An absolute fantastic follow up to the first book, Wanderers. I absolutely love this apocalyptic scifi story, the cast, and Wendig’s writing.

A very enjoyable follow up to Wanderers and has made me a fan of Chuck Wendig’s writing. I went into this book thinking all that was left of humanity were the select chosen few but that was not the case. Many outliers that survived one way or another through the pandemic come into play in this book along with revelations that the select few are deeply flawed themselves.Survival, humanity,suspense,family ties and of course rock n roll! Our rock and roll star gives an explosive performance in this one.

This was a good sequel but I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first book. Honestly I think it could have been left alone and been fine, but Chuck's writing is beautiful and I enjoy reading his work. 4 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I loved Wanderers and flew through this giant book in a few days. And when I saw there was a sequel, I knew I would be reading it. I’m a big fan of Chuck Wendig Black River Orchard and The Book of Accidents are also excellent. I loved that I could feel pieces of other horror apocalyptic books in this one, namely The Stand and Swan Song.

The story picks up five years after Wanderers ends and we see our beloved sleepwalkers and shepherds again. To say too much would be to spoil the entire series, so I’ll just say this was an excellent sequel and I loved returning to this world. If you are a fan of dystopian, apocalyptic books, this duology is a must-read.

A strong post-apocalyptic story that follows up on his book Wanderers. In Wayward, the world is dealing with the aftermath of a devastating global pandemic that has drastically reduced the population and transformed society. The story focuses on the survivors as they navigate a new, dangerous world filled with threats both human and environmental. The main character, Shana, and her group of wanderers continue their journey, trying to find safety and rebuild some semblance of civilization. Along the way, they face various challenges, including remnants of the old world and emerging new powers. I love how Wendig explores themes of survival, community, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. He successfully weaves a tale that combines elements of science fiction, horror, and thriller, creating a gripping and thought-provoking story about the struggle to maintain humanity in a fractured world. Highly recommended.

I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, Wanderers, despite reading it after the pandemic lockdowns. But where that book told of the lead up to the pandemic and how people coped with the seeming end of the world, this one is very much post=apocalyptic and I found I didn't love it as much as the first one. I think this is partially because there are so many post-apocalyptic novels these days, whereas there aren't as many that detail the lead-up to the world falling apart in the way that Wanderers did. If you didn't read the first book, I think you could follow along fine the way you would with any post-apocalyptic novel.

I thought Black Swan was kind of boring as a villain but Creel gave me the same vibe as the villains in old silent movies (in all the best ways). Like the first book, though, this one is LONG and I think parts could have been cut or condensed. The world-building is pristine though, and the story, despite its length, carried me along for the ride without too much trouble.

Do I think these two books could probably have been one long book? Definitely yes. But if you like apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic fiction, then these are worth the read.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

"Wayward" by Chuck Wendig is a gripping and gritty tale that plunges readers into a world of suspense, intrigue, and supernatural forces. Set in a small town where secrets run deep and danger lurks around every corner, Wendig weaves together a captivating narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its complex characters, atmospheric setting, and pulse-pounding plot, "Wayward" is a must-read for fans of dark urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. Wendig's skillful storytelling and vivid imagination make this novel an unforgettable journey into the unknown.

A creepy, slow burn of a novel. I put it away for months and returned to it now and again, reading a few chapters at a time. I preferred Wanderers, as this one felt overwrought at times, as though it could use some streamlining, but fans of Wendig will certainly want to read the second book in the series.

Wendig is such a character. I would honestly love to see inside his mind. I wrote in another review that he can be compared to Stephen King because of the style and mind-bending storylines. But he definitely has a whole original point of view.

As with the first in this series it’s a thiccckkkk one. I don’t think it needed to be either. It made for a difficult read because I found myself skimming a lot. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

I read Wanderers, loved it, and dug right into this 800 page epic. I was not disappointed! I didn't love all the characters, and at times the plot dragged some for me, but all in all another well done post apocalyptic novel from Wendig!

Chuck Wendig (some would say better known for being funny on twitter) has written an excellent sci-fi tale of a dystopian future (is there any different) filled with greedy and kind characters.

