Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

40 reviews

thecavewoman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The strongest part of this book for me was the visual storytelling for the physical copy. The concept of the pages becoming darker and darker, almost burnt told a story all of its own that I was really impressed with because I'd never seen that before. 

The concept and theme of the book really intrigued me as the author told a story about codependency, mental illness, unhealthy relationships and devotion all of which was fascinating. I think the biggest letdown was the pacing. You ripped through the book when you probably should have been slowing down and the story seemed to drag when things should have been speeding up. Another sort-of let down was the writing style. It was a little choppy which made it difficult to get through the beginning of the book, but not bad enough that I would stop reading. I just think that there were moments where I wish the author lingered a bit more, but fell a little short.

I thought the characters were good although, and this may sound a bit ridiculous, I wish we had genuinely gotten more between the two main characters. Their relationship was obviously key to the entire story and I felt like I was emotionally with them, but sometimes I struggled to understand or really feel the devotion August had for Jack. A few points in the book I had to suspend my disbelief to enjoy it, because I didn't really feel that strong connection between the two.

Overall, a pretty quick read but enjoyable none-the-less. I don't think I'd ever reread it but I enjoyed it the first time around so I think its worth it to read once.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

sharron_joy_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

August is a misfit, Jack is the golden boy, together they are the closest of friends. As Jack loses touch with reality, August joins him in his delusions and increasingly elaborate fantasy world. As they alienate all those around them eventually they both have to choose a path to truth. 

This is speculative realistic micro fiction, it is like reading a stream of thought, events happen in bursts with no definitive plan or direction. There are also multimedia elements throughout, drawings, reports, playlists. Told in short snappy chapters the pages physically darken as the mental health of both characters disintegrates so by the end of the book the pages are pitch black and harder to read, such a tangible way of showing the breakdown of the mind. 

This is not a comfortable read, August and Jack’s relationship is obsessive and toxic, there is an underlying intimacy that is really quite abusive and yet I liked them both. A compelling piece of realistic fiction that is a thriller at heart but pushes the boundaries of perception. How do you know the world you see is real? 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

readingsofaslinky's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder and Fire/Fire injury

scjessie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury

chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition

mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, and Alcohol

basementofbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Medical content

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Toxic friendship

thebookishnerd_'s review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! It's been on my shelf for years and I wish I had picked it up sooner. I love August and Jack's friendship, even though it's not the healthiest. But I liked seeing August's devotion to him. They needed each other and took care of one another. It was great watching the progression of their friendship develop. The plot kept me hooked, especially with the mixed media element. It was interesting to see the photos and reports on the pages. The way Jack's visions were being integrated worked well, I do wish we could've spent more time learning about what he saw. Especially the progression of the visions, but I could still follow along easily. I absolutely adore the physical copy of this, with the page design getting more and more abstract while Jack's condition worsened.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

ashlikes's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, and Stalking

packedjam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

hooooooo boy oh boy. this book perfectly straddles the line between books i loved as a kid and stories that compel me as an adult

strongly, strongly recommend reading a physical copy of this one

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Homophobia, Stalking, and Alcohol

sjonesb75's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship