Wayfarer

Love this book. The theme was amazing, especially the climax of it.

Wow! This was definitely intense like Wyland's other novels. I was riveted and read it in a relatively short time. <br /><br />The author did a great job making every setting feel real. London was grimy, the country was fair but poor, the pickpockets were unsavory. I believed the cruel men, that they were really evil. <br /><br />The main character, Will, was a bit of a pragmatist, to begin with. His mind was focused on a select few goals, and nothing was going to stop him. This is where the messages come in. They weren't heavyhanded at all, but they were clear and made sense. They were real struggles. Will's desire for respect led him to flirt with becoming dishonorable. I was impacted by the mentor's resolve that nothing should be traded, you don't earn with compromise, you just stand rock solid and act upon what's right.<br /><br />I liked Rose. Didn't expect it, but I got attached. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="c877bfc7-7d30-488c-91b9-070442c26707" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="c877bfc7-7d30-488c-91b9-070442c26707">Will rescues her and protects her and they're friends and he takes her with him at the end, but she's like 9 and it's not romantic or anything!</label> She was kind of funny too. :)<br /><br />There were other cool people and a compelling bad guy, and a very sickening bad guy.<br /><br />So, I don't usually read magic. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="9920fe21-a558-4783-b54a-471b0f61a687" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="9920fe21-a558-4783-b54a-471b0f61a687">Preference and principle, but for me, it comes down to whether or not the characters practice it in a form of witchcraft. That's just creepy to me, and it's too real, not cool. Rant over. :)</label>I was initially uncomfortable with the way magic featured into this, but it ended up being a natural phenomenon of concentrated energy (trackways) that gave Will his ability. But again, no one was casting spells or making dead things alive, or building candy houses for that matter. The bad guy didn't even have flying monkeys and the premise of "magic" floated to the back of my mind.<br /><br />Now there was a bad guy who was cruel to children... so yeah. If you're sensitive, you'll at least be disgusted by him.<br /><br />Anyway, long story short (or novel length) Wayfarer was enjoyable, packed with action and dilemmas, a dash of romance (I forgot to mention there's a girl), and Wyland's masterful plotting expertise that kept me guessing and worried.

... I read this book on my phone and let me just say, I read this a LOT faster than I've read books half this size. (That is a huge credit towards how much I enjoyed this book)!<br /><br />I like super hero movies, I like books with adventure, awesome world building and books that have a point! How about one that is all of that put together? <br />Fast paced with an awesome magic system. I really felt like I was in the world. The characters were amazing! They were unique, relatable and awesome! Always running towards their goals. The friendships were so cute and *hugs them all*. The book had a great theme and the character arc was shown well.<br /><br />A personal preference would have been to see the main character heal more from physical wounds after they happened. Maybe that would have been considered unnecessary or boring, but I dunno, I like those scenes. :) <br />Also, a few of the times I felt like there was language or swearing, but maybe it was correct/clean in context. <br /><br />There was a bit of blood and scare in it. I don't recommend for younger people, but I was mostly fine by it. One or two scenes were a little meh for me.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this. The fight scenes. The thoughts. The loveable beans with their unique voices. I gasped, my eyes welled up, I grinned often and laughed. When I need a good book to read, I know which one to come back to! <br /><br />If you like Marvel movies (especially Spiderman far from home *spoiler to why that is*), Behind the Mask movie by the Burns Family studios, Fawkes by Nadine Brandes and London books....<br /><br />Read it!! I recommend it! I'm going to have to get a paperback copy. :D

OH. MY. GOODNESS.<br />As a superhero fan, I absolutely LOVED this book! Weiland made it so vivid and had such a realistic historical voice for the time period. I fell in love with all the characters (love little Rose!) and this story will definitely be one I'll remember.

