Wayward Audiobook By Chuck Wendig cover art

Wayward

Wanderers, Book 2

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Wayward

By: Chuck Wendig
Narrated by: Xe Sands, Dominic Hoffman
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About this listen

“If King had written a sequel to The Stand, it might look something like this monumental epic of a story.”—James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Kingdom of Bones

“As great as Wanderers was, Wayward is better.”—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones

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

Their secret destination: Ouray, a small town in Colorado that would become 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.

The survivors, sleepwalkers and shepherds alike, have a dream of rebuilding human society. Among them are Benji, the scientist struggling through grief to lead the town; Marcy, the former police officer who wants only to look after the people she loves; and Shana, the teenage girl who became the first shepherd—and an unlikely hero whose courage will be needed again.

Because the people of Ouray are not the only survivors, and the world they are building is fragile. The 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 AI who imagined the apocalypse.

Against these threats, Benji, Marcy, Shana, and the rest have only one hope: one another. Because the only way to survive the end of the world is together.

©2022 Chuck Wendig (P)2022 Random House Audio
Action & Adventure Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Royalty Scary King

What listeners say about Wayward

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Awesome follow up

A little on the long side , but characters that weren’t in Wanderers get a filled in nicely. The main thing I could have lived without is long drawn out chapters with people talking to AI. Overall it was a well written well crafted book that I won’t soon forget like many others that I’ve read. Keep up the good work Chuck, I’d love read another sequel about how Shanna, Nessi and Benji survive, thrive, or don’t in this new world. Anyways this book is def worth a credit and a listen. Enjoy

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So good to be back

It was so lovely to go back to this world - even though this world is bleak. The characters are well designed and I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know what was next!

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better than first!

still not a fan of narrator xe sands but overall a great listen. geez I wonder who President Creel is supposed to be...

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No one writes AI like Chuck

AI rum amuck is frightening. AI run amuck in a pandemic in a time of political upheaval is a nightmare. I loved these books even more than I loved his book Zeroes. I have read in the reviews that some readers found this series too political. I would encourage readers to fight the urge to place this in our political reality and instead to examine the behaviors of all the participants and what those choices wrought. It’s not easy being human, but in life there’s hope.

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Fantastic Sequel to Wanderers!

Wayward is a stunning sequel to Wanderers. I listened to this book on Audible and enjoyed every minute. The story is really wild crazy scenes and thoughtful interludes. The characters are well developed and the dialog is fantastic. Well done Wendig and narrators!

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Wayward has everything that made me love Wanderers and then some

What a story dude. I originally thought it was starting a bit slow but once my memory of the characters was refreshed I was just as captivated as when Wanderers took me hostage a few years ago. Definitely recommend.

P.S. Pete Corley is the best GD character since Stephen King wrote Eddie Dean in The Dark Tower series.

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wow

i will never emotionally recover from this series in the best way possible. thank you chuck.

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Excellent Conclusion

If you lean right, skip this book or you'll get big booty hurt and want to burn your method of listening while filming it to make a ridiculous TikTok about it. If you lean left, listen with care. I had to 30-second skip a few times bc Chuck was way too close to reality and I don't need to know depraved details and vitriol of white robe-wearing, arm-straight-out saluting pieces of dog poops we have living in our country and the world. Good job, Chuck, you made me hella uncomfortable! And I mean it in the best way. LOL!
In regards to the story, he did an excellent job crafting this non-zombie apocalyptic story with a stunning, yet kinda sad, ending. Again, I would've preferred Xe to narrate the entire book, but Dominic wasn't horrible.

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great sequel, loved returning to this world

this is my favorite series by Chuck Wendig. be sure to start with Wanderers or you'll be lost!

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Truly Exemplary

This book soars and soars then soars some more, all while pulling the listener through pit after pit of worry and anxiety for characters dear not only to us, but to others in the story. A few times I had to take small breaks to settle my nervous system.

Absolute masterful storytelling. Bravo, Chuck.

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