The Cherished

For fans of White Smoke, The Hazel Wood, and Wilder Girls comes an original, hypnotizing horror thriller in the vein of Midsommar, as one girl inherits a mysterious house from her estranged grandmother—and a letter with sinister instructions.

Jo never expected to be placed in her absent grandmother’s will—let alone be left her house, her land, and a letter with mysterious demands.

Upon arriving at the inherited property, things are even more strange.

The tenants mentioned in the letter are odd, just slightly…off. Jo feels something dark and decrepit in the old shack behind the house. And the things that her father used to talk about, his delusions… Why is Jo starting to believe they might be real?

But what Jo fears most is the letter from her grandmother. Because if it’s true, then Jo belongs here, in this strange place. And she has no choice but to stay.

• Folk Horror Atmosphere: Step into a remote Vermont farmhouse where the land holds ancient secrets and the strange tenants, Tom and Hattie, watch Jo’s every move.
• An Inherited Duty: Jo isn’t just the new owner; she’s the next Lavoie, tasked with a terrifying responsibility she never asked for and cannot escape.
• Supernatural Suspense: Something sinister lurks in the locked shack behind the house, a place tied to the dark creatures from her father’s stories.
• Mental Health vs. Reality: For years, her father's tales of the “little ones” were dismissed as schizophrenia. Now, Jo must confront the terrifying possibility that he was telling the truth all along.

“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

"An exploration of belonging, a tale of generational trauma, and a fantasy thriller oozing with mystery around every corner." - Mugglenet

"[A] pulse-pounding thriller, pairing brisk pacing with frenetic plotting that adds a layer of unease to Jo’s harrowing situation."  - Publishers Weekly

"A captivating mix of mystery and mythology." - School Library Journal

"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

"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

"[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