Cherish by Tracy Wolff Summary, Characters and Themes
Cherish is the explosive finale of the Crave series by Tracy Wolff—a sprawling YA fantasy saga packed with magic, monsters, and deep emotional stakes.
In this final installment, Grace and Hudson must navigate the aftermath of battles fought, memories regained, and realms disrupted. With timelines unraveling and ancient forces threatening to break free, the gang must reckon with who they are, what they stand for, and how far they’ll go to save the people they love. Equal parts swoon-worthy romance and epic magical showdown, Cherish is a high-stakes adventure that dares its characters to grow, forgive, and fight like hell for their future.
Summary
Cherish picks up with Grace and Hudson reeling from their time in the Shadow Realm. Grace has recovered her memories, which brings both joy and guilt. Mekhi, poisoned by shadow magic, is dying, and their mission becomes clear: find a cure—fast. Reuniting with friends like Jaxon, Flint, Eden, and Heather, the group meets to plan their next move.
The only clue?
The Shadow Queen might have the cure, but her realm is a divine prison sealed off by the God of Time, Jikan.
To even begin their quest, they journey to Ireland to consult with the Gargoyle Court and Jikan himself. Along the way, they face political unrest—especially in the Dragon Court, where Queen Nuri’s weakening power creates instability.
Grace also faces increasing pressure as Queen of the Gargoyle Court, trying to balance personal relationships with leadership duties.
As their plan forms, they realize freeing the Shadow Queen may be their only shot at saving Mekhi—but it might also unleash something worse.
They follow Jikan’s cryptic advice to recover a powerful artifact tied to the godlock sealing the Shadow Realm.
Their journey is perilous: shadow creatures, cursed guardians, and magical traps test their strength and loyalty. Grace, Hudson, and the team eventually breach the Shadow Realm again, where time and space blur. Each member faces psychological trials born from fear and memory, but they reach the Shadow Queen’s palace intact.
The Queen offers a twisted deal: she’ll give them the antidote in exchange for help breaking the prison seal.
The group fractures—Grace and Hudson see the moral complexity of her situation, while others, especially Jaxon and Flint, distrust her deeply. Eventually, they take the antidote but initially refuse the alliance. Grace returns to give it to Mekhi, who suffers violently but survives—changed. He’s now tied to the Shadow Realm itself, able to sense its decay.
But their victory is short-lived. Reality starts cracking—time anomalies, magical ripples, and prophetic warnings suggest the prison’s stability is faltering.
Jikan reappears, furious, revealing that the artifact wasn’t a key, but a crucial part of the godlock—meant to hold the fabric of time and reality together. Its use has weakened everything.
With Mekhi’s condition stabilizing but reality falling apart, the group rushes back to the Shadow Realm. They find the seal unraveling, factions rising, and the Queen no longer in full control.
The true threat emerges: the prison also holds a corrupted time force, older and more dangerous than even the Queen herself. Grace must make a choice—re-seal the prison forever or risk universal collapse.
She chooses sacrifice. Using her own blood and magic, Grace reforges the godlock, binding herself—and Hudson—to time magic permanently.
The prison is resealed.
Time stabilizes, but both she and Hudson are forever changed, now tethered to echoes of possible futures and whispered timelines.
In the aftermath, the group begins to heal. Grace establishes her court in San Diego, Eden and Heather grow closer, and even Smokey, their mischievous umbra dragon, returns.
A summit between the realms calls for unity, and Grace is hailed not just as a queen, but a visionary leader.
The epilogue, from Hudson’s point of view, is a quiet reflection on love, survival, and readiness for whatever may come next. As he and Grace prepare for a new term, there’s peace—but always an edge of anticipation. Because in their world, love may win, but it’s never without cost.
Characters
Grace
Grace is a central and multifaceted character in Cherish, serving as both a strong leader and a person deeply affected by her past. As the queen of the Gargoyle Court, she carries the weight of leadership, navigating not only political intrigue but also the personal burden of being the glue that holds her team together.
Throughout the novel, Grace grows emotionally and spiritually, struggling with her identity and the trauma of her memories—particularly those regarding her relationship with Hudson and her former mate, Jaxon. Her love for Hudson is central to her emotional journey, but she also faces the moral dilemmas of her leadership and the sacrifices she must make for her friends.