This book was amazing! KM Weiland did not disappoint in her latest novel, which is also the first fiction book from her that I've read. I know that I'll be reading her other works now because of how well-written and engaging this one was.<br /><br />Wayfarer tells the story of Will Hardy, a blacksmith's apprentice who has accidentally ended up with superpowers. Despite the label "superhero" in the premise of this book, the story lacks the sci-fi-ish feel of your typical superhero tale-- fitting to say the least, because this book is set in nineteenth-century England and all. Even the dialogue and narration reflects the speech of that period, which was really well done. I actually got a more steampunk-y feel from the book, which is weird because this is not steampunk at all. I don't know; maybe the writing style and the descriptions did that, but hey, I like steampunk so it's cool with me. ;)<br /><br />The characters were so much fun. Will was great, I need not say more; so was Tom, his master (apprentice-master master, not slavemaster master, mind you). Rose was such a sweet little thing who was clearly quite able to take care of herself, but who still was endlessly devoted to Will, and that was adorable. "Her Ladyship" Isabella Carstone was definitely another favorite, although I wish we got to see a tad bit more of her. I loved where the author took their relationship in the end, though!<br />Some of the other guys-- Pish, Lifty, Postelwaite-- were very realistic and interesting. That was fun too.<br />And ugh, the villains. Both Mr. Fitzroy and Mr. Monarch were creepy and despicable, Mr. Monarch especially. The thing with Mrs. Fitzroy was shudderingly true too, as was their son Henry. *shivers*<br /><br />The plot was crazy intense and kept me turning the pages... that is unless I put it down and completely forgot abou it. Whoops. (That's why it took me so long to finish this one.)<br /><br />Anyways, Wayfarer was a really good book! Definitely unique and something new, and I might reread it sometime. If you like historical adventure, superheroes with a twist, or gaslamp fantasy (is that what it's called? I never even knew it was a genre), then you might like this book! :)

Superheroes in Victorian times is a pretty cool premise, and I was waiting for this book to come out for a while. The story had some creative use of superpowers and some good twists, but I wasn't sure if it really needed to be 500 pages. I would have preferred the beginning of the story to be more streamlined and the prose as a whole to be crisper and less wordy. Apart from that, I liked the symbolism in the heroes' powers and it had some good character work.<br /><br />Rating: 3.5-4 Stars (Good).

<b>What an incredible read!</b> I loved every second of this book, and didn't want to put it down.<br /><br /><b>The characters are so realistically and beautifully dynamic.</b> I was so emotionally invested in them and their story and it was just all. the. feels.<br /><br />I'm a huge superhero fan, and <b>this was gorgeously magical and superhero-esque and in such an epic and unique setting!</b> Count me in for all books in this genre EVER.<br /><br /><b>This book pulled me in right from the start and had me turning pages the whole time.</b> All the action scenes! It's such an amazing story.<br /><br /><b>Content:</b><br /><input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="4f0e69be-c1c4-49a8-8444-8e460d8a9fff" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="4f0e69be-c1c4-49a8-8444-8e460d8a9fff">- a fair few fight scenes, but not gruesomely described<br />- a character gets a stake through his hand into the table<br />- main characters are killed<br />- main characters are nearly killed<br />- one kissing scene - completely appropriate<br />- young characters are abused</label><br /><br />Overall I LOVED this story to pieces! <b>It was so vividly written and the characters absolutely stole my heart.</b> So relatable and unique!

