| Title | : | Wayward (Wayward Pines, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1477808701 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781477808702 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 298 |
| Publication | : | First published September 17, 2013 |
None of the residents know how they got here. They are told where to work, how to live, and who to marry. Some believe they are dead. Others think they’re trapped in an unfathomable experiment. Everyone secretly dreams of leaving, but those who dare face a terrifying surprise.
Ethan Burke has seen the world beyond. He’s sheriff, and one of the few who knows the truth—Wayward Pines isn’t just a town. And what lies on the other side of the fence is a nightmare beyond anyone’s imagining.
Wayward (Wayward Pines, #2) Reviews
-
”I know what they need. Perfection all the time would drive them mad. For every perfect little town, there’s something ugly underneath. No dream without the nightmare.”
We all have secrets we carry around with us. As a species we aren’t really good at keeping secrets, even those rattling skeletons that could prove detrimental to our lives. In the end, most of us end up telling somebody. You can swear someone to secrecy, but the same itch, the same need to tell someone that compelled you to tell them, is whispering to them from the corners of their brain. This powerful urge, maybe with some help from some uninhibiting wine or soul exploding sex, will eventually gain the upper hand, and those locked away words will spill. They swear that person to secrecy, and so on and so on until everyone you know...well...knows.
So the only way to keep a secret is to tell NO ONE.
Recently appointed Sheriff Ethan Burke is carrying the granddaddy of all secrets. I was trying to think of something in the history of mankind that is a bigger secret. Knowledge of what Brutus has planned for Julius Caesar at the forum?...hmmm...nope. Finding out the Japanese plans for Pearl Harbor on December 6th?...not even close. How about the fact that I travelled back in time and handed Alois Hitler a FREE condom nine months prior to April 20th, 1889? Epic fail! Unfortunately...his appendage was too small to stay covered for the crucial moment (as it turns out that unfortunate disability runs in that family). See, and what did I just do...I told you!!
Ethan tells his wife, Theresa.
Guilt is hammering away at him. He has kept secrets (not very well... proving my point) in the past. Big ones like doinking his hot FBI partner Kate, who also is a resident of Wayward Pines. She also happens to be running a resistance movement against the powers that be. No one, except Ethan... well and now Theresa, knows exactly who that might be.
The electric fence surrounding the town hums with high voltage electricity. Occasionally, one of the 461 residents uses the fence to kill themselves. Unfortunately, the smell of their charred flesh just makes people hungry for barbecue. Miraculously, new people show up to replace those who have been lost. They are quickly assimilated into the community. Speaking about the past is verboten. If people don’t accept the rules by joining the rest of the seemingly ecstatically happy people, they are fêted. Yes, there is a big group. Yes, there is a big party. No, those being fêted are not having a good time.
What the FRILL is going on?
As I said when I wrote the review for the first book in the trilogy, Pines, my recommendation is to watch the Wayward Pines TV series first. I know! Shocking! I feel like frog marching myself out to a stone cliff and throwing myself into the sea. The rule is always read the books first. *Sigh* one thing I’ve learned after decades of life is that flexibility, even as your joints refuse to be so, is important in all things. Rules were maybe not meant to be broken, but certainly, they were meant to be bent.
Be the tree that sways in the wind.
Watch the series, there are only ten episodes ( I really appreciate it when American TV shows some restraints with the number of episodes), and if you like the series, read the books. The books do differ from the series, but not by a large margin. In for a penny in for a pound, on to book three.
My PINES review, the first book in the trilogy.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten -
4.5 Need to third one ASAP
Love the atmosphere of a small town where things are strange but you don't know what! -
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present.
Work hard, be happy, and enjoy your life in Wayward Pines.
Notice to all residents of Wayward Pines
(required to be posted prominently in every residence and place of business)
Ethan Burke is now sheriff of Wayward Pines. He knows some of the town's secrets but not even close to all of them.
This series of books are very hard to review without giving any secrets away because the whole damn book is secrets. All you can do is buckle up and hope for the best. If the best is not available just plan on running.
