Chapter summaries Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Chapter 41: Simon's Flat and a Struggle for Control

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

Summary

Simon brings Baz to his nearly empty flat in Hackney Wick, explaining that the Mage left him enough money for a few years’ rent. Baz teases Simon about the circumstances but then pushes him onto the bed—the Mage’s bed—claiming spite as his motivation. Their kissing quickly escalates, and Simon loses control, gripping Baz too hard and biting. Baz stops him, holds his wrists, and talks him down. After Simon breaks down crying, Baz reassures him that he will accept whatever their relationship brings, even if every kiss leads to a crisis. They discuss Simon’s fear that he will never get better at intimacy. Later, lying together, they talk about Smith-Richards, the televangelist who claims to cure weak magic. Baz argues that weak magic isn’t a disease but a combination of aptitude, ability, and training. Simon wants to investigate, and Baz agrees to wait for Penelope’s call, confident she’ll join a dangerous mission.

Key Events

  • Simon shows Baz his furnished flat, revealing the Mage left him money in his will.
  • Baz jokes about having his way with Simon on the Mage’s bed as an act of spite.
  • Their intimate moment turns overwhelming; Simon becomes physically aggressive, biting and squeezing too hard.
  • Baz stops Simon, holds his wrists, and helps him breathe through the panic.
  • Simon cries and apologizes, fearing he will never get intimacy right.
  • Baz says he’ll “take it” and accepts Simon even if every kiss leads to a crisis.
  • They discuss Smith-Richards; Baz explains that weak magic cannot be cured because it is not a single illness.
  • Simon suggests they check out Smith-Richards’s show; Baz insists they wait for Penelope’s help.

Character Development

  • Simon Snow: The chapter deepens Simon’s struggle with self-control and his fear of hurting those he loves. He reveals a new vulnerability: he always expected to die fighting, never to have a normal relationship. His tears and honest admission (“I’m never going to get this right”) show growth in emotional openness, even as his physical impulses remain dangerous.
  • Baz: Baz demonstrates remarkable patience and care. He stops Simon without anger, calms him, and repeatedly reassures him. Baz’s willingness to accept a turbulent relationship (“I’ll take it”) reflects his own growth from a guarded, cynical character to someone who values connection despite risk. He also articulates a nuanced view of weak magic, showing his analytical side.
  • Penelope Bunce: Though absent, she remains a vital off-screen presence; Baz texts her and they both rely on her judgement and help.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Spite as motivation: Baz deliberately frames their intimacy as an act of revenge against the Mage, turning the bed into a symbol of defiance. This dark humour highlights how their relationship is partly forged in opposition to past authority.
  • Simon’s wings: Still present under his T-shirt, his wings represent his otherness and the part of him that cannot be hidden. Their cramped feeling parallels his emotional discomfort, and Baz’s acceptance of them suggests a deeper acceptance of Simon’s whole self.
  • Coldness and control: Baz’s cool skin and vampire physiology symbolise his difference, but also the calm he brings. Simon’s biting and gripping threaten to become destructive, while Baz’s cold hands and measured voice act as a brake.
  • The mattress as the Mage’s legacy: Simon’s flat and bed are paid for by the Mage, tying their new life to the past. Baz’s use of the bed for pleasure rather than duty reclaims space from the Mage’s influence.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Simon and Baz’s relationship. It moves beyond physical attraction into a raw, honest negotiation of boundaries and trauma. Simon admits his deepest fear—that he’s incapable of healthy intimacy—and Baz accepts that challenge. The chapter also advances the book’s larger plot by revealing the Mage’s will (which gives Simon financial independence) and setting up the investigation of Smith-Richards, a major conflict in the second half of the novel. Finally, it reinforces Baz’s character as not merely a love interest but a grounding force for Simon.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Baz say he kissed Simon on the Mage’s bed?
    Baz claims he did it out of spite, because anything that would anger the Mage is a turn-on. This reveals his lingering resentment and also shows he uses dark humour to defuse tension.

  2. How does Simon describe his old expectation for his life?
    Simon says he always assumed he would die fighting the Greatest Threat to Magic, never expecting to settle down. This explains why he struggles with the idea of a normal, non-violent relationship.

  3. According to Baz, why can’t Smith-Richards truly cure weak magic?
    Baz argues that weak magic is not a single disease but a composite of aptitude, ability, capacity, training, and practice. No single cure can address all those factors, which makes Smith-Richards’s claims suspicious.

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