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amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The pacing varied a lot, slow at the beginning and too fast at the end. I most enjoyed learning about magical America. I also liked getting to know Penelope better. I had lots of second hand anxiety about losing things while traveling. I also fixated on the messes the trio left behind them all over the country. Not looking forward to that catching up with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, and Kidnapping
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is actually only my second time reading this, and I'm glad I re-read it before reading the final book. It refreshed my memory on events and lead perfectly into Any Way the Wind Blows. What I liked about this book was we got to see more of this magical world that Rowell has created, and of course my favorites! Even if Simon and Baz are a bit rocky. Ahh. I just love them so much.
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Guys, I read (one of) my most anticipated books of the year in one night.
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Guys, I read (one of) my most anticipated books of the year in one night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, and Blood
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence
annabella's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Grief
anitaxlit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, this book. I ordered it months before it came out. I had it the day of the release. I read one chapter... And I had to stop. Simon's struggles re his relationship with Baz hit too close to home at the time. It took a lot of effort for me to pick it back up a year later, but I'm so glad I did.
I love the Simon Snow universe. I was already in love with it when reading Fangirl. After it came out, I remember describing Carry On as "Harry Potter for grown up HP fans". Back then I already felt that I preferred this universe, perhaps because it doesn't take itself too seriously, perhaps because it's so much more diverse. Wayward Son cements that conviction.
Here, Rainbow Rowell subverts the "Chosen One" trope beautifully. All we normally see of heroes after they have fulfilled their destiny is an epilogue where they are unbelievably well-adjusted, or years into the future when they have already dealt with their trauma. Wayward Son picks up merely a year after the events of Carry On, and we get to see the effects of what happened in the first book, the loss and trauma that Simon experiences after everything he trusted, everything he thought he was, is destroyed.
Simon crumbles down. Baz is desperate to get through to him. Penny is lost and frayed. Agatha is in denial. They've all lost so much, and they cling desperately to their pasts in need of security. Throughout the book they learn to let go, and by the end I think they're ready to find themselves again and anew—even if they don't know it yet.
The final chapters deserve a special mention for giving Penny a depth I had been missing since Carry On, she's finally depicted as the star we readers knew she was.
I was convinced I wouldn't like Wayward Son as much as Carry On because it hurt so much more to read, but I was wrong. This sequel is, in my opinion, better than the first book. It breaks free from all expectations and invents something new.
I love the Simon Snow universe with all my heart. And I really can't wait to see what's next in Any Way The Wind Blows.
I love the Simon Snow universe. I was already in love with it when reading Fangirl. After it came out, I remember describing Carry On as "Harry Potter for grown up HP fans". Back then I already felt that I preferred this universe, perhaps because it doesn't take itself too seriously, perhaps because it's so much more diverse. Wayward Son cements that conviction.
Here, Rainbow Rowell subverts the "Chosen One" trope beautifully. All we normally see of heroes after they have fulfilled their destiny is an epilogue where they are unbelievably well-adjusted, or years into the future when they have already dealt with their trauma. Wayward Son picks up merely a year after the events of Carry On, and we get to see the effects of what happened in the first book, the loss and trauma that Simon experiences after everything he trusted, everything he thought he was, is destroyed.
Simon crumbles down. Baz is desperate to get through to him. Penny is lost and frayed. Agatha is in denial. They've all lost so much, and they cling desperately to their pasts in need of security. Throughout the book they learn to let go, and by the end I think they're ready to find themselves again and anew—even if they don't know it yet.
The final chapters deserve a special mention for giving Penny a depth I had been missing since Carry On, she's finally depicted as the star we readers knew she was.
I was convinced I wouldn't like Wayward Son as much as Carry On because it hurt so much more to read, but I was wrong. This sequel is, in my opinion, better than the first book. It breaks free from all expectations and invents something new.
I love the Simon Snow universe with all my heart. And I really can't wait to see what's next in Any Way The Wind Blows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence and Kidnapping
nxclx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Over all it was good, I didn't hate it. What I did hate was the ending. I liked how everything flowed together at the end but the prologue literally made me throw the book down in frustration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
lennie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Homophobia
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