Where do I start? This book had me going through all the emotions and I also got to revisit all these wonderful characters that I fell in love with in The Wanderers. There’s nothing better than trauma bonding with a bunch of fictional characters during a pandemic!

In a lot of ways Wayward, like the Wanderers, feels very prescient for our time. While I appreciated the skillful writing and the almost prophetic voice, it felt very long and I got bored at times.

This is a story about more than just survival.

This book is magnificent. The ability to spin a story with numerous, dynamic characters in a complex world, while also creating an unnerving landscape is something that feels deeply impressive. This story is massive but never feels pointless.

The story feels complete, but if the author writes another 10 books in this world I will read them all.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Ballantine & Del Rey!

Wayward was a rich follow-up to a story that gripped me the moment it fell into my hands. Equally frustrating and satisfying, it hit every note Wendig is known for. I especially love how he writes like a DM who is anticipating every move his party will make.

Book Two?! This is the second book in a duology?! I'm such a Chuck Wendig fan ... how did I miss the first book? Fortunately, I never felt like I was missing anything as relationships and circumstances felt well explained through the course of the book.

The story: Five years ago, many ordinary Americans fell victim to a strange affliction that caused them walk, zombie-like, to a destination that only they seemed to know. Others followed them, to protect them. They became known as 'shepherds.'

The secret destination was Ouray, Colorado and this town in the middle of the mountains would become one of the last bastions of civilization as the sleepwalking epidemic was only the first incident in what would be the end of the familiar world and the start of something new and very different.

Those gathered in Ouray - sleepwalkers, shepherds, and survivors alike - struggle to understand their new situation and form new relationships with the strangers around them. Trust in one another is something to be earned, but there may not be time for this as Ouray is not the only civilization oasis. Other locations and other individuals are gathering, including some with nothing but the acquisition of power in mind.

There may be an answer to what has happened, but it will mean a dangerous journey and there are no guarantees they'll find what they're looking for.

This is an absolute epic. Stephen King did it with The Stand, and Justin Cronin did it with The Passage. Now Chuck Wendig has done it with The Wanderers (and this, the follow-up, Wayward) ... an apocalyptic, man-made (sort of) epidemic that vastly changes the landscape of the civilized world. And, just as I enjoyed King's and Cronin's works, I really liked Wendig's bleak future.

For me, one of the hallmarks of Wendig's writing is his absolute viciousness. He pulls no punches and aims for the jugular. And that's his heroes. And by that standard, this book was just slightly subdued, with only his villain, the self-proclaimed new President of the United States, Ed Creel, striking out cruelly and viscously.

The book offers a really nice balance of character and story. I believe you need to be invested in what happens and that usually starts with the characters and there's a core group here, although even among this small group a few rise up and the ultimate confrontation will center around them.

This is a powerful book and I'm really eager now to read the first book in the duology.

Looking for a good book? Wayward, by Chuck Wendig, is an apocalyptic epic by one of the best, raw, sci-fi authors out there today.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Chuck Wendig you incredible bastard! You’ve done it again! The sequel is as amazing. I thought after the first story, maybe there wouldn’t be the same suspense this time, but I was more than surprised that it sucked me in again. Bravo! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After disliking the ending of the first book, I was nervous going into this. I was pleasantly surprised! I felt as though the last chapter of book 1 ruined the whole thing for me but this didn't go the way I thought it was going to. Much of what I liked about this are spoilers so I can't go too much into it. My major complaint about this duology is that the books are SO LONG and it felt like they could be split into mulitple books. Definitely don't think I would ever reread these, but I enjoyed them!

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine, Del Rey for the digital ARC!

'Wayward' is certainly daunting in its page count and content, especially as someone who did not know it was a sequel when selecting it to receive an ARC- however, it was so excellent and Wendig made the content extremely accessible to anyone who had not picked up book one that I found myself immersed all the same.

The characters are nuanced, they drive the story, there is never a wasted word or moment- hard to do with a page count like 'Wayward', if I'm honest. Each person felt real, felt fleshed out, and could stand alone, despite not having them introduced previously. For such a massive endeavor, all the pieces come together and all the dots connect.

For any fans of Michael Crichton's 'Prey', I cannot recommend this book enough.

Truly, this one is not to be missed, and if I ever have time to devote I would love to read the first in the series.