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kba25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
mdkearns's review against another edition
5.0
This book. It's profound, compelling, illuminating, prophetic, violent. Can't say I loved the ending, but it will live on in my psyche for quite a while.
miranda_grace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
"Wayward" by Chuck Wendig is a sprawling and emotionally charged follow-up to "Wanderers." At over 750 pages, it's an epic+ journey that delves into themes of grief, loss, second chances, and the unpredictable nature of life.
The narrative's emotional depth is anchored by the remarkable character development. For example, Matthew, whose transformation from detestable to indispensable is both compelling and, in some ways, expected. Wendig's ability to navigate the complexities of human emotions, while also incorporating diverse points of view, including that of Gumball, the Golden Retriever, is truly impressive.
The timing of the Wanderers was eerily prescient, as it foretold a pandemic, lockdowns, civil unrest and rapid polarization, and even war. Wayward continues the investigation of the implications of AI and machine learning, echoing real-world concerns, and continues to delve deeper into fascism and white-supremacy in a work of fiction that doesn't seem far from reality.
Pacing, while initially challenging (.25 deduction for that), eventually gives way to a compelling and propulsive narrative that culminates in a deeply emotional and resonant conclusion. The book's exploration of grief and loss is balanced by its themes of hope, second chances, and new beginnings, creating a rich and multifaceted tapestry of human experience.
I really loved both Wanderers and Wayward the only problem is they are hard to recommend solely based on length 😂
The narrative's emotional depth is anchored by the remarkable character development. For example, Matthew, whose transformation from detestable to indispensable is both compelling and, in some ways, expected. Wendig's ability to navigate the complexities of human emotions, while also incorporating diverse points of view, including that of Gumball, the Golden Retriever, is truly impressive.
The timing of the Wanderers was eerily prescient, as it foretold a pandemic, lockdowns, civil unrest and rapid polarization, and even war. Wayward continues the investigation of the implications of AI and machine learning, echoing real-world concerns, and continues to delve deeper into fascism and white-supremacy in a work of fiction that doesn't seem far from reality.
Pacing, while initially challenging (.25 deduction for that), eventually gives way to a compelling and propulsive narrative that culminates in a deeply emotional and resonant conclusion. The book's exploration of grief and loss is balanced by its themes of hope, second chances, and new beginnings, creating a rich and multifaceted tapestry of human experience.
I really loved both Wanderers and Wayward the only problem is they are hard to recommend solely based on length 😂
killerpancake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
GUMBALL FOREVER!!!
Ok now seriously… I struggled at the beginning of this one. I loved Wanderers and think I jumped back into the world too quickly. So after about 6ish months I was ready to go back, picking up where I’d left off at 20%. So incredibly worth it.
This book starts slow but once I understood why I was back I was all in. Wendig brings people back without it seeming weird, introduces new people that I was fascinated by and took me on a journey I couldn’t have expected.
Damn… I have this on my list of books to annotate one day. Now that I know how it concludes I want to see how the journey weaves itself together.
Ok now seriously… I struggled at the beginning of this one. I loved Wanderers and think I jumped back into the world too quickly. So after about 6ish months I was ready to go back, picking up where I’d left off at 20%. So incredibly worth it.
This book starts slow but once I understood why I was back I was all in. Wendig brings people back without it seeming weird, introduces new people that I was fascinated by and took me on a journey I couldn’t have expected.
Damn… I have this on my list of books to annotate one day. Now that I know how it concludes I want to see how the journey weaves itself together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gore, Violence, Medical trauma, Cursing, Blood, Death, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Grief, and Excrement
jlmccurry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
eitani's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? N/A
4.25
angiedkelly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
meghan_readsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Random House Ballantine for the review copy of Wayward. I am a fan of Wendig's writing style, he blends strong literary writing once again with strong plot and character development. I am grateful he feels he can write literature while generating plots that captivate so many readers (literary fiction, strong writing do not have to alienate readers!). Wendig's book here again captures themes that are less apocalyptic than they are real, uncovering again the messiness of humanity and our current sociopolitical world, our relationships with tech and media... he brings us in to question and examine once more what humanity is and what it could be/should be. There are also great points about being a leader, breaking down barriers from the past to move to rebirth and renewal and the idea that we can move past times of loss and isolation and into a new sense of belonging that comes from working together.
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw that Wanderers was getting a sequel I was surprised. I read that pre-pandemic and thought it was great, though kind of odd once the pandemic hit. But I was looking forward to it as who wouldn't want more story to read? So I went back and re-read Wanderers again and I am glad I did as I had forgotten so much. Then moved on to book two and it was just as good. Just as fun and I loved seeing how everything played out. How people survived after the end of the world. It was really hopeful and yeah I really enjoyed it. And I will say one thing - I usually do not enjoy stories or chapters written from an animal's point of view, but I could have been happy with more Gumdrop chapters! He was such a very good boy.
surfmonkey01's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but the first book was way better. And this was VERY hard to read following our own real-works pandemic and all the crap that came with that..