Ethan's former partner Kate and her husband do come into play again.
You still can't leave town.
You still shake your head that you are enjoying these books as much as you are because they make no sense.
I can't wait for the next one!
Book source: Gifted from a friend. -
My first review of 2020 has left me a bit stumped.
Wayward, the second book in Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines trilogy follows on directly from book one. The problem in reviewing this instalment is that any mention of the book’s setting or plot will immediately be a major spoiler for book one.
However, our hero Ethan Burke, FBI special agent and general good guy, is still stranded in the strange community of Wayward pines ...... white picket fences handsome Victorian buildings and polite but glazed eyed townspeople. A perfect small American town harbouring dark and bizarre secrets.
This weird mix of thriller, Sci fi and horror is appealing and very well done.
The action is fast and compelling, the characters are complex enough to give a veneer of reality and the dialogue is slick enough to make the most far fetched incident slip down easily.
I’m becoming a big fan of Blake Crouch with his big, imaginative concepts worthy of Michael Crichton and the edge of seat readability of Stephen King.
His light, clever and exciting books are, to me, the perfect beach or holiday read or ‘palate cleanser’ (as described by a goodreads friend) to be read between heavier literary novels.
Much recommended and looking forward to part 3! -
When Ethan Burke, sheriff of Wayward Pines, runs across a body, he's tasked with investigating her murder. But what does the deceased have to do with Burke's ex-partner and former lover? And what will Theresa think about her husband and his old flame spending time together?
I got this from Netgalley.
After the jaw-dropping reveal at the end of
Pines, I was pretty sure Wayward would suffer from the sophomore slump. It did not.
Instead of bucking the system, as in the first volume, Wayward sees Ethan trying to keep order in the manufactured reality of Wayward Pines. His investigation leads him to an underground movement of people bent on getting to the bottom of things. It also brings him closer to his wife, Theresa, and son, Ben.
This book had a paranoid tone like the first but the pace wasn't nearly as frantic. I really like how Blake Crouch doesn't maintain the status quo and isn't afraid to shake things up. I also liked that Ethan and Kate didn't get their genitals tangled. Pam and Pilcher both moved a bit higher on the douche bag scale.
I have to say that I didn't quite like this one as much as the first. Trusting Ethan made Pilcher look like an idiot. Mostly, though, I think the first book set the bar a little too high.
3.5 out of 5 stars. Luckily, I have the final volume on deck. Time to poach this pear. -
Εξαιρετικό πλεονέκτημα το γεγονός πως είχα και τα τρία βιβλία της σειράς όταν ξεκίνησα να διαβάζω την "Πόλη". Σε άλλη περίπτωση δεν μπορώ να φανταστώ πως ειναι να περιμένεις τη συνέχεια από μια ιστορία που σε έχει κερδίσει ολοκληρωτικά και προσπαθείς να κατανοήσεις τις ανατροπές που εξελίσσονται από σελίδα σε σελίδα.
Στο δεύτερο μέρος μπαίνεις ακόμα πιο βαθιά μέσα στην "Πόλη" που πραγματικά θα μπορούσε να χαρακτηριστεί με τους πιο οξυμωρους προσδιορισμούς.
ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΣΟΣ και ΚΟΛΑΣΗ - ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ και ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ
ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ και ΨΕΜΜΑΤΑ - ΛΟΓΙΚΗ και ΠΑΡΑΝΟΙΑ -
ΣΥΜΠΟΝΟΙΑ και ΚΤΗΝΩΔΙΑ.
Όπως κι αν το σκεφτείς ή το χαρακτηρίσεις η ουσία παραμένει στο εξής ερώτημα : ψεύτικη ζωή; ή αληθινός θάνατος;
Αναστέλλεται η ανθρώπινη φύση ακόμη και μπροστά στον αφανισμό;;
Χειραγωγείται το ελεύθερο πνεύμα όσων έχουν βιώσει πολιτισμό και ανεξαρτησία;;
Βολεύεται η ύπαρξη μέσα σε μια ασφαλή επανάληψη ψεύτικης ευδαιμονίας;;
Ελπίζω πως στο τρίτο μέρος που ανυπομονώ να ξεκινήσω θα απαντηθούν ικανοποιητικά τα ερωτήματα μου και θα καταλήξω στο πιο λογικό συμπέρασμα που πιστεύω ότι αξίζει η ανθρωπότητα.
