Reviews

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

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eagerreader2022's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I easily stepped back into the world of Simon Snow when I picked this up. I enjoyed having an adventure with them, and Penelope, just trying to survive in America. This lead to further world building and eventually there was a medium bad that they had to fight. It did feel that the fight scene went fairly quickly - however, I may just be comparing to other similar fantasy novels. I've always enjoyed the multiple POV that Rowell writes and the way that this leads to the reader getting more information with each POV or sometimes we get some dramatic irony. I've already got the 3rd book on hold because I need to know where this cliff hanger goes!

sushieyeroll's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

_divine_loser_'s review against another edition

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Rainbow Rowell when I catch you

halthemonarch's review against another edition

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5.0

It’s amazing how quickly you’ll gobble down a book you really enjoy. This book grew upon a charming magical dynamic, had a badass heroic quadrant, and kept me giggling the whole time. The parts of me screaming at Baz and Simon to get over themselves or for Penny to calm her ass down were screaming with love, thoroughly enjoying the drama our misguided heroes kicked up in their wake. I love that the leads include two queer boys and a couple of minorities. I loved Agatha, removed from the story as she was, the one who tried to run away and who has, again, become a damsel to be saved. I loved Shepard because if magic does exist, and I ever interacted with it, I would react the exact same way. I loved Simon and the ren faire scene, how he brightened at every fight. Tyrannus Basilton Grimm Pitch has always come in first as my favorite with his storyline and his outfits. Iconic, actually. I expect his little Dean/Benny thing going on with Baz and Lamb to be a tool in the next book of exploring the limits and rules of his vampirism (finally! it always wrankled that Baz aged, and in this book we find that vampires without magic do not?)

I laughed out loud a lot during this read. This book brought up some different questions about vampirism and the magical world, but Rowell paints a pretty picture and trusts the mechanics, the magic, to the readers. Even the plot seems to include you as the spells are definitely things you recognize. This is what The Magicians could be if you were inclined to root for the protagonists.