Wayward Son discussion

(I don't think it should need to be said, but just in case, there are Carry on and Wayward Son spoilers within)

Okay, hear me out. I want this to happen more than anything in the world, and I went into this book thinking it wasn't possible (whether it's in book three or just ever.) On page 217 (regular hardcover edition, chapter 40,) they have just finished talking with the river, water spirit.... thing. She goes to talk to Simon and calls him the "drain," clearly referencing him being the cause of the Humdrum. She goes on to say, however, after he apologizes, "Shhookay, you put it back. And morrre." She tells him that he put back the magic he stole, but its the more part that stood out to me. Anyone who read Carry On can deduce Simon was not born a Normal as he so believes, but was the son of the Mage and Lucy, so he should have magic, either way, he should still have it. This quote seems to indicate, however, that he put back what he took, but also what he had. Is there a possibility of him also taking it back?

Additionally, I feel this could be reinforced by one or two other things. Throughout the portion of this book where Lamb is aware of Simon, he refers to Simon as a magician. As far as Simon knows he is just a normal who happens to have wings and a tail, but this suggests Lamb can possibly smell magic on him, or sense it. Or he just assumed based on the tail and wings. Additionally, at the end of Carry On, when Simon is pushing his magic into the Humdrum, Baz mentions that he can't even see him (the Humdrum) anymore towards the end. Is this possibly an indicator that Simon was pushing to much, in a way? That he should have stopped but he didn't and accidentally got rid of it all?

Simon getting his powers back is something I want to happen, and something I think is possible (maybe Watford being threatened is the motivator he needs, maybe even Baz being seriously threatened?) But the thing that stops me is will it happen. Will Rainbow Rowell make it happen. Truthfully, I'm not sure, I don't think it aligns with the character arc currently set up for Simon. Throughout all of Wayward Son, he is coming to the terms with the fact that he doesn't have magic and whether he can still be something without it, giving it back to him would seem like negative character growth. Maybe he has to realize he is something without it to access it again, maybe he'll be able to get it back and realize he doesn't need it. I don't know. At the point we leave off during Wayward Son, though, I don't think it would be a decision that would make complete sense.

(Also, Side note: Can't believe I didn't notice this, but in the book 3 cover (that may or may not be permanent?) he appears to be holding the Sword of Mages (I could be wrong,) which can of course, only be summoned with magic. Someone else could have summoned it for Simon, or course (which doesn't seem to have worked in the past) or he totally gets his magic back and this is conformation. This probably makes this entire post pointless, but I am keeping it anyway.)

So, opinions? Will Simon get his magic back, is it possible, necessary, how, would it make sense, would it not, would it make his struggle throughout Wayward Son null and void, would it be the right choice in terms of writing?

I've been thinking about this a lot in the weeks after finishing the book. My current favourite theory is that Simon will get his magic back, but it won't be the same. In Wayward Son we found out a lot more about different kinds of magic users, existing alongside magicians but clearly accessing magic differently. One of the most powerful magickal creatures we met in the book was Maggie the dragon/mountain. Her reaction to Simon was very interesting, describing him, if I remember correctly, as a "kitten", a young dragon.

I figure when Simon used his direct line to all the magic of the land to give himself the dragon features towards the end of Carry On, he didn't just spell himself wings, he literally transformed himself into a dragon . If this is true, he would still have pretty awesome magical powers... Once he grows in to them. They're just not a magician's powers.

But let's face it, spells were never his thing.

Maria wrote: "...he didn't just spell himself wings, he literally transformed himself into a dragon ..."
YES!!! my thoughts exactly, I think he's going to be proven a hibrid, like baz, but half magician, half dragon, both immortals, I cant wait for the next time he gets angry and explodes, but with dragon fire

I agree, I finished reading Wayward Son, and after the monologue about Baz being immortal, I have a feeling Simon is going to turn out to be immortal also, or at least become it.

Well, I'm on the fence with this one. But I'm leaning towards yes because in the AWTWB cover, he's holding the Sword of Mages, which only comes with the magic incantation. But. I do feel like if Simon got his magic back he'd get back into that place of saying "What would the Mage say?" when Simon does still need to work on thinking for himself.

