The Ickabog Review

What happens in The Ickabog?

The Ickabog follows the story of Daisy and Bert and their upbringing. The King rules with a soft hand, and their childhood passes relatively normally. Daisy and Bert are good friends, and the scariest thing they deal with is the “stories” surrounding the Ickabog. With no solid evidence neither child really believes in, nor is scared of, the monster. Their lives take a drastic turn for the worse when Fred visits the Marshlands. Lord Spittleworth is the king’s best friend, but the people of Cornucopia have a different feeling towards the Lord.

Who are the characters in The Ickabog?

There are many characters featured in The Ickabog, however, the main characters are Bert and Daisy, as part of the common people, and Flapoon, Spittleworth, and Fred as the royals. Daisy and Bert are childhood friends who grew up together. Since their parents worked for the king, the two lived in relative ease. Following the deaths of family members, the two begin to drift apart. King Fred the Fearless rules the kingdom, but with a weird twist of irony, Fred is not fearless, and is instead vain, selfish, and cruel. Spittleworth and Flapoon are lords close to the king and take advantage of his naivety.

The Ickabog Review

I can honestly say that when I received this book, I had no idea what to expect other than the fact that it would most likely be right up my alley. Now for those of you who have read some of my other novel reviews or if you go to my top picks page you will know I am fond of J.K. Rowling and in particular a certain famous series of hers. However, though I went into the book optimistic I had not read any of her recent works, and with this being her return to children’s novels did not know if she had lost her charm but I am happy to report that I loved this book.

The first thing I liked about the novel was the writing style that, while different than Harry Potter still builds mystery in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed and made it hard for me to put down. I also enjoyed this world that the story inhabits as it is new and creative with a real emphasis on the food of the kingdom which does factor into the story.

While the story does aim a bit more child-friendly than some of her other works, Rowling still manages to have some important themes and messages as well as some pretty dark storylines mixed in with the lighthearted world and adventure. The characters presented are all unique and well written from the feisty and courageous Daisy, the good-hearted and brave Bert, the cowardly and bumbling King Fred, and the cunning and manipulative Lord Spittleworth who each bring a unique dynamic to the novel.

The Ickabog is not a hard read nor is it a long book which makes it perfect for young readers looking for something fantastical to start with. The type of narrative is something I enjoy as they tease the truth throughout while we are constantly given doubts which just makes the mystery the more intriguing and the pay off all the sweeter. Lastly, I would be amiss if I forgot to mention the wonderful illustrations that children did detailing the events of the book.  This definitely makes me look forward to anymore future J.K.Rowling novels to come in the future.

All in all, this was a great children’s novel that I couldn’t put down and would highly recommend to kids and families alike if you’re looking for your next book to read during the pandemic.