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tatyanavogt's review
3.0
Sooo, i'm not 100% sure how I feel about this book. There are some problematic things but I feel like for the sake of the story I was pretty on board with it and found myself captivated and very interested in seeing what would happen. It was interesting, not a favorite but not bad either. I can see why some people would really like it.
For more thoughts check out my Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/3pIbyhFoAeo
For more thoughts check out my Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/3pIbyhFoAeo
jonisbookquest's review
4.0
I have a hard time rating this book. It was the kind of book where none of the chapters were really that special, but the book as a whole kinda was.
And that author's note hit me hard, I was crying the whole time. Mad respect for authors who try to shine light on a broader problem with their work!
And that author's note hit me hard, I was crying the whole time. Mad respect for authors who try to shine light on a broader problem with their work!
marthamaereads's review
5.0
Holy crap! I loved every second of this.
I highly recommend reading physically because the mixed media and the page changes added to the eerieness and intenseness of the story.
I highly recommend reading physically because the mixed media and the page changes added to the eerieness and intenseness of the story.
jennaorava's review
5.0
Plot 5
Characters 5
World-building 5
Writing 5
Enjoyment 5
This book is like nothing I have ever read before and I loved it so much! Could not put it down!
Characters 5
World-building 5
Writing 5
Enjoyment 5
This book is like nothing I have ever read before and I loved it so much! Could not put it down!
macclown's review
4.0
Visually this is a gorgeous book, and explores some hard hitting topics. It ticked a lot of my favourite boxes (codependency eyy) so I'm probably rating it a bit higher than it deserves, but I enjoyed it and got a little weepy at the end.
A fantastical and tension-filled story, let down by how choppy and disjointed the writing is.
If you've ever watched Mirrormask it feels very that! If you've read this but haven't watched Mirrormask, watch it!
A fantastical and tension-filled story, let down by how choppy and disjointed the writing is.
If you've ever watched Mirrormask it feels very that! If you've read this but haven't watched Mirrormask, watch it!
slowa_w_filizance's review
5.0
I'm going to need a while to recover from this book
So... This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally. I didn't even think I would give this 5 stars until the very last 100 pages, but oh, when it hit, it hit hard.
This book made me cry and it made me scream with frustration because oh my god, they were just kids they should never be forced to deal with this kind of stuff on their own. But at the same time it was almost comforting to see a character struggle so much to help his mentally ill friend and to be assured that, even when he was failing, he did the best he could.
I still struggle to find right words to describe this story so instead I'm going to say how it felt.
It felt like holding someone so tightly and not tightly enough at the same time because what if there's no one else to hold them when you let go?
It felt like watching something so wrong and so intimate at the same time, the codependency and toxicity of main characters' relationship, the wrecked beauty of it.
So... This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally. I didn't even think I would give this 5 stars until the very last 100 pages, but oh, when it hit, it hit hard.
This book made me cry and it made me scream with frustration because oh my god, they were just kids they should never be forced to deal with this kind of stuff on their own. But at the same time it was almost comforting to see a character struggle so much to help his mentally ill friend and to be assured that, even when he was failing, he did the best he could.
I still struggle to find right words to describe this story so instead I'm going to say how it felt.
It felt like holding someone so tightly and not tightly enough at the same time because what if there's no one else to hold them when you let go?
It felt like watching something so wrong and so intimate at the same time, the codependency and toxicity of main characters' relationship, the wrecked beauty of it.
ankylia's review
5.0
Wow, what a book! I must admit, I haven't read anything quite like it before. It is so unique in its storytelling, its construction, its way to address heavy topics like parental neglect, mental illness, codependency, abusive relationships and just being a teenager. Also, how beautiful is this book? The pages getting darker, the pictures and little doodles make it even more special and underline the progression of the plot.
All my love for "The Wicker King"!
All my love for "The Wicker King"!
laelyn's review
5.0
This is such an original story that made my heart ache. It's hard-hitting, highly emotional and dark, weaving in rough subjects of neglect, mental illness and codependency in a way that hasn't left me since I finished the last page. August and Jack are both such odd characters and I felt immediately protective of them both, and the way the story unfolds with all these fantasy elements and these shifts between what's real and what's - maybe - just a figment of Jack's imagination is unique and fascinating.
It starts off with a dedication that really sets the tone for the whole book - "to all the kids whose arms are filled with too much for them to hold, but who are trying their best not to drop a single thing". My heart is still in pieces but it was worth it.
It starts off with a dedication that really sets the tone for the whole book - "to all the kids whose arms are filled with too much for them to hold, but who are trying their best not to drop a single thing". My heart is still in pieces but it was worth it.
etherealmemory's review
2.0
I had higher expectations of this based off the reviews I was reading, I was imagining this fantasy epic almost, but that’s not the books fault, that was mine. Many reviews I watched and read mentioned how dark, sad, and gutting this book was but it was OK to me, I really didn’t find many of the dark aspects that alarming. I don’t know if that says more about me more than anything. Maybe if I was like 15 years old again obsessively browsing tumblr fandoms I would’ve loved this, but because I’m outside of the age range, it just felt a little too YA-y.
It was a very easy and fast read. The chapters are like a minute long, so I’m not sure if the way that it was written that didn’t resonate with me, or if it was just the story itself. It felt like reading tiny snippets that gave you a small glimpse of each character. The protagonists relationship with each other seems to be the main draw of this book but, again, I didn’t really see where either were coming from. I don’t think it was a bad book, it was OK, it just wasn’t for me.
It was a very easy and fast read. The chapters are like a minute long, so I’m not sure if the way that it was written that didn’t resonate with me, or if it was just the story itself. It felt like reading tiny snippets that gave you a small glimpse of each character. The protagonists relationship with each other seems to be the main draw of this book but, again, I didn’t really see where either were coming from. I don’t think it was a bad book, it was OK, it just wasn’t for me.