The ickabog by J.K. Rowling. Illus. by Ben Mantle

J.K. Rowling’s 2020 fairy story first released as a free online serial and then published with illustrations from child readers late that year started out as a favourite story told to her children. This edition is illustrated by Ben Mantle and, other than the great colour cover, they are mainly page decorations that add little to the text. I did love the picture on page 84 of the cunning lords Spittleworth and Flapoon, flatterers of King Fred, the weak, vain and selfish ruler of Cornucopia. Fred and his courtiers live in luxury enjoying the best the country can supply. He is particularly fond of clothes, a nod to “the Emperor’s New Clothes”, and his dressmaker dies when he insists she finish a garment despite being ill. When Fred hears himself described as selfish, vain and cruel by Daisy, the dressmaker’s daughter, he finds himself in need of a redeeming act.   Like in many fairy stories children are told to fear monsters to keep them from straying into danger but what if Cornucopia’s Ickabog was real? When the King, who loves to hunt, hears about sightings in the remote Marshlands he sets out to kill the monster, and things go downhill from there. As the cowardly king allows himself to be manipulated by Spittleworth and Flapoon the lies mount up. As the evil advisors gain in power and influence the country suffers. It becomes treason to question their edicts, there are summary killings, lavish violence and the secret death squad, “the dark footers” reward informers and punish by threatening families. The ending supports the idea that fear and hatred can be carried from generation to generation unless stopped by bravery, kindness and forgiveness. At nearly 350 pages and with considerable violence, cruelty and death younger readers might enjoy this read with an adult. I didn’t quite bond with Daisy Dovetail or Bert Beamish as the central characters, but Rowlings' rich descriptions and inventive storytelling carried through to the end and readers missing the Harry Potter stories will recognize her voice.

Themes: Fairy story, Power, Corruption, Deception, Monsters.

Sue Speck