Καλύτερα μιας ώρας ελεύθερη ζωή ...
Καλή ανάγνωση.
Πολλούς ασπασμούς!! -
I've been wondering how to review this book. I want you to read the first Wayward Pines book (PINES) before you tackle this one, and I don't want to give the twists or anything away.
So, I'm going to keep this short.
A successful trilogy usually has this formula:
The first book gives you some situation you find interesting, and ends with a brilliant twist.
The second book rips everything apart, makes you pick a side to do battle on, upsets the norm and makes you want to read the final book...
The third book is all out war - "There can be only one!" - and, thanks to the way of the world and the business of stories, the good guys somehow comes out on top.
I haven't read the third book yet, and this second book is still following the formula, but I can say this: It takes an extra-fucking-ordinary writer to keep me interested through the second story, and Blake Crouch has the skill set to not only do that, but end it on a cliffhanger which will force me into reading the third book.
Well done, Sir! -
Holy freaking cliffhangers, Batman! Good thing I had book 3 in hand. 3.75 stars. Review first posted on
Fantasy Literature:
Wayward, the second book in Blake Crouch’s WAYWARD PINES trilogy, picks up right where book 1,
Pines, left off. I’ll avoid THE major spoiler for Pines, but minor ones are inevitable, and if there was ever a series where you absolutely need to read the books in order, this one is it. Ethan Burke is the newly-minted sheriff of the small town of Wayward Pines, Idaho (population 461), the prior sheriff having come to an eyebrow-raising end (after reading a few of the flashback scenes in Wayward, one becomes more sympathetic to the urge to dispose of former sheriff, Pope).
Having survived a life-and-death battle with The Powers That Be that control all aspects of life in Wayward Pines, been reunited with his wife Theresa and son Ben, and gotten an explanation of the massive secret explaining the strangeness of life in this small town, Ethan is in a more cooperative mode with the people in charge … well, kind of. Life in picturesque Wayward Pines is so much like a prison camp, with constant video and audio surveillance, strict rules about how to behave and what not to say, and secrets that Dr. Pilcher and his enforcers will kill to protect.
Ethan’s in on the secrets now, but he’s having trouble keeping them. In particular, Theresa is quietly insistent about being told what’s really going on. And now, as sheriff, he’s expected to be an enforcer of the rules and secrecy. His orders include being ordered to spy on a group that’s rebelling against the rules, which includes Kate Hewson, his former Secret Service partner with whom he had an intense affair in his past life. He’s also investigating the violent death of a young woman, and Kate and the rebel group are prime suspects.
Wayward doesn’t have nearly as strong of a mystery element as the first book, Pines, but the suspense factor is still high. Ethan’s investigation of the murder and the rebel group, and his own resistance to the deeply problematic aspects of life in Wayward Pines, are leading him to a crisis point. Crouch weaves in multiple flashbacks from Dr. Pilcher’s prior life, which shed light on his motivations and character, as well as those of the people he’s surrounded himself with.
A new subplot follows the adventures of Tobias, a man who’s been exploring the country for many miles around Wayward Pines for the last couple of years, nearly dying many times. Now Tobias is on his way back to Wayward Pines and the woman he loves. Tobias’s story turns out to be far more relevant than I first expected. Though life for everyone in Wayward Pines is far different now, people’s past behavior and decisions tend to catch up with them.
One of my few reservations about Pines was the necessity for the prison camp type of treatment of the town’s innocent and confused inhabitants. Wayward explains the reasons behind it, which is helpful in one sense but not in another, since it involves a megalomaniac mastermind — a character I’ve met a few too many times in literature.
