The second installment of the Neath series resumes our journey into the creepy subterranean society of the Neath. Full of twisted characters, unfathomable lake depths, and impossible creatures, I found myself too distracted to see any plot twists on the horizon. Absolutely love that our protagonist can find a food-related metaphor for every situation.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and T. M. Blanchet

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

I'm so sorry to say I had to DNF this second book in the series at 50%. I absolutely loved the first book and recommended it to so many friends but this second one just wasn't it unfortunately. The side mission with the crab man thing was just annoying and ridiculous and dragged on and on and on. I really tired to persevere but I just couldn't do it ☹️

Love this thrilling adventure. The character, world building and plot are so amazing. They brought me in a gorgeous adventure

Wow! What a wonderful, horrific, crazy ride!!! I am sorry, but part of book 1 is mixed into this review because it just must. Never have I been cheering for and so very exasperated by a character/characters. T.M. Blanchet has a terrific imagination I am all in for any other books. I really don't have words, this is an adventure, friendship, struggles beyond apprehension, figure it out as you go story. Ollie is not your usual hero type, but ends up coming into his own as time goes by. But the IMAGERY that is PAINTED with WORDS made my imagination soar and I felt as if I were right there with Ollie and Tera. I want to visit "The Neath", but not for too long... wink wink. However, the story isn't all feel good rather it is quite sad. Dealing with abuse, neglect, imprisonment, hatred and many other tough topics. But, in my opinion, these topics are dealt with in a more soft handed educational manor rather than detailed expletive gory details. There is horror for sure, but not extreme and reference to abuse, as well as weight shaming (mostly self inflicted). I look forward to the third book, this is a trilogy right?

I really liked this story.

Herrick's Lie is the second book in the Neath trilogy by T.M. Blanchet. Released 28th March 2023, it's 330 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is an engaging and very well imagined portal fantasy adventure featuring an ensemble cast of wonderful characters, creatures, and settings. The author is wonderfully adept technically at her craft, and the characters live and breathe (even the not-quite-human ones, and there are many). The settings and world building are the star of the show, however, and are nuanced and richly detailed.

For fantasy readers who have enjoyed worlds imagined by Gaiman, Miévelle, and Kagawa, this is a worthy addition to the genre. Despite being book 2 (of 3), the author is adept at providing the necessary background and it works well enough as a standalone. It was good enough that the plan is to hunt down the first book. Book three is due out in 2024.

Four and a half stars. Well worth seeking out.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Amazing second book from T.M. Blanchet! Although this is the second in the series, I would definitely say this could be read a stand-alone. There's enough information in this one that doesn't leave the reader feeling confused at all.

This was a very cute read and I definitely think middle-grade kids, especially those who love fantasy, would be enchanted by this book. If you're kiddo likes monsters, new worlds, and friendships they might want to give this a try!

What a fun ride! This is book 2 in a series, and I was happy to be back exploring the Neath- such an atmospheric and sometimes spooky setting! Ollie is such a sympathetic character, and this time his adventures (and the plot twist) are even better than in book 1. Can't wait for the next one!

I did not realise on request that this was the second book in a series.
Although there are some explanations of the previous story I found this hard to read with out having read the first one too.
Ollie is a bit of an odd character and I didn’t find him too engaging, which again didn’t help draw me in.
I think again this may have been better if I had read the first book in the series.

Herrick's Lie is a goofy, fun little adventure set in a world extremely reminiscent of London Below from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I was excited by the synopsis as that is a favorite book of mine but found it not to my taste. The best way I could describe it is almost a Hitchhikers Guide-type narrative in a Neverwhere setting with elements of Alice in Wonderland and a fairly weak protagonist.

It was a light, easy urban fantasy read, with unique worldbuilding and an interesting, if a bit rushed, plot. That said, Ollie's character grated at my nerves constantly throughout the book. While he had a few good moments, he was also self-deprecating, jealous, obsessed with Tera to an unhealthy degree, and whinier than a toddler that had missed nap time.

The writing style was very easily digestible and straightforward, but a bit goofy, more "tell" than "show", and a bit overly dramatic in my opinion. Also, there were SO MANY exclamation points. It took a Hitchhikers Guide-type playful approach to the writing, but took it almost to excess.

