<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!</i>

2.5 stars rounded to 3.

The Treasured One is based in modern day society and follows Avery through her journey as a healer/mender in to the fae realm after becoming sick and losing her powers. I really did like the idea that there was our world, normal and real-life like, and there was the fae world, which could be traveled through a rift due to magic. The fae world was fun, the animals were cute, but I found it kind of boring.. They had magic but didn't use it much which made it feel less 'fantastical'. I think the plot had a lot of potential and the romance between Avery and Riel was very cute. I do not think that the whole book was as fleshed out as I hoped, as it seemed to lack substance. I was wanting more war or angst or even politics between the fae and humans, but it wasn't as action packed as I hoped.

It did feel quite young for me although the fmc was in her 20's. I was hoping for more adult level fantasy, but found the fmc having pop culture references and certain slang to be quite childish.

The best part of the story to me was Avery and Riel and their journey as strangers to lovers. I do wish there was more angst and more tension, as it did feel a little insta-lovey.

The ending was quite abrupt and I felt it was rushed, not everything was cleared up and had me wanting more.. The ideas of the book were great and it was a really interesting concept, I do wish it was slightly better executed.

The Treasured One by Hannah Levin drew me in with its stunning cover, captured me with its wonderful prose, and kept me enthralled with its amazing pacing.

I loved that this story hones in on the wounded or emotionally injured healer trope with a main character who is exceptionally sheltered due to the nature of her powers and role in society.

I think this story will read particularly well for adult readers who enjoyed the themes and writing of tamora pierce previously but are looking for more romantic elements in their stories now.

I enjoyed following Avery as she heals from her trauma, and most of all, witnessing her journey to finding herself and her voice was an amazing read. It was funny to see her transition from our world, where we have access to so much (mostly technology), to a simpler kind of life where she easily finds boredom. This is so typical—I mean, let's be honest, if we had a blackout, no electricity even for just a few hours, what would we do with our time?

Anyway, back to the book. The world-building (Fae realm) was really nice to read, and the author made it easy for me to imagine it by drawing links to our own world. I was not expecting it to be so good, and honestly, midway through reading, I thought… damn, I started reading a series again and will have to wait a long time to read book two. But I was so wrong… Well, I guess there could be a book two, but this book finishes on a great note. Some unexpected and sad things happen by the end, but the happy ending is still there! All and all a great read!

The Treasured One takes place 24 years after The Rift opened, a portal between Earth and where the Fae live. After that, some human children were born with the magic only the Fae used to have, called Golden Children. Avery is one of these Golden Children, and she's a healer. Her life has always been out of the ordinary: she moved to the White House after her parents couldn't handle the attention anymore, and she does monthly healing events. Her only connection to the outside world are her two body guards and her online gaming. Despite such a wild background, Avery is a really likeable character. She's funny, a bit relatable. She's not perfect, and she's just really nicely written.
So Avery basically performs a few miracles every month, but the toll has been higher than she ever knew, and one day she loses her magic. To try and heal her, she's sent across the Rift to go live and learn with the Fae. There, not only does she come to learn more about her magic, she also gets pretty close to her teacher, the second prince Riel. He is also a very good character.
The two have good chemistry, the book has very easy pacing. The world building is a little basic, but that's fine. All around it's a very nice, mid-stakes romantasy,

“The Treasured One,” by Hannah Levin

Avery has the ability to heal any illness and injury. She lives sheltered and brought out to heal people. She wants her freedom but is afraid to go against everyone. Her powers start acting up, preventing her from healing others and instead she is getting ill. Avery travels through The Rift to the Fae realm, in hopes of answers to her powers. Prince Riel has agreed to teach her about her rare magic. As they work together, they cannot help but to continue to get closer.

I absolutely loved this book. I liked that the main character is a human with magic, she is very innocent and sweet and just wants to do the right thing. Her inner conflict of wanting to use her powers to heal everybody but also experience freedom and live for herself was relatable. Riel is also a character that has a good heart and wants to trust but also protect his loved ones despite everyone else things the worst of humans and Avery. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Fae
-Multi POV
-Magic

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book from NetGalley. The Treasured One is due for release on July 9, 2024.

The cover and the blurb of this book were what caught my attention. I was expecting some epic romantasy (romantic fantasy) story…, and while there were aspects of that within it, I was rather let down by it.