Wayward is a fast-paced SF novel that makes up in tension what it lacks in depth. It ends with a huge cliffhanger; I strongly advise having
The Last Town on your e-reader or nightstand ready to start as soon as you finish this one! -
The story gets even tighter and more depressing. "This is the last town on earth and we are surrounded by monsters." Well, what are the "abbies" and who is responsible for Alyssa's death? What is David up to and what does Hassler want? Is Ethan able to rescue this town and his family? Is the fete going as planned? When you have started part one of this trilogy, this second volume is an absolute must read. It has a very dark undertone, is very dystopian and you don't know if the story is set in the future or in the past... a very intriguing read. The concept of this town is absolutely frightening. Now I will turn to #3. Highly recommended!
-
Find all of my reviews at:
http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
"Will this place ever feel like home?"
"I don't know," Pam said as she stood. "That's entirely up to you."
Me reading Wayward . . .
and . . .
Have you guys read these yet? At least tell me you’ve got the 10 episode television series set to record on your DVR. In case you’re one of the five people left on the planet who has yet to hear about these books, here’s some bad news . . . I can’t really tell you anything that goes down. The not knowing is all the fun.
Here’s what I’m willing to share. Book #2 of the Wayward Pines series shows us that there is a new sheriff in town . . .
We find out what the townspeople do in their spare time . . .
Then . . .
Seriously. You have to read (or watch) for yourself. And right when you think you have it allllllll figured out because . . .
You’ll find out you still know diddly squat. Bring on #3! That’s where the . . .
"What. Have. You. Done? And he began to run."
If you’re looking for something that will keep you up reading way past your bedtime or sitting on the edge of your chair from all the not-knowing, I can’t think of a better suggestion than this series.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! -
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! I'm really trying to stay cool while writing this review, but seriously, what the fuck did I just read?! This is no way to finish a book, how dare you Crouch?!?!?! I'm just pleased that I can start book 3 immediately, because waiting, even a day, would be fucking DEVASTATING.
Okay, so now that's out of my system, lets get on with the review.
This book started out a little slow. It didn't have as much mystery and action as the first book had. In Pines something big happened in almost every page, where this one wasn't quite like that. But don't get me wrong, I still loved this book just as much as I loved Pines and for some reason I read it even faster. They just had different vibes.
Also in the beginning I felt like I kind of knew where the story was heading (where in Pines I had no freaking clue 90% of the time). BUT then the end happened... And it blew my fucking brains out. It actually made me love this book even more than the first one.
Now all that's left is to read the last one, and tell you (if you haven't already) to do yourself a favor and go read this series. -
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. From the moment I began with book one, to the end of book two I have been unable to put this series down.
I liked that book one focused on the character of Ethan Burke, while this one gave some depth to the villain of the series, Thomas Pilcher. While I'm not quite sure how he became the way he is, I did like seeing how he created the technology that brought them here, and his family life before all of this went down.
The book is not as action packed as the first, but it it has some great new developments that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I often struggle with books that are in the middle of a trilogy as I feel it is sometimes a filler book, simply for money. One that adds very little to the story. Happily that is not the case with this book.
It finishes on a bit of a cliffhanger that has me anxious for book 3. -
These books are like thrillers on crack, and again the story pulled me in from the very first page. So. Much. Win.
First of all, what you need to know is ________________. Indeed, while the ending of
Pines offered us some answers, I have to admit that I wasn't completely convinced by _____________________. In that aspect,
Wayward turned out to be a strong and satisfying sequel because _______________________. As for the twists and turns the story takes, didn't you love when _______________ ? It was by far my favorite part, because even though I guessed that ________________ and that _________________ (yes I did!! Okay! It was obvious! Whatever! Don't give a damn!), I couldn't help but feel stunned by ______________ . Not to mention the ____________________ : incredible idea, right? As for ___________________, his __________ was revealed to be even more crazy than I thought it was.
Haha. You really thought that I was going to review this book?
I can't, people, I can't! WHY?!
WAIT - is it good then? Well, let's see...
If a :
☑ A captivating page-turner...
☑ ... with complex and multi-layered characters...
☑ ... nobody to be trusted...
☑ ... hard choices to make...
☑ ... with the boundaries between right and wrong more and more blurred ...
☑ ... and a killer ending...
... is a good book for you...
... Yes it is.
Sorry, I did say that my review would be without any spoilers. I never said that it'd be useful, though. Oops.
Ps. After reading
Wayward, I can confirm that
Pines deserved my 5 stars.
(my review) -
I am so happy that I was able to enjoy this second book!
I want to keep this review spoiler-free so I'm not going to say anything about the plot in this one, just that the author still manages to keep some atmosphere of mystery even after the events of the first one, and even though the level of suspense just can't be like the first book, this one was still enjoyable! I love this series!
Starting book 3 :) -
"And it was in the pretending that he'd come to understand how well the illusion worked. How people could let themselves succumb, let themselves disappear into the pretty lie that surrounded them."
Initial Thoughts
Blake Crouch is back with Wayward, his second installment in the Wayward Pines trilogy. I was absolutely busting a nut to read this after I massively enjoyed the first book (Pines) and it finished with a huge twist that left me wanting answers. If you're reading this and haven't a clue what I'm talking about then stop reading this immediately and get a hold of that book like you're life depended on it.
Still here? Fantastic...back to Wayward. So special agent Ethan Burke finally has his memory back and is sheriff of the last town on earth 1800 years in the future. The rest of us homosapiens have devolved into a bunch of flesh eating monsters just dying to crash the party and rip those inhabitants limb from limb. Burke being one of a few individuals privy to this info is caught between a rock and a hard place as he carries out the dirty work of town overlord David Pilcher.
The Story
I describe the series so far as a sci-fi mystery. The first installment was a very surreal affair where you never knew quite what was going down. This one on the other hand is a much more straightforward detective thriller. Near the start of the story Ethan Burke runs over the dead body of a woman who has apparently been murdered, and Pilcher assigns him the task of investigating.
"That was how you dealt with men like Ethan Burke. With men who tried to run. You annihilated them. You made them a horrifying example for everyone to see. You sure as fuck didn't make them sheriff."
The murdered woman was one of Pilcher’s employees working in the mountain to oversee the surveillance and discipline of the town. There's a prime suspect linked to Burke's past and there's plenty of intrigue in store as our hero is again in search of the truth. That's the set up and more than you need to know. So get reading!
The Writing
Although we're back in Wayward Pines with Burke again, as I've already said, this book definitely different feel from the first book. It's certainly more formulaic and structured as a murder mystery. Blake Crouch, is definitely skilled at turning this extremely original story into a thriller that’s difficult to put down.
"There are no rights anymore. No laws. Just force and fear."
Im always in two minds about the way he uses sentence fragments to get the narrative across. On the one hand it's crazy fast paced, which is fantastic for keeping the story rolling and brilliant for action scenes. Highly enjoyable and takes your heart rate up a couple of notches, giving you a fairly decent cardio workout while you're at it. But on other times it does lack depth and the dialogue is never top class. Admittedly, I am spoiled normally reading Stephen King, Robert McCammon and Peter Straub. But unfortunately that's the standard you're compared to Crouch!
Final Thoughts
The pace on this one ramps up to a shattering conclusion. This is something Blake Crouch looks to be really, really good at. Certainly no problems landing the ending here.
All things considered, I really enjoyed the second part of this trilogy and really liked how the author changed it up, managing to keep things fresh. It will be really interesting to see if he does the same in the third…The Last Town (spoiler: I'm behind on my reviews and have actually read the third and Mr C doesn't disappoint).
A solid four star read. Really good, but did lack the impact of the first book. But sticking both books together a five star reading experience so far. Stay tuned to see how things are wrapped up in the final installment. -
This is my third Blake Crouch book and they all have this in common: you can’t put them down once you start. I remember being blown away by the tv series, but even knowing the story in advance doesn’t spoil it in the least. Can’t wait to read the last one!
-
This one is a 4.5!
*
Almost as good as the first one, but the ending didn't impress me too much. Still - super, super good. I've read it in a day, I couldn't put it down!
