Thank you Macmillan publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:
When August learns that his best friend, Jack, shows signs of degenerative hallucinatory disorder, he is determined to help Jack cope. Jack’s vivid and long-term visions take the form of an elaborate fantasy world layered over our own—a world ruled by the Wicker King. As Jack leads them on a quest to fulfill a dark prophecy in this alternate world, even August begins to question what is real or not.

August and Jack struggle to keep afloat as they teeter between fantasy and their own emotions. In the end, each must choose his own truth.
Review:
I don’t even know where to start with The Wicker King. There were so many outstanding elements that my brain is just in awe!
When this book arrived I was blown away! Not only is the cover stunning but the pages are as well, the start of the book starts with white crisp pages and slowly make their way to completely black pages and my heart exploded. Why are there not more books with black pages and white writing? My dark soul was highly satisfied before we even started reading the book. Upon reading the book I noticed that the chapters were short and sweet, which irked me at the start but it worked amazingly with the storyline and characters of this book.
In the opening chapter you are literally starting with the boys being arrested for committing arson. This dark, creepy and oddly satisfying book focuses on their journey to that point.
August and Jack. Our two leading lads. I feel for them hook, line and sinker, I am heavily invested in their lives it’s not even funny. I need help. Actually, you just can’t help it, they are too adorable not to love. August and Jack both struggle with their mental health and while no one around them is providing any help, they lean on each other. I loved their relationship, it was intense, honest, and pure but yet at the same time destructive. From the very beginning of The Wicker King, you know that these two characters would die for each other and protect each other. After hearing that can you understand why I love them?
This psychological thriller also includes photos that help build the story, including their mixed CD’s and reports that really help build up the story. For those that didn’t like this aspect in The Illuminae Files series where every page has a picture on it and the words are missiles are in space, don’t panic it is only a picture every couple of pages and it helps build the story, trust me! Another aspect about this book that I loved is as the story progressed it grew darker, just like the pages. The further you got into the story the pages becomes blacker and the world becomes darker and gahh LOVED IT!
K. Ancrum is an author that has really snuck under the radar for me, I am honestly ashamed I haven’t picked up her works sooner. Ancrum boldly and beautifully pulls off this eerie story naturally and compellingly, forcing us to relate to these characters like our lives depended on it. It’s horrifically wonderful! Or wonderfully horrific? Either way this book is wonderful.

Rating: 4/5
ISBN: 9781250101549
Publisher: Macmillan