Review by New York Times Review
In Rowell's novel "Fangirl," Cath, a.k.a. Magicath, writes fan fiction about the teenage magician Simon Snow. Now Snow has his own novel, Rowell's first fantasy book. Set in a Hogwarts-like magic academy in rural England, it's at first slow to burn, as Simon lays out the elitist hierarchy at Watford, at times hemming uncomfortably close to J. K. Rowling's creations. But Rowell has new tricks up her sleeve. Simon himself is a hot mess of a magician, struggling to control his fiery temper and rebelling against the Mage, Watford's headmaster, who has deemed him a hero meant to defeat a magic-sucking entity. His funny, fleet-wanded best friend, Penny, often saves him from himself. But the novel really sparks when Baz, Simon's roommate and archenemy, returns after a mysterious absence, looking more vampiric than ever (rumors that he was "turned" have long swirled). Baz is a suave, acid-witted brainiac who in another life would've been BFFs with Oscar Wilde. The two seem destined to battle - Baz comes from a rich, corrupt family who hate the Mage and his Chosen One - but something other than acrimony tugs at both of them. Rowell applies her trademark fanfiction touch to the magic spells, cribbing many of them from pop culture, like the title spell, taken from Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." But Rowell also imbues her magic with awe and spectacle. It's a powerful, politically minded allegory about sexual, ethnic and class identity - with a heady shot of teenage lust.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [October 4, 2015]
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* It's Simon Snow's last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and it's not going as planned. His magic, always unstable, has been even more unpredictable, which is bad news with the magical world's most infamous bad guy after him. His girlfriend is distant, and he's afraid he'll lose touch with his best friend after graduation. But most unsettling of all, Simon's frustrating, evil, pretty-sure-he's-a-vampire nemesis/roommate hasn't come back to school. Baz is probably just off plotting somewhere, but what if he's really in trouble? And why does Simon care so much, anyway? Rowell's debut fantasy was first alluded to in Fangirl (2013) as a Harry Potter-like phenomenon. The similarities are, at first, easy to spot, and this does lag a bit in comparison seven years of world-building don't easily fit into the first 150 pages. But things accelerate once Baz hits the stage, quickly taking on new life and heart. Rowell has created a story that is as much a loving critique of the Chosen One narrative as it is an example of the genre. The romance, once it gets going, is irresistible and surprisingly tender, but the true strength here is the characterizations: sleek, tough-talking bad-boy Baz; beautiful but reluctant Agatha; clever and exuberant Penelope; and the brilliant, unhinged Mage, who leads the school, are all paid careful attention. And at the center of it all is Simon, the Chosen One himself, made special by circumstance and, like anyone, just trying to figure out a way to keep going. Stock up on copies this one begs to be reread. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Simon and Baz have been garnering attention since they first appeared in Fangirl, and buzz has been building for their feature-length debut. Add in Rowell's history of critical and commercial success, and you've got yourself a hit.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rowell's many fans know that the characters in this novel derive from her 2013 book, Fangirl, where they appeared in two forms: the "official" version of a Harry Potterlike series and the funnier, funkier, and gayer fanfic written by Cath, Fangirl's heroine. Now Simon Snow, the greatest magician the world has ever seen; possible vampire Basilton "Baz" Pitch, Simon's roommate and nemesis; and Simon's intrepid and loyal best friend Penelope have their own book. Along with Simon's semi-ex girlfriend Agatha, the three are negotiating their last year at the Watford School of Magicks amid a crisis in the magical world, much of which seems to involve Simon. Although in no way fan fiction (apart from its connections to Fangirl), this book can be read as a tribute to Harry Potter and Lev Grossman's Magicians series, and it's a sterling example of how to use genre conventions to create something new. Seen in that light, it hardly matters that some of the plot twists feel more like confirmations than surprises. Everything else-the funny, wised-up dialogue, the tumultuous, sweet, and sexy love story- is grade-A Rowell, and if you've ever wondered what makes a spell a spell, this book explains all. The doubled suspense-Will Simon and Baz finally admit that seven years of mutual obsession might be more than antagonism? Will Simon, Baz, and Penny figure out what's threatening their world in time to save it?-makes for a book that readers will find almost impossible to put down. Ages 13-up. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
