Wayward (Wanderers, #2)

by Chuck Wendig

The epic sequel to Chuck Wendig's apocalyptic literary masterpiece WANDERERS.

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE THE END OF THE WORLD?

Five years ago, a group of ordinary Americans fell under the grip of a strange new malady that caused them to sleepwalk across the country. They were followed on their quest by the shepherds: friends and family who gave up everything to protect them.

Their destination, Ouray, became one of the last outposts of civilization, because the sleepwalking epidemic was only the first in a chain of events that led to the end of the world - and the birth of a new one.

But the people of Ouray are not the only survivors, and their new world is fragile. Forces of cruelty and brutality are amassing under the leadership of self-proclaimed president Ed Creel. And in the very heart of Ouray, the most powerful survivor of all is plotting its own vision for the new world: Black Swan, the A.I. who imagined the apocalypse.

Against these threats, they have only one hope: one another. Because the only way to survive the end of the world is together.

'As great as Wanderers was, Wayward is better . . . Combines grim extrapolation, great characters, and hope.' Christopher Golden

'Salient, masterful, this is an author at the top of his game.' Adam Christopher

'IMAX-scale bleeding-edge techno-horror from a writer with a freshly sharpened scalpel.' Kirkus

• ISBN10: 1529157617
• ISBN13: 9781529157611
• Publish Date: 15 November 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Imprint: Penguin (Cornerstone)
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Five years ago, the world changed. Some people fell victim to what appeared to be a sleepwalking sickness. Others followed the walkers in hopes of protecting loved ones from the world they could no longer see.

As it turns out, this was a sign that the world as we know it was ending. Now, the survivors are trying to rebuild society, but it will require careful work. This will prove challenging, as there is still quite a lot of cruelty in the world.

My Review:

Wow. Chuck Wendig sure has a way with words, doesn't he? I'll be honest; I never expected a sequel to Wanderers, though now I question why. Wayward felt inevitable – a follow-up that we've all been waiting for.

As one might imagine, this is quite a heavy read. Both literally and figuratively. The book is MASSIVE, yet I can't think of a single section I would have cut out, given a chance. Much of the story feels painfully relevant, so I can see why people have latched onto this series so strongly.

As with the first novel, Wayward is made up of several perspectives. This helps to give us a better view of the world. It also reminds us of the diversity among people – even a limited number of survivors. I liked that little implication.

Highlights:
Science Fiction + Horror
Post Apocalyptic
Dystopian
Rebuilding Society

Thanks to Del Rey Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy