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The Walking Dead: Novels #4
The Walking Dead 4
Das Monster in uns
Die Toten sind auferstanden und jagen die Lebenden, nichts und niemand ist vor ihnen sicher, und auf der ganzen Welt regiert das Chaos. Außer in dem kleinen Südstaatenstädtchen Woodbury: Dort regiert der Governor mit eiserner Hand über die wenigen Menschen, die die Apokalypse überlebt haben. Dafür bietet er ihnen Schutz vor den hungrigen Toten. Doch als die Menschen von Woodbury feststellen, dass das wahre Monster innerhalb der Stadtmauern wütet, kommt es zu einem blutigen Kampf – gegen die Lebenden und die Toten ...
Die Toten sind auferstanden und jagen die Lebenden, nichts und niemand ist vor ihnen sicher, und auf der ganzen Welt regiert das Chaos. Außer in dem kleinen Südstaatenstädtchen Woodbury: Dort regiert der Governor mit eiserner Hand über die wenigen Menschen, die die Apokalypse überlebt haben. Dafür bietet er ihnen Schutz vor den hungrigen Toten. Doch als die Menschen von Woodbury feststellen, dass das wahre Monster innerhalb der Stadtmauern wütet, kommt es zu einem blutigen Kampf – gegen die Lebenden und die Toten ...
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
106 people are currently reading
4144 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kirkman
2,752 books6,955 followersRobert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
October 3, 2015
all the misery,pain and fear on the head of one man, my god why has no one blown this guy away?
and whats with all the fuck?
it is impressisive how they all follow this crazy dick and at the last moment turn.
and whats with all the fuck?
it is impressisive how they all follow this crazy dick and at the last moment turn.
January 27, 2015
4.4 flying dead stars
The story of Woodbury as it struggles with one crazy fool as a leader while trying to save themselves from those evil nasty prison hoodlums. This story starts right where part one leaves off with one nearly dead _________.
This is not your TV show version, this is serious walking dead badarseness ! Things are different yet similar, the same characters same town same issues but there is so much more offered in these novels. We get to know them, all of them the side characters that may or may not have made it to the show. There are a lot of deaths, but they don't die in the same way as the show. It's much more horrible, bloody, slimy, satisfying for one of them. The Governor, he gets it Oh boy does he get it ! It was good to feel his pain, and I could feel it. The writer dose a fabulous job and the narrator nailed it to the wall !
Know what else was great the dumb girl mold was broken by a finally got smart girl. Yep, it can happen ! This girl outlasted, outlived and outsmarted all those big strong men !
A certain evil rotten villain we all love to hate is still not dead. Oh my gawd are you kidding me ? How the heck did he get up from that ? I was waiting for the end and BAM there was a pulse rate. Son of a __________.
That's fine, really, I got to enjoy many hours of their slow downward spiral into crazy town USA.
Damn good zombie tale, if you like the show you'll love the books.
The story of Woodbury as it struggles with one crazy fool as a leader while trying to save themselves from those evil nasty prison hoodlums. This story starts right where part one leaves off with one nearly dead _________.
This is not your TV show version, this is serious walking dead badarseness ! Things are different yet similar, the same characters same town same issues but there is so much more offered in these novels. We get to know them, all of them the side characters that may or may not have made it to the show. There are a lot of deaths, but they don't die in the same way as the show. It's much more horrible, bloody, slimy, satisfying for one of them. The Governor, he gets it Oh boy does he get it ! It was good to feel his pain, and I could feel it. The writer dose a fabulous job and the narrator nailed it to the wall !
Know what else was great the dumb girl mold was broken by a finally got smart girl. Yep, it can happen ! This girl outlasted, outlived and outsmarted all those big strong men !
A certain evil rotten villain we all love to hate is still not dead. Oh my gawd are you kidding me ? How the heck did he get up from that ? I was waiting for the end and BAM there was a pulse rate. Son of a __________.
That's fine, really, I got to enjoy many hours of their slow downward spiral into crazy town USA.
Damn good zombie tale, if you like the show you'll love the books.
