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megsib's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
4.75
A great sequel to Wanderers! It was made even more intense by the footnotes and epigraphs from actual people who write about AI and technology and have scary, scary predictions. Loved the complex characters in this book.
trees75's review against another edition
5.0
Chuck Wendig has earned his place as one of my all-time favorite authors. This was a book that I never wanted to end, yet I couldn’t put it down. At some point, I want to go back and read both of these again. All I can say is, wow. Well done.
dfarrell627's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.25
drfrizzle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
squaresofliving's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
booknerd7820's review against another edition
5.0
As a huge fan of both Stephen King’s The Stand and Robert McCammon’s Swan Song, I never expected another epic apocalyptic story with as many memorable characters could ever compare. I was completely proven wrong with Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers. When I found out that a sequel was being published, I jumped at the opportunity to read it and I have to admit that every single page has been an absolute joy. My husband can attest that every 10 minutes, I would exclaim, “I f*cking love this book!”
Wayward takes place five years after the events in Wanderers and our favorite characters are back dealing with the ever increasingly powerful and self aware AI, Black Swan. For me, reading this book was the equivalent of checking in on old friends and family. It is a rare talent to create so many unique characters whose traits hold steady over the course of two very lengthy novels and also be able to execute an incredible plot driven storyline that is both very horrifyingly believable and so action packed that I simultaneously did not want to put the book down and I also did not want it to ever end.
Wendig has produced a near perfect conclusion to Wanderers and everyone I know is getting a copy under the tree this year.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Chick Wendig for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wayward takes place five years after the events in Wanderers and our favorite characters are back dealing with the ever increasingly powerful and self aware AI, Black Swan. For me, reading this book was the equivalent of checking in on old friends and family. It is a rare talent to create so many unique characters whose traits hold steady over the course of two very lengthy novels and also be able to execute an incredible plot driven storyline that is both very horrifyingly believable and so action packed that I simultaneously did not want to put the book down and I also did not want it to ever end.
Wendig has produced a near perfect conclusion to Wanderers and everyone I know is getting a copy under the tree this year.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Chick Wendig for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
thisdadreads's review against another edition
4.0
As any reader of Star Wars books knows, the diversity and range of authors is as vast as the galaxy itself. Author of the Star Wars Aftermath trilogy, Chuck Wendig, published his novel Wanderers back in 2019. That book was freakishly prophetic in that it revolved around a global pandemic amidst great political turmoil in the United States. In short, Wanderers followed a mysterious flock who was making a trek across the country. Seemingly indestructible, this group was followed by shepherds, family members of the flock who wouldn’t leave the sides of their loved ones. As the country dealt with the catastrophic White Mask pandemic, the leaders of the United States took advantage of the flock for their own political gains. An unlikely group of shepherds banded together to protect the flock as they try to figure out just what exactly is going on.
Wanderer’s sequel, Wayward, continues the story and takes things to even more disturbing places (let’s hope Wendig’s not as successful in predicting actual world events this time around!). Before I go much further I think it’s important to note that reading Wanderers before Wayward is basically a requirement as these two stories tie directly into one another.
Wayward centers on Benji, a scientist struggling through grief to lead the residents of a mountain town in Colorado; Marcy, a former police officer who only wants everyone to get along; and Shana, the teenage girl who became the first shepherd—who finds the responsibilities of young adulthood almost too much to bear. A vile man who wormed his way to the presidency, Ed Creel, becomes even more powerful as the world crawls its way out of the White Mask pandemic. Ever present is Black Swan, the freaky A.I. being who’s nanobytes have kept the flock alive but as it evolves into an emotional being, risks the freedoms our heroes have worked so hard to fight for. Amidst a changed country, Benji and Shana go on another journey across the country with a mission to take down Black Swan and save their loved ones and quite possibly the world.
