For fans of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, Lebanese-American author Ward draws from her experience to create a frightening story exploring identity, grief, and what it means to be family.” — Robin Roe, author of Dark Room Etiquette
"Unsettling in the best way, The Cherished is a captivating read that pulls you in and won't let go. Wonderfully atmospheric and compelling!" — Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Lake House
"A captivating mix of mystery and mythology." — School Library Journal
"[A] pulse-pounding thriller, pairing brisk pacing with frenetic plotting that adds a layer of unease to Jo’s harrowing situation." — Publishers Weekly
"A slow-burn mystery rooted in family bonds and duty... An oppressive unease effectively pervades the novel until Jo at last finds purpose and belonging. Hand to those who enjoy atmospheric character studies." — Booklist
"An exploration of belonging, a tale of generational trauma, and a fantasy thriller oozing with mystery around every corner." — Mugglenet
"[An] atmospheric, creepy fantasy... a thoroughly engaging read." — YA Books Central
"A spine-tingling, slow-burn horror mystery... a reflective story that uses elements of fantasy to tell a tale of the self-discovery and courage of a young girl." — Pine Reads Review
2023-01-25
A slow-building character study about living up to a dangerous, unusual destiny.
Sixteen-year-old Jo inherits a house in Vermont from her estranged paternal grandmother, Gammy Maureen, a place that holds memories of a traumatic past Jo struggles to recall. Although her pregnant mother and stepfather pressure her to sell, Jo remains curious about the possibilities of owning a home despite an ominous letter from Gammy indicating that there is difficult work to be done and that Jo, as a member of the Lavoie family, is responsible for carrying it out. The house’s tenants, Hattie and her guardian, Tom, have been named as beneficiaries of a trust providing them with housing and financial support. As Jo learns more about the weird town where the house is located and her grandmother’s role in it, a child’s disappearance triggers echoes of past events. By the time Jo confronts the otherworldly forces whose stronghold on the town have been a constant threat, Jo’s perspectives on her past, her family, and her future begin to shift. Claustrophobic observations build tension in a story that is slow to reveal secrets and deliver on threats. Unfortunately, insensitive language describing mental illness detracts from the vivid portrayal of how traumatic memories operate. Amid a White default, Jo refers to standing out due to her olive skin and frizzy black hair, inherited from an absent father of Syrian and Italian origin.
Strange and intermittently suspenseful. (Horror. 13-18)
A captivating mix of mystery and mythology.”
[A] pulse-pounding thriller, pairing brisk pacing with frenetic plotting that adds a layer of unease to Jo’s harrowing situation.”
