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I had trouble staying focused but I did enjoy the world this is building!
I... am frustrated.
So I actually had semi high hopes for this book even though it feels like forever since I read [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481729252l/32768522._SX50_.jpg|43346673]. I remember quite enjoying the romance and even being enthralled by the whole magic system because it was nothing like I had ever seen before. And while it heavily mirrored Harry Potter, it was still a fun ride, even if I don't actually remember it.
Wayward Son , while scoring quite low for me, had quite a few things I genuinely enjoyed. Most of this came from the further development of this magic system and world. I loved seeing how differently magic manifested in America compared to England, a loose to non-existent structure compared to the rigidity of what we saw in book 1. It just fit really well into the stereotypes and ideals of the two cultures. It was also just unique to me. Most books with magic systems, specifically ones that take place in the real world, have a system that encompassing the entire world, with the rules adhering in almost every location. While there might be slight deviations based on culture, it's nothing to the extent of Wayward . It was just a fascinating perspective and take to read, and I loved that aspect a lot. Beyond that, I also loved seeing the larger range of magical creatures and beings, and seeing how this world situates them in a hierarchy based on their control of magic. Plus, there was a lot of intrigue involving Baz, Simon, and a new character, and what their variations on these roles in the hierarchy meant for the magical world and themselves.
Now, unfortunately, the things I didn't like make a much longer list than the things I did. Otherwise, I wouldn't have rated this book two stars after all. My first frustration had to be how the book was plotted. We have a very meandering beginning, and while you can see Rowell setting up the pieces of the plot, you really don't feel like there's a point to it all until much later. And it very quickly builds up and then just... ends. There's no satisfaction in finishing this book. It is a very abrupt stop composed of 3 cliffhangers, all things you were waiting to finally happen or be revealed in the novel. Yet... none of it actually truly happens. You just get the feeling of it about to happen, something about to break, yet you don't actually get the satisfaction of reading that break. This book was like the slow ride up to the top of the big drop in a rollercoaster, but being forced to get off the ride right before you crested the top and saw everything around you, and way before you actually got to feel the free fall feeling of dropping. It gives the book a feeling of being unfinished, and while I do generally enjoy cliffhangers, this just felt too abrupt in the worst of ways.
I also just wasn't a fan of how the romance played out in this book. Now, I'm not someone who needs the romance to be 100% happy and perfect all the time, it's extremely unrealistic. But this book came off of Baz and Simon finally getting together only to get to this mess.
Lastly, I didn't like the vibe I got from Simon and Penelope regarding Normals, vampires, and other magical beings in this book. There was just an underlying ickiness about every interaction and thought they had about non-mages and it left me feeling disgusted at points. It honestly mirrored like, racism but about species/magical beings, but with Simon and Penelope posited as the heroes of the story anyways. Like, they're unwillingness for anyone else to know about magic (especially Shepherd), went far beyond a fear of safety. It just feels too close to how other minorities/ones not in power are pushed into villain roles that amplify their negative stereotypes (false or not), only to put the privileged characters back into the hero spotlight. It just left an awful taste in my mouth.
Anyways, I guess I'll probably read the next book just to remove this knot of tension and frustration from my head, but I definitely lost most of my hopes for the series.
So I actually had semi high hopes for this book even though it feels like forever since I read [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481729252l/32768522._SX50_.jpg|43346673]. I remember quite enjoying the romance and even being enthralled by the whole magic system because it was nothing like I had ever seen before. And while it heavily mirrored Harry Potter, it was still a fun ride, even if I don't actually remember it.
Wayward Son , while scoring quite low for me, had quite a few things I genuinely enjoyed. Most of this came from the further development of this magic system and world. I loved seeing how differently magic manifested in America compared to England, a loose to non-existent structure compared to the rigidity of what we saw in book 1. It just fit really well into the stereotypes and ideals of the two cultures. It was also just unique to me. Most books with magic systems, specifically ones that take place in the real world, have a system that encompassing the entire world, with the rules adhering in almost every location. While there might be slight deviations based on culture, it's nothing to the extent of Wayward . It was just a fascinating perspective and take to read, and I loved that aspect a lot. Beyond that, I also loved seeing the larger range of magical creatures and beings, and seeing how this world situates them in a hierarchy based on their control of magic. Plus, there was a lot of intrigue involving Baz, Simon, and a new character, and what their variations on these roles in the hierarchy meant for the magical world and themselves.
