Any Way the Wind Blows: In-Depth Questions and Answers

This page offers a close look at key moments in Rainbow Rowell’s third Simon Snow novel, Any Way the Wind Blows. Each answer is grounded in specific chapters from the book. For a full breakdown of the finale, see the ending explained. Links to character and theme pages are provided throughout.

1. Why does Simon accept the Mage’s inheritance in Chapter 8?

Simon initially refuses the Mage’s estate, insisting he killed the man and wasn’t manipulated. After sleeping on Dr. Wellbelove’s advice, he changes his mind. He realises he needs the money to leave the World of Mages, rent a flat, and eventually find a job. He also schedules surgery to remove his wings, which magic cannot touch. This decision marks his first deliberate step toward building a life outside magic, accepting the money as a tool for escape rather than a reward. In Chapter 8, Simon admits he doesn’t deserve it but says, “I could use it—I could really use it right now.” The chapter shows him letting go of his past identity and preparing for a future as a Normal. Read more about Simon’s character.

2. What does Baz’s visit to Fiona in Chapter 60 reveal about family tensions?

When Baz demands the tape recorder Fiona gave him years ago, she initially claims not to remember. He accuses her of using him as a child spy against the Mage, while she insists they were at war. Baz realises he only sought her approval, not a war. He leaves, declaring he no longer cares about being a “good Pitch.” The argument exposes how Fiona manipulated Baz’s childhood loyalty and how Baz is now breaking free from that legacy. In Chapter 60, Fiona says, “You wanted to help,” and Baz counters, “I wanted to make you happy, I wanted to be a good Pitch! Whatever that means…” This scene deepens Baz’s guilt over stealing Philippa’s voice and forces him to confront his family’s moral compromises. Explore the theme of family and legacy.

3. How does Penelope’s “sphere of accountability” drive her actions with Shepard in Chapter 7?

Penelope tells Shepard that once she touches a problem, she must see it through. She feels responsible for his well‑being and cannot drop him like litter. This compels her to defy her mother’s memory spell and later to summon a demon on Shepard’s behalf. Her sense of duty also causes tension when she discovers he hid the marriage contract, because she values total honesty within her sphere. In Chapter 7, she explains, “Once I touch a problem, I see it through.” She calls it her “sphere of accountability.” This concept drives her risky decisions throughout the book, including breaking secrecy laws and performing dangerous rituals. Read about Penelope’s character.

4. Why does Simon lie to the group and go alone to stop Smith in Chapter 74?

Simon tells Baz, Penelope, and Pippa he will wait at the Weeping Tower, but he flies straight to the White Chapel. He believes his friends have enough red flags and does not want them to face Smith’s dangerous spell. Simon also feels a personal responsibility because of his own experience as a false Chosen One. He wants to stop Smith from harming more people, even if it means lying to protect those he loves. In Chapter 74, Pippa says, “You lied to them,” and Simon replies, “Yes.” He then admits, “I’m going to stop Smith.” His unilateral action later causes anger in Baz, who feels betrayed. This decision highlights Simon’s tendency to carry burdens alone. Explore the theme of guilt and forgiveness.

5. What is the significance of the Watford goats and Agatha’s role in Chapter 76?

The winged goats are magical creatures that protect Watford’s boundaries. After Ebb Petty’s death, the herd is dwindling, and Niamh warns that if they leave entirely, Watford will lose its magic. Agatha, who previously rejected magic and the school, helps Niamh deliver a kid. When she catches a live kid after a stillborn one, Niamh says, “You saved Watford,” and they kiss. This moment marks Agatha’s re‑engagement with the magical world on her own terms—not as a chosen one, but as a caretaker. In Chapter 76, Agatha cries and laughs as she holds the newborn. The kiss with Niamh signals a new relationship and a purpose grounded in practical, life‑giving work. See also the ending explained.

6. How does the tape recorder from Chapter 60 tie into Baz’s guilt and the resolution with Philippa?

Fiona gave Baz a magical tape recorder in fifth year meant to steal Simon Snow’s voice. Instead, it stole the voice of Philippa Stainton, a girl Baz didn’t even know. Baz kept the recorder for years, feeling guilty but unable to undo the harm. In Chapter 60, he confronts Fiona and learns the recorder is still at Watford. Later, he retrieves it and, with Simon and Penelope’s help, plays the recording back to Philippa, restoring her voice and magic. The tape recorder is a concrete symbol of Baz’s childhood complicity and his journey to take responsibility for past wrongs, even those committed by others. In Chapter 64, Baz confesses, “I stole her voice,” and Simon forgives him. Read more about Baz’s character.

7. What does Smith’s internal monologue in Chapters 44, 58, and 75 reveal about his true motives?

Smith sees himself as the Chosen One destined to restore the World of Mages to glory. He dismisses modern magicians as mundane and believes his healing spell—which temporarily boosts magic then drains it forever—is a necessary winnowing. In Chapter 44, he thinks, “I’ll save this world. And Simon Snow will help me.” In Chapter 58, he views Simon as a prop: “He’ll look very good standing next to me in the White Chapel.” After his exposure, Chapter 75 reveals his plan: “I’d clear them all out in the kindest way possible.” Smith genuinely believes his lie is a mercy because only the most powerful deserve to exist. His monologues expose a messianic delusion masked by charisma. Explore the theme of power and manipulation.

