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A review by mal214
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
5.0
„Would you burn for me?”
Oh boy, I’m not even sure, if I can put into words what this book made me feel.
This is the story of August and Jack, childhood best friend, who are parts of completely different groups in high school but remain close friends outside of school nonetheless.
August feels a certain feeling of responsibility for Jack, after Jack saved August from drowning when they were kids. So, when Jack develops increasingly vivid hallucinations, August decides to do everything he can to help Jack, and that includes believing, that what only Jack can see is actually there.
Quickly they both fall down a rabbit hole, and they both grapple with losing their sanity while holding on to each other and each other only.
This book really was an emotional sucker punch.
The story follows August's perspective, as he tries to keep Jacks, as well as his own life together. Through it all he keeps hoping that whatever is going on with Jack, is something that can be fixed if he just plays along with the hallucinations, fulfilling a prophecy, that Jack has seen written in 'his world'.
The strong suit of this book has to be August and Jack’s friendship, which eventually turns into something co-dependent and then towards the end of the novel into something more romantic.
My heart broke, not just for August and how he tried to hold it all together, while both of their parents were blind to what is going on with the two. But also, for Jack as he loses his grip on reality.
Most heart-breaking have to be the parts of the book, when their friends, Rina, Roger, Peter or Alex, try to intervene and August tries to play it down or rationalize that this is what’s best for Jack.
As a reader, I found myself both drawn to Jack and August’s co-dependent relationship as well as hoping for someone to intervene to keep them from harm.
I have to mention the format of the novel as well. The chapters are short and often only give glimpses into August and Jack’s life, while still telling a coherent story. Additionally, the novel uses different sorts of mediums, like sketches, reports, playlists, notes or even photos. They make the story feel whole and I, as a reader, felt even closer to the characters.
As Jack and August fall further and further into Jack’s ‘world’, the pages turn more smudgy and eventually black. Which added an additional layer to the story and served as a constant reminder of the mental state these two were in.
Over all I enjoyed this novel immensely and rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
Oh boy, I’m not even sure, if I can put into words what this book made me feel.
This is the story of August and Jack, childhood best friend, who are parts of completely different groups in high school but remain close friends outside of school nonetheless.
August feels a certain feeling of responsibility for Jack, after Jack saved August from drowning when they were kids. So, when Jack develops increasingly vivid hallucinations, August decides to do everything he can to help Jack, and that includes believing, that what only Jack can see is actually there.
Quickly they both fall down a rabbit hole, and they both grapple with losing their sanity while holding on to each other and each other only.
This book really was an emotional sucker punch.
The story follows August's perspective, as he tries to keep Jacks, as well as his own life together. Through it all he keeps hoping that whatever is going on with Jack, is something that can be fixed if he just plays along with the hallucinations, fulfilling a prophecy, that Jack has seen written in 'his world'.
The strong suit of this book has to be August and Jack’s friendship, which eventually turns into something co-dependent and then towards the end of the novel into something more romantic.
My heart broke, not just for August and how he tried to hold it all together, while both of their parents were blind to what is going on with the two. But also, for Jack as he loses his grip on reality.
Most heart-breaking have to be the parts of the book, when their friends, Rina, Roger, Peter or Alex, try to intervene and August tries to play it down or rationalize that this is what’s best for Jack.
As a reader, I found myself both drawn to Jack and August’s co-dependent relationship as well as hoping for someone to intervene to keep them from harm.
I have to mention the format of the novel as well. The chapters are short and often only give glimpses into August and Jack’s life, while still telling a coherent story. Additionally, the novel uses different sorts of mediums, like sketches, reports, playlists, notes or even photos. They make the story feel whole and I, as a reader, felt even closer to the characters.
As Jack and August fall further and further into Jack’s ‘world’, the pages turn more smudgy and eventually black. Which added an additional layer to the story and served as a constant reminder of the mental state these two were in.
Over all I enjoyed this novel immensely and rated it 5 out of 5 stars.