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claudiarivdi's review against another edition
4.0
Going into this book I’d never read Fangirl (I still haven’t) and I didn’t really know what I was expecting. But it wasn’t this.
The magic system was really interesting. And the worldbuilding was good enough. But the characters were all so one dimensional.
They all felt like characters. Which sounds pretty stupid but hear me out- a good book character should feel like they’re a real person. These characters mostly felt like stereotypes made into people. Mostly. The only character I liked was bat boi. He was pretty cool.
Another thing I didn’t love: the plot. Mostly because there wasn’t one?
I hate to say it but this book reads like a contemporary with dragons thrown in. Which makes sense considering every other thing Rainbow Rowell has written is contemporary. I’ll give her credit where it’s due, the banter she writes is pretty good.
But the plot was kinda whack and there were a couple of loose threads that weren’t tied up in the end. I guess they’ll be tied up in the next one? I’m not sure.
This book may not have been the best I’ve ever read but it was enjoyable enough.
The magic system was really interesting. And the worldbuilding was good enough. But the characters were all so one dimensional.
They all felt like characters. Which sounds pretty stupid but hear me out- a good book character should feel like they’re a real person. These characters mostly felt like stereotypes made into people. Mostly. The only character I liked was bat boi. He was pretty cool.
Another thing I didn’t love: the plot. Mostly because there wasn’t one?
I hate to say it but this book reads like a contemporary with dragons thrown in. Which makes sense considering every other thing Rainbow Rowell has written is contemporary. I’ll give her credit where it’s due, the banter she writes is pretty good.
But the plot was kinda whack and there were a couple of loose threads that weren’t tied up in the end. I guess they’ll be tied up in the next one? I’m not sure.
This book may not have been the best I’ve ever read but it was enjoyable enough.
thehal's review against another edition
5.0
For everyone who was let down by J Karen Rowling, this is the go-to remedy for your hearts.
I'm normally not able to finish a book this fast (concentration problems and nasty nervous tics with my eyes), but THIS, oh hell yes!
I absolutely adore Simon (and Baz too of course :D), but I couldn't get warm with Agatha (but I think that's okay), and I couldn't get enough of this. I even forgot to eat and drink..
Also, what was a great point to this book, is the magic system. It took me some chapters to adjust, but it's just crashing genius (and even funnier when you actually know the songs :D).
And can we all agree that we all want the Mage in hell? He is such a shitty a-hole. I had major suspicion through the entire book which most of came true and I just... Yes, he thought he was in the right, but he was such an arrogant and narcisstic f*ck! Poor Simon. And poor Agatha and Ebb! And poor Lucy, whatever he's done to her.
I'm normally not able to finish a book this fast (concentration problems and nasty nervous tics with my eyes), but THIS, oh hell yes!
Spoiler
I absolutely adore Simon (and Baz too of course :D), but I couldn't get warm with Agatha (but I think that's okay), and I couldn't get enough of this. I even forgot to eat and drink..
Also, what was a great point to this book, is the magic system. It took me some chapters to adjust, but it's just crashing genius (and even funnier when you actually know the songs :D).
And can we all agree that we all want the Mage in hell? He is such a shitty a-hole. I had major suspicion through the entire book which most of came true and I just... Yes, he thought he was in the right, but he was such an arrogant and narcisstic f*ck! Poor Simon. And poor Agatha and Ebb! And poor Lucy, whatever he's done to her.
anglerfishinariver's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ahhh this book was so fun. I really loved the characters, especially Simon and Baz, they were very well thought out and super sweet. The writing style of the author has a certain sparky, sarcastic quality to it, as do the dialogues, and it genuinely made me laugh sometimes but at the same time the romance was so wholesome and cute. The author did a really good job at foreshadowing and dropping clues for the plot twists, you could definitely figure it out before but it wasn't super obvious and figuring the mystery out was one of the best parts of the books. Even though the book was overall light-hearted, it has its emotional moments, and the ending even almost made me cry.
vespertilioo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i read this book for the first time when i was 12 and i think i've read it just about 50 times it holds a very special place in my heart. simon snow and baz pitch how i love you both so much
nickscoby's review against another edition
5.0
Here's the backstory:
1. With CONSIDERABLE urging from friends I suffered through I want to say the first four Harry Potter books before giving up completely. Harry is insufferable--I have no patience for him--and CLEARLY Hermione is the best character, yet she suffers an unnecessary fate, i.e., paired up with Ron Weasley of all people. Uh, no. Just could not get into this world with the houses and the Harry worship and all that. Not to mention . . .