I have to be honest, I found it rather boring. Nothing much happened. Significant gaps existed between the action, and the action/drama didn’t last longer than about a page. There are characters within the story who could have caused drama but didn’t; if they had, it would have added an extra layer of interest. There weren’t any obstacles for the main characters to overcome in their ‘journey’. This also meant I felt like there was little to no character development for the MCs and the side and extra characters. The fae don’t trust the humans, and the humans don’t trust the fae, but that isn’t something that is improved or developed along the way. It is part of the plot but felt more forced and wasn’t overly thought out.

The main plot line was the relationship between Avery and Riel. I was, however, somewhat surprised when Avery started saying she had growing feelings for Riel. When did that even happen? I didn’t feel that there was much romantic build-up or proper ‘get-to-know-you’ moments. It was just skipped over, and then they had feelings for each other and were being protective.

There are some wonderful descriptions of the fae world. It was well imagined and really interesting, with some wonderfully unique places and ideas.

I was somewhat angry at the ending. It felt unresolved and left me asking, “Why? Was there not a better way to go about it?”

Needless to say, I was not a huge fan. I feel it could have done with a touch more development and interaction between all the characters, not just the MCs. It is a debut, and Levin has the potential to be an awesome author.

If my best friend was telling me this story I would be enthralled and loving every second of it. However, it reads at best as good fanfic/AO3, which if it was a friends would be heavily invested in. As I’m not it was enjoyable but lacking. Great for a quick fun read but nothing that’s going to keep you obsessed until the next one
The time line was probably one of the better ones for a fantasy novel. Problems weren’t quick fixes and required effort.
Points for preface and glossary.
The new world/culture and creatures was wonderful but surface level. Gave Avatar (Cameron) vibes. Where it’s bright and shiny but not complex. moderate attention was given to environment and creatures. politics, religion, and society was rather brushed off.
Characters were two dimensional without character development to go with angst, exception to the main character. Avery was sweet and kind and brave but naive at best and cringy at other times. Every other character was in her world as plot points without substance.
A very pro America novel. That survived a world changing event unscathed and in a typical manner.

Thank you Aethon Books and NetGalley for the access of this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Here goes.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It felt long and rushed all at the same time: the first 75% of the book dragged on a little bit whereas the conflict resolution felt a little too fast. From the blurb, I was expecting adventure and I'm sad that there wasn't that much adventure going on.

As much as I wanted to, I don't think was able to form a proper connection with the characters... They just didn't click for me.

I was also a bit confused by the few third-person POV switches (from different characters) when the majority of the book was first-person from Avery's POV.

However, what I liked was the idea of these two worlds colliding. It's different from the usual fantasy worlds and it sort of reminded me of a Marvel multiverse.

In the end, it wasn't a bad book and I still enjoyed reading it even though it's not what I was expecting.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶/5

Avery possesses exceptional healing talents, making her a treasured helper to people worldwide. Living a sheltered life, she dutifully works for her government. Despite her yearning for freedom, she hesitates to challenge the established system. However, when her abilities start to waver, endangering her health and putting strain on her relationship with her caretakers, her life takes an unexpected turn.

While this book didn't strike a chord with me personally, its writing was of high quality. The author's depiction of the fae world was intricate and captivating. The lively descriptions and compelling imagery made for a quick and enjoyable read that I appreciated.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Aethon Books for the opportunity to read and review.

This would have been a read I would have loved in my teen years but as an adult it’s very juvenile. An interesting concept but story lines are not cohesive and are wrapped up very quickly. I didn’t hate it but I wouldn’t go out my way to read it again.

The Treasured One by Hannah Levin is exactly the type of a book I would have enjoyed reading in my late teens. Gifted protagonist with a mysterious background story, discovery of a different world, life-threatening danger, first love, some spice, it has it all.
The today me was a bit underwhelmed by the quality of the dialogues and somewhat unbalanced story line that started out slow, but then wrapped up in less than 70 pages. Could have done without the American saviors complex as well. That being said, I feel it is pretty strong for a debut novel, a solid 3.75, and I would be curious to read Hannah Levin’s next book.