Now, unfortunately, the things I didn't like make a much longer list than the things I did. Otherwise, I wouldn't have rated this book two stars after all. My first frustration had to be how the book was plotted. We have a very meandering beginning, and while you can see Rowell setting up the pieces of the plot, you really don't feel like there's a point to it all until much later. And it very quickly builds up and then just... ends. There's no satisfaction in finishing this book. It is a very abrupt stop composed of 3 cliffhangers, all things you were waiting to finally happen or be revealed in the novel. Yet... none of it actually truly happens. You just get the feeling of it about to happen, something about to break, yet you don't actually get the satisfaction of reading that break. This book was like the slow ride up to the top of the big drop in a rollercoaster, but being forced to get off the ride right before you crested the top and saw everything around you, and way before you actually got to feel the free fall feeling of dropping. It gives the book a feeling of being unfinished, and while I do generally enjoy cliffhangers, this just felt too abrupt in the worst of ways.
I also just wasn't a fan of how the romance played out in this book. Now, I'm not someone who needs the romance to be 100% happy and perfect all the time, it's extremely unrealistic. But this book came off of Baz and Simon finally getting together only to get to this mess.
Spoiler
I really liked the beginning where we saw how losing magic and the aftermath of winning affected Simon, and thus the relationship, but it slowly morphed into Simon having extremely conflicting feelings about Baz and relationships and feelings and touching. And while I like these kinds of complexities explored in fiction, I just don't think it was done all that well here. It competed too much with the actual plot, and it felt shallow. It was also just frustrating that they just don't TALK to each other. And it wasn't something that even got better as the book went on, it just got worse and worse. And then to end on the conversation where Simon is telling Baz to just go be a vampire because then he doesn't have to hide? Completely ignoring the fact that he would just have to hide his magic then? And don't even get me started on the fact that this very important conversation, where Baz tells Simon that he wants to be around him and that's most important, gets cut off right in the middle to be forgotten when book 3 rolls around. It's just an extra frustration on top of everything!Lastly, I didn't like the vibe I got from Simon and Penelope regarding Normals, vampires, and other magical beings in this book. There was just an underlying ickiness about every interaction and thought they had about non-mages and it left me feeling disgusted at points. It honestly mirrored like, racism but about species/magical beings, but with Simon and Penelope posited as the heroes of the story anyways. Like, they're unwillingness for anyone else to know about magic (especially Shepherd), went far beyond a fear of safety.
Spoiler
I saw potential when we saw them working together with vampires, and I thought they might finally get over their prejudices (which I really wanted to see after that whole speech in Simon's POV on how horrendous vampires were and how they could never be trusted, only Baz could, and he wasn't 'actually a vampire'), but then Rowell decides that the vampires can't actually be trusted, further pushing them into the stereotype that Simon and Penelope had of them.Anyways, I guess I'll probably read the next book just to remove this knot of tension and frustration from my head, but I definitely lost most of my hopes for the series.
I usually am not the biggest fan of novellas but this one really stuck out to me. I'm also generally not the biggest fan of Taryn but this definitely adds another layer to it all. I'm still not a fan of her but she definitely feels like a much more complex character with all these added layers and motives. I can't wait to reread The Wicked King knowing this! My favorite part definitely had to be the writing though, as I loved the unique positioning of the reader as Jude and the use of 'you.' It makes it feel as if Taryn was explaining herself to us, the reader, and begging us to understand why she acted the way she did. The interweaving of stories and Taryn's dream to make a story of her own also hit hard, and I overall just really enjoyed this.
“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.”
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10 Stars
Favorite Character: This bounced around the entire book, but by the end, Jude
Spoiler Free: To start, I’m going to admit I really did not care for the Tithe series at all. I don’t remember the why behind it, but it just didn't click with me. So fair enough, I was quite worried and cautious about starting this book, and as the hype rose around this book more and more, my excitement for it did not.
In the end, it was chosen as the book club book in the discord server I am in, and it was the Fairyloot January book. Without these two reasons, I may have skipped this book entirely. I am SO glad I did not!
It blew away any expectations I did have, and I didn’t see any connection between this book and my feelings for Tithe. It snatched my interest and kept it, through every twist and turn, every betrayal and backstab. It felt true to the world of Faerie, but still created characters to cheer for and love.
From the main character to all the small side characters, each felt fairly developed, and fairly realistic. We have Jude, a mortal grown in a cruel world by a cruel “father,” and admittedly this affected how she grew up as well. But we also have her twin, someone who accepted Faerie in a different way. In addition, all of the Fae live up to this cruel idea while still having a personality around that. They have their flaws, and this book shows them sticking to them regardless of how much we hope they’ll be “good.”
Additionally, while the world is a bit confusing in the beginning, it clears up quickly, and the fact you don’t remember the names and relations right off the bat is totally okay, as you’re often reminded of them in a way that is helpful, not repetitive or overbearing.