2. Not really a fan of magic.
3. I read Fangirl on a whim and ADORE it. Like 5 stars adoration. I moved on to Eleanor & Park and I think Landline (or was it Attachments?) and I HATED THEM. Gave up on Rainbow Rowell. But recently, I decided to revisit Fangirl (still love it) and I became more enthralled with the Simon Snow narrative. So much so that I decided--tenatively--to give Carry On a try.
Which brings me to . . . how much I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. It gets rid of the worst of Harry Potter (the houses, Ron Weasley, etc) and heightens the possibilities, i.e., the non-white people, the gays, strong female characters. And, of course, there's Baz. Dear snarky, beautiful, head over heels in love Baz. He's such a well-drawn character who just draws you in. And because you get to see his perspective (albeit about 120 pages in), you see that Simon Snow is not a complete idiot, just flawed. There's probably papers to be written on the many metaphors used for homosexuality, like the wands and tails and even magic itself, and it's so well done when it could have been cliched. Rowell really outdoes herself here.
As a consequence, my faith in the author has been restored, albeit temporarily. And I recently bought myself a Ravenclaw shirt. Because wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.
ETA: I forgot to mention that there is a character named Pacey, y'all. I mean: COME ON!!!
1. With CONSIDERABLE urging from friends I suffered through I want to say the first four Harry Potter books before giving up completely. Harry is insufferable--I have no patience for him--and CLEARLY Hermione is the best character, yet she suffers an unnecessary fate, i.e., paired up with Ron Weasley of all people. Uh, no. Just could not get into this world with the houses and the Harry worship and all that. Not to mention . . .
2. Not really a fan of magic.
3. I read Fangirl on a whim and ADORE it. Like 5 stars adoration. I moved on to Eleanor & Park and I think Landline (or was it Attachments?) and I HATED THEM. Gave up on Rainbow Rowell. But recently, I decided to revisit Fangirl (still love it) and I became more enthralled with the Simon Snow narrative. So much so that I decided--tenatively--to give Carry On a try.
Which brings me to . . . how much I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. It gets rid of the worst of Harry Potter (the houses, Ron Weasley, etc) and heightens the possibilities, i.e., the non-white people, the gays, strong female characters. And, of course, there's Baz. Dear snarky, beautiful, head over heels in love Baz. He's such a well-drawn character who just draws you in. And because you get to see his perspective (albeit about 120 pages in), you see that Simon Snow is not a complete idiot, just flawed. There's probably papers to be written on the many metaphors used for homosexuality, like the wands and tails and even magic itself, and it's so well done when it could have been cliched. Rowell really outdoes herself here.
As a consequence, my faith in the author has been restored, albeit temporarily. And I recently bought myself a Ravenclaw shirt. Because wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.
ETA: I forgot to mention that there is a character named Pacey, y'all. I mean: COME ON!!!
allisongravez's review against another edition
4.5
Best book in the series by far. Everything my evil gay pre-teen mind wanted from Harry Potter
leafblade's review against another edition
5.0
I CAN'T GO ON AVOIDING THIS REVIEW TO AVOID THE FACT THAT I'M FINISHED WITH THIS BOOK
First of all if you know any books that, like this, combine both fantasy (I don't care if it's urban, epic, light or whatev) and LGBT pairings... just shout their names at me and I shall read them. I've already read the Eon duology, tho.
Ok I really want to talk about something that I see as the biggest issue for people that haven't read this: is this a fan fiction?
Nobody cares. Literally nobody cares. Shut up. Just read it. The Bible is literally a fan fiction. Stop complaining.
THE PLOT!!!!
Just after I finished this book I spent like an hour looking for clues that led to a sequel. There aren't any, if you're wondering, but what I found is an interview that Rainbow did in which she says something that's like "I wanted people to see the orphan-chosen-one-boy and be like 'okay, this is familiar', and then lead them to something they didn't expect". That's what this book was for me.
