Wayward Son Paperback – International Edition, March 5, 2020

My emotions while reading this: Sadness, anxiety, desperation, hopeful, "wow this is awkward" (for the characters), more anxiety, devastation, anger, and more angst and anxiety.Wayward Son was both everything and nothing like I expected.Getting my complaint out of the way: I wish the book had been longer. However, that's usually my complaint about books, so it's not a huge thing.I have three copies of this book: my fancy signed Waterstones edition with the painted edges, my exclusive edition Barnes & Noble edition, and the kindle edition. I also want to get the regular hardcover, as well as the new paperback coming out this year (2022). Also some other international editions with different covers. I loved this book, even though it also broke my heart.Simon Snow doesn't know how to move on after losing his magic and becoming Normal while also gaining wings and a tail, not knowing how to not be the Chosen One, and wondering how to breakup with his boyfriend Baz. He never got his happily ever after and he's dealing with 20 years of continuous trama. Baz doesn't know how to help Simon through his depression, is devastated that Simon has been pushing him away, and is terrified that Simon will break up with him. Penny decides that a holiday (vacation) to America and do a road trip across the U.S. from Chicago to Los Angeles will be the perfect solution to help Simon (and so she can see her boyfriend Micah, and to check in on Agatha - Penny insists Agatha is in trouble).Of course, none of the trip goes as planned. Between vampire fights and Quiet Zones, attacks by Magical Creatures, and somehow acquiring a Normal who used to be a storm chaser and now goes around the U.S. befriending Magical Creatures who joins them on the trip. And then there's more vampires in Las Vegas. And then another vampire fight. And of course, Agatha really is in trouble, and they need to rescue her.It's a trip of discovery and realizations. Baz learns more about being a vampire, and about other vampires. Penny realizes that the world doesn't always work the way she things, and maybe the world isn't black and white. Simon has moments of happiness and hope, but still can't convince himself that he's good enough for Baz. It's a story about learning how to have lived a life of adventure, and for Simon, being the Chosen One, what comes after and what he wants his life to look like versus what he thinks he deserves. And does it have to be the way it is? It's learning that Baz is soft and a romantic and hopelessly in love - not the boy who had been cruel to people, but is a much better and softer person than he ever seemed behind his facade that we saw in Carry On. It's a story of Baz and Simon trying to figure out how to be proper boyfriends even a year and a half after they got together and wondering if they can possibly salvage their relationship.I loved the introduction of Shepard. Shepard is precious. He needs to be protected at all costs. Of course he can take care of himself. I love how he always introduces himself to every single person: "Hi, I'm Shepard from Omaha, Nebraska." And that when he's in a dangerous situation he just tries to engage the enemy in conversation. It was amazing. I was definitely not expecting that. I love his relationship with Penny, who is not thrilled with him. I thought it was hilarious that Baz always thinks of Shepard as "the Normal." Also I loved all of Baz's fashion choices. He's amazing.Baz and Simon broke my heart. They love each other so much but don't know how to be what the other needs. They're so in love. They're so confused and desperate.And the ending gave me anxiety for the two years until Any Way the Wind Blows was released.Wayward Son is so different from what I expected, so much sadder than I expected, but I still loved it so much. I would have read it in one day if I didn't have work :( but I read it so quickly. It's very fast-paced, whereas, at least for me, Carry On and AWTWB were both fast reads, but not fast-paced, which I also love. I love this series because it's just so character-based, whereas I don't really care about plots. The plot never overcomes the characters in this series.I was never able to get into the Kansas's version of the song Carry On Wayward Son, but I found an amazing, much more emotional cover by Neoni that I feel better encapsulates the emotion angst of the series, especially because this is a fantasy series.This book broke my heart but I loved it so much, and I know it's both loved and hated by a lot of fans, but I definitely, definitely recommend. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

This second book is a fun side adventure that sets up the finale in the third book. But even though it was short and a bit unexpected in terms of a second book, I loved it. Loved it! I rated the first book 4 stars because there really is a lot going on and it got a little hard to follow at parts, and Simon kind of drove me crazy, but I loved everything about this book.In this book, Simon, Penny and Baz go on a bit of a road trip in the US. Of course it wouldn’t be a story about them without a lot of mishaps and shenanigans. This book was wildly hilarious and I was constantly laughing out loud. I think this one rounds out the first book really well; they’re no longer focused on the humdrum, but focused on figuring out life after defeating the humdrum, including who they are and what they want to do with their lives, plus Simon and Baz dance around their relationship. So the first book doesn’t end with everyone riding off into the sunset. There’s a lot to deal with after all that goes on in the first book.My favorite part of this book? Shepard! He’s a human (aka a normal or a bleeder) who inserts himself into the adventure and guides his new foreign friends across America. The way that magic works in the US is interesting and it’s cool that magic in this world differs depending on where you are in the world. But back to Shepard! He is HILARIOUS and I adored him. He’s one of those really personable characters you can’t help but love. He’s going to be in the third book and I can’t wait to learn more about him. I’m totally shipping him with Penny and I’d love for that to pan out, haha.So anyways. I obviously loved this book and highly recommend it! Definitely listen to this one if you're a fan of audiobooks because the narrator does an AMAZING job.

I'll start with the bad: this book ends on an open cliffhanger, with no emotional resolution and very little plot resolution. The assumption is that it will set up a third book. If so, this is a slightly weak second book of a trilogy. If not, it's a very, very unsatisfying ending to Carry On.The good: this book is very, very funny. Rainbow has a way with words and zingers and she absolutely delivers that in this book. There is a lot of deep emotional ramification and an unflinching look at PTSD, depression, and the effects those have on the characters and their loved ones. There's also a lot of really rich world building and a delightful new character. (Shepard is an absolute delight. I wish we'd known him all along!)Rainbow took a big risk on this book, and she clearly poured herself into it. I like it on the assumption of a third, but I have to admit to feeling a bit betrayed, and like there was a bond of trust broken between author and reader for the book to end this way, with us under the assumption and belief that it's the end of the line. I assume this is for marketing reasons. I think unfortunately, it instead traffics on emotions. With any other author the third book would be absolutely a no brainer, definitely happening, but with Rainbow you never know. She likes to break the wheel and upset expectations.I will return to this book, and I now have three copies of it (lol. the covers got away from me) but maybe not for a bit, or at least not until we have word on if this is the end or not. Overall, it was a lovely experience. It ached a lot, but it was a fun read, and I fell in love with Penny, and I just felt shredded for Baz. I don't think this is the story that was right for a Carry On sequel, but it's clearly the story Rainbow needed to tell, and I trust and support her vision to see us through to the third!