Lastly, the plot is absolutely fantastic, and is constantly packed with action and intrigue. There’s never a lull where I wanted to put the book down and take a break, and the pacing overall was much better than some of the other books I’ve read recently.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: I think my mind is still blown from all the twists and turns this book took. I’m also super glad it didn’t shove them all at the end, and rather spaced them periodically so we actually got to see how characters understood and dealt with them.
To be honest, this installment could’ve been an entire trilogy, but I’m super curious to see where this continues from. Will we see all seven years and how the transition later comes, or just the year and a day Jude was promised to have power over Cardan?
Also, lemme just say I am on board for that complicated relationship, and I am glad that it is not all resolved between them just because they kissed once. There’s so many complex feelings there, and I’m happy it seems like Black is taking time to explore them!
Reread review!
I loved this book just as much, if not more, the second time around! I have a lot more distance from Tithe (the only Holly Black I haven't loved), and even read [b:The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|12813630|The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367312471l/12813630._SY75_.jpg|17962903] and [b:The Darkest Part of the Forest|20958632|The Darkest Part of the Forest|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397755014l/20958632._SX50_.jpg|40214184] last month, so I'm very much into Black's writing style right now. It just heightened my appreciation for this series even more, because Black's prose is just fantastic. I also love how she depicts the fae and deals with family relationships. It's overall just a super intersting book to read. I also feel like I have a deeper appreciation for all the characters now, from seeing their beginning again after knowing how it later develops. The audiobook was also just fantastic, as Black's audiobooks seem to frequently be, and I'm having the best time listening to them!
I also am seeing a looot of loose threads the second time around and cannot wait to see how those are tied up in Queen of Nothing.
Stars (Out of 10): 10/10 Stars
Favorite Character: This bounced around the entire book, but by the end, Jude
Spoiler Free: To start, I’m going to admit I really did not care for the Tithe series at all. I don’t remember the why behind it, but it just didn't click with me. So fair enough, I was quite worried and cautious about starting this book, and as the hype rose around this book more and more, my excitement for it did not.
In the end, it was chosen as the book club book in the discord server I am in, and it was the Fairyloot January book. Without these two reasons, I may have skipped this book entirely. I am SO glad I did not!
It blew away any expectations I did have, and I didn’t see any connection between this book and my feelings for Tithe. It snatched my interest and kept it, through every twist and turn, every betrayal and backstab. It felt true to the world of Faerie, but still created characters to cheer for and love.
From the main character to all the small side characters, each felt fairly developed, and fairly realistic. We have Jude, a mortal grown in a cruel world by a cruel “father,” and admittedly this affected how she grew up as well. But we also have her twin, someone who accepted Faerie in a different way. In addition, all of the Fae live up to this cruel idea while still having a personality around that. They have their flaws, and this book shows them sticking to them regardless of how much we hope they’ll be “good.”
Additionally, while the world is a bit confusing in the beginning, it clears up quickly, and the fact you don’t remember the names and relations right off the bat is totally okay, as you’re often reminded of them in a way that is helpful, not repetitive or overbearing.
Lastly, the plot is absolutely fantastic, and is constantly packed with action and intrigue. There’s never a lull where I wanted to put the book down and take a break, and the pacing overall was much better than some of the other books I’ve read recently.
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: I think my mind is still blown from all the twists and turns this book took. I’m also super glad it didn’t shove them all at the end, and rather spaced them periodically so we actually got to see how characters understood and dealt with them.
To be honest, this installment could’ve been an entire trilogy, but I’m super curious to see where this continues from. Will we see all seven years and how the transition later comes, or just the year and a day Jude was promised to have power over Cardan?
Also, lemme just say I am on board for that complicated relationship, and I am glad that it is not all resolved between them just because they kissed once. There’s so many complex feelings there, and I’m happy it seems like Black is taking time to explore them!
Reread review!
I loved this book just as much, if not more, the second time around! I have a lot more distance from Tithe (the only Holly Black I haven't loved), and even read [b:The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|12813630|The Coldest Girl in Coldtown|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1367312471l/12813630._SY75_.jpg|17962903] and [b:The Darkest Part of the Forest|20958632|The Darkest Part of the Forest|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397755014l/20958632._SX50_.jpg|40214184] last month, so I'm very much into Black's writing style right now. It just heightened my appreciation for this series even more, because Black's prose is just fantastic. I also love how she depicts the fae and deals with family relationships. It's overall just a super intersting book to read. I also feel like I have a deeper appreciation for all the characters now, from seeing their beginning again after knowing how it later develops. The audiobook was also just fantastic, as Black's audiobooks seem to frequently be, and I'm having the best time listening to them!
I also am seeing a looot of loose threads the second time around and cannot wait to see how those are tied up in Queen of Nothing.
Not the biggest fan of the epilogue but I generally enjoyed this!