October 21, 2014
Let’s get something out of the way really quick before we begin the review. One, if you’ve not seen the TV Show, or heard of the plot between the Governor and Rick, then you’ve probably been under a rock. Two, this is NOT the TV show. This series of books follows The Governor within the confines of THE COMIC BOOK. They are two TOTALLY different characters. TV Governor is a watered down version of the COMIC Governor. Oh, and there’s spoilers ahead, but if you are reading a review with a book that has PART TWO in the title, you better expect some. We good? Okay, let’s continue.
I was a little upset with the first book in this Fall of the Governor Duology. I felt that they didn’t really capitalize on the retail they had and explore the invasion of Woodbury from the Governors point of view to its fullest potential. It was the ONE thing I was looking forward to, and I felt robbed.
This book however, does everything that book one didn’t do! There is so much character development with Bob Stookey and Lilly Caul, and you even get a better look into the motivation of Lilly as to why she finally just said screw it, and shot the Governor in the head.
You also get a look inside the manipulations of the Governor after he got the holy hell beat out of him by Michonne. You know the Governor is an evil person bent on revenge, but, to truly see the depths of his manipulations in order to serve his purpose, how he is able to grab hold and keep the inhabitants of Woodbury on his side against all evidence, is something to behold. The lies he spins, and the half-truths he tells could all be completely plausible. He gives people just enough information to think they’re important in the survival of Woodbury, but keeps them at such a distance that they really have no idea what’s actually happening.
Seeing his rage finally boil over to where he loses all control was steadily built so that the reader was about ready to pop with him, but for a whole different reason.
Lilly Caul is one of the people that the Governor has kept at arms length. She’s great with a gun, she’s sympathetic to his cause and believes in his purpose, and she’s a sort of liaison to the people. The relationship between her and Austin gives her yet another dimension especially since she’s dealing with pregnancy at the same time. It’s interesting to see her struggle with just how much she can do and wants to do versus how much she should do balanced with the people that are worried about her.
As events unfold and tragedy begins to strike, Lilly becomes steeled and focused as ever ready to fight for the Governors cause. Out of tragedy comes clarity and triumph though as she eventually sees the Governor for who he truly is after ordering her to fire upon Rick’s family as they are fleeing the Prison. Her reaction, and mental unfolding was done incredibly well and lend much more to her character than the comic ever could in this pivotal moment.
Probably the most touching and heartbreaking moment in the novel comes towards the end where Lilly discovers that the Governor had kept his brothers daughter Penny with him despite being turned.
When all is said and done the question of whether or not Woodbury can survive either in spirit or physically is still up in the air, but they leave you with a sense that things could possibly be okay. I guess we’ll find out in The Walking Dead: Descent, which follows the events of this book.
A note on the audio book: I listened to this via Audiobook as well as reading the book. Fred Berman did a great job going from the crazed Governor, to the timid Bob Stookey, to the sympathetic Lilly Caul. His performance towards the end of Bob Stookey really drove home the subtle nuances of pain and love that the writing required. He kept a nice even pace throughout the book and was deliberate and articulate with his words without being too slow like some narrators. I look forward to his performance in Descent.
The Bottom Line: There are a lot of people that I think wanted more from this book. I think it did what it set out to do. I think the whole thing really did what it set out to do. Even though this was centered around the rise and fall of the Governor, the stand out character and the one you rooted for and cared for was Lilly Caul. It kind of gives her another dimension in the Tell Tale Game Walking Dead as well, knowing what’s in store for her down the road. The characters were written well, and they were true to the comic, and I’m really looking forward to reading more about Lilly Caul. Jay Bonansinga redeemed himself from part one of the duology and left me wanting more.
I was a little upset with the first book in this Fall of the Governor Duology. I felt that they didn’t really capitalize on the retail they had and explore the invasion of Woodbury from the Governors point of view to its fullest potential. It was the ONE thing I was looking forward to, and I felt robbed.
This book however, does everything that book one didn’t do! There is so much character development with Bob Stookey and Lilly Caul, and you even get a better look into the motivation of Lilly as to why she finally just said screw it, and shot the Governor in the head.
