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bookswithlauren's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I am wavering between 3.5* and 4* for the last instalment of the Simon Snow universe.
Initially, I adored this world. Carry On was an incredible book with well thought out characters and plot. I was left on my seat, constantly want to read more. So much so, that I read the book in one sitting. Wayward Son was a completely different ball game and I felt it was quite a step down from Carry On. At times there was a plot and at times there was not, the characters behaviours and personalities were completely different from those built up and introduced to us in the first book. The 'main' plot was hyped up to then all come to an end within a few pages and the relationship between characters was just not good.
Because of this, I thought all of this would be resolved in Any Way the Wind Blows. For the most part, everything I disliked about Wayward Son was fixed in Any Way the Wind Blows and I really did enjoy reading the book. I found it easy to read and the characters were more themselves again. One of my favourite things about this series is the multiple character perspectives but in this book, it felt as if I we had three completely different main plot lines going on and I was reading three separate prequels instead of one book. I didn't hate this aspect but with the main characters being such a strong team, it was a bit strange. I absolutely adored each pairing of Baz and Simon, Penelope and Shephard (what a guy, I love him) and surprisingly, Niamh and Agatha. Agatha didn't make me eyeroll in this book! I do wish her friendship with Niamh was not rushed as much because it made her small plot line seem so out of the blue.
Another thing I just don't understand with the last two books in this series is the main plot being built up so much to then end over a few pages and never to be addressed again. If I have read over 400 pages building up this main plot line, I want more than 20 pages of it all unravelling and when we are given a prologue set 1 year later, I want more than just one paragraph that completely opens the world for more stories.
Overall, I really did enjoy Any Way the Wind Blows and it was incredibly easy to read, I just wish some things were thatched out a bit more and other things not so much.
Initially, I adored this world. Carry On was an incredible book with well thought out characters and plot. I was left on my seat, constantly want to read more. So much so, that I read the book in one sitting. Wayward Son was a completely different ball game and I felt it was quite a step down from Carry On. At times there was a plot and at times there was not, the characters behaviours and personalities were completely different from those built up and introduced to us in the first book. The 'main' plot was hyped up to then all come to an end within a few pages and the relationship between characters was just not good.
Because of this, I thought all of this would be resolved in Any Way the Wind Blows. For the most part, everything I disliked about Wayward Son was fixed in Any Way the Wind Blows and I really did enjoy reading the book. I found it easy to read and the characters were more themselves again. One of my favourite things about this series is the multiple character perspectives but in this book, it felt as if I we had three completely different main plot lines going on and I was reading three separate prequels instead of one book. I didn't hate this aspect but with the main characters being such a strong team, it was a bit strange. I absolutely adored each pairing of Baz and Simon, Penelope and Shephard (what a guy, I love him) and surprisingly, Niamh and Agatha. Agatha didn't make me eyeroll in this book! I do wish her friendship with Niamh was not rushed as much because it made her small plot line seem so out of the blue.
Another thing I just don't understand with the last two books in this series is the main plot being built up so much to then end over a few pages and never to be addressed again. If I have read over 400 pages building up this main plot line, I want more than 20 pages of it all unravelling and when we are given a prologue set 1 year later, I want more than just one paragraph that completely opens the world for more stories.
Overall, I really did enjoy Any Way the Wind Blows and it was incredibly easy to read, I just wish some things were thatched out a bit more and other things not so much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
hanz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood and Sexual content
georgiakirkegard's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Animal death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
loras's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Animal death
steffi_23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia, Biphobia, and Fatphobia
greatu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
booknerd_life's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Everything I didn’t know I needed! Perfect end to this trilogy. Absolutely loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Animal death
It’s the third book in a series! VERY character driven and communication based. The characters and their relationships (platonic, familial, and romantic) are at the forefront and the plot is secondary.cuppa_curiositea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lol, another reviewer said that there is a lot of smut in this book, and girl, you got my hopes up! This doesn't touch smut, and while I'm being facetious more than anything, there is also a conversation to be had about the harms of labeling basic sexual exploration as "smut." So no, this book is not smutty, but it does include a handful of scenes of consenting young adults who have been in a relationship for a while exploring and expressing normal sexual desires.
Anyway! This was fun, just like the other books. I don't care about Agatha's arc, just like the other books (though I warmed up to her very slightly by the end of the book). The plot is okay, just like the other books. And all of the characters (except Agatha) are so lovable and silly, just like the other books :)
The second book of this trilogy was definitely the weakest, but this one had me laughing crying with the characters throughout it all! I listened to this on audiobook, and the narrator is phenomenal. I've never been a "fan" of a narrator before, but I looked up more of his work just because I love the way he tells stories. I digress, Rowell's characters have always been stronger and more interesting than her plots, in my opinion, and I really felt for Simon's struggles with PTSD in this book. His emotional struggles were so raw and real, and I really appreciated seeing that side of "the hero/chosen one" trope. Of course Baz says some cute romantic things that make me swoon, and everything is tied up satisfyingly, in my opinion :)
Anyway! This was fun, just like the other books. I don't care about Agatha's arc, just like the other books (though I warmed up to her very slightly by the end of the book). The plot is okay, just like the other books. And all of the characters (except Agatha) are so lovable and silly, just like the other books :)
The second book of this trilogy was definitely the weakest, but this one had me laughing crying with the characters throughout it all! I listened to this on audiobook, and the narrator is phenomenal. I've never been a "fan" of a narrator before, but I looked up more of his work just because I love the way he tells stories. I digress, Rowell's characters have always been stronger and more interesting than her plots, in my opinion, and I really felt for Simon's struggles with PTSD in this book. His emotional struggles were so raw and real, and I really appreciated seeing that side of "the hero/chosen one" trope. Of course Baz says some cute romantic things that make me swoon, and everything is tied up satisfyingly, in my opinion :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
crystal_e_fall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Loved the character work, just wish there was more plot to balance it out! And more friendship moments!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content
finley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness