Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell — Complete Book Guide

Quick Facts

• Series: Simon Snow, Book 3
• Author: Rainbow Rowell
• Published: 2021
• Genre: Fantasy Romance / Young Adult
• Setting: Contemporary London, Oxford, and Watford School
• Narrators: Multiple third‑person perspectives, mainly Simon Snow and Baz Pitch

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Short Summary

Simon Snow has lost his magic and struggles with identity while growing dragon wings. He and boyfriend Baz Pitch investigate a new self‑proclaimed “Greatest Mage,” Smith Smith‑Richards, whose temporary healing spell threatens weak magicians. Meanwhile, Penelope Bunce helps Normal Shepard break a demonic marriage contract, and Agatha Wellbelove finds purpose in caring for Watford’s magical goats. The story culminates in the exposure of Smith as a fraud, the revelation that Simon is the son of the Mage and Lucy Salisbury, and the central characters learning to embrace their true selves beyond prophecies and power.

Full Summary

Any Way the Wind Blows opens with Lady Ruth Salisbury keeping a candle vigil for her missing son Jamie. Simon Snow, stripped of his magic and now sporting dragon wings, is offered the Mage’s estate but refuses out of guilt. He schedules surgery to remove his wings. Baz, burdened by family secrets and the guilt of having stolen a classmate’s voice years earlier, tries to reconnect with Simon after a painful breakup.

Penelope brings a Normal named Shepard to London after discovering he is cursed by a demonic marriage contract. Shepard’s tattoos are revealed to be a prenuptial agreement with a demon, and Penelope vows to help him. Meanwhile, Smith Smith‑Richards emerges, claiming to be the new Chosen One. He runs meetings where he temporarily boosts the magic of weak magicians, but the power eventually fades, leaving them worse off. Baz’s stepmother Daphne is drawn into Smith’s cult.

Simon and Baz investigate Smith’s operation. They find Jamie Salisbury, Smith’s first “cured” patient, hiding in a basement. Philippa Stainton, whose voice Baz stole, is also imprisoned there. The group rescues her and learns the truth: Smith’s spell drains magic permanently after a short boost. At a rally in Watford’s White Chapel, Philippa exposes Smith. Simon, now immune to magic, flies Smith away, and Headmistress Bunce arrests him.

In a parallel storyline, Agatha helps Niamh Brody care for the Watford goat herd, which is mysteriously leaving the school. Agatha delivers a stillborn goat kid but later successfully helps birth a living kid, restoring her sense of purpose. She shares a kiss with Niamh, marking a new romance.

Simon and Baz visit Lady Ruth, who reveals that Simon is her grandson: the son of her daughter Lucy and the Mage (David Cadwallader). Simon pulls Excalibur from a table, confirming his lineage. He struggles to accept this truth but eventually begins to heal, surrounded by his found family.

Shepard’s demonic contract is broken when Penelope argues that he used a false name and had undisclosed debts. The demon voids the marriage, and Shepard’s tattoos disappear. In the epilogue, Agatha has abandoned magic and lives simply among the goats, finding peace.

Main Characters

• Simon Snow: Former Chosen One who loses his magic, grows dragon wings, and learns he is the son of the Mage and a Salisbury. Struggles with guilt, identity, and learning to accept love without power.
• Baz Pitch: Vampire and Simon’s boyfriend. Tormented by having stolen Philippa Stainton’s voice, he seeks forgiveness and reconciliation while dealing with a crumbling family.
• Penelope Bunce: Simon’s fiercely loyal best friend. She takes charge of breaking Shepard’s demonic curse and leads the investigation into Smith‑Richards.
• Shepard: A Normal cursed with a demonic marriage contract. He becomes Penelope’s love interest and helps expose Smith while regaining his mortal freedom.
• Agatha Wellbelove: Simon’s ex‑girlfriend. Overcomes trauma by caring for Watford’s magical goats and begins a romance with Niamh.
• Smith Smith‑Richards: Antagonist who claims to be the new Chosen One. His healing spell grants temporary power but permanently drains victims of magic; ultimately arrested as a fraud.

