The New York Times Book Review - Margaret Wappler
…Rowell…imbues her magic with awe and spectacle. [Carry On is] a powerful, politically minded allegory about sexual, ethnic and class identity—with a heady shot of teenage lust.
From the Publisher
"Rowell 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." —New York Times Book Review
"It’s a brilliantly addictive, genuinely romantic story about teenagers who can’t be neatly sorted into houses, coping with stress and loss and the confusion of just trying to be who they are. It’s as if Rowell turned the Harry Potter books inside out, and is showing us the marvelous, subversive stuffing inside." —Time Magazine
"Full of heart and humor, this fantastical tale is a worthy addition to the wizarding-school genre." —People Magazine
"Carry On is the fantasy book I didn’t know I’d been waiting for for years...Rowell’s mystery, magic, and political intrigue is the sexiest love story I’ve read in a long time." —Julie Beck, for The Atlantic
"The funny, wised-up dialogue, the tumultuous, sweet, and sexy love story— is grade-A Rowell...almost impossible to put down." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Stock up on copies—this one begs to be reread." —Booklist (starred review)
"With rock-solid worldbuilding, a sweet and believable romance subplot, and satisfying ending, Carry On is a monumentally enjoyable reading experience. Hand this to fans of Rowell, Harry Potter, love stories, and magic." —School Library Journal (starred review)
"Carry On is a triumph. Thrilling and sexy, funny and shocking, deeply moving and very, very magical. Trust me, you have never, ever seen a wizard school like this." —Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians trilogy
Kirkus Reviews
2015-11-01
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 heir—and 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 conventions—there are plenty of wink-wink, nudge-nudge moments to satisfy faithful fantasy readers—but it also stands alone as a modern bildungsroman. Carry on, Simon Snow. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14 & up)
2015 Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, Long-listed
2015 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2015 Time Magazine Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2015 Time Magazine Top 10 Books of the Year, Long-listed
2015 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Guide to the 100 Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
2015 NPR Best Book of the Year, Long-listed