Let's talk about the queerness already because I want to talk about it and you want to read about it: I knew this was an LGBT book. I knew Simon and Baz fell in love with each other. But somehow I didn't expect that it was Baz who was already in love with Simon???? (fun fact when I found out my mind went 'oh so this one is the Dante'). I thought it would be the chosen one, the hero, the brave boy who'd be like "yikes i'm gay" but I'm so happy it wasn't Simon. I'll talk about the characters later ok I'm wandering off and I have to talk about representation:
I have to get something clear: I'm a girl. I'm mostly hetero. The experiences I'll talk about have nothing to do with me or my struggles. It sounds awful because this is the most known thing homophobics say but I have a few queer friends and I know what they've been through. I'll try not to disrespect anyone nor their family/social/school struggles because of being queer but I'm so sorry if I do. Let me know if I do, don't shut up.
I liked Simon, in this aspect. He doesn't know if he's gay or not and it's okay, because what he does know is that he likes Baz. And it's amazing that we don't have a line on the epilogue of him deciding (or finding out, I guess) what he is, because it's okay not to know!!! It's impossible to have your whole life figured out at 17, and it's more impossible if you have more urgent things to take care of like I don't know STOPPING THE WORLD OF MAGE'S DOOM??? THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE BEING KIDNAPPED?????? THE GHOST OF YOUR BAE'S MOTHER COMING BACK AND TELLING YOU TO AVENGE HER DEATH?????? THE DUMBLEDORE KIND OF GUY GOING CRAZY?????????? And I don't know, for me it was a "don't worry, things will fall into place eventually" message that got me.
As of Baz, I liked how he and all his queerness was portrayed. He lives in a family where they just don't communicate. He's a vampire? They'll let him eat in his room, but he doesn't get help or a motivational speech. He's queer? Let's just not talk about it and it may not be real. He's friends with the Mage's friends? If he's not plotting against his family, they don't get into too much detail. Does THE CHOSEN ONE appear in the front door full of mud and wants to speak to Baz? Please don't tell me what's going on. That's how they are and I don't think they're ashamed that he's gay or anything, I just think that's the kind of family they are. And it's sad, given how much support Baz has needed through his life (and how little he's gotten). I just really liked how in the end they're not homophobic, it's just that his family has been sepparated by the circumstances and they may not feel comfortable talking to each other about things like this.
We get a few hints that the Magickal world, just like the Normal one, may be scandalized about a queer wizard, and I may have liked the whole thing best if this homophobia had been shown, but I thing Rainbow's writing tends to rely more on the positive things about life, and it's okay. I like it.
I have to compare this book to Harry Potter, and how I know Rainbow has the same issues with HP that I do:
DUMBLEDORE!!! I didn't realize it the first time I read HP, but I do really think that Dumbledore is selfish, greedy and sometimes that makes him be evil. Not your conventional type, of course, because he's the chosen one's mentor, but still. And the Mage takes this path. I really liked that we know all of him by the end of the book, but Simon and the squad don't. He was so so so keen on bringing to life/being this great mage from the prophecies that he ended up being such an evil and dark character I just loved it.
THE FUCKING PROPHECY ABOUT THE CHOSEN ONE!!!! THE AMBIGUITY OF PROPHECIES AND HOW IT CAN PLAY WITH YOU!!!! I'm a strong believer that Harry should have died with Voldemort, that it should've been the only way to kill Vold. And in this book Simon doesn't die either, but he has to give up his magic to destroy the Humdrum. And then what Baz points out in the epilogue about the falling in love, I'm 100% sure that's what it meant. That's how prophecies are. Get over it, Rowling, just kill the boy like it should've happened.
THE MAGIC SYSTEM I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED IT BUT I DID!!! And I really believe in what Rainbow says, that old language's words wouldn't have any effect if you didn't know what they meant and believed in what you were saying. The scene with Baz singing to the dragon and the Mage sinsing Queen to Ebb were A+.
Before I go on I want to point out the most hot non-sexual sentence I've ever read:
Oh my fucking god, kid.
Now my beloved kids: the characters.
Simon was a bit meh as a chosen one. He just didn't know what was happening like 99% of the time. Idk I always feel this way about the main character so it doesn't even surprise me anymore. What he did in the first chapter of the epilogue was really cute, though.
Baz is just my favourite character. I'd read through the other POVs just to get to his. It was just so interesting to see him live through his mother's murder, his family, his not-yet-known love towards Simon, his vampire condition... everything. I just enjoyed his character so much, and I think he may be even deeper and better developed than Simon.
Penelope is just 100% me. "Simon stop talking about Baz for fuck's sake". "Simon what the fuck are you doing with Baz". *Baz calls Simon 'love'* "OH THIS ALL MAKES SENSE". "AGATHA STOP WHINING". Amazing. I love her. Put her in The cursed child and pretend she's Ginny.
