Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Published October 6th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters. 

My Thoughts
…There will be a threat, that we’ll be dark and divided – that magic itself will be in danger, and that there will be a mage who has power no one else has ever dreamt of, a magician who draws his power from the centre of the earth. He walks like an ordinary man, but his power is like no other….
What an entertaining and creative story that mixed fantasy, mm and new adult all into one caldron of pure magic. I quite liked this one!

I knew when I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell that she had something going with her fan-fiction of Simon and Baz. I enjoyed the small excerpts she included throughout the book and thought on numerous occasions how her fanfic element would make a great standalone. I was right!

Carry On allows Simon, Baz, Penny and Agatha to take center stage in their own story as they battle the Insidious Humdrum that threatens their magical world. The most unlikely of characters become allies in this story as they fight battles, uncover mysteries and ultimately forge relationships that will redefine who they thought they were.

I loved how Rowell didn’t hesitate to take a popular premise and put her own spin on things. Yes, I won’t deny that the parallels to Harry Potter were glaring, but I feel that was done purposely. You can’t ignore how the Insidious Humdrum reflects dementor qualities at times. It’s hard not to miss the familiar spells. You also have a wizard who will save the magical world with a best friend named Penelope who has a knack for magic and uncovering mysteries. It’s quite clear that Watford is much like Hogwarts and Ebb is your resident Hagrid.

However Rowell takes these elements and makes them her own with an added splash of what reminds me of Malfoy’s character and making him into Baz who is in love with Simon. Edgy I tell you! All of the similarities did not for one second take away from the fun of being catapulted into a world of magic, good versus evil, and friendships that stand the test of hardship.

I loved what Rainbow Rowell did with this story and how she made it her own. Taking a tour down memory lane where the streets are called something different and the characters have their own personalities was a fun adventure in fantasyland. Loved it.

5 Suns