*
I can't wait to see what's next! Thank God the last one is already out! -
★★★☆☆½
Here goes, Pointless Review #955 (at the time of posting). But is it just my review or any review of Wayward that’s basically pointless? Probably both! The reason being is that I imagine all the readers of the first book fall into one of two groups: those who loved it and are eager to carry on, or those who couldn’t overlook the shoddy writing and plethora of plotholes. That being the case, I doubt there’s anything I could say to move you from one camp to the other. Although . . . I suppose there could be a third group of apathetic readers who were mildly intrigued by the premise. Maybe that group is wondering whether they should devote any more time to the series after the big reveal. Personally, I think they should soldier on, and I’ll try to explain why, but I’ll have to be vague because it’s difficult to discuss a story like this, shrouded in mystery, without spoiling major plot points.
Wayward picks up right where Pines left off, there’s no discernible gap in the narrative whatsoever. It’s like turning the last page of book one into the next chapter. This time around we ride shotgun with the new sheriff in town and finally get to peek behind the curtain to see how the other half lives. The fact that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies is a major part of what the sheriff wrestles with throughout the story. But the main storyline takes a backseat when a large chunk of the narrative is carved out for a few backstories to help flesh out the main characters and all of their underlying motivations.
The good news is that book two is just as shoddily written as the first novel! There’s no dramatic improvement or a sudden drop in the quality of the work. It’s consistent, what more can ask for? Nor does the plot fall apart, all of a sudden, after the mystery reveal. There’s simply more story to tell, and Crouch is too seasoned a writer to suffer a sophomore slump. So, if you somewhat enjoyed the first book, by all means, carry on.
The bad news is that the most compelling part of the story—the thing that kept me tearing through the pages of the first book—was that big reveal. Some of the luster from Pines has worn off, no doubt, because without that WTF IS GOING ON HERE! vibe what you’re left with is just a basic sci-fi thriller. It’s still quite a lot of fun but it annoyingly ends on a major cliffhanger. So, if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself with an uncontrollable urge to hunt down the final book, STAT!
Which leads me back to the good news: all three books in the trilogy are fairly short page-turners, so it shouldn’t take too long to wrap everything up and get all the answers.
The bottom line is this: if you made it through book one, but stalled out on continuing the series, get off the fence and jump back in there! With so much fun and/or idiotic time to be had, what do you have to lose!
Pines (Book One): ★★★☆☆½
Wayward (Book Two): ★★★☆☆½ rounded up -
This is what I kept thinking about the whole time I was reading this and they talked about the "creatures"
An enjoyable second book in the series. Maybe not quite as smooth or suspenseful (a lot more coincidence moves the plot along) but still enjoyable.
Good cliffhanger has me ready for the next book. -
Τι αναγνωστικη ηδονη ειναι αυτη ;!
-
Murder fetes, god complexes, and enough spoilery stuff that I can't even HINT at without getting a crowd of murder fetesers coming after ME for letting the goose out of the bag about the first novel in the series... all this keeps me hungering for more.
You might say I'm a big fan of *spoiler* towns that are totally *spoiler* and ordered in such a way that some know and some don't but they're all in a f***ing *spoiler* anyway.
Of course, secrets abound and Ethan, our hero investigator from the first novel, is just ITCHING to spill them. At all costs. Or at least with a few important people. Like his wife. Who *spoiler* *spoilered* his boss for YEARS while he *spoiler* *spoilered* his partner but in most respects, it was much, much worse for her because, after all, they're in a *spoiler* that time forgot.
Fun. Very fun. And Pilcher is one hell of a *spoiler*. -
Действието във втората част продължава да е все така динамично. Сега се проследява животът на жителите на градчето, след като Итън разбра истината за него в първата. Макар историята да продължава да е все така интересна и изпълнена с напрежение, ми липсваше онази загадъчност от първата книга.
Онези противоречия в действията и поведението на Дейвид Пилчър, които забелязах в първата книга, тук са доразгърнати и човекът е във вихъра си. А Пам по нищо не му отстъпва. И двамата са пълни психари 😜
Краят е крайно напрегнат и изненадващ.