I'm sure some people will fall in love with this book and feel the same sense of nostalgia and wonder when they read as I did reading Neverwhere. The style and the characters were just not a good fit for me.

The concept behind the world in this book is new and intriguing, which really piqued my interest. The 'Neath is made out to be a wondrous place of refuge and the imagery of this other world was grand. However, Ollie is a difficult character to engage with. The book was well written, and the adventure for Ollie to get Brickside in time is fast paced. Unfortunately, it was difficult to want to go on the adventure with him.

Well crap, you guys. I didn't realize this book was the second in a series. I opened it to read it today and saw, "Book 2 of the Neath Trilogy". I apologize, but I can't give honest feedback about this book. I will definitely be reading the first, and then leave a review for this book!

Giving it a 4 stars for now, so I don't destroy the ratings.

When I requested this book I didn't know this was the second book in the series. So before trying this I had to read book 1. I didn't like it. Since I already requested it I decided to give book 2 a go. However, I didn't like this book either. I felt no connection to either of the characters. Some parts felt like they were dragging on, while others felt rushed,

I received this book from NetGallery in return for a honest review

This is the second book in a series, and despite the author's attempts to tell you things from the first novel, it will nto make a whole lot of sense if you haven't read that first installment. It's the kind of somewhat goofy fantasy you find in Daniel Pinkwater's books, although not quite as charming; truth be told, I found it overwritten and kind of tedious. If you liked the first one, though, go for it--you might like this continuation of the story.

I was super excited read this next installment of the Neath Triology!

I loved Ollie in the first book and again he is really the driving force behind what makes this book great.

In this story a message has been sent to the Neath that people Ollie knew on the Brickside have been harmed or kidnapped and will die if he doesn’t come up. Thus starts a journey to find the legendary apparatus that will allow him to breathe Brickside.

To be honest this book felt simultaneously slow and rushed. It was fairly dragging until the last few chapters when so much happened and was revealed at once.

I’d also love some backstory for the attendant people who staff the entrances to places in the Neath. They just seem beyond unnecessary.

This sequel definitely dropped some of the internalized fat-phobia that was in the first. The whole book is one giant search quest. It's fun, better than book one, but still has some pacing issues. I get feeling like they should be further along in the quest than they were any any point during my read through. Middle book issues of lots of place setting and little in the way of actual doing. But it was great to see the characters a little more sure of themselves, though Olly still has a ways to go.

Rating: 4.3/5

Review: A really strong run at world building coupled with constant movement, made for an entertaining read that ended too soon.

The narrative is from Ollie's perspective which can run a bit dry as he is ruled by emotion. He is at once petty (jealouse) and almost Buddha like in understanding. The two polar perspectives don't marry well when pushed together. Perhaps develop the character rather than devolve.

The world this story resides in rarely makes sense and that is what makes it so good. Biologicially this is a hot mess yet you must discard logic and enjoy the inventiveness of the authors creation. Really trippy shjt. Looking forward to the next.

Herrick's Lie, the second book in T.M Blanchet's series, takes readers on a thrilling adventure through an underground world filled with danger and intrigue. The story follows Ollie, who is determined to make things right after discovering his friends are in danger because of his actions.

Blanchet does an excellent job of crafting a unique and imaginative world that is both fascinating and terrifying. The underground world is richly detailed and the creatures that inhabit it are wonderfully imaginative. Ollie is a relatable and likable character, and his journey to right his wrongs is compelling.

The supporting characters are also well developed, and their interactions with Ollie add depth to the story. However, some readers may feel that more background on the witches and other magical elements of the story would have been helpful.

The pace of the story is somewhat inconsistent, with some parts dragging while others are action-packed. Some readers may also find the lack of a map or visual aid to be a drawback, as it can be difficult to keep track of the complex underground world.

Overall, Herrick's Lie is a creatively crafted and thrilling adventure that is sure to captivate readers. While it may have some minor flaws, it is a great addition to the series

Didn’t realise this was book book2 in a trilogy, so I will be back to review after I’ve read the first.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book to review

WOW! What a fantastic novel, I loved it. Perfect for fans of Douglas Adams/Daniel O’Malley and V.E.Schwab. Blend of Sci-Fi, fantasy, touch of horror and a thriller rolled into a wonderful world of rich characters. Can’t wait for the next instalment. Thank you to #netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review.