You also get a look inside the manipulations of the Governor after he got the holy hell beat out of him by Michonne. You know the Governor is an evil person bent on revenge, but, to truly see the depths of his manipulations in order to serve his purpose, how he is able to grab hold and keep the inhabitants of Woodbury on his side against all evidence, is something to behold. The lies he spins, and the half-truths he tells could all be completely plausible. He gives people just enough information to think they’re important in the survival of Woodbury, but keeps them at such a distance that they really have no idea what’s actually happening.
Seeing his rage finally boil over to where he loses all control was steadily built so that the reader was about ready to pop with him, but for a whole different reason.
Lilly Caul is one of the people that the Governor has kept at arms length. She’s great with a gun, she’s sympathetic to his cause and believes in his purpose, and she’s a sort of liaison to the people. The relationship between her and Austin gives her yet another dimension especially since she’s dealing with pregnancy at the same time. It’s interesting to see her struggle with just how much she can do and wants to do versus how much she should do balanced with the people that are worried about her.
As events unfold and tragedy begins to strike, Lilly becomes steeled and focused as ever ready to fight for the Governors cause. Out of tragedy comes clarity and triumph though as she eventually sees the Governor for who he truly is after ordering her to fire upon Rick’s family as they are fleeing the Prison. Her reaction, and mental unfolding was done incredibly well and lend much more to her character than the comic ever could in this pivotal moment.
Probably the most touching and heartbreaking moment in the novel comes towards the end where Lilly discovers that the Governor had kept his brothers daughter Penny with him despite being turned.
When all is said and done the question of whether or not Woodbury can survive either in spirit or physically is still up in the air, but they leave you with a sense that things could possibly be okay. I guess we’ll find out in The Walking Dead: Descent, which follows the events of this book.
A note on the audio book: I listened to this via Audiobook as well as reading the book. Fred Berman did a great job going from the crazed Governor, to the timid Bob Stookey, to the sympathetic Lilly Caul. His performance towards the end of Bob Stookey really drove home the subtle nuances of pain and love that the writing required. He kept a nice even pace throughout the book and was deliberate and articulate with his words without being too slow like some narrators. I look forward to his performance in Descent.
The Bottom Line: There are a lot of people that I think wanted more from this book. I think it did what it set out to do. I think the whole thing really did what it set out to do. Even though this was centered around the rise and fall of the Governor, the stand out character and the one you rooted for and cared for was Lilly Caul. It kind of gives her another dimension in the Tell Tale Game Walking Dead as well, knowing what’s in store for her down the road. The characters were written well, and they were true to the comic, and I’m really looking forward to reading more about Lilly Caul. Jay Bonansinga redeemed himself from part one of the duology and left me wanting more.
June 24, 2017
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This book continues the story of the Governor versus Rick and the gang. This story arc is from the comics and not the television series.
This one might be my favorite so far out of this series. I still have a complaint about the writing. I don't expect award winning literature and this book is nowhere near that level. The author falls in love with certain phases and repeats them. The worse part is they don't make sense either. I have read about zombie's eyes being shiny like a buffalo head nickel several times and I still have no idea what that means. (All the buffalo head nickels I have seen are worn with age) That being said, I enjoyed the conclusion and the material borrowed from the comics (I loved this arc in the comics). What really stands out in this book is the descent of madness of the Governor and the fools that follow him to their certain deaths.
As I said I loved this particular arc in the comics. I believe it would have been impossible for this book to be bad because of the material. If you are new to this arc I would suggest the comics over this novel. This novel is more of an insight to that arc.
This book continues the story of the Governor versus Rick and the gang. This story arc is from the comics and not the television series.
This one might be my favorite so far out of this series. I still have a complaint about the writing. I don't expect award winning literature and this book is nowhere near that level. The author falls in love with certain phases and repeats them. The worse part is they don't make sense either. I have read about zombie's eyes being shiny like a buffalo head nickel several times and I still have no idea what that means. (All the buffalo head nickels I have seen are worn with age) That being said, I enjoyed the conclusion and the material borrowed from the comics (I loved this arc in the comics). What really stands out in this book is the descent of madness of the Governor and the fools that follow him to their certain deaths.