I really didn't like Agatha. I understand her, but I don't like her. I can't. She just wants to run away from everything and doesn't even try to help her magickal friends when they need her. But maybe she's better off the way she is now.
Ebb was incredible, the Mage was all I wanted Dumbledore to be (except Harry's father, you know), and Lucy was just a whining ghost and I understood her last chapter only so yeah. Not that bad to get through them.
Simon and Baz's relationship was beautiful to read. But it starts so later on and they only a few moments where they're together as boyfriends (I mean kissing and holding hands and stuff, instead of being plotting with Penny or things like that). The book lacked some more kissing scenes, you can't just give me two really good making out sessions and then make them not kiss again until the epilogue, Rainbow!!!!!
I'm done???? I think I am?????? Why?????????? I never wanted this book to end I hope it had like 2000 pages. I would read them all and then come here and give it a 5 stars rating again.
First of all if you know any books that, like this, combine both fantasy (I don't care if it's urban, epic, light or whatev) and LGBT pairings... just shout their names at me and I shall read them. I've already read the Eon duology, tho.
Ok I really want to talk about something that I see as the biggest issue for people that haven't read this: is this a fan fiction?
Nobody cares. Literally nobody cares. Shut up. Just read it. The Bible is literally a fan fiction. Stop complaining.
THE PLOT!!!!
Just after I finished this book I spent like an hour looking for clues that led to a sequel. There aren't any, if you're wondering, but what I found is an interview that Rainbow did in which she says something that's like "I wanted people to see the orphan-chosen-one-boy and be like 'okay, this is familiar', and then lead them to something they didn't expect". That's what this book was for me.
Let's talk about the queerness already because I want to talk about it and you want to read about it: I knew this was an LGBT book. I knew Simon and Baz fell in love with each other. But somehow I didn't expect that it was Baz who was already in love with Simon???? (fun fact when I found out my mind went 'oh so this one is the Dante'). I thought it would be the chosen one, the hero, the brave boy who'd be like "yikes i'm gay" but I'm so happy it wasn't Simon. I'll talk about the characters later ok I'm wandering off and I have to talk about representation:
I have to get something clear: I'm a girl. I'm mostly hetero. The experiences I'll talk about have nothing to do with me or my struggles. It sounds awful because this is the most known thing homophobics say but I have a few queer friends and I know what they've been through. I'll try not to disrespect anyone nor their family/social/school struggles because of being queer but I'm so sorry if I do. Let me know if I do, don't shut up.
I liked Simon, in this aspect. He doesn't know if he's gay or not and it's okay, because what he does know is that he likes Baz. And it's amazing that we don't have a line on the epilogue of him deciding (or finding out, I guess) what he is, because it's okay not to know!!! It's impossible to have your whole life figured out at 17, and it's more impossible if you have more urgent things to take care of like I don't know STOPPING THE WORLD OF MAGE'S DOOM??? THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE BEING KIDNAPPED?????? THE GHOST OF YOUR BAE'S MOTHER COMING BACK AND TELLING YOU TO AVENGE HER DEATH?????? THE DUMBLEDORE KIND OF GUY GOING CRAZY?????????? And I don't know, for me it was a "don't worry, things will fall into place eventually" message that got me.
As of Baz, I liked how he and all his queerness was portrayed. He lives in a family where they just don't communicate. He's a vampire? They'll let him eat in his room, but he doesn't get help or a motivational speech. He's queer? Let's just not talk about it and it may not be real. He's friends with the Mage's friends? If he's not plotting against his family, they don't get into too much detail. Does THE CHOSEN ONE appear in the front door full of mud and wants to speak to Baz? Please don't tell me what's going on. That's how they are and I don't think they're ashamed that he's gay or anything, I just think that's the kind of family they are. And it's sad, given how much support Baz has needed through his life (and how little he's gotten). I just really liked how in the end they're not homophobic, it's just that his family has been sepparated by the circumstances and they may not feel comfortable talking to each other about things like this.
We get a few hints that the Magickal world, just like the Normal one, may be scandalized about a queer wizard, and I may have liked the whole thing best if this homophobia had been shown, but I thing Rainbow's writing tends to rely more on the positive things about life, and it's okay. I like it.
