This is one of those books that makes me wish we could give half stars on Goodreads. It felt to me like more than a 4.5 star book and honestly I was close to giving it 5 stars until the ending which didn't quite stick the landing for me but got really close. I enjoyed this book thoroughly though!


As far as Buddhism, I did especially like how the author incorporated it into a dystopian plot. And how Will struggled with not harming vs protecting.
All in all a good solid 4.5/5 stars for me.
I received a ARC of this title, thank you net galley!

This book had a lot of potential and started very strong. Where it lost me was the way it leaned into the philosophical and the talking animals. This, juxtaposed with the casual treatment of sex, sex work and brothels later in the book really rubbed me the wrong way. For a man who is incredibly hesitant to do physical harm and will philosophize about whether or not he should defend himself, he does not seem to have remotely the same perspective on other harms that can be done, regardless of a comment or 2 about not wanting to think about it.

I really liked the premise of being on a dangerous journey after the end of the world and the ways humanity adapts to circumstances, but I found myself thinking that most of the characters would be insufferable if I knew them in real life. I also had no reason, besides the narrator's constant assertion, that he was any more qualified than anyone else to make what was considered an impossible journey. In fact, he often seemed like the last person I would've picked for such a task. Every anecdote from his past made it more difficult to believe that such a person would've managed to live in the new world described in the story.

The endgame of this journey was also a huge disappointment. The way all of it ended up explained at the end was a bit too convenient for my tastes. After everything he goes through, it really felt like a rush to the finish full of information that could've been more effectively foreshadowed or left out entirely.

If you enjoy apocalyptic stories and don't mind a mixture of crassness and philosophizing, it's worth giving this book a shot, but by the end, I was just reading so I could be done with it.

A literary post-apocalyptic novel that takes the reader on a journey through an America almost depleted of the human species.
The Way being a perfect title that embodies the two key elements in this story: 1) Finding our way through a perilous journey in the unknown, and 2) finding our way in life despite our many unanswered questions.

Will is a fifty two year old man in a time where his age is considered pretty much ancient, let alone impressive. He has been tasked with a rather dangerous quest: delivering something hidden on his person from Colorado to California in a desolate America that isn't necessarily an official country anymore. The land has changed; wild animals roam free and human life is scarce. Will does not journey unaccompanied, however. He travels with two mules that pull his truck at a meager 4mph pace, snuggles at night with his cat, Cassie, and watches the skies for his raven friend, Peau.
This is a book that is very much about the journey, but I am happy to report that I was quite pleased when Will and company reached their destination—the ending was surprising in more ways than one.

I suppose the entire novel was surprising. I did not expect this to be so philosophical as well as spiritual. By that I mean, Will's inner dialogue (or maybe I should call it inner turmoil) is constantly engaging us with his many questions (and sometimes his own answers) on life's meaning and how we might deal with all sorts of existential dread. There is a lot of scientific jargon as well as Buddhist terminology that was very new to me, but I became rather conformable with Will as a narrator, so I enjoyed this aspect of the story. There was also a lot of focus on animals and nature and this was for sure one of my favorite plot elements.

Although some scenes were a bit too wordy all for the more action-packed and suspenseful scenes to be a lot shorter in comparison, this was a unique read that succeeded in dragging me along for the ride. I was very invested in Will and his little found family the entire time.

The Way is a book that poses all the right questions in a post-apocalyptic setting. It focuses more on the effects a catastrophic event does to the human psyche, while still delivering on the speculative side of things, as well as giving you characters you want to root for.

✨Thanks so much to NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau for this ARC in exchange for my honest review✨

DNF at 59%

I struggled to get into this book, I expected more action but I felt like not much was happening. I wasnt feeling any connection to Will or Sophie and struggled to get along with the story. I thought it would be of a post apocalyptic survival story but it really leaned more into a journey of self discovery.

Though saying this I dont think this is a bad novel, I just dont think it's for me.
Its very likeky others will love this book.

4.5 stars
Post-apocalyptic story that takes place after a virus has wiped out most of the population, particularly the adults. One of the few surviving older men, Will, is tasked with delivering a potential cure to a lab in California. Most of the book is Will's adventures and hardships on the way. It's both gritty and wise, and has good characters, including some talking animals. Recommended!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

I have read other post-apocalyptic books, but this one was a bit different. Animals play a significant, and enjoyable, role as Will's companions, and there was a more peaceful, positive side to the story than I am used to with this genre. There are numerous detailed sections pertaining to quantum mechanics, Buddhism, and a few other topics. These could be of interest to users, but some could find that they pull them out of the story. I found them, for the most part, to be thought-provoking as they were topics I did not know a lot about before this book. The usual issues found in a dystopian novel, such as food and safety issues, our present.