Grateful to have the opportunity to read this ARC but it wasn’t for me. I felt that the story was rushed, especially the love story. If I didn’t know the age of the main character I would think she was a 13 year old girl. She was a bit cringey. I did like the world building and magic systems though!

To be honest I think maybe this book isn’t for me. I found it dragging and I had a lot of trouble keeping interest in it. I did my best but I overall felt that the pacing was not great. Usually I find something to hook me within the first 30 pages and that just didn’t happen in the first 100 pages even. I think maybe it should have been written for a younger audience and maybe that would have been better? Overall I think the author had a great concept the execution just wasn’t what I hoped it would be.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This book had potential. The author has potential. However, I truly feel like there is room for improvement.

I’ll start with the things I liked:
- the plot was nice. Not utterly original, but it had a few elements that helped it stand out
- the MMC wasn’t a traitorous bastard, which is always a plus given the latest trend in romantasy books
- the interaction between the two main characters was mostly cute. Riel is suuuper respectful, considerate, a true gentleman and I actually found that refreshing even though I’m admittedly a huge fan of the enemies to lovers trope
- the modern touch was something I found disconcerting at first but it did grow on me. It’s not something I’m used to read, but it wasn’t bad at all

Where I think this book could be improved:
- I understand slow starts, but having to wait until we get to 50% for something to start happening seems a bit extreme and it might discourage some readers.
- I don’t mind the change in narrating style (1st and 3rd person) but I would prefere if it were consistent (meaning always 1st or always 3rd for Riel)
- I feel like skipping over the months were Riel and Avery’s relationship developed didn’t do many favors to the way the reader perceives the romance. I kept feeling like they lacked chemistry because i didn’t witness the reasons why they fell in love with each other.
- I would have appreciated some consequences. I mean, Riel in particular had to make some awful choices and we never get to see the aftermath of that before we jump to the end of the story
- speaking of the end of the story, I also feel like it was a bit rushed. I was hoping to finally connect with some of the characters but I didn’t.
- in fact, I feel like what I struggled most in this book was exactly that: finding a way to connect to the characters. There were moments where I could almost feel what they were feeling, but they were over too quick. I think the justification for this was that the writing relied a lot on telling instead of showing. I wish I had gotten to experience more of the characters emotions, maybe even get to know other characters aside from the FMC and MMC. Luenki, for example. Even Solois. Or the seer. By the end of the book I still don’t understand any of their motivations. Honestly I feel like character development might be the weakest point of this book.

Either way, I didn’t hate it, not in the slightest, I just wish it had made me feel more. Still I’m giving it 3⭐️ (a 2.5 rounded up).

"Hannah Levin's debut novel, 'The Treasured One' weaves a captivating tale of loyalty, love, and the clash of two worlds. Avery, a Golden Child with the gift of healing, faces a choice between her duty to her government caretakers and her growing feelings for Riel, the prince of the fae. As Avery's powers falter, she embarks on a journey through The Rift to the realm of the mysterious and powerful fae, seeking answers and training to control her magic.

The dynamics between Avery and Riel unfold beautifully as they navigate the complexities of their relationship amidst political tensions and betrayals. The world-building is rich, immersing readers in a realm where humans and fae coexist uneasily. Levin's storytelling skill shines through in the vivid descriptions of the fae realm and the magic that binds it.

Fans of Romantasy will delight in the adventurous spirit of this book, reminiscent of 'A Deal with the Elf King' and 'The Cruel Prince.' The sweet, slow-burn romance between Avery and Riel adds a tender touch to the thrilling plot. Levin delivers a compelling debut that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this enchanting series."

I like the intricate world-building of the fae realm and the tension-filled dynamics between Avery and Riel. The blend of romance, adventure, and political intrigue creates a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked until the final page.

The Treasured Ones had a very intriguing plot line as a Human x Fae Romantasy set in modern America & a distant Fae land. Hannah Levin did an incredible job with this world cross-over, and it definitely had be hooked!

The romance between the FMC and MMC was delightful to read and was well-developed. However,
Riel as a main character was lacking and a little bland.. Solois as a main love interest would've added so much more angst to the plot line!

I believe the idea of the Golden Children and the "Goddess" could've been further explored as it was one of the highlights for me in this book! The ending seemed a little rushed and predictable..

Overall, it was a great 3-star read, and definitely has promise to be an incredible series, as well as an awesome standalone.

