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skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
God, I love this series.
It's a bit bittersweet because I've only recently become fully aware of the extent of Rainbow Rowell's issues--namely, her racism in her earlier book Eleanor & Park, and her subsequent lack of apology or any form of acknowledgement of the harm she's caused. Eleanor & Park continues to be her most well-known and successful work, and it's being adapted into a movie, and Rowell still hasn't done *anything* to make up for its racism. Which is inexcusable, and leads me to think I shouldn't support her or her work moving forward.
That said, I do love this series. If I were to think of this book without that knowledge of Rowell's racism in her other work, then I would unreservedly recommend this trilogy, and say this book was my favorite of the three. It's so much about intimacy, and healing, and how to make relationships work, and family, and I cried even when I didn't need to at all. It was beautiful.
But I don't believe the art and the artist can be separated like that--not when she has refused to listen to those she's harmed, or acknowledged said harm at all. I don't think Rowell or her work should be supported, at least for now. I won't be buying any of her future books unless she fully reckons with the harm her racism has caused.
It's a bit bittersweet because I've only recently become fully aware of the extent of Rainbow Rowell's issues--namely, her racism in her earlier book Eleanor & Park, and her subsequent lack of apology or any form of acknowledgement of the harm she's caused. Eleanor & Park continues to be her most well-known and successful work, and it's being adapted into a movie, and Rowell still hasn't done *anything* to make up for its racism. Which is inexcusable, and leads me to think I shouldn't support her or her work moving forward.
That said, I do love this series. If I were to think of this book without that knowledge of Rowell's racism in her other work, then I would unreservedly recommend this trilogy, and say this book was my favorite of the three. It's so much about intimacy, and healing, and how to make relationships work, and family, and I cried even when I didn't need to at all. It was beautiful.
But I don't believe the art and the artist can be separated like that--not when she has refused to listen to those she's harmed, or acknowledged said harm at all. I don't think Rowell or her work should be supported, at least for now. I won't be buying any of her future books unless she fully reckons with the harm her racism has caused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Cursing
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Murder, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide attempt
claudiamacpherson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Simon, Baz, Agatha, Penelope, and Miles are back from America, but as usual, things aren’t exactly going smoothly. Miles is still under a curse that Penelope is determined to break, Simon and Baz (but mostly Simon) are still having problems communicating about their feelings for each other, and now there are people claiming to be the true Chosen One.
I’ll be honest, couldn’t tell you exactly what the plot of this book was. The focus was very much on the characters’ interpersonal relationships, especially Simon and Baz’s, and how they worked through their trauma and past miscommunications together. That is not a criticism at all; I absolutely loved it. Rowell has a way of writing certain scenes and feelings that hit me like a punch to the stomach because it feels like someone has reached into my brain and written down thoughts I couldn’t have even put into words. That’s how I felt reading a lot of the Simon-and-Baz scenes, but also some of the interactions between Agatha and Niamh. It made so much sense to me that Agatha realized she might like women. She was so closed off in the other books, even to Simon, her supposed great love. I loved seeing her find her path within the magical world and realize that she can fit in, even though it’s not in the way she always thought. I also love that she took over the lesbian goatherd position at Watford! ;)
Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just the vibe of the ending): Happy! Rowell wrapped everything up pretty nicely...and I almost wish she hadn’t, so we could have another book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Gaslighting
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
manarnia's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
An overall satisfying conclusion to the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Blood, and Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Grief and Homophobia
vici24kl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
i love Baz. Thats all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Animal death, and Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Homophobia
bethanlcollins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
mairallen1114's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
the perfect ending to the perfect series, truly shows the steps of healing from a trauma, and how changing doesn't mean the end of all old things. i definitely cried when i finished it
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
death of a parent is mentioned in regards to baz's mother, simon's parents, and a new character's parents (who died in a car accident). abandonment is implied whenalyxinthestars's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
delz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
Simon, Baz and friends (including Shepherd) are back in England. There’s a new “chose one” in town and he’s making big promises to the weakest most susceptible mages including Baz’s step mom, and Penny’s dad, but they have been asked by Mrs Ruth Salisbury to find her missing son, Jamie. Baz and Simon are on the case, Agatha has a new friend, an old school mate, together they’re trying to solve the mystery of the flying goats, Ebb’s goats. Penny and Shepherd are working on ridding Shepherd of his demon curse. It’s all very fun and at times quite sentimental. Any Way the Wind Blows is a great conclusion to a really great series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
julesadventurezone's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Medical content, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, and Violence