Grace’s resilience and compassion drive the plot forward, as she balances the needs of her court with the urgency of saving her friend Mekhi and keeping the realms from falling into chaos.
Hudson
Hudson is Grace’s steadfast and devoted partner, whose character development is strongly intertwined with Grace’s. He is not only a romantic figure but also a vital protector, supporting Grace through the trials they face in the Shadow Realm and beyond.
His love for Grace is unwavering, even in the face of great adversity, and his emotional depth is revealed through his actions and inner reflections. Hudson’s diplomacy and strategic thinking complement Grace’s leadership, and he plays a crucial role in the negotiations with the Shadow Queen.
His relationship with Grace is tested, but it only strengthens as they face near-death experiences and the complexities of the magical world they inhabit. Hudson’s personal growth also includes coming to terms with his own vulnerabilities, especially as he navigates the trauma of their past battles and the uncertain future they must face together.
Mekhi
Mekhi is an essential character whose life and struggles are central to the plot. He is a complex character marked by his struggle with shadow poison, which threatens his life throughout much of the story.
Mekhi’s condition serves as both a catalyst for the group’s journey and a metaphor for the delicate balance between life and death in the magical realms. When he is healed, the shadow magic that now lingers within him presents new challenges.
Mekhi’s connection to the Shadow Realm deepens, and he becomes a bridge between two worlds, his new abilities both a gift and a curse. His transformation adds an additional layer of tension, as he must now navigate the consequences of his healing and the implications of the power that courses through him.
Jaxon
Jaxon is a character whose emotional baggage plays a significant role in the narrative, especially in his interactions with Grace. Once believed dead, he resurfaces with unresolved feelings toward Grace, which initially causes tension within the group.
His bond with her is complicated by his past, yet through the course of the story, Jaxon becomes a crucial ally. His internal struggle with guilt, loyalty, and love adds depth to his character, and his development allows him to forge stronger connections with Grace, Hudson, and the other members of their team.
His presence in the story is vital, particularly in moments where the group must confront moral dilemmas and difficult decisions, such as whether to trust the Shadow Queen.
Flint
Flint’s journey is marked by internal conflict and his role within the Dragon Court. As the son of Queen Nuri, Flint is caught between familial duty and the political turmoil within his court.
The tension in the Dragon Court, exacerbated by his mother’s weakened position, forces Flint to reconcile his loyalties to his family and his friends. Throughout the novel, Flint struggles with his sense of identity and his place within the group.
His emotional growth is reflected in his evolving relationships with the other characters, particularly as he deals with his personal feelings of worthlessness. Flint’s role as a protector and ally in battle is crucial, but his emotional journey is just as significant, making him a well-rounded and essential character.
Eden and Heather
Eden and Heather represent the quieter, yet equally important, relationships within the story. Their bond grows throughout the narrative, and while their love story may seem secondary compared to the epic struggle at the center of the plot, it adds emotional depth to the group dynamics.
Their growing closeness contrasts with the turmoil surrounding the larger conflict, offering moments of tenderness and support. Eden and Heather’s relationship serves as a grounding force for the group, reminding the characters—and the readers—that love and loyalty manifest in many forms.
Themes
The Fragility of Time and the Cost of Sacrifice
Cherish mainly deals with the fragility of time and the immense cost of sacrifice. Throughout the novel, time is depicted as both a precious resource and a dangerous force, particularly when manipulated by powerful entities like Jikan, the God of Time.
Grace’s journey reflects the deep tension between preserving the balance of time and the dire consequences that come with breaking it. The characters wrestle with the idea that every action, no matter how well-intentioned, has a ripple effect on the fabric of time and reality itself.
The ultimate sacrifice that Grace makes at the end of the story, where she seals the Shadow Realm again using her own magic and blood, is a poignant illustration of the theme. It speaks to the profound responsibility that comes with wielding such power—knowing that the preservation of one reality might result in the destruction or alteration of others.
This theme is not just a metaphysical concept, but also deeply personal, as Grace and Hudson both become marked by the magic of the prison, their fates intertwined with the passage of time in ways they cannot fully comprehend.
Political Intrigue and the Shifting Power Dynamics
The political dynamics at play throughout Cherish are anything but simple. The narrative delves into the shifting alliances, power struggles, and the precarious nature of leadership within the magical realms.
Grace, as the queen of the Gargoyle Court, must navigate not only external threats—such as the shadow poison and the looming dangers of the Shadow Queen—but also internal politics, where loyalties are constantly tested. The Dragon Court, under the leadership of Queen Nuri, faces the threat of civil war, with factions undermining her authority.
Similarly, Grace’s leadership is challenged by rival factions within her own court, highlighting the fragility of power and the constant need for diplomacy, strategy, and personal sacrifice. The book explores the theme of political intrigue through the tension between duty and personal beliefs, as well as the complexity of forming alliances.
Grace’s efforts to balance her responsibilities as a leader with her desire to protect her friends and loved ones create a nuanced portrayal of leadership under extreme pressure. The theme suggests that political power is never stable, and even the most steadfast alliances can crumble under the weight of competing interests.
The Burden of Love and Loyalty Amidst Uncertainty
Another deeply woven theme throughout Cherish is the burden of love and loyalty amidst overwhelming uncertainty. As Grace navigates her responsibilities as a queen, she also contends with her complex relationships with those around her, particularly Hudson, Jaxon, and her friends.
The weight of their shared history, marked by trauma and betrayal, often tests their bonds. Yet, despite these challenges, love emerges as a powerful force that guides them through the darkest moments.
Hudson’s unwavering support for Grace and her struggle to reconcile her past with her present are key moments that emphasize how love can act as both a source of strength and vulnerability. Their relationship, though tested, endures through the trials they face, illustrating that loyalty, once forged, becomes a vital anchor in times of crisis.
The theme of loyalty also extends to Grace’s friends, as they make sacrifices for each other in their mission to save Mekhi and restore balance. The narrative shows that love and loyalty are not just emotional experiences, but transformative forces that demand sacrifices, often requiring characters to question their values, make difficult choices, and confront the harsh realities of the worlds they inhabit.
The Consequences of Magical Power and the Ethical Dilemmas of Its Use
The novel grapples with the ethical implications of wielding great magical power, particularly the tension between using magic for good and the destructive consequences of such power when it is misused or misunderstood. Grace and her allies are constantly confronted with moral dilemmas that force them to consider the cost of their actions.
The choice to enter the Shadow Realm and negotiate with the Shadow Queen is fraught with danger—not only because of the risk of unleashing chaos but also because of the ethical implications of aligning with a being whose motives are unclear. The ethical questions surrounding the use of magic become more pronounced as the group discovers that the artifact they are using is part of a godlock, a failsafe to prevent the unraveling of multiple realities.
This revelation forces the characters to confront the question: can the ends justify the means? Grace’s ultimate decision to sacrifice herself to seal the prison again is not just a physical act but also an ethical one, as she chooses the safety of the realms over the potential to rewrite time and reality for her own benefit.
This theme underscores the idea that power, while capable of solving problems, can also lead to unintended consequences, and the responsibility of wielding such power requires careful consideration and self-sacrifice.
The Psychological Toll of Leadership and Responsibility
Finally, the theme of the psychological toll of leadership and responsibility plays a significant role in Cherish. Grace, as the queen of the Gargoyle Court, faces the overwhelming responsibility of not only leading her people but also protecting those she loves.
The weight of this responsibility takes a psychological toll on her throughout the novel, as she is forced to make decisions that will impact the lives of many, including those closest to her. The emotional strain becomes particularly evident when Grace reflects on her traumatic past, the loss of her parents, and the pressure of her leadership role.
Her internal struggles are further complicated by her need to balance her personal desires, particularly her love for Hudson, with the obligations she holds as a ruler. The novel portrays leadership as an emotionally taxing endeavor that demands both strength and vulnerability.
Grace’s journey is a testament to the sacrifices that come with leadership, as she is continually pushed to her limits, both physically and emotionally. The psychological toll of her role underscores the theme that true leadership is not about power, but the immense emotional labor and the willingness to bear the burdens that others cannot.