Overall I enjoyed the plot and thought the world building was well done. The characters were interesting and well thought out. The pacing did feel a little off while reading which made it difficult to stay invested in the story at times.

— thank you to netgalley for the arc!

first off id like to start off by saying that this wasn’t a bad book per say, I just didn’t enjoy it and think it wasn’t for me.

what I did like about this book was the fae world, I think the author did a great job in terms of description and imagery! it was a lot a very quick and fast read which I’m happy about.

this book is said to be NA but it honestly felt and read as a young adult book with added spice to make it NA and I think this would’ve been so much better had it been written as a young adult book from the beginning.

my main problem with this book was the main character. she was 21? 22? I don’t even remember but this girl acted like a 12 year old throughout the whole book. she was so immature and the things she said and did just gave me the ick. the whole chapter of her fantasizing about the mmc at the VERY beginning of the book where they barely knew each other and the mature things that were written during it made me extremely uncomfortable as this girl acted like a child the whole time and I felt it was very unnecessary.

the mmc wasn’t bad I guess… nothing stood out to me.

their relationship also felt like instalove; they met and there was a few months time skip and by that time it was said they were closer and spent a lot of time together. as the reader it was as fast as quite literally turning the page which is what felt like instalove, I would’ve loved to see more of those in between moments and I think it would’ve added a lot more to their relationship. the spice between them made me uncomfortable, there’s an age gap, both of them are on different maturity levels and I have no idea how I read through this.

the ending was rushed big time, there was so much left unanswered and things that were just swept under the rug, had the conflict at the end been more of the main focus of the book I think it would’ve been more engaging.

*Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, all thoughts are my own*

DNF @ 35%

I think this has a lot of potential but I was pretty bored the entire time I was reading this. We follow Avery, a gifted child that was a result of a rift opening between earth and the Fae realm.

She uses her powers incorrectly for some many years and gets sick so she travels to the Fae world to heal. But in the Fae world, there are waring kingdoms and the magic is unstable. This could have made the book interesting but for the first part we really only focus on Avery healing and learning about the her magic. My issue is that it’s more telling vs showing even as we learn about the Fae characters. “He told me he likes to read” vs we find his characters always reading when Avery stumbles upon him in the castle.

My other biggest issue is that this book is partially set on Earth but the Author is constantly making cultural references that have actually happened on earth which is my biggest instant turn off for books. I just think it instantly dates the book because whatever is referenced won’t be relevant anymore by the time the readers actually read the book.

“I might have made some crass comment about that being prime daddy age”

“Put a few drops of red food coloring in it and sell it as a health potion to the same people who bought gamer girl bath water”

“Like the Avatar”

“She acted like she’d found one of Willy Wonkas golden tickets”

If these references don’t both you, you could enjoy this book. There just wasn’t enough for me to care about the characters or the world to want to read more.

"The Treasured One" presents readers with a unique juxtaposition of modern-day settings and a fantastical "fairy tale" world, which initially intrigued me. I also liked that it did not 'bait' a sequel, it is a finished story in its own right but still leaves opportunity for future installments. However, I found myself grappling with shifting thoughts throughout the book, primarily due to comparisons drawn to Holly Black's "The Cruel Prince" trilogy.

While some may draw parallels between the two, particularly in their portrayal of fae stories, I personally struggled to reconcile these comparisons. Unlike "The Cruel Prince," which delves deeply into themes of familial relationships, political power dynamics, and only hints at romance, "The Treasured One" seemed to place a heavier emphasis on romantic entanglements.

Unfortunately, this shift in focus left other aspects of the plot feeling underdeveloped and lacking in depth. As a result, the non-romantic elements failed to capture my interest in the same way as they did in "The Cruel Prince."

Furthermore, the use of contemporary slang and references dated the book and somewhat juvenile, detracting from the overall immersion in the story. It gave the impression of pandering to a specific audience, rather than offering a timeless narrative that could resonate with readers beyond current trends.

Overall, while "The Treasured One" may appeal to fans of YA fantasy and romance, particularly those drawn to enemies-to-lovers tropes, it fell short of my expectations, especially when compared to similar works in the genre. Perhaps with a clearer distinction in its marketing and a more balanced approach to its narrative elements, future installments could offer a more satisfying reading experience.