The Way is technically a post-apocalyptic story, but reads more like a road trip with friends story. The story takes place far enough after the apocalyptic events that communities have developed and we get to see how they are surviving and in one case, thriving. Usually post-apocalyptic novels are set right after the event and are more of a thriller in nature, but this one, given the timing of the story, is less dire and about immediate survival of the characters. It's reflective and mindful in nature. This novel is a great addition to the genre and I would be thrilled to read more like it.

The main character, Will (Free Will?) has a irreverent and humorous approach to life that I think will appeal to fans of Project Hail Mary, Mickey7, and the Murderbot series.

My only issue with the novel is that the ending feels rushed and improbable the way it's written. Without giving much away, it feels like absolutely everything wrapped up in a day after spending so much time on the journey.

I love a good dystopian road trip and this book is another excellent addition to this specific trope category.

We follow Will, an older man in a world where a pandemic has killed most people over 40. He has been given a mission and must get a potential cure to one of the only research hospitals remaining in what used to be California. What really made this book special to me is the way Groner has described the world as Will passes through. For those who want their apocalypses and resulting civilizations well described, The Way is the book for you. Groner describes his settings and characters so well that I felt I intimately understood how the world had changed and what it looked like now.

Groner also uses a lot of discussions on Buddhism to discuss the state of humanity that constantly leads us to the edge of the world and what may happen when we can no longer stop our fall. I did find that these discussions slowed down the narrative and made this a rather slow read, but I thought the weight of the conversations warranted this slowing down and so it didn't bother me.

My only critique of this book is that there were some plot conveniences that stood out to me and the ending was a little too sweet for the harshness of the world that Groner created throughout the rest of the book.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book and it has earned a spot on my favorite dystopian shelf.

I read the summary and thought I would like a "post-apocalyptic road trip" story. At times, I thought about stories like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us. Now, I know it wasn't marketed as some zombie/infected apocalypse. But, I expected more of a thrill. The story felt more like a man on a journey of self discovery, with plenty of thoughts of the past, and less like someone dealing with the wilds of nature and people in a post-apocalyptic setting. It picked up more for me about halfway through, when Will started to interact with people. Overall, it was just alright.

This is one of those books that makes me wish we could give half stars on Goodreads. It felt to me like more than a 4 star book and honestly I was close to giving it 5 stars until the ending which though not bad also wasn’t the conclusion I needed.
Perhaps I am just terrible at deciding for myself how the rest of it all would play out.
Either way, as someone who has studied Buddhism I did especially like how the author incorporated it into a dystopian plot. And how Will struggled with not harming vs protecting.
All in all a good solid 4.5/5 stars for me.
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Part long journey, part post-apocalyptic adventure, and part spiritual introspection, the book is a truly unique combination of pieces that at first glance don’t seem to belong together. However, the elements flow together nicely into a wandering tale of a man trying to cross the country carrying a medicine that might have the power to save the few humans left on the planet. Experiencing the journey through the eyes of Will, a practicing Buddhist who does his best to adhere to the principles of harming no living thing, causes a fascinating contrast between his reluctance to engage in violence and the people he meets who are all too happy to attack first and think later. With that being said, I thought this story was going to end up dragging and being quite slow, but for a story whose protagonist is a pacifist there is a surprising amount of violence and blood and gore throughout. It keeps the story moving at a quick pace without compromising on the character’s ideals and values. I really enjoyed this story because it had its feet into two different worlds at all time. Violent and introspective. Spiritual and scientific. Personal and interpersonal. It was all balanced really well and it was a joy to read.

The Way is a post apocalyptic thriller that takes place in the Western US after a deadly virus kills most adults. This is a jarring, hopeful at times, and realistic view of what could happen when society as we know it collapses.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an electronic ARC of this book.