I love superheroes. Watching them casually achieve impossible feats to save the world relaxes me, plus it offers a sentimental value. As a child, I’ve spent a fortune (thanks mom and dad) on comic books. Despite my fondness of the genre, I find most books about superheroes lacking compared to movies and graphic novels. Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, and Weiland’s Wayfarer is one.<br /><br />Set in the Regency England, the story takes place in 1820 London, where an outlaw speedster and a master of illusion confront each other to decide who will own the city. It seems the author has done a lot of research to make things feel and sound right. Weiland’s London is one of the most vivid and memorable settings I’ve had the pleasure to read about recently. You can almost smell it (not recommended, Regency England isn’t famous for hygiene or environmental care). <br />Sure, she used more than few solid paragraphs to paint the world, but I didn’t mind. The setting played an important role in the events.<br /><br />The level of detail, cultural and language accuracy feels immersive without being overly expositional. It should impress history enthusiasts. Weiland incorporates a vernacular to her storytelling and as much as I appreciate her elegant language I admit the use of archaisms (naughts, aughts, and more) tired me and took out of the story few times. I needed a while to get used to it but with time I started to appreciate the richness of her writing. Coupled with the unique twists, it made Wayfarer difficult to put down, especially the final third, which seemed to fly by.<br /><br />Main and secondary characters feel distinct, well-rounded and three-dimensional, but it’s the antagonist, Fitzroy, who truly shines and overshadows others with a distinct personality and single-minded focus on reforming London, no matter the cost. Despite the atrocities he commits, at times it was difficult not to respect him. As a vengeful politician with dark secrets and impressive powers, he stands out as a memorable villain. <br /><br />Wayfarer himself is a simple lad trying to figure out what to do with his new powers and longing for a better life. He makes mistakes and pays for them. His choices are questionable, but he remains relatable and believable throughout. He falls for a beautiful (and smart!) girl from high-society. I’m not a fan of romance in books, but Weiland made it balanced, difficult and clever. No complaints here.<br /><br />Any issues/drawbacks? Well, Weiland loves language/ Sometimes too much and her writing becomes too wordy (subjective). Also, the climax. She didn’t pull the punches, but it was just too long (also subjective). Anything else? I don’t think so.<br /><br />Readers appreciating elegant (if sometimes flowery) prose and immersive settings will appreciate the book. But it offers much more than just craftsmanship and dedication to well-rounded and beautiful sentences. Weiland’s way of blending action, suspense and drama keeps the novel moving with a superb pace and she knows well when and how to tug at reader’s heartstrings. If you’re in the mood for a well-written gaslamp heroic fantasy, consider Wayfarer as your next read.<br /><br />

The Wayfarer is my favorite superhero ever!<br />I got into K.M. Weiland through her books on writing (which are fabulous) and her writing blog, and then from there I tried Dreamlander, and then Wayfarer.<br />I was impressed with Dreamlander, but I was blown away by Wayfarer. Wayfarer is one of my new favorite novels, and I believe that it is the most well written modern novel I have read (but what else could you expect from someone who is so educated on the writing process?). I really felt like I related with Will, and I LOVED all the other characters as well. It was such an interesting cast, ranging from upper class politicians to middle class blacksmiths to lower class thugs. It’s theme is cohesive, resonant, really memorable, and it has stuck with me far longer than that of other books. The characters are unique and vivid, the settings feel real, and the adventure is amazing. The story reminded me of the works of Charles Dickens (particularly Great Expectations and Little Dorrit), while being written in a modern style, filled with fantastical elements, and following a quick paced action beat. It was awesome to read this book after having read many of her books on writing, because I could really see her principles being played out in a strong, thrilling manner.<br />Read this new adrenaline-fueled historical superhero adventure today!<br />P.S. K.M. Weiland, if you read this, please come out with more Wayfarer adventures soon! I can't wait to hear what happens next!

Gaslight fantasy… I didn’t even know that was a genre. But K.M. Weiland’s <i>Wayfarer</i>, set in 1820s England is a fantastic tale of a young man who becomes a superhero.<br /><br />Will is a blacksmith’s apprentice whose family died in debtors’ prison. Despite his master’s advice, he can’t ignore the way people look down on him. The strange powers that afflict him could earn him respect—or they could get him killed.<br /><br />Complex characters and vivid descriptions make a compelling read. <br /><br /><em>Wayfarer</em> is a satisfyingly long and richly-crafted novel that takes readers from the open country to the dark heart of a London slum, from ornate mansions to Marshalsea Prison. Danger abounds, the stakes are overwhelming, yet there are glimpses of loyalty, love, and even a bit of humour.<br /><br />Favourite line (as Will is about to jump into the midst of a crowd he needs to impress):<br /><br /><em>Falling just now, screaming in pain, would probably fail to inspire these good people. [Page 275]</em> <br /><br />This is a clean read, if grim in places. I’m pleased to see the ending leave room for a sequel.<br /><br />For more about K.M. Weiland and her novels, visit <a href="https://www.kmweiland.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">kmweiland.com</a>. Writers are encouraged to visit her teaching site, <a href="https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Helping Writers Become Authors</a>.<br /><br />[Review copy from my personal library.]