J.K. Rowling has launched a brand new children’s book, so we bring you The Ickabog review.
Publishing chapters spaced over the next few weeks J.K Rowling brings us her first book not linked to Harry Potter.
THE Ickabog was written over a decade ago. A story that has been gathering dust in her attic but decided to release it for children on lockdown.
Chapters will be released until July 10th on The Ickabog website.
After reading the first two chapters here’s our little review.
J.K Rowling weaves a new tale of a magical kingdom where a lazy king and his friends reside as darkness looms within the whispers of the wind with the myth of a child devouring creature known as The Ickabog.
Whilst thinking that the creatures name The Ickabog does sound like a Harry Potter type creature that just didn’t make the cut, we begin regardless.
In our first chapter we meet King Fred The Fearless, ruler of Cornucopia.
We are introduced to the myth of a fearsome creature called The Ickabog. A creature which is believed to devour children and sheep.
Our king is a little lazy and alongside Lord Spittleworth and Lord Flapoon his two best friends they just seem to swan around soaking up the wealth and letting Cornucopia run itself.
The first chapter reads as though someone is skipping merrily down this Alice In Wonderland style path narrating this very tale.
Each line has a bounce in its step that boings at the end of every sentence into the next.
As we explore the kingdom we are introduced to the divide between the upper class Cornucopia and the Marshlands. An area who’s residents are described as ‘dirty, surly and ill-tempered.’
From the bright and vivid introduction the second chapter resembles a stark contrast as we are introduced to the myth of The Ickabog.
Every word devouring the previous chapter as this children’s book grows darker as we are told the story of Bert Beamish, a boy who was convinced that the Ickabog had eaten the local sheep.
If this was my childhood bedtime story I’d now be lying in bed thinking of some black shadow killing sheep!
Thank you J.K. Rowling, first you corrupt my younger self with deatheaters and now my inner child won’t be able to sleep tonight fearing for the safety of the local sheep that currently reside behind my house!
Read the first two chapters of The Ickabog here – https://www.theickabog.com/read-the-story/
Our Rating
Summary
Bouncy, light-hearted and fun The Ickabog draws us in with a childish innocent bringing a much-needed escapism from the outside world before bringing us down to earth with looming danger in Chapter 2.
We look forward to more chapters to come!
