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!

Overall this was a decent book. I liked the cover, which is what initially drew me to this title. The plot, however, felt unresolved. I realize that there is a 2nd book and that it was supposed to be more of a cliffhanger, but I just felt like it was more of an abrupt ending that left me a little “…huh…” if that makes sense? Overall an okay read.

I could not finish this book. I liked Ollie and the idea behind the book….but I did not like reading disparaging comments about weight and being fat. Eating disorders and abuse don’t make for an enjoyable read. It just hurt my heart for both Ollie and Nell. Ollie seems like a good kid and dealt an awful lot in life.

The book turned out differently from what I had anticipated based on the description. The initial section proved somewhat demanding to navigate, as the protagonist undergoes mistreatment before a connection with him can form. However, the narrative improves later on, transitioning into a continuous heist storyline, unraveling the enigmas of an inventive and greatly valued fantasy backdrop.My primary observation pertains to the presentation, which inadequately sets the stage for the book's content. The main character's struggles with an eating disorder, along with the prevalent themes of domestic abuse and the mourning of his mother, aren't peripheral aspects; they hold significant narrative weight.

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 that'll take you into the vast underworld that will leave you excited and terrified for more.

This book had great characters that make you want to connect with them on a deeper level, especially Ollie and even some of the secondary characters. I felt like I was a mini cheerleader for Ollie throughout the book and I really hope the author writes more in this world with Ollie as the main character! I am really forward to the next book in this series!!

The writing is amazing, you really felt like you were immersed in the book and the pace was great with some high tension in parts. I would highly recommend this book to any one looking for a young adult fantasy series - this book will not disappoint.

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!

I don't think this was my type of book and I wasn't interested in this story whatsoever. Ollie was an okay guy, but the mystery in his story didn't intrigued me.

I dont know how I feel about this book. I think the author created the world well and the storyline was interesting at times, but I think there were some problematic and uncomfortable themes and I just couldn't get into it.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I‘m sorry to say that I ended up DNFing it 45%.
I almost feel guilty since it‘s and ARC copy but I promised myself not to force myself when it comes to books that either don‘t hold my attention or are just bad. In this case the premise is interesting but the book was just fine. It I was actually intrigued by the concept of the secret fantasy underworld but the pacing is too slow and the MC‘s pov is not as engaging as I hoped because while I appreciated the overweight representation (we really need more of it in literature) at the same time I think it‘s time to start representing fat people in a more nuanced and positive way (the MC felt almost as a caricature at times).

Honestly, I wanted to get into this book, but it couldn't hold my attention. I had to DNF and do not think I will pick up this book again soon. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

Herricks End is one of those books that when you finish, you want to go right back to the start just so you can relive it again

<b>Herrick's End</b> is the story of Ollie, a guy who discovers another world while trying to help a friend. There's more to Ollie than meets the eye at first, and this is a pretty classic hero's journey storyline.

There's a lot to like about this debut novel from T.M. Blanchet: it's fast-paced, the world building is well done and interesting, and the characters care for and look after one another in a really wholesome way.

I did get some Nice Guy™ vibes from our protagonist, and his character growth seemed a little sudden and unexpected. I think what we were supposed to see was that he was a hero the whole time but didn't see himself the way others saw him, but my brain just didn't find that believable. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I was getting some fairly creepy vibes from him in the beginning. I was hoping for him to learn and grow, and while he <i>did</i>, I felt that he evolved his relationship with women because a woman was interested in him, not because he had reflected on how he viewed women and grown from it

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press!

Atmospheric with fabulous characterisation, the plot just didn’t thrill and enthrall me as much as I’d hoped.

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!

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

The first book in Blanchet's Neath trilogy offers a bizarre dark underworld; cruelty and revenge; an unlikely hero; and heartwarming bravery and unexpected bonds.

In Blanchet's young adult fantasy debut, Herrick's End, Ollie's only friend Gwen has disappeared. He has no idea where she's gone, but he thinks her recent black eye, edginess, and her brooding jerk of a boyfriend have something to do with it.

He searches for her, then receives a mysterious note: "Still looking for your friend? I know where she is." A strange fellow offers to lead Ollie to Gwen. Ollie pushes down his panic and decides to push on bravely (and possibly foolishly), determined to find and save Gwen.

But the trail Ollie finds himself on leads to darkness and danger in a mysterious underworld. The land is odd, troubling, and filled with unexpected magic--as well as brutal vengeance. It defies much of what he has known as fact and reality up above. And, alarmingly, a powerful local legend has been expecting him.

He had been hanging his hopes on some fool notion of "fairness." He would find a way out, because he deserved to find a way out.... It wasn't until he watched a gaseous frog sever an innocent man's arm for no particular reason that Ollie realized: There was no fairness here. There was no justice. Those were quaint, forgotten notions.
Cruel forces wield ruthless power in the dark land below--and those in charge might destroy him if he doesn't figure out an escape, or at least find a little help in this unforgiving place.

When Ollie drums up a glimmer of hope in a devastating prison of a situation, he begins the trajectory of becoming an unlikely hero who might just save everyone in the end.

The story is funny, sometimes grotesque, at other times sweet, and full of surprises. With zombified children; curses and prophecies; domestic abuse and revenge; bizarre creatures; impossible choices with enormous consequences; struggles with body image; and budding love.

I love this beautiful cover and loved how much heart Blanchet's story offered.

I received a prepublication digital edition of this book (published spring 2022) courtesy of Tiny Fox Press and NetGalley.

Herrick's End is the first book in Blanchet's Neath trilogy. I can't wait to read the second book in the series, Herrick's Lie, which is scheduled for publication in spring 2023.

TW: domestic violence, trauma, prison.

The world building was top notch . It is the first in the trilogy and is YA fantasy. I would have personally preferred the romance element to be more slow-burn!

I still don't know what to think about this book. On one hand, I really loved the worldbuilding, characters, prologue, twists and turns. However, the self-consciousness about food and talks related to the eating disorder really threw me of and made me feel uncomfortable. In this case, I would appreciate trigger warnings regarding this issue.

I love Ollie and his naive personality. He believed always in the good in everyone and I just love him for that. I think he's a very likeable main character. Terra was the badass female side character the story (and Ollie) needed the most.

The world was set in a very dark underground world that I enjoyed exploring. The whole idea behind, connected to a domestic violence, was very unique and something I've never read before.

Overall, the prologue was the best part of the book although I want to see where the whole story is going so I will give the second book a shot. Not sure if I recommend it l, but if the book interests you, the plot is worth a try and you'll see if it's your cup of tea.