Reviews

Wayward by Chuck Wendig

millib's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

jordysbookclub's review against another edition

3.0

QUICK TAKE: I liked it, but not as much as WANDERERS. Creel is a fantastic mustache-twirly villain, but Black Swan is kinda a dud, and I found myself rolling my eyes during all of its scenes. The Creel stuff though is really great, and I could have spent an entire book at Atlas Haven, or whatever the bunker was that they stuffed all the world leaders in. Ultimately, i think Wanderers and Wayward could have been squished into one book, but as a hardcore fan of post-apocalyptic, I am all in when it comes to 800 page books.

gregz_newdorkreviewofbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Picking up the minute Wanderers leaves off, we follow the residents of Ouray, Colorado as they attempt to build a community at the end of the world. In the background (or much more in the foreground than anyone would like to admit) is the deity-like AI Black Swan. What strings is it pulling?

Shana, Nessie, Benji, Marcy, Pastor Matthew, and the buffoonish Trump-stand-in Ed Creel are all back.

This is a solid if not spectacular sequel. If you loved Wanderers (as I did) and are up for 800 more pages with these characters, this time in a pandemic-shattered world, this is your thing. Good escapist reading!

sleepytimebooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

mamadragonfly's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed “catching up” with the characters and seeing how the story progressed from the first book. The sequel didn’t quite grip me as much as the first book, and I felt that it dragged at times. Overall, I am glad that I read it and it was very well-written.

jakewjerrard's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

seullywillikers's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Whew. These books are such a wild ride. I really appreciate how far Wendig took this story, and I love reading a story that is unapologetically progressive.

beckyhill's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

jmsci2's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

3.75

kldobbs's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25