Оценка: 4.0
P.S. Третата книга обаче, доколкото разбрах, не е издавана в България и май не се планира такова издаване, и вероятно ще я дочитам на английски. 🙄 -
3.5
Ethan Burke, the newly appointed Sheriff of the out-of-the-way, in the middle of nowhere town of Wayward Pines is investigating the murder of one of the townspeople while trying to unravel the mysteries surrounding the town itself. -
This is the second book in the Wayward Pines series, and I got to it very quickly after reading the first book. If it is Black Crouch, a page turner it will be.
Wayward continues where Pines left off – with Ethan Burke now the Sheriff of the town. He slowly understands the rationale behind many of the rules the residents have to follow strictly, but cannot help thinking there should be a different way. He finds himself with very limited powers, and Dr Pilcher who conceptualised Wayward Pines calls the shots. Ethan is also aware that great danger lurks outside Pines. He is however happy to be re-united with his wife Theresa and son Ben. There is his former partner Kate, who is now married and it appears that Ethan will come into conflict with them. There is also Tobias, a man stuck outside Pines but making his way back after several close brushes with great danger.
It is tough to write a review for this book without adding spoilers, so I will stop here. I found the first book very violent and the second book is less so. This book builds the characters and the plot every well. It ends on a note where you have no choice but to immediately grab the next book of the trilogy!
My rating: 4.5 / 5. -
Sale Alert: Amazon daily deal 2/22/20
$1.99
Buddy Read 9/11/19
3.75 what the heck is happening Stars“Before I built a wall I’d ask to know what I was walling in, or walling out.”
Robert Frost
Wayward is a good follow up to The Pines. It is just as trippy in its own ways and still manages to have a few surprises up its sleeve.
This is a hard book to review because I don’t want to give away any of the key motivations or surprises for Wayward or it’s prequel. It is still a mind trip as we discover more about Ethan and Theresa’s lives both before and after coming to Wayward Pines Idaho. As new relationships are explored, I wondered if their marriage was going to make it to the other side of this strange journey they are on.“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.”
Ethan is a flawed character but likably so. He has made some mistakes in his past but has owned them and because of that, he remains likable. Now in a position of authority as Sherriff, Ethan is even more in the middle of things and ends up investigating a murder and a group of people who might be up to something shady in this sleepy little town.
Once I started this journey I couldn’t really put it down until it’s jaw dropping conclusion. Be sure you have the next book ready to go, because I don’t know who could just stop right there without jumping into the next one right away after that ending.
The Pines had a bigger surprise but this book messed with my head nearly as much and twisted my emotions up too. I’m a little nervous to see how/if this all shakes out later, but I’m excited to continue the mind twisting ride that is happening in Wayward Pines. -
I still haven't watched the TV adaptation of this series. My plan is to read the trilogy in its entirety first, and then instead of watching the screen, watch my husband instead as he looks like this...
It's going to be awesome.
Wayward is the second installment (middle book) in
Blake Crouch's multi-genre trilogy titled: Wayward Pines. This ongoing storyline is super secretive which makes it confusing as hell, but despite that, it's imaginative and engaging enough to keep readers happily hanging on. And so far, each book ends on an epic scene that makes resisting the next book near impossible. There's no filler in
Wayward. There's glimpses into the past, revelations that concern the present, and significant shifts in group dynamics that will surely impact the future. One more book, then bring on the popcorn! Hubby has no idea lol.
My favorite quote:
“For every perfect little town, there's something ugly underneath. No dream without the nightmare.” -
"Hell is coming to you."
I have so much to say....but don't I always??? I want to write an amazing, detailed, long review, but that wouldn't do this series any good, I think. I believe that, while I would LOVE to go on and on and on about all the amazingness that is this series, it would stunt the curiosity I piqued in everyone with my first review of the beginning book. So, I'll keep it short and sweet with just a few points to make things curiouser and couriouser for everyone that chooses to read this:All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.