Themes

• Identity and Transformation: Characters like Simon redefine themselves after losing magic, discovering true parentage, or adopting new roles (e.g., Agatha as goat herder).
• Guilt and Forgiveness: Baz’s theft of a voice, Simon’s killing of the Mage, and Shepard’s lies all require confrontation with past mistakes and eventual forgiveness.
• Love and Control: The tension between loving someone and trying to control their life is explored through Penelope’s overprotectiveness and Baz’s possessive yet liberating devotion.
• Power and Manipulation: Smith‑Richards uses charisma and false prophecy to manipulate followers, raising questions about authentic magic and authority.
• Family and Legacy: Revelations about Simon’s Salisbury lineage and the Mage’s lies reshape his sense of belonging and inheritance.

Symbols

• Dragon Wings: Represent Simon’s transformation, burden, and ultimate acceptance of a non‑human, magical nature. He nearly amputates them but keeps them as part of his new identity.
• Candle Spell: Lady Ruth’s candle confirms Jamie is alive; later, Lucy’s candle goes out, signaling her death. Symbolizes hope, family bonds, and vigilance.
• Excalibur Sword: The Sword of Mages reveals Simon’s true lineage as a Salisbury, granting him a heroic destiny beyond being the Chosen One.
• Goats of Watford: The magical flying goats embody Watford’s fading ancient magic. Agatha’s care for them represents healing and finding purpose outside the spotlight.

Chapter‑by‑Chapter Breakdown

Below is a linked table summarizing every chapter and the epilogue. Click the chapter number for a detailed summary.

Ending Explained

The book’s climax resolves three major arcs:

1. Smith‑Richards’s fraud is exposed by Philippa Stainton, who regains her voice. Smith’s temporary magic boost turns into permanent drain; he is arrested. Simon, immune to magic, carries Smith away, cementing his role outside prophecies.

2. Simon’s true lineage is revealed: he is the son of the Mage (David Cadwallader) and Lucy Salisbury, making him a member of the Salisbury family. He pulls Excalibur from a table, confirming his magical heritage. Initially in denial, he eventually begins to accept this identity with Baz’s support.

3. Shepard’s demonic marriage contract is voided when Penelope argues procedural invalidity. Shepard is freed, and he and Penelope grow closer, though their future remains open.

4. Agatha abandons magic entirely, choosing to tend the Watford goats. She trades her wand for a walking stick and finds contentment in the simple, mundane life she once rejected.

The epilogue shows Agatha content in the goat barn, emphasizing the theme that one can choose peace over power.

Common Questions and Answers

1. Who is Smith Smith‑Richards? He is a con artist who poses as the new “Greatest Mage.” His healing spell temporarily boosts a magician’s power but permanently drains it afterwards. His godfather Evander Feverfew raised him on old stories.

2. Does Simon get his magic back? No. Smith’s spell fails on Simon, confirming he has no magic and is biologically Normal. Later, the Excalibur revelation suggests he is a magician by lineage, but his magical potential remains dormant.

3. What happens to Simon’s wings? Simon plans surgical removal but postpones the operation. He keeps his wings and learns to accept them as part of his identity. Baz helps him adapt by creating shirts with wing openings.

4. Who is Simon’s real family? He is the son of the Mage (David Cadwallader) and Lucy Salisbury, making him the grandson of Lady Ruth Salisbury. The Sword of Excalibur confirms his Salisbury lineage.

5. How does Shepard’s curse break? Penelope summons the demon and argues the marriage contract is invalid because Shepard used a false name and withheld information about his debts. The demon voids the contract, and Shepard’s tattoos vanish.

6. Do Agatha and Niamh end up together? Yes. After Agatha helps deliver a live goat kid, Niamh kisses her. In the epilogue, Agatha remains at Watford, living among the goats; Niamh is mentioned as having helped remove the merwolves, implying their bond continues.

7. What is the significance of the Watford goats? They are magical flying creatures that protect Watford’s ancient magic. Their decline mirrors the deterioration of the World of Mages. Agatha’s dedication to them symbolizes her choice of nurturing over fame.

8. What is the ending of the book? Smith is arrested, Simon accepts his new family, Shepard is freed from his demon contract, Baz finds closure with his stolen voice, and Agatha chooses a quiet life with the goats. The final line reveals Agatha’s contentment in her simple routine.

Further Reading

• Ending Explained
• More Questions and Answers
• Take the Quiz
• Essay Prompts