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A review by allygator
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I cannot stop thinking about this book. It's been nearly a month since I finished it, and I still can't forget the characters, the story, and everything that made this something wholly unlike anything I've read before.
When picking up this in a local used book store, I was immediately drawn in by the cover and description, and when I opened the book I was even more intrigued. This is about two boys, one of which experiences hallucinations and delusions, and the other who tries to help him by following along, sacrificing his own mental and physical health. The premise alone is interesting, but I am a huge fan of how as the characters' health declines and they become increasingly codependent, the pages get darker and darker. When reading, this adds an extra layer of tension as you know that every time the pages turn a darker shade of black, something bad is going to happen. I couldn't put this down because I was so invested.
I'm a big fan of YA novels centered around various mental health challenges, and this was an incredibly unique one. I had never even heard of the mental illness presented via Jack, and I think that K. Ancrum did a great job of creating a character who is troubled and destructive but not a bad person. Jack is extremely complicated, and the story reflects that. He is never the problem, the adults who failed him are.
That being said, although I 100% recommend this book, it is important to mention that parts of this book have the potential to be very triggering. The mental health treatment is poor, parents are absent or straight-up abusive, and there are unhealthy coping mechanisms galore. Look up a full trigger warning list before picking this up, and if you think you'll be okay give it a shot. There's a really good chance you won't regret it.
When picking up this in a local used book store, I was immediately drawn in by the cover and description, and when I opened the book I was even more intrigued. This is about two boys, one of which experiences hallucinations and delusions, and the other who tries to help him by following along, sacrificing his own mental and physical health. The premise alone is interesting, but I am a huge fan of how as the characters' health declines and they become increasingly codependent, the pages get darker and darker. When reading, this adds an extra layer of tension as you know that every time the pages turn a darker shade of black, something bad is going to happen. I couldn't put this down because I was so invested.
I'm a big fan of YA novels centered around various mental health challenges, and this was an incredibly unique one. I had never even heard of the mental illness presented via Jack, and I think that K. Ancrum did a great job of creating a character who is troubled and destructive but not a bad person. Jack is extremely complicated, and the story reflects that. He is never the problem, the adults who failed him are.
That being said, although I 100% recommend this book, it is important to mention that parts of this book have the potential to be very triggering. The mental health treatment is poor, parents are absent or straight-up abusive, and there are unhealthy coping mechanisms galore. Look up a full trigger warning list before picking this up, and if you think you'll be okay give it a shot. There's a really good chance you won't regret it.