4.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

“The Wicker King” by K. Ancrum

“Jack kissed him so carefully that August thought he would fall to pieces. Kissed him with the weight of knowing the price of risk. Then he gazed back at August like his heart was already breaking.”

I found this book on some list somewhere because I was searching for LGBTQ books by Black Authors. Im so glad I decided to read this one.

This was a heart wrenching story of mental health, friendship and love that was way to short! I want more! ( )

This book was the most confusing I have ever read, but not in a bad way? If I was a more poetic person I would say the whole book represents a loss of control (but you know in a more poetic way) ( )

This book was an experience.
It was strange and interesting and left me questioning the entire time what was real and what was not. Was this world real or was it all in Jack’s head?

Jack and August’s relationship was definitely an unhealthy one which had me concerned at first but I am so grateful for how the author handled it. It was addressed and emphasized on how unhealthy and co-dependent the boys were towards each other and I am so relieved that for once in a story the characters got some type of therapy and help by the end (I cannot count how many characters would benefit from some much needed therapy).
I also LOVED the way the book was written with mixed media- the drawings, the notes, the CD’s, just everything. I especially loved how as they book and the characters spiraled into darkness the pages themselves faded to black to emphasize that. It was just such a creative choice and it just enhanced the experience overall.

Definitely an intriguing story and so very different than most books you will pick up. ( )

This book is bizarre and that's making it hard for me to shelve it. It takes place in an (albeit far-fetched) version of the "real world" but, due to a specific type of mental illness, there are a lot of fantastical elements.

August and Jack are lifelong friends but when Jack starts experiencing hallucinations that gradually get worse and more encompassing, August chooses to play along out of a grandiose sense of obligation, instead of thinking that Jack would instead benefit from some actual medical help. August ignoring all the signs that Jack is actually ill finally coalesce to them being sentenced to criminal psych ward separated by order, though while there Jack finally gets the treatment he needed.

I ended up really enjoying the story because of how weird it is but also really enjoyed August and Jack as characters as well as their own friendship. There were several moments where it seemed a little too far flung from reality but I think that added to the charm of the story as a whole. This book isn't going to be for everyone but it's one that I won't be forgetting soon. ( )

This was an unusual book about two best friends, August and Jack, who have an undercurrent of something much more than friendship, as they struggle their way through absent and emotionally absent parents, mental illness, and the perils of figuring oneself out. Watching August try to help Jack as his visions grew more present was both deeply touching and heartbreaking. An interesting tale with an unexpected conclusion.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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