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Wayward Son
BUDDY READ:Paranormal/Fantasy
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Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2) by Rainbow Rowell - Restarting June 21st 2023
How did you guys even get this book so early?
Okay, sorry. Realized this just now. And I feel very stupid now. Sorry!
Up to ch5. Humorous tone, and the sense of impending doom surrounding this road trip is high.
Up to ch11. Not even getting to America in the normal way, but their excitement is infectious.
Up to ch28. Disaster waiting to happen!
Up to ch54. I want Baz to get through this, but he seems quite taken by the possibilities of life lived in a very different way.
Finished. Review on home page. A little silly, highly amusing and still charming.
Okay, so I finished this the night of it's release and needed a couple days to process my thoughts on it. So here we go: (view spoiler)
Going to be starting this one Friday night! I'VE BEEN SO EXCITED XD
I can't wait to see Simon and Baz again, and there had better be plenty of gimmicks with those wings and tail because those only showed up at the end of the last book and that just isn't enough!
I'm joining in too!😁
I'll be jumping in on this one sometime over the weekend as well!
Ah, it will be fun. I just started reading but have only read like, 4% of it. lol
Done. I liked it. Probably even more than the first one. I mean, at least the book let go of its "Harry Potter" feels in this one. Anyhow, I'm rather excited to know what happened at Watford now. *facepalm*
My copy of this one came earlier than expected! Going to jump in now :)
Waited to start this one, and I did last night! Ate through a quarter of the book in an hour 😂 At Chapter 26 now! I’m on a mobile so I can’t post any spoilers! But I will say it’s really entertaining. Not a lot has happened though. There doesn’t seem to be a big baddie to defeat, which I think is the point of the sequel but I would still like to know where this is all going.
Really glad you enjoyed it, Ritika! I agree, I do appreciate that it’s trying to create its own theme, but I kinda miss the magick. There’s not as much magick so far in this one. And I hope you enjoy it too, Skye!
I'm starting this now!
I'm not sure I'm loving it to be honest. I agree with you Gabi about the magic for sure. The book feels as lost as Simon.
Oh god I didn't like the first one but I figured maybe this one would be better after they already got together but I feel like this was just a step back in their relationship?
It's so weird to me too that the book and cover is all about simon and baz but penny is a main character and even has her own pov
Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "I'm not sure I'm loving it to be honest. I agree with you Gabi about the magic for sure. The book feels as lost as Simon."Right? I just don't get it tbh, it feels like this book was 100% filler with nothing else really going on
At least the book was fast but probably not going to read the next one (which she messed up the title like that's a different song??? Was "Peace when you are done" taken?)
Jaye wrote: "It's so weird to me too that the book and cover is all about simon and baz but penny is a main character and even has her own pov"WHY DOES THIS BOOK EXIST? It's basically undoing everything offscreen and then adding a bunch of angst that was not even needed.
Jaye wrote: "At least the book was fast but probably not going to read the next one (which she messed up the title like that's a different song??? Was "Peace when you are done" taken?)"I mean I want to make a bad joke about the title and be like, yeah this book is WAYWARD. It's confused as fuck, rambling road trip.
It'll definitely appeal to people, it's just REALLY not working for me.
On the other hand, I do love her pop culture usage. I wish Ashley Posten would take some notes about not OVERWHELMING the novel with pop culture references.
Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "On the other hand, I do love her pop culture usage. I wish Ashley Posten would take some notes about not OVERWHELMING the novel with pop culture references."Yeah, I'm definitely willing to give her that, when I silence the part in my head that knows this is all one harry potter reference. The in-text ones she adds are done fairly well, and sporadic enough.
Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "WHY DOES THIS BOOK EXIST? It's basically undoing everything offscreen and then adding a bunch of angst that was not even needed."It's so unbearably frustrating how often a sequel feels the need to regress in order to exist. Like, there are more ways to add dimension to an existing relationship than to toss in a bunch of miscommunication and drama.
Jaye wrote: "It's so weird to me too that the book and cover is all about simon and baz but penny is a main character and even has her own pov"I really felt like so much more happened with Penny than anyone else, so I don't get it. I'm sure it's more of a "fans want their gay otp on the cover" than a "let's not put the Indian girl on it" situation, but it still feels weird
Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "Jaye wrote: "It's so weird to me too that the book and cover is all about simon and baz but penny is a main character and even has her own pov"WHY DOES THIS BOOK EXIST? It's basically undoing eve..."
This! It was so frustrating to read? While I see the merit of including the complexities of relationships, especially where one member is facing a lot of turmoil after a traumatic experience, this just felt like a mess
Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "On the other hand, I do love her pop culture usage. I wish Ashley Posten would take some notes about not OVERWHELMING the novel with pop culture references."She does do this actually well, I'll agree! I quite love how the magic system brings this in as well, even though I know quite a few people find it dumb.
turniip wrote: "Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "WHY DOES THIS BOOK EXIST? It's basically undoing everything offscreen and then adding a bunch of angst that was not even needed."It's so unbearably frustrating h..."
Thisss. Had the issues been based off of more than lack of communication I may have been into it, as I like exploring complex relationships. But since so much of the drama hinges on this, I'm just frustrated.
I think my biggest frustration overall was how they dealt with Simon's and Penny's assumptions and stereotyping of non mage magical beings, or rather the lack of dealing with it. They are extremely judgemental of non-Speakers who have magic, and the book only rewards them for their judgements instead of teaching them that non-Speakers can be good people?
Meaghan wrote: "turniip wrote: "Clephiro (The Book Coven) wrote: "WHY DOES THIS BOOK EXIST? It's basically undoing everything offscreen and then adding a bunch of angst that was not even needed."It's so unbearab..."
Yeah. the book wasn't a hit for me. =/ too bad
Little late for the November 17th BR but doesn't look like anyone else started it for that date yet either. Started this morning, will post an update once I get a bit further in!!
Saige wrote: "Responding: [spoilers removed]"I haven't yet but definitely intrigued to see how it is used!!! I loved the flip it and reverse it reference!
HeatherH wrote: "Saige wrote: "Responding: [spoilers removed]"I haven't yet but definitely intrigued to see how it is used!!! I loved the flip it and reverse it reference!"
Yes! Some of the spells are just so clever
I agree about the whinyness. I was so annoyed that everyone got mixed up and wouldn't just TALK TO EACH OTHER. Simon and Baz were never all that good at communication, but I expected more from Penny.
Saige wrote: "I agree about the whinyness. I was so annoyed that everyone got mixed up and wouldn't just TALK TO EACH OTHER. Simon and Baz were never all that good at communication, but I expected more from Penny."YES! But I guess they are teenagers and younger people tend to struggle with communication more. It's a hard trait to learn and get good at.
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. It’s another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter.
Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.