Who doesn’t like a good postapocalyptic road trip? I certainly do. Once again, a lethal virus has decimated the world, wiping out most of the population over thirty years of age. I would be a goner, along with most of my friends. Will is an exception, at the ripe old age of 52 and he is sent on a mission from Colorado to California, carrying a possible antidote for the deadly virus. His means of transportation is a Ford F150, pulled by a pair of trusty mules. He is accompanied by a cat and a raven, who he is able to verbally communicate with. Of course, many adventures ensue, as they are also being pursued by The Forge, a wacky militant group.
This is a fun ride. Not too dark and serious but enough to satisfy me. The writing is quite serviceable too. If you would like a mash-up of Mad Max, The Road and I am Legend give this novel a try.

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with a copy.

In this postapocalyptic novel set in the American West after a pandemic has exterminated 80-percent of the world's population -- with those over 30 being especially rare and endangered -- 52-year-old Will Collins travels with a Maine coon cat and a raven in the hull of a Ford 150 pulled by two mules. The man, cat, and bird have established means of communicating with one another over time. After years of solo caretaking a Buddhist retreat center in Colorado, Will has managed to log into his email and read a messsage from a scientist friend tasking him with transporting a possible cure to California. Like Obi Wan Kenobi, he's the only hope. So begins an odyssey across the Western states, pursued by a sociopath. Along the way, Will wrestles with his place in the world, his Buddhist principles, and the question, how was anyone supposed to live a harmless life?
I found the novel's imagery arresting, the writing compelling, and many of the speculative details brilliant: "One good thing about Santa Fe was the money. It was ubiquitous, fast-drying, and tough, so it was excellent for starting [camp] fires."The book had some contrivances. For example, Google and the electrical grid have been down (with some outlier community exceptions and New Zealand) for 14 years. So why is Will's watch still able to tell him the temperature? Nevertheless, the main character Will's voice, his personal insights and reflections, his ever-evolving humility, and the way the author conveyed the natural world, nudged me to give the plot holes a hall pass. I recommend the book to those who like their postapocalyptic fare with a sprinkle of spirituality and an overall hopeful tone.

[Thanks to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

As far as dystopian apocalyptic plots go, this was a highly unusual, mostly slow paced, contemplative story about a world thrown into chaos with a protagonist who constantly has hope on the horizon.

I loved the multiple sentimental and thought provoking moments that have the reader time to pause and reflect on their view of nature and humanity. How it strives to continue on and to adapt and change in a world that seems determined to destroy itself.

There were some aspects of the plot that were a bit too contrived and outlandish for me to keep my headspace in a realistic dystopian but there were also unique aspects like the ability for humans and animals to communicate that I found heartwarming.

The Buddhist touch was introspective but perhaps a little disorienting with the setting and plot.

Overall a book I recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau for the ARC of The Way. I enjoyed this read, although it is different from the books I usually gravitate towards. I appreciated the aspects of Buddhism and the stimulating and intriguing aspects that are brought up with post apocalyptic times and viruses. Although there are serious topics, this book does have humor and amazing characters that you will enjoy. Especially Will.

Some parts were a little hard to get in to for me personally. I think I would enjoy this more as an audiobook. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy dystopian fantasy.

Review: The Way by Cary Groner

[Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ]

Looking for post-apocalypse adventure with less bleakness and more inspired world-building? Cary Groner's The Way may be your ticket. Set in the American Southwest some years after a cascade of disasters called the Mayhem, this near-future road novel follows a man on a life-changing mission from New Mexico to California. Accompanied by an aging Maine Coon cat and a resourceful raven (both of whom he can apparently communicate with), Will Collins travels in the shell of an F-150 pulled by two mules. Though well-equipped with supplies and trail savvy, he struggles with his Buddhist vow to lead a harmless life -- even as both critters and human hunters keep trying to kill him.

Will's backstory as the last surviving resident of a Colorado dharma center lends a unique flavor to this novel -- questions of right conduct being rare in post-apocalyptic fiction -- but occasionally slows down the narrative. For this reader, at least, there were times when his spiritual detours were hard to follow. These never descend to the level of preachiness, however, and the pressure of his human pursuers soon gets things moving again.

As science fiction goes, The Way is definitely on the softer side without becoming squishy. The scientific aspects of Disease X (which ultimately created the Mayhem) are well worked out, and the post-human landscape Will and his companions travel through is frighteningly believable. Character remains at the heart of this novel, however. Will is haunted by the memory of a love he believes long dead, writing her letters he "sends" by placing them in his campfires. Excerpts from these provide the reader with more snippets of background, though not all are immediately relevant.

