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

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

 Wow. This fucking book.
This was what I was waiting for. A perfectly paced, gay as hell fantasy romp that had actual communication.
I came into this looking for a book that wrapped up the unanswered questions I had regarding the lore, and for Baz and Simon to finally realize what they needed. And all that happened!
I will say, if you are going into this looking for a lot of Wayward Son to be addressed in England, you'll be disappointed. For me, I wasn't because I felt like the characters had reasons to not address what happened in America. They had bigger fish to fry, and I'm okay with that. (More than okay. I'm overjoyed with how this book turned out.)
I was so scared that this would read like a cash-grab, but I really truly feel like this was a perfect ending to the story that Carry On started. I finally feel like I can put down this series, and these characters, and know that I'm happy with where they are. They have gotten the (however unconventional) happy ending they deserve. They're not entirely healed, and they still have a lot to work through. But they're in a place where they can do that off-page, on their own. They don't need to be followed in a book anymore. I don't need to read them anymore. Their story feels complete. I love it.
As much as I'll miss the World of Mages and Simon and Baz and Agatha and Penny and Shepard, I wouldn't have wanted this to end any other way.