English-born orphan Simon Snow is the most hapless hero the World of Mages has ever seen. As the prophesied Chosen One, Simon finds his immense magical power is nearly out of his control at the best of times. Now in his final year at school, he is surrounded by mysteries: his own missing parents, his distant girlfriend, ghosts, and surviving the final showdown with the Insidious Humdrum. He also worries-obsessively, sleeplessly-about his missing roommate-and nemesis-Baz. Will Simon's life really begin, as he believes, after the happily ever after? And will life be worth living if Baz doesn't return? Verdict In a departure from her realistic young adult and adult novels (Fangirl; Eleanor and Park), Rowell delves into fantasy with this story, which was originally imagined as a plot device in Fangirl. Similar on the surface to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the intricately plotted novel, with its multiple voices, makes for a rich fantasy worthy of its own canon. Rowell aficionados who fell for Simon and Baz will be clamoring for this coming-of-age novel. With crossover appeal, expect demand from teens and adults alike. And presenting a genuine LGBT romance, Rowell has another hit on her hands.-Jennifer Beach, Cumberland Cty. P.L., VA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up-Readers of Rowell's Fangirl (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013) have already had a glimpse at the world of Simon Snow, but now Rowell turns the full force of her imagination on the Watford School of Magic and those connected to it. Magic is disappearing all over England, leaving pockets of dead air that disable any magician in the vicinity. Somehow, everyone knows that the Insidious Humdrum is responsible, but who-or what?-is the Humdrum, and why does he look exactly like 11-year-old Simon? That's not the only mystery at hand, however. Simon's roommate and nemesis, the vampire Baz, disappears for weeks, and while he's gone, the Veil opens and Baz's late mother shows up at their room with a message for her son: her killer, Nicodemus, is still out there. When Baz returns, he's barely more than skin and bones. What has he been doing? And why can't Simon stop thinking about him? Simon and Baz reluctantly declare a truce and join forces, along with the intrepid Penelope Bunce, to find the mysterious Nicodemus. With rock-solid worldbuilding, a sweet and believable romance subplot, and satisfying ending, Rowell's latest is a monumentally enjoyable reading experience. VERDICT Hand this to fans of Rowell, Harry Potter, love stories, and magic.-Stephanie Klose, Library Journal © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In Fangirl (rev. 11/13), protagonist Cath wrote fanfiction for the fictitious Simon Snow fantasy series. Now Rowell has written a novel set in Simon Snows universe and using many conventions of fanfiction, most notably slash (in this case non-graphic), usually defined as a wish-fulfilling relationship between two characters of the same sex who, in the original work, are not a romantic couple. Simon, the most powerful mage in centuries, uncovers secrets during his final year at Watford School of Magicks that call into question his long-held beliefs about sharp lines between good and evil. He also begins to realize that his obsession with his probably-a-vampire roommate Baz may not be purely antagonistic. The novel is longer than it needs to bejust kiss already, Simon and Bazand the many alternating narrators are a little dense when it comes to solving several related mysteries. But theres plenty to enjoy along the way, including clever names for spells (These arent the droids youre looking for makes oddities like dragon parts on a human unnoticeable) and plenty of wit. Reading Fangirl first isnt strictly necessarythe brief authors note covers the basicsand the metatextual concept is somewhere on the spectrum between confusing and fascinating, depending on ones perspective. A working knowledge of the Harry Potter books and other popular fandoms isnt absolutely essential either, but it makes this send-up a lot more fun. shoshana flax (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Meta-slash fiction for jaded optimists.Rowell pulls on a central thread of Fangirl (2013)Cath's fanfic epic of Simon Snow, the Chosen One and Mage's heirand uses it to weave a tapestry of realigned affections and alliances. Deftly self-contained so that readers need not have read Fangirl to enjoy this tale, it will nonetheless appeal to Harry Potter fans sophisticated enough to recognize the fundamental tropes at work. Simon, an orphaned magician whose power is so immense that he is mostly inept at wielding it, returns to Watford School of Magicks for his final year of education in the magical arts. He has a talented, stalwart friend, a fascinatingly ambiguous foe, and a complicated, emotionally unavailable mentor. There is a great battle between good and evil. But there are also mobile phones, contemporary slang and pop-culture references, and gay romance. Rowell's creation is less preoccupied with the trappings of wizard life than it is focused on the relationships of the characters. The narrative perspective, shifting among Simon and his supporters and opponents, gives voice to their deeper motivations and angst; the dialogue, both internal and external, is contemporary and occasionally profane, with an authentic level of teenage snark.The novel playfully twists genre conventionsthere are plenty of wink-wink, nudge-nudge moments to satisfy faithful fantasy readersbut it also stands alone as a modern bildungsroman. Carry on, Simon Snow. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