Though it offers plenty of action and a few moments of flinch-inducing violence, The Way may not appeal to those seeking a hardcore post-apocalypse read. Others may find its combination of scientific speculation, spirituality, and literary touches exactly what they were looking for -- even if they didn't know it when they picked up the book. Recommended.

👉🏻For my friends who want a warm & witty dystopian buddy road trip (where the buddies are a raven and a cat).

THE WAY by Cary Groner (Byron Wagner, Narrator)

🎧Thanks, @spotify @spiegelandgrau, for the review copy of the book and audiobook via #NetGalley. (Available now) 9 Hours, 19 Minutes

“The world has been ravaged by a lethal virus and, with few exceptions, only the young have survived. Against this perilous backdrop, Will, the caretaker of a Colorado Buddhist monastery, receives an urgent and mysterious request: deliver a potential cure to a scientist in California with the help of a clever raven, an opinionated cat, and a tough teenage girl.”

If you’re only going to try one dystopian novel, try this one. Take THE STAND (but not as gruesome), combine it with an inter-species buddy road trip of PROJECT HAIL MARY, mix in a dash of TAO OF POOH (for some gentle mindfulness), and mix well. It’s warm and funny, and the ending was unexpected but welcome.

I loved Will unconditionally. He’s a seasoned survivor who doesn’t resort to violence unless necessary. He’s just a little bit mystical but pragmatic, too. He’s a man who adapts, overcomes, and keeps putting one foot in front of the other while contemplating the wonders of the universe. Oh, and he understands what the raven (Peau, pronounced “Poe”) and cat (Cassie) say to him, but with a shrug and a “maybe I’m crazy, or maybe this is just evolution after a global evisceration” type of acceptance.

This is one of the most unusual books I’ve read in quite a while. The world has been devastated by a series of pandemics, wiping out most of civilization. Former science journalist Will Collins was isolated in meditation at a Buddhist dharma center, so he survived and has been living in isolation for about 14 years. One day he receives an email from a scientist friend asking him to transport a potential cure from Colorado to California, and thus his dangerous quest begins.

I liked Will, who tries to live up to his Buddhist ideals, being mindful and causing no harm, but doesn’t always succeed. I loved his animal companions, the raven Peau and the cat Cassie. These companions are somehow able to communicate with each other, and along with a teenage girl they rescue along the way, this found family takes care of each other. The cross-species communication, along with communication via dreams and letters committed to fire, adds a touch of magical realism to this post-apocalyptic road trip story.

Groner’s language is often beautiful, painting vivid images. There are passages with a slow gentle rhythm, filled with Will’s philosophizing. Then Groner shocks the reader with scenes of intense suspense and unexpected descriptions of violence, torture, and death.

The story easily held my attention as it built toward a series of shocking surprises, and I enjoyed the mix of action, suspense, humor, and philosophizing. I also really liked the ending. Despite its dystopian setting, this is a remarkably optimistic story.

Thanks to Spiegel & Grau for providing me with an electronic ARC through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

The Way is a post-apocalyptic novel set in the near future; two waves of infectious illness, one COVID and another of a bird flu variety, decimate the world, leaving behind a significantly-reduced population, mostly under 40, scrabbling at the edge of survival. There are pockets of greater levels of remaining technology scattered across the country, as Will finds out when he agrees to carry the results of medical experiment from Colorado to California, traveling by mule-drawn carriage (okay, the shell of a Ford 150). During his journey, Will finds various small communities, each adapted somewhat differently to the aftermath of the pandemic (sometimes called Mayhem), but all working together within their small groupings to help one another survive; a bare 14 years have passed since Mayhem, and many survivors, and their children, are still finding their own way to respond.

Will is an interesting character, who lived in a Buddhist sangha (community) before Mayhem, a man committed to non-violence in a world gone mad and often violent. He travels with two companions - a raven and a cat - and eats whatever he can find or trade for. He's being followed on his journey by a man named Buck Flynn, who somehow knows that Will carries a potential cure, and wants desperately to take it from him for himself - an issue that significantly increases the risks of an already risky journey cross-country.

There are a lot of things to enjoy in this novel, although there were a few that seemed more appropriate for a society farther from its fall than this one - gangs of feral children less than 15 years after the pandemic swept through seems a bit precipitous, even if the virus did kill far more adults than children; if nothing else, the children described would have to have been born after Mayhem to be the ages they're described to be, which would imply far more adults surviving, at least long enough to procreate, than is supported by the rest of the story. But that was a minor issue in the broad sweep of the plot.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.