Ethan: Ethan grew so much in this story. In book one, we didn't know a lot about him, and we didn't know what kind of guy he really was-What he was made of, if you will. We knew of his tryst, of his adoration for his wife. We knew he was stubborn beyond words...and that his determination, if nothing else, would keep him alive. So, essentially, in this one, we begin to see even more of his cleverness and quick wit, setting in stone his intelligence and willingness to make things right...and the helplessness....don't forget his reluctance and helplessness. They go hand in hand with this story. Let's see what he's made of."Do you hear that?" Ethan asked.
"Hear what?"
For five seconds, Ethan was silent on the line. "That's the sound of me not giving a fuck."
Atmosphere: The atmosphere, while still eerie, is blown to bits in this one after the big 'reveal' of book one. I can't say it's as creepy as it was in the first installment, but there was still an underhanded malice that made you question where things were going and how things could possibly get better for the town's residents. And since I am obsessed with my dear Ethan...this was a big appeal to me, the worrying.For every perfect little town, there's something ugly underneath. No dream without the nightmare.
The Writing: Gahd, do I love Crouch's writing. It's virtually impossible not to become wholly immersed in this story with his writing style. In book one, sure, I could understand people not loving or being a bit put off about the amazing fragmented sentences (which I loved, if you can't tell), but I never had a problem with them. In this story, I was so sucked in that I didn't even notice it-I even picked up a new book because it was released yesterday (9/1) and thought, 'Wait, this isn't how you write!' So, as you can see, I am in love with his writing.A shiv straight into Ethan's gut would've felt better.
He lost his breath.
Saw the world suddenly through a blur of tears.
Imagery: Beautiful. Vivid. Startling. What more can you ask for?A millennium without air or light pollution made for pitch-black skies.
The stars didn't just appear anymore.
They exploded.
Diamonds on black velvet.
You couldn't tear your eyes away.
So, as you can see, I'm obsessed. So that's how I will end this: Read it, don't read it-that's your call. But I, my friends, am knee deep, up shit creek, whatever phrase you wana use, in love with this series.
YESTERDAY IS HISTORY.
Obsessed.
TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY.
Obsessed.
TODAY IS A GIFT.
Did I mention I'm obsessed?
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**4.5-stars**
Wayward, the second book in the Wayward Pines series, succeeded in upping the stakes and the level of intensity.
I really enjoyed the many twists and turns that Crouch threw into this sequel. It kept me completely tuned in.
There's no second book syndrome here!! -
I think I liked the first one better, but this second installment was still rather cool.
The story opens about two weeks after the end of the first book. We finally know what Wayward Pines is: . Yep, we are The few people are living and unaware of . They are scared into submission and kept under surveillance.
Which brings about a few problems because Pilcher can't go on and, according to him, he can't just tell everyone the truth either.
So while the first book was about the mystery itself, the most important aspect (for me) in this 2nd volume was how to go on - because it's not just about survival, it's also about the kind of life you live (quality). And resistance has already started forming, a while ago.
Ethan Burke is fully aware now and has become the town's new sheriff. His main goal is to keep his family save and live a nice life. But is that even possible under the circumstances?
Then there is Wayward Pines first murder and suddenly we‘re smack in the middle of a whodunnit on top of some disconcerting hints about . It added some shudder-worthy moments that I had missed since the first volume.
We got the background stories of most of the players inside the town, learned about their relationships with one another and, yes, also got confirmation that Pilcher is . Not really a surprise but in a story with so many turns, it wasn‘t a given either. I liked the encroaching darkness, that the idyllic small-town facade made way for the ugliness underneath.
Still, there were also a few things that were too over-the-top for me. They weren‘t entirely impossible, but considering how certain key characters had been introduced, it didn‘t fit too well. Or maybe I just hated it. *shrugs*
Not that that means the book wasn‘t written as wonderfully as the first - the quality was as high as expected/hoped. And even my complaint about a certain someone supposedly being important and yet only background decoration turned out to have been done this way for a reason.
On to the conclusion!
