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A review by shoni
Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Look this book isn't great, I just have a weird attachment to Simon Snow that I can't help giving it 5 stars, he's my comfort character. But in reality, it's more like a 3.5
I have so many issues with this story, and it's because the entire plot (at least what can be considered a plot because there really wasn't one) is just fanservice to the fans AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY. Yes we had expectations, and yes we wanted certain things, but that doesn't mean you should do it. RR wanted to avoid making anyone unhappy that she created a book that doesn't really have a plot, it just has characters doing what they want. It's as if this entire book is just every character doing their side quests before the main one continues as no one is ready to deal with the big boss yet. the side quest being Simon and Baz trying to have sex with each other, that was made very clear here, and honestly too much of it. I did not need that much of it and could have happily done without it.
Even before we got any information about the book, I was a firm believer that Simon and Baz need to break up to figure out who they are without the other, and as much as it hurt I was happy when they broke up, but seeing them back together shortly after seemed pointless. And I get that each character has their own problems, and issues but the way she went about them doesn't make sense. They seemed so thrown in to just let the reader know these character still exists but are just doing their own thing. I get the plot line of Penny breaking Shepards curse but it also didn't make sense as it seemed like it should have played a bigger part at the end when it was just that, them breaking the curse so they can hang out more to end up together. AND AGATHA'S STORYLINE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. IT MAKES NO SENSE! I get it people love her, and they wanted her but what did her storyline show? She didn't have any reason in the plot, even with the goats there was no need for Agatha to be the one to be able to herd them together, to take care of them. It was just done so Agatha could live that cottage core life with her girlfriend that so many fans wanted. </spoilers> If you were to remove every single one of Agatha'schapters the story wouldn't even change, even with Penny's and Sheps but at least that came directly from Wayward Son. It seemed like all RR wanted to do is show that Simon and Baz would end up together and make fans happy. I also wish we got more from the final battle that books like these usually thrive from. I felt like I was stolen that moment.
ALSO THE MAIN "VILLAIN" WAS JUST A RIP-OFF OF THE MAGE. They both essentially wanted the same thing and nothing else. But it was also clear from the beginning that something fishy was going on and the foreshadowing wasn't even done in a way that you are happy and pleased with it.
I did enjoy the cute snowbaz moments, but they weren't as memorable as the moments in Carry On or Wayward Son, nothing truly stood out to me about it. But It did make me happy. And seeing Penny more of her fierce self was definitely a plus. She was able to show not only how smart she is but how powerful. That she is not one to back down from something. I admire her. Also, Shepard is just a great person all around and if you do not like him, I cannot trust you. He is the character that makes all the bad things seem not so bad in this entire book. I love him.
I might have a lot of issues with the book but at the core, it was nice to see the characters I have loved and grown attached to get the ending they deserve. I might not agree with the journey/the way they reached it but at least they got there. Though at the end I feel like we are just left with more unanswered questions than before. We are left wanting more because it doesn't seem the end of the story, just the end of a certain chapter in their life.
I have so many issues with this story, and it's because the entire plot (at least what can be considered a plot because there really wasn't one) is just fanservice to the fans AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY. Yes we had expectations, and yes we wanted certain things, but that doesn't mean you should do it. RR wanted to avoid making anyone unhappy that she created a book that doesn't really have a plot, it just has characters doing what they want. It's as if this entire book is just every character doing their side quests before the main one continues as no one is ready to deal with the big boss yet.
Even before we got any information about the book, I was a firm believer that Simon and Baz need to break up to figure out who they are without the other, and as much as it hurt I was happy when they broke up, but seeing them back together shortly after seemed pointless. And I get that each character has their own problems, and issues but the way she went about them doesn't make sense. They seemed so thrown in to just let the reader know these character still exists but are just doing their own thing.
ALSO THE MAIN "VILLAIN" WAS JUST A RIP-OFF OF THE MAGE. They both essentially wanted the same thing and nothing else. But it was also clear from the beginning that something fishy was going on and the foreshadowing wasn't even done in a way that you are happy and pleased with it.
I did enjoy the cute snowbaz moments, but they weren't as memorable as the moments in Carry On or Wayward Son, nothing truly stood out to me about it. But It did make me happy. And seeing Penny more of her fierce self was definitely a plus. She was able to show not only how smart she is but how powerful. That she is not one to back down from something. I admire her. Also, Shepard is just a great person all around and if you do not like him, I cannot trust you. He is the character that makes all the bad things seem not so bad in this entire book. I love him.
I might have a lot of issues with the book but at the core, it was nice to see the characters I have loved and grown attached to get the ending they deserve. I might not agree with the journey/the way they reached it but at least they got there. Though at the end I feel like we are just left with more unanswered questions than before. We are left wanting more because it doesn't seem the end of the story, just the end of a certain chapter in their life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content