A review by thekarpuk
Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

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

5.0

 You know all that stuff from the first book that Wayward Son kind of didn't address because that book was mostly about characters moving around without making much actual progress? It's all here, in this book, Any Way the Wind Blows. Plus, this book has its own actual new plot developments. It's like someone took a kink out of a hose and now everything is blasting out.

This book's characters have a level of vulnerability that's genuinely uncommon in fantasy as a genre. Rowell has a better understanding of emotions and relationships, especially young relationships, than most people who play in this space. It's showing through here and in her excellent run on Runaways.

And all the main characters have a separate arc that genuinely feels satisfying to follow. It's all well set up and paid off properly.

This might be one of the better books that Rowell has put out, and I'm curious to see where she goes if she continues writing fantasy.