Wendig succeeds in telling a gripping and often horrifying tale about America figuring out how to be a country in a post-pandemic world. His main characters Benji and Shana are ones that I grew to really love and Wendig definitely puts them through the ringer in Wayward. This is one of those books where the unraveling of a mystery is most of the fun, but Wendig does a great job of drawing readers into the emotions of the lead characters and had me cheering them on the entire time. Wendig’s prose, while clear, well written and oftentimes humorous, can sometimes get a tad verbose for my taste (both Wayward and Wanderers are almost 800 pages each). There are a number of side characters and storylines that I wouldn’t say are completely unnecessary, but I found myself wanting to get back to the main story beats often. As a note, Wayward is solidly for adults only and includes language and depictions of violence. It’s not grotesque, but if it was a film it’d be R rated.
Ultimately, Wayward is a book I simply couldn’t put down for its combination of science fiction, dystopian fiction, fantasy, mystery, and thriller elements. I hear that the TV rights have been sold to these books, so we might be seeing these characters on screen in the near future too! I give Wayward by Chuck Wendig
Wanderer’s sequel, Wayward, continues the story and takes things to even more disturbing places (let’s hope Wendig’s not as successful in predicting actual world events this time around!). Before I go much further I think it’s important to note that reading Wanderers before Wayward is basically a requirement as these two stories tie directly into one another.
Wayward centers on Benji, a scientist struggling through grief to lead the residents of a mountain town in Colorado; Marcy, a former police officer who only wants everyone to get along; and Shana, the teenage girl who became the first shepherd—who finds the responsibilities of young adulthood almost too much to bear. A vile man who wormed his way to the presidency, Ed Creel, becomes even more powerful as the world crawls its way out of the White Mask pandemic. Ever present is Black Swan, the freaky A.I. being who’s nanobytes have kept the flock alive but as it evolves into an emotional being, risks the freedoms our heroes have worked so hard to fight for. Amidst a changed country, Benji and Shana go on another journey across the country with a mission to take down Black Swan and save their loved ones and quite possibly the world.
Wendig succeeds in telling a gripping and often horrifying tale about America figuring out how to be a country in a post-pandemic world. His main characters Benji and Shana are ones that I grew to really love and Wendig definitely puts them through the ringer in Wayward. This is one of those books where the unraveling of a mystery is most of the fun, but Wendig does a great job of drawing readers into the emotions of the lead characters and had me cheering them on the entire time. Wendig’s prose, while clear, well written and oftentimes humorous, can sometimes get a tad verbose for my taste (both Wayward and Wanderers are almost 800 pages each). There are a number of side characters and storylines that I wouldn’t say are completely unnecessary, but I found myself wanting to get back to the main story beats often. As a note, Wayward is solidly for adults only and includes language and depictions of violence. It’s not grotesque, but if it was a film it’d be R rated.
Ultimately, Wayward is a book I simply couldn’t put down for its combination of science fiction, dystopian fiction, fantasy, mystery, and thriller elements. I hear that the TV rights have been sold to these books, so we might be seeing these characters on screen in the near future too! I give Wayward by Chuck Wendig
probablyjenna's review against another edition
5.0
I would marry this series if it was legal to do so.
lfthoman's review against another edition
5.0
Starting off Year 4 of a global pandemic by reading a 1600-page duology about a global pandemic was perhaps not the most well-considered choice I've ever made, but I'm glad I made it. WAYWARD (and the first book, WANDERERS) absolutely blew me away. I loved all the characters I was meant to love, and hated all the characters I was meant to hate. I was more emotionally invested in them than I've been in any book characters for a long time, which meant that I actually got misty at a few points in WAYWARD when things were going poorly for them. But even then, I couldn't stop hoovering up this story, because even the bad moments felt well earned and perfectly appropriate.
I've read a lot of sequels that faltered in light of the original, but WAYWARD lands the plane with confidence and style. Maybe even pops a wheelie on the runway.
WANDERERS sucked me in on page one, and WAYWARD didn't let me go until the final sentence of the Afterword. Just masterful storytelling on every level, the kind of writing that inspires me to dream big, and energizes me to create.
I've read a lot of sequels that faltered in light of the original, but WAYWARD lands the plane with confidence and style. Maybe even pops a wheelie on the runway.
WANDERERS sucked me in on page one, and WAYWARD didn't let me go until the final sentence of the Afterword. Just masterful storytelling on every level, the kind of writing that inspires me to dream big, and energizes me to create.
zachkuhlman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0