Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

25 reviews

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.25

I love the short chapters and the way K. Ancrum blends fantasy into realism, especially with the devotion between Jack and August. They are codependent and delusional to varying degrees.

having Jack's delusions caused by an easily and completely curable tumor is an ending I wasn't expecting. Jack and August are the type of couple you can root for only in fiction. They are codependent in a bad way, craving causing harm to each other and devoted enough to allow it happen to themselves. One thing I hate is when adopted sibling characters kiss and/or close friends who are in love play off the queerness of situations by claiming a sibling relationship. The latter happens once in this book. However: I loved this book enough that this is a 5 star read despite that moment. I adore the secondary characters very much, especially the group of Alex, Gordy, Peter and Roger - Alex especially for her muffins and awkward love in tough times. Reena is also very cool, though I take issue with a 19ish year old meeting and starting a sexual relationship with a seventeen year old.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

pearcactus3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This book wrecked me. I loved everything, from the deep explorations of a toxic relationship to the fantasy aspects and especially how the pages darken as August and Jack went deeper and deeper into their insanity. This book contains such a powerful message and it’s well written too. The only thing I didn’t like was how much language there was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing

Minor: Sexual content

raesreadingcorner's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship

toriwatson's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Homophobia

ysterrd's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

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

5.0

This book made me feel miserable. 10/10 would read again.

Jokes aside, it's hard to find the proper words to express my feelings right now, but this book really hit hard. Getting deeper into the story was a grueling experience considering the way it developed, and on multiple occasions I thought "God, no, I know what's coming and I don't like it", but I couldn't stop because the way this book was written made me blaze through it (I usually take much longer to read 300+-page books in written format).

And man, the characters. They felt hopeless in a way that hits home, with that feeling of being entangled into something that is just too big for you to manage— especially when you're a teenager with barely any guidance who has to fend for themself. August especially made me feel like I was being sucker punched by my reflection on a couple of occasions with the way he acted in this book, but it felt oh so cathartic for that part of me that remembers what I've done as a teen and how it impacted me in the long run.

I also love how in the physical edition of the book, the pages get darker and darker as the story progresses, reflecting August and Jack's downward spiral. A really neat detail that makes the reading experience that much more impactful, in my opinion.

Overall, a great book with a story and characters that made me feel miserable but that was very cathartic to read. Definitely earned a spot in my list of favorite books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Sexual content

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: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Mental illness

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

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

Moderate: Cursing, Addiction, Child abuse, and Alcohol

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

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

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

4.0

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

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

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

btrz7's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse