Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2)

by Rainbow Rowell

There is no end. Bad things happen, and then they stop, but they keep on wreaking havoc inside of people.

As I wrote this book, I was thinking a lot about resilience. About how sometimes we get through a bad thing, and we feel so strong and durable -- and then years later, we find ourselves reeling from the damage. Wayward Son, for me, was a way to push back on the concept of a happy ending. I’m glad that Simon beat the Mage. I’m glad that he found Baz. But it isn’t over for him, and it won’t be easy. The happiest ending – for Simon, or anyone – is just getting to move forward, I think. To keep healing and growing. So Wayward Son sort of deconstructs Carry On’s happy ending and shows us what a mess Simon is. But hopefully it also shows him moving. Literally moving, through this new country, and emotionally moving, through his own grief.