8. Why does Agatha trade her wand for a walking stick in the Epilogue?

One year after the main events, Agatha lives in a barn at Watford, tending the goat herd. She has abandoned magic and uses a walking stick instead of a wand. She reflects that the goats could manage without her, but she chooses to stay. This ending shows Agatha rejecting the magical hierarchy and expectations of her family. She finds peace in simple, practical work—caring for animals—and in her relationship with Niamh. Her decision to stay with the goats symbolizes a personal definition of worth, apart from prophecies or social pressure. The epilogue describes her sleeping in the barn loft, content with her routine.

9. How does the revelation that Simon is the Mage’s son reshape his identity in Chapters 85‑86?

When Lady Ruth realises Simon is Lucy Salisbury’s son—and therefore the Mage’s biological child—Simon’s entire history is re‑contextualised. The Mage did not just adopt him; he took his own son from a care home and lied about everything. In Chapter 86, Baz observes, “Simon wasn’t imitating the Mage; he was his biological heir.” Simon initially rejects the truth, saying, “It’s a mistake.” This revelation deepens Simon’s trauma: he killed his own father, and the man who raised him was a liar. It also gives Simon a true family—the Salisburys—but at the cost of reopening old wounds. Read more about identity and transformation.

10. What is the thematic significance of the “love versus control” debate between Baz and Penelope in Chapter 11?

After Simon leaves a note saying “I’m sorry,” Penelope refuses to search for him, telling Baz that Simon needs space and that she has been too controlling. She quotes the cliché, “If you love someone, set them free.” Baz scoffs, saying that’s just a spell, not a truth. He argues that Simon needs them and decides to find him himself, believing Simon might just need him. This exchange encapsulates a central tension in the trilogy: whether love means directing someone’s choices or trusting them to return on their own. Penelope’s stance evolves from hovering to letting go; Baz’s stance evolves from possessiveness to supportive presence. Explore the theme of love and control.

11. How does Shepard’s demon marriage contract from Chapter 36 symbolize his past recklessness?

Shepard enters the demon contract voluntarily, using a fake name, and hides the engagement from Penelope. The contract is written in legalese and functions as a prenuptial agreement, meaning Shepard bound himself to a demon without fully understanding the terms. In Chapter 36, Debbie translates the text and reveals it is a marriage contract, not just a curse. Penelope is furious that Shepard omitted this detail. The contract symbolizes Shepard’s pattern of impulsive, dangerous bargains—he also promised his thirdborn child to a giant and lost his last name to a fairy. It forces him to confront the consequences of his curiosity and charm. Read more about Shepard’s character.

12. Why does Baz hesitate to accept Daphne’s cult involvement in Chapter 34?

When Simon and Baz attend Smith‑Richards’s meeting, Baz sees his stepmother Daphne among the followers. He speaks to her and tries to convince her to come home, but she defends her choice, saying she is becoming stronger for her children. Baz is skeptical of Smith and worried about Daphne’s vulnerability, yet he does not force the issue; he only gets her to unblock his texts. His hesitation reflects his fear of repeating his father’s mistakes—controlling behaviour that drove Daphne away. Baz wants to help but respects Daphne’s agency, even when it hurts. In Chapter 34, Baz fails to convince her but says he “got her to unblock his texts,” a small step that preserves the connection.

13. What does the candle spell in Chapter 1 and Chapter 84 symbolize for Lady Ruth and Simon?

Lady Ruth keeps a candle burning for her missing son Jamie. In Chapter 1, she lights a second candle to confirm he is alive. The candle represents hope, protection magic, and maternal devotion. In Chapter 84, when Simon visits, the candle has gone out—a sign that Jamie is either dead or beyond the spell’s reach. But later, after Simon learns he is the Salisbury grandchild, the candle flares and fizzles, providing magical confirmation of his lineage. The candle thus becomes a symbol of the family bond that survived despite the Mage’s lies and separation. For Simon, the candle’s reaction is the first concrete proof that he belongs to someone. Read more about Simon’s character.

14. How does the scene with Niamh and Agatha herding goats in Chapter 51 parallel their later romantic development in Chapter 76?

In Chapter 51, Agatha and Niamh are awkward and argumentative during the goat‑herding. Agatha feels useless, and Niamh criticises her attitude. Yet by the end, Agatha charms a goat and agrees to help again. This forced collaboration builds grudging respect and opens the door for deeper connection. In Chapter 76, they share a kiss after Agatha successfully delivers a goat kid. The earlier friction gives way to admiration and emotional intimacy. The goats serve as the catalyst that brings them together, moving from antagonism to partnership and finally romance. The shift mirrors Agatha’s journey from rejecting magic to finding purpose in caring for magical creatures.

15. What is the thematic link between Simon’s surgical wing removal in Chapter 14 and his emotional vulnerability in Chapter 18?

In Chapter 14, Simon undergoes surgical preparation to have his dragon wings amputated, a physical alteration he believes will help him become “normal.” The procedure is painful and invasive, highlighting his desperation to shed his magical identity. In Chapter 18, as Baz holds him after intimacy, Simon breaks down crying, overwhelmed by Baz’s scent and the terror of closeness. His emotional vulnerability parallels the physical cuts: both represent a willingness to expose himself to pain in order to heal. The wings also become a barrier and then a point of connection; Baz kisses them, accepting Simon as he is. Simon’s body and emotions are both sites of transformation, and the novel suggests that letting go of control—whether over your wings or your heart—is the only way forward. Explore the theme of identity and transformation.