Chapter 7 Summary: Nikolai – Confronting Desire and Identity

⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary contains major details from Chapter 7 of God of Fury. If you haven’t read the chapter yet, proceed with caution.

Summary

Nikolai, who nicknamed his penis “Kolya,” recounts his lifelong sexual adventures. For the first time, Kolya refuses to perform: a planned foursome bores him, and he falls asleep on the stairs while his partners have sex without him. He realizes Kolya only responds when he thinks about Brandon King, the uptight preppy twin of his rival Landon. Nikolai recalls Brandon sitting on his lap during the initiation and the electric tension between them. To understand his own feelings, Nikolai interrogates his cousins: Killian is fluid, Jeremy is firmly straight, and Gareth admits he might be attracted to “one person.” A week later, Nikolai wakes at dawn to stalk Brandon during his daily jog, eventually pulling out Brandon’s earbud and whispering a greeting.

Key Events

Nikolai has a group of three willing partners but cannot get aroused or participate; he watches them have sex and falls asleep at the bottom of the stairs.
He berates his penis, “Kolya,” for refusing to cooperate with any partner.
Nikolai traces his lack of interest back to Brandon King, who sat on his lap during the initiation and made Kolya hard.
He recalls inviting Brandon to the initiation purely to mess with Landon, but the physical reaction was unexpected.
Nikolai asks his cousin Killian about attraction to men; Killian states he hooks up with anyone regardless of gender.
He asks Jeremy, who firmly says he only likes women.
He corners cousin Gareth, who admits he might be attracted to men because of “one person,” but refuses to elaborate.
A week later, Nikolai wakes at 5:30 AM to stalk Brandon’s Instagram routine and follows him on his run.
He pulls out Brandon’s earbud and whispers, “Long time no see. Miss me?”

Character Development

Nikolai: For the first time, his hedonistic, sex-positive identity clashes with a specific emotional–physical attraction to a man he previously dismissed. His personification of his penis as an independent entity shows his attempt to externalize his internal conflict.
Gareth (cousin): Hints at a possible bisexual awakening when pushed by Nikolai, but remains closeted and refuses to name the person.
Brandon King: Not directly present in the chapter, but his memory and Instagram-driven routine drive Nikolai’s actions. He is depicted as controlled, handsome, and secretly appealing to Nikolai.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Personification of Sexuality: “Kolya” acts as a separate character, representing Nikolai’s libido and his struggle when it fails to respond to his usual patterns.
Heteronormativity vs. Self-Discovery: Nikolai interrogates multiple characters about their attraction to men, probing the spectrum of sexuality from Jeremy’s strict heterosexuality to Killian’s fluidity to Gareth’s suppressed attraction.
Control vs. Chaos: Brandon’s rigid morning routine contrasts with Nikolai’s impulsive, chaotic stalking. The juxtaposition highlights the tension between order and desire.
Stalking as Pursuit: Nikolai’s early-morning surveillance mirrors a predator–prey dynamic, suggesting his obsession is both predatory and irresistible.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point in Nikolai’s arc. His sexual dysfunction (for lack of a better term) signals a deeper emotional vulnerability. By admitting his attraction to a “straight” man like Brandon, Nikolai begins to question his own identity beyond pure hedonism. The conversations with his cousins also establish a thematic exploration of bisexuality and societal pressure, which will likely recur as his relationship with Brandon develops.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Nikolai refer to his penis as “Kolya”?
Nikolai uses the Russian diminutive of his own name as a humorous, depersonalized nickname for his erection. It allows him to treat his libido as a separate, often disobedient, entity and to joke about his sexual history without taking full responsibility.

2. What does Gareth’s confession reveal about the novel’s treatment of sexuality?
Gareth says he might be attracted to men because of “one person” but refuses to go further. This suggests that the novel views sexuality as fluid and often triggered by a specific individual rather than by a fixed orientation. It mirrors Nikolai’s own situation with Brandon.

3. How does the author use the motif of control in Nikolai’s stalking of Brandon?
Brandon’s meticulous, timed morning run and “#NewDay” hashtag represent his need for order. Nikolai’s intrusion – pulling out an earbud and whispering – shatters that control, implying that genuine desire cannot be confined by rigid routines. The stalking also reverses power dynamics: the usually dominant Nikolai becomes the pursuer, chasing someone he cannot possess.