I have to compare this book to Harry Potter, and how I know Rainbow has the same issues with HP that I do:
DUMBLEDORE!!! I didn't realize it the first time I read HP, but I do really think that Dumbledore is selfish, greedy and sometimes that makes him be evil. Not your conventional type, of course, because he's the chosen one's mentor, but still. And the Mage takes this path. I really liked that we know all of him by the end of the book, but Simon and the squad don't. He was so so so keen on bringing to life/being this great mage from the prophecies that he ended up being such an evil and dark character I just loved it.
THE FUCKING PROPHECY ABOUT THE CHOSEN ONE!!!! THE AMBIGUITY OF PROPHECIES AND HOW IT CAN PLAY WITH YOU!!!! I'm a strong believer that Harry should have died with Voldemort, that it should've been the only way to kill Vold. And in this book Simon doesn't die either, but he has to give up his magic to destroy the Humdrum. And then what Baz points out in the epilogue about the falling in love, I'm 100% sure that's what it meant. That's how prophecies are. Get over it, Rowling, just kill the boy like it should've happened.
THE MAGIC SYSTEM I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED IT BUT I DID!!! And I really believe in what Rainbow says, that old language's words wouldn't have any effect if you didn't know what they meant and believed in what you were saying. The scene with Baz singing to the dragon and the Mage sinsing Queen to Ebb were A+.
Before I go on I want to point out the most hot non-sexual sentence I've ever read:
Snow kissed me last night until my mouth was sore. He kissed me so much, I was worried I'd Turn him with all my saliva. He held himself up on all fours above me and made me reach out for his mouth --and I did. I would again. I'd cross every line for him.
Oh my fucking god, kid.
Now my beloved kids: the characters.
Simon was a bit meh as a chosen one. He just didn't know what was happening like 99% of the time. Idk I always feel this way about the main character so it doesn't even surprise me anymore. What he did in the first chapter of the epilogue was really cute, though.
Baz is just my favourite character. I'd read through the other POVs just to get to his. It was just so interesting to see him live through his mother's murder, his family, his not-yet-known love towards Simon, his vampire condition... everything. I just enjoyed his character so much, and I think he may be even deeper and better developed than Simon.
Penelope is just 100% me. "Simon stop talking about Baz for fuck's sake". "Simon what the fuck are you doing with Baz". *Baz calls Simon 'love'* "OH THIS ALL MAKES SENSE". "AGATHA STOP WHINING". Amazing. I love her. Put her in The cursed child and pretend she's Ginny.
I really didn't like Agatha. I understand her, but I don't like her. I can't. She just wants to run away from everything and doesn't even try to help her magickal friends when they need her. But maybe she's better off the way she is now.
Ebb was incredible, the Mage was all I wanted Dumbledore to be (except Harry's father, you know), and Lucy was just a whining ghost and I understood her last chapter only so yeah. Not that bad to get through them.
Simon and Baz's relationship was beautiful to read. But it starts so later on and they only a few moments where they're together as boyfriends (I mean kissing and holding hands and stuff, instead of being plotting with Penny or things like that). The book lacked some more kissing scenes, you can't just give me two really good making out sessions and then make them not kiss again until the epilogue, Rainbow!!!!!
I'm done???? I think I am?????? Why?????????? I never wanted this book to end I hope it had like 2000 pages. I would read them all and then come here and give it a 5 stars rating again.
leafblade's review against another edition
4.0
La cagué con la edición que estoy reseñando porque no es la misma que reseñé la primera vez que lo leí, muchas cosas siguen igual y muchas cosas cambiaron desde entonces, en ese momento lo necesitaba a Simon y ahora tengo ganas de abrazar a Baz porque yo también soy vampiro y queer y mi familia tampoco habla del hecho de que soy vampiro y queer, y me amigué con no querer seguir leyendo esta trilogía porque no me interesan sus vidas más allá de esto: la escuela, salvar el mundo, ya no ser el elegido.
liebejen's review against another edition
4.0
The book is far from perfect but honestly it feels like fanfiction (no surprise here considering its origin story) so it was all just great fun for me.
It's a quick read and it took me right back to when I was around 13 and used to burry myself in Harry Potter ffs basically every day, so even though it has its flaws I can't deny it a good rating, it's just so fun.
It's a quick read and it took me right back to when I was around 13 and used to burry myself in Harry Potter ffs basically every day, so even though it has its flaws I can't deny it a good rating, it's just so fun.