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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
3.5 stars.
This was the final book in the Simon Snow trilogy, nearly 600 pages, and for me they flew by. Penny, Shepard and Agatha had the best stories in this one, I think, but Simon and Baz were both good too of course. I'll get to that plot line.
These books are odd; they don't take my breath away with excitement much of the time but I definitely rate them. They're comfy. I like slipping into the pages and being back with these characters who I know and have affection for.
I appreciated the effort Rowell put into tying up as many loose ends as possible; it helped the book to feel more like an ending, and the trilogy as a whole to feel full-circle. And it was plain to see on every page how her writing this book during 2019/20 influenced the story.
What really moved this book down from four to three and a half stars though, is the ending, particularly of Simon and Baz's adventure. I found the finale underwhelming despite enjoying the build-up a lot.
That's it. Fin. Smith gets arrested and has a bit of a tantrum and he's gone from the story forever, threat dealt with. Considering the substantial threat he posed throughout the story--we know he's doing something very sinister with peoples' magic--his defeat was surprisingly easy and uninteresting.
The other endings were pretty good though. Really satisfactory endings to the journeys these characters have spent the last three books building towards. I never would have predicted Agatha's ending, especially, but that isn't a bad thing. She earned it, and really seemed content for the first time in three books, by the end. Penny and Shepard I have so much time for, and I hope they're destined for happiness together. I just thought the plots would tie together in a way they didn’t, and wish more of Wayward Son mattered, because I was very excited by the final lines of that book and felt it wasn’t properly followed up on in this one.
And Baz and Simon, of course, get to ride off into the sunset, at last. I was glad to join them on their way.
This was the final book in the Simon Snow trilogy, nearly 600 pages, and for me they flew by. Penny, Shepard and Agatha had the best stories in this one, I think, but Simon and Baz were both good too of course. I'll get to that plot line.
These books are odd; they don't take my breath away with excitement much of the time but I definitely rate them. They're comfy. I like slipping into the pages and being back with these characters who I know and have affection for.
Spoiler
Simon finally found his family at the end, which was very gratifying after all the teases throughout the previous books even if his discovery was rushed, and Baz paying back his greatest debt in the form of returning Pippa's stolen voice was a weight off my chest as a conflicted Baz fan. I think though that the biggest pay-offs were with Penny and Shepard, and Agatha finding contentment.I appreciated the effort Rowell put into tying up as many loose ends as possible; it helped the book to feel more like an ending, and the trilogy as a whole to feel full-circle. And it was plain to see on every page how her writing this book during 2019/20 influenced the story.
What really moved this book down from four to three and a half stars though, is the ending, particularly of Simon and Baz's adventure. I found the finale underwhelming despite enjoying the build-up a lot.
Spoiler
After a frantic chase to Watford, Simon bursts into the White Chapel to stop Smith. Smith calls Simon a few names and his supporters throw some spells at Simon which don't do anything. His wings get cut but nothing else happens. Then Simon picks Smith up and carries him out onto a roof and then--That's it. Fin. Smith gets arrested and has a bit of a tantrum and he's gone from the story forever, threat dealt with. Considering the substantial threat he posed throughout the story--we know he's doing something very sinister with peoples' magic--his defeat was surprisingly easy and uninteresting.
The other endings were pretty good though. Really satisfactory endings to the journeys these characters have spent the last three books building towards. I never would have predicted Agatha's ending, especially, but that isn't a bad thing. She earned it, and really seemed content for the first time in three books, by the end. Penny and Shepard I have so much time for, and I hope they're destined for happiness together. I just thought the plots would tie together in a way they didn’t, and wish more of Wayward Son mattered, because I was very excited by the final lines of that book and felt it wasn’t properly followed up on in this one.
And Baz and Simon, of course, get to ride off into the sunset, at last. I was glad to join them on their way.
If I could somehow give this book more than 5 stars, I would.
All I gotta say is we need to move this book series out of the YA section of our bookstore
When I was reading, I was enjoying the book (only for the characters).. It's Simon Snow, so of course I liked it, but not as much as the others. This is very easily the weakest instalment in the series despite it being the longest. I loved the Agatha's pov, which was a surprise. I still love the characters, including some if the newer ones. The plot to me though fell a bit flat. The longer it was dragged out the worse it got, and it just left me wanting. I wish it was more tied into the second book. The bad guy wasn't all that bad, had basically no motive and was only there as a plot device. The reveal at the end was so predictable that I'd guessed within the first few pages. Shepard's curse was supposed to be difficult to remove but actually was stupidly simple and easy. The ending as well was so anti-climatic, and it seemed like there was a lot of loose ends left hanging. If it wasn't focused on these characters and this world, I doubt I would have finished the book. I'm let down and annoyed by this at the same time.
4.5 asexual lesbian agatha and simon not conforming to a sexuality? communication? agatha getting a butch gf and liking animals more than people? rainbow thanks for the seratonin.
I liked it better than the last one.
Maybe it's because they were back in England so it felt more focused, maybe it's because we got some relationship resolution, maybe the story felt tighter, maybe I'm just glad Agatha let the power of gay love change her life.
I just liked that it tied up a bunch of stuff from the first book, that it set the characters up with an ending (is this an ending? I don't see any books announced after this but it seems deliberately open ended) that feels satisfying. I like that the characters don't get a "and then everything was perfect forever!" it's very much a "they're doing alright and will probably stay pretty alright."
I did get a peak at what happens with Simon and Baz in Scattered Showers so I already kind of know what's up with them but I'm fine with this being the end.
Honorable shoutouts to these two #relationshipmoments that kind of fucked so I just to tweet them.
Maybe it's because they were back in England so it felt more focused, maybe it's because we got some relationship resolution, maybe the story felt tighter, maybe I'm just glad Agatha let the power of gay love change her life.
I just liked that it tied up a bunch of stuff from the first book, that it set the characters up with an ending (is this an ending? I don't see any books announced after this but it seems deliberately open ended) that feels satisfying. I like that the characters don't get a "and then everything was perfect forever!" it's very much a "they're doing alright and will probably stay pretty alright."
I did get a peak at what happens with Simon and Baz in Scattered Showers so I already kind of know what's up with them but I'm fine with this being the end.
Honorable shoutouts to these two #relationshipmoments that kind of fucked so I just to tweet them.
I hate that this raw ass poem is from a goddamn Simon Snow novel
— Weenie Hut Jr's
Great levels of teen angst. I really enjoyed reading it, but not a ton stayed with me.