Wayward Son reignites the magic of Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On
Fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On have been anticipating the sequel since it was announced — and Wayward Son is as magical as we hoped it would be.
Rainbow Rowell fans were thrilled when the author announced she’d be following up her bestselling young adult novel, Carry On, with a sequel. Aptly titled Wayward Son, the book hit shelves last week, and it’s as magical as we could have hoped the second installment would be — which is saying a lot given Simon’s blatant lack of magic in this book!
The story begins with Simon experiencing depression and some level of PTSD after all that happened in the first novel. Despite defeating the Mage and having what many would consider a “happy ending,” Simon isn’t sure what’s next for him. With no magic and no purpose, he spends most of his time dwelling on the fact that he’s no longer the Chosen One (or even a promising magician).
This premise isn’t necessarily new, but it’s one that’s always refreshing to see explored. With so many epic stories ending with celebrations, few writers take the time to acknowledge the psychological fallout of what happens to the “Chosen One” after they finish their hero’s journey. It’s not easy going through so many ordeals, and it can’t be easy figuring out what’s on the other side of them.
But Simon’s transformation isn’t the only reason to pick up Rowell’s latest novel. Penny, Baz, and even Agatha have come a long way since Carry On, and fans of the characters will enjoy seeing all of them explored in more depth. Penny in particular truly jumps from supporting character to her own entity in this installment, and watching her drag Simon and Baz on an American roadtrip to lift their spirits — and maybe even her own — is as fun as you’d expect it to be.
The roadtrip portion of this book is quite the romp, and as you might expect, the adventure winds up being the embodiment of Murphy’s Law. Everything that can possibly go wrong does just that, and Simon, Baz, and Penny are left to figure things out — and to figure themselves out in the process.
Wayward Son is a fun journey with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, though it could certainly benefit from a little more depth when attempting to explore the serious topics. The commentary on America’s modern-day politics doesn’t quite strike the chord it’s meant to, and even Simon’s mental health could be looked at with a bit more gravity.
But serious isn’t the nature of Rowell’s novels, even the ones that cross rom-com culture with the typical Chosen One story of the fantasy genre. And if you’re going in expecting tons of fun and sweet moments, you won’t be disappointed. Wayward Son amplifies the magic — and the relationships — laid out in the first installment.
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