Book Review: Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Add Wayward Son to your Goodreads TBR here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44017627-wayward-son

The second installment in the Simon Snow series.

Published on the 24th September, 2019 by Macmillian Children’s Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillian Australia.

Australian RRP: $17.99

Purchase Links:

Pan Macmillian Australia:

https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781509896899

Booktopia:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/wayward-son-rainbow-rowell/book/9781509896899.html

Angus & Robertson:

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/wayward-son-rainbow-rowell/p/9781509896899

Dymocks:

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/wayward-son-by-rainbow-rowell-9781509896899

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Romance Fiction, Teenage Fiction.

Page Count: 416

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Sypnosis from Pan Macmillian Australia:

Wayward Son, the sequel to Carry On, is the stunning new YA novel by the bestselling author of Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell. With all of her signature wit and heart, this is Rainbow at her absolute best.

The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West. They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first.

Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.

My Review:

A huge thank you to Pan Macmillian Australia for providing me with an early copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.

Wayward Son was a dream come true! I fell utterly in love with Simon Snow, Baz and Penelope aka Bunce, in Carry On, which became one of my all time favourite books! I remember immediately longing for a sequel, this was prior to Wayward Son being announced! So to say that this has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year is definitely accurate!

When I first picked up Wayward Son, I felt like I’d reunited with dear friends after a long time apart! I thought about rereading Carry On prior to getting stuck into this sequel, but ultimately decided against it (also lack of reading time lately has certainly been a thing). However, it turns out, everything that happened in Carry On, came racing back to me in all its wonderful, glory of feelings!

In terms of our main characters, Baz, the vampire and of course our hero Simon Snow, and his best friend Penelope, they remained as engaging as ever as narrators! I just felt so sad for Simon and Baz, after the climatic events in Carry On, Simon is definitely feeling useless and melancholy, as if he had lost his purpose. I just wanted to give him a huge hug! What’s more though, I wanted Baz to give him a huge hug! They’re all kinds of perfection, as individuals (not without their flaws of course, as Baz faces some personal demons and obstacles throughout this adventure).

What an adventure it was, too! So wild and often dangerous, I cannot even begin to express how fearful I was for our gang! Even the usually confident-headed Bunce had some troubles throughout this book, I felt so sad for her at first, though I’ve always admired her steely loyalty to Simon (Agatha too) and her determination to see a mission out until the end.

When Penelope detects that something is amiss with Agatha, as well as not liking seeing her best friend (Simon), in such a sad state, she initiates a road trip across America, in order to rescue Agatha from the trouble she may have got herself into, as well as rejuvenating Simon. I loved everyone’s points of view being carried across during their adventure, I could feel everyone’s determination and angst! As a result of Simon’s melancholy state, his relationship with Baz definitely took a tumble, which was so sad! However, I did enjoy both characters’ angst and could easily feel their love for one another, their just so precious! I need more of them in life! I honestly delayed finishing this book because I didn’t want it to end!

I found myself surprised (in a pleased way), about Agatha’s story arc in Wayward Son, she’s never been a huge fan of her magic (or magic in general), and was trying to escape what is always going to be a part of her! I hoped she would see sense, I don’t think she ever bought into Braden’s insane ideals, (him being of an organisation with really not great intentions). The chapters with Agatha though were really engaging (and slightly unnerving, but wholly enjoyable, for I couldn’t decect anything that was coming! Who could our friends trust? I truly didn’t know! There was especially one character who enters our friends lives, I was so weary of him! I felt like he was earnest but I really wasn’t sure, and it kept me so curious throughout! I think that’s just one of the many engaging aspects of Rainbow Rowell’s wonderful writing! Also, how whimsical are their spells? I just love the odd incantations!

I’m missing everyone already! Wayward Son is the perfect follow on to Carry On, with a whole lot of magic and excitement throughout! You will love this book!

Happy Reading,

Brooklyn.

Let’s talk! Are you excited for Wayward Son? 🙂

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