But let's be honest. Simon can kick some butt with and without magic.

Aioria wrote: "Maria wrote: "...he didn't just spell himself wings, he literally transformed himself into a dragon ..."
YES!!! my thoughts exactly, I think he's going to be proven a hibrid, like baz, but half ma..."

RAINBOW GIVE US THE DRAGON FIRE

I'm hoping he gets his magic back in the third book. We know that magicians have to save up magic to use it or they can drain themselves and run out, and have to wait for it to come back. Simon spent his entire life with an overabundance, so he's not only never felt that sensation but also does not know the process of how the magic comes back. So what I think is going to be revealed is that yes he put the magic he took back, plus all the magic he had, and it's just taken a really long time for him to build any magic up. But this seems too simple an answer.

I think Simon will get his magic back, and that this is the case where he has to "lose" his magic to know what it's like to be without it. We have to also consider that Simon did not know he had magic when he was a child, it was when he got older that he was introduced to the magic and even when he had it, he hardly used it unless he's fighting something or someone. I believe the sword that is on the new book cover is important but remember also that in Wayward son even though Simon hated his lack of magic Simon's appearance was focused on. When I found out he was a dragon I was a bit shocked and confused and the lady who recognized him was pretty sure that he was a dragon. But how is he a dragon? his parents weren't or maybe the ritual that the mage did when Lucy was pregnant with Simon, did something to him? If he ends up being a dragon does it even make sense to give him back his magic, is he going to be a dragon mage, or is his appearance going to change and the story will be something completely different?

I was thinking about it as well - that he probably will get it back, but also that the way he now feels worthless without it is a story arc which needs to be resolved first. So he needs to deal with his trauma and depression first. I suppose that whatever's happening at Watford that they need to help with, will be a kind of therapy for him. He'll have to face the sad memories and deal with his loss. Also, I'm hoping that we'll know more about what actually happened to his mother. I know the fact that Lucy's ghost visited him implies that she's dead, but I was wondering why Penny's mother believed she moved to the States? Was it said anywhere that she died in childbirth? Or that the Mage has somehow disposed of her? I listened to the audiobook in a kind of frenzy, so I might have missed something... :D
And yes - the sword in his hand suggests magic hasn't left him completely. And the word "more" from the river spirit definitely caught my attention, too. :)
Oh, can't wait for the third book!

Overall, I feel like Simon might get some portion of his magic back, if not all because after all, he is the child of two magicians.

Yeah, for me, the cover with him holding the sword is what seals the deal for me thinking he'll get his magic back in the third installment. Perhaps what's going in Watford is some consequence of his magic still running amok and disturbing some sort of balance by being in the world instead of a mage as it should?

Mostly, though, I just hope it's handled well. I'd like to see Simon properly heal from the trauma of losing it and everything that happened, instead of it being 'fixed' by giving it back to him.

ReaderOfTheBooks wrote: "Overall, I feel like Simon might get some portion of his magic back, if not all because after all, he is the child of two magicians."

That's very true! I almost forgot about that fact, haha
I mean, technically he already has SOME magic in him if he still has the wings and tail, right? Maybe he just can't reach it because there's not enough?
I don't know, lmao

In my opinion if Simon gets magic again it wouldn't be a good evolution of the character but if he has it because he IS a dragon it would be amazing and if he is also inmortal... OMG that would be reaaally good.
I'm waiting for the dragon fire as well

Carme wrote: "In my opinion if Simon gets magic again it wouldn't be a good evolution of the character but if he has it because he IS a dragon it would be amazing and if he is also inmortal... OMG that would be ..."

True! If he does turn out to be immortal then the conversation about Baz's immortality and Simon's apparent mortality won't have to happen (you know the conversation where Baz would stay young forever while Simon ages normally) ;)

However, Baz has been aging quite normally since he got bit in his childhood, so do vampires work differently in this verse? Like is there just much slower visible aging process, or do they just keep visibly aging forever?