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gothicmoon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is very different from Carry On, which is good. This entire book is a set up for the plot of the next book, which isn't so good... but I did really enjoy the character work. These are heavily traumatised characters, they're not gonna bounce back so easily! Gorgeous prose, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Animal death
azaleth's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Violence
cameronmh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Car accident
nyssbomb's review
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Mental illness
waterisntreal's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
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.
---
Guys, I read (one of) my most anticipated books of the year in one night.
---
Guys, I read (one of) my most anticipated books of the year in one night.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence
anitaxlit's review
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: Blood, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Kidnapping and Gun violence
nxclx's review
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: Blood, Cursing, and Gore
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
brynn_books's review against another edition
2.0
I liked this less than the first one. Simon and Baz are so bad at being in a relationship that it was so frustrating (even for me) to read about. I like that this explored the mental health of the characters (especially Simon). I liked that it showed what happens to the protagonist after they save the world. But it was still frustrating for me to read about. I also like that we got to see more of Penny and Agatha’s perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Gun violence
Moderate: Mental illness
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, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Homophobia
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