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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
disclaimer: I am friends with the author of this book :) That being said, I stopped thinking about that fact about 20 pages in as I got so engrossed in this dark, frustrating, haunting story.
I read this book in one sitting and I'm still processing it. The story begins grounded in reality and slowly falls into a blurry and imaginative examination of mental illness and an (extremely) codependent relationship. I previously used the word frustrating because as an adult reader, I badly wanted to intervene in Jack and August's lives and get them some help.
side note: I didn't cry reading the book, but I definitely teared up at both the dedication and authors note. Definitely a first for me.
I read this book in one sitting and I'm still processing it. The story begins grounded in reality and slowly falls into a blurry and imaginative examination of mental illness and an (extremely) codependent relationship. I previously used the word frustrating because as an adult reader, I badly wanted to intervene in Jack and August's lives and get them some help.
side note: I didn't cry reading the book, but I definitely teared up at both the dedication and authors note. Definitely a first for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wish we got more from the ending.
“They were only seventeen. The world was so big and they were very small and there was no one around to stop terrible things from happening.”
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
“The Wicker King” was a phenomenal book. I wouldn’t rate it 5 stars but it made me feel a way that most books haven’t. This book follows two characters August and Jack. Both boys have been severely neglected and failed by everyone around them.
August cares so deeply about Jack that he tries to do everything in his power to help, becoming a constant to the other boy, even if that means diminishing his own sanity. Jack, who is severely mentally ill, takes on an authoritative roll once August is in no place to do so anymore.
Both boys have been failed by every adult. Their parents, the teachers, the police, and even the clinical psychologists who are tasked to save them from themselves. This book dives very deeply into the dynamics of abusive, codependent, love. Both August and Jack deserve their happy ending, whether it be apart or together.
Sanity can only mean so much when you accept pain as a replacement for care.
Why kiss your homies when you can descend into madness with them instead?
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My goodness. What a fucked up relationship. I was rooting for them and also praying someone would intervene. So freaking sad even with a happy ending. The decent into madness is bad enough, but knowing it could have been different is gut wrenching. I still think they still need a lot of therapy. Her writing is impeccable as always.
Holy shit.
"Jack lit his cigarette, holding it between strong white teeth before passing it over. Like a secondhand kiss on a breath of ash.
Why is this labeled as a fantasy by so many users when
Spoiler
a character suffers hallucinations
Not sure how to review this but wow this was excellent. Amazing characters who are seriously messed up but they cope the best they can with what life has handed them. The writing was gorgeous and I'm such a fan of the formatting in this book. 100000% worth buying a physical copy for. Read this asap people!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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