Review: The Wicker King by K. Ancrum (Spoiler-Free)

'Do they still sing songs of my victory?' August choked. 'They do. And they’ll crescendo like beacons to the farthest reaches. With every new breath of life that forms in a world without darkness that came at the price of your hands and your mind.' What is up with me reading the WEIRDEST books during quarantine? Seriously, this was so strange. However, somehow, despite the fact that half the time I had no idea what was going on... I still enjoyed the book? I couldn't put it down. I just kept flipping pages as the light outside my windows got darker and darker, along with the pages within. While Jack's problems are the obvious ones, I found August's to be even more interesting. It was fascinating to see how much August was willing to do without thinking when Jack was involved. Their relationship was abusive, but loving, broken, but perfect. I found my head spinning at every interaction between them. I honestly would have given this 3.5 stars if it weren't for the Author's Note at the end. K. Ancrum's words truly elevated the story, enhancing its meaning and purpose to a whole new level. It reminds you that while this story is weird and outlandish, on a larger scale, it's something that kids go through every day. You go through this story thinking it serves to highlight the experiences of kids when really it serves to expose the negligence of adults. It makes me think of Jeffrey Dahmer's life. The parallels in here are striking to how he grew up, and how things went so horribly wrong. I'm glad a story like this exists now, so those experiencing it can feel less alone.

Song I was reminded of while reading: Crazy=Genius