped at about 20%. I was excited to read this book but it just filled me with an icky feeling. The cover alone is amazing. But don't be fooled this book has a selective audience. I agree with what other reviewers are saying its pretty outdated in ideas and problematic.

Its a paranormal YA fantasy read. My daughter has no desire to read it. This book was marked to be like White Smoke and I LOVED that book. This book no way in any form compares to that read. Sadly this fell flat for me. But I am sure that there are readers out there looking for reads like that will truly enjoy it. But I am not one.

I like the general plot, but overall this didn't meet my expectations. The characters were all very unlikeable (the mother was insufferable in my opinion) but Jo felt like your average angsty teen. I still didn't love Jo, but at least she felt sort of real to me. However! There were some very odd semantic choices -- Jo referred to a lady in the bakery as a Nazi. This feels like something that a young teen would say, but that doesn't make it OK and it just seemed wrong.

Early in the book, around chapter 3 maybe, I was really intrigued. Gammy left the mysterious note for Jo and I needed to know what it all meant! But then the book started to lose steam for me.

Maybe I missed a vital piece of information, but it seemed to me that literally anyone in the town could have told Jo about the faeries and her job as a Lavoie and then maybe she wouldn't have been so hellbent on exploring the old house and breaking the ward. If she's the only one around who can handle the faeries, then she needs to know about them, right? I understand they wanted her to recover her memories in her own time and all, but honestly, this didn't seem like the best course of action.

Atmospheric and eerie. Sixteen year old Jo hasn't seen her grandmother since she was young, so it's a shock when she receives a letter that states that Maur has passed away and left her farmhouse to Jo. Jo's mother and stepfather immediately begin planning to sell, but Jo isn't so sure; something is drawing her back there. But things feel off as soon as she and her mother get to the house. There's iron around all the doors, the two tenants are definitely strange, and something just doesn't feel right, especially with the old house, which is always kept locked and barred. What secret is this house hiding, and why did Maur say that it's now Jo's responsibility? Jo is about to find out.

First off, I love this creepy cover. It drew me in right off the bat. I also really enjoyed this story overall. It didn't feel too slow to me. I liked the pacing. As soon as they get to the farm, the eerie mystery begins slowly unfolding. What is the truth about Jo's father? What was the traumatic event happened to her when she was last here? I couldn't wait to see where the story led, and I wasn't disappointed. This kind of slow burn fantasy with horror elements is right up my alley.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.