As I said I loved this particular arc in the comics. I believe it would have been impossible for this book to be bad because of the material. If you are new to this arc I would suggest the comics over this novel. This novel is more of an insight to that arc.
October 20, 2016
La seconda parte del capitolo finale della trilogia del Governatore, diventata tetralogia per l'avidità degli autori, si porta dietro tutti i difetti del libro precedente: la maggior parte dei fatti descritti é solo una rivisitazione di quelli descritti nel fumetto, le descrizioni degli azzannatori (fortunatamente stavolta la parola zombie viene usata maggiormente) sono abbastanza ripetitive, e in generale si ha la sensazione che la storia sia stata dilatata fino alla nausea.
Fortunatamente l'ultimo libro della saga é migliore del precedente, a mio parere, e le ultime 50 pagine meritano di essere lette se siete completisti della saga fumettistica di Walking Dead e volete sapere che fine fanno Lilly e gli ultimi sopravvissuti di Woodbury.
Saga che dopo un formidabile primo libro é andata in declino e che si riprende giusto nel finale.
Per fortuna é finita.
March 7, 2014
The Walking Dead exists in three separate and very different places. There is the Walking Dead of the graphic novel series, which is how many fans came to follow the story. There is, of course, the incredibly popular universe of the Walking Dead tv show, a place where characters exist that don't appear in the graphic novels, plotlines are distinctly skewered away from the familiar, and Norman Reedus has become every fangirl's boyfriend. Finally, there is the Walking Dead of the four full-length novels, a place even more different that the other two alternate universes.
Fall of the Governor Part 2 is the fourth and final book in the series, penned by graphic novel creator and show producer Robert Kirkman, along with best-selling author Jay Bonansinga. Know this: you absolutely HAVE to read these four books in order, or nothing will ever make sense. The other thing you have to do when reading them? Forget everything you saw on tv or in a graphic novel. While there will be names that ring a bell - Martinez, Rick and Carl, the Governor, Michonne - none of them are the people that you're already familiar with.
FotG2 picks up in the immediate moments after the previous book, and without being too spoilery, let's just say the Governor is in a bad way, and hoping to exact revenge on those he believes have wronged him. You know the likeable sociopath played by David Morrissey on the show? Forget him - this Philip Blake, this Governor, is a monster unleashed.
More crucial to the storyline is Lily Caul, who makes her first appearance in Book 2, The Road To Woodbury. Lily's journey has taken her through a frightening and destructive turn of events, and it's in this final book that she really turns into a woman with a purpose.
It's impossible to discuss this book without giving away some very important aspects of the story, so I'll simply say this: if you enjoyed the first three books, this one is of equally high caliber. As always, the characters are compelling and deep, their internal baggage pushed aside in favor of simply surviving. The walker attacks continue to be gruesome and unrelenting, and as loyalties and allegiances change, the fate of the post-apocalyptic world and its few survivors unfolds in bloody and yet somehow poetic detail.
Fall of the Governor Part 2 is the fourth and final book in the series, penned by graphic novel creator and show producer Robert Kirkman, along with best-selling author Jay Bonansinga. Know this: you absolutely HAVE to read these four books in order, or nothing will ever make sense. The other thing you have to do when reading them? Forget everything you saw on tv or in a graphic novel. While there will be names that ring a bell - Martinez, Rick and Carl, the Governor, Michonne - none of them are the people that you're already familiar with.
FotG2 picks up in the immediate moments after the previous book, and without being too spoilery, let's just say the Governor is in a bad way, and hoping to exact revenge on those he believes have wronged him. You know the likeable sociopath played by David Morrissey on the show? Forget him - this Philip Blake, this Governor, is a monster unleashed.
More crucial to the storyline is Lily Caul, who makes her first appearance in Book 2, The Road To Woodbury. Lily's journey has taken her through a frightening and destructive turn of events, and it's in this final book that she really turns into a woman with a purpose.
It's impossible to discuss this book without giving away some very important aspects of the story, so I'll simply say this: if you enjoyed the first three books, this one is of equally high caliber. As always, the characters are compelling and deep, their internal baggage pushed aside in favor of simply surviving. The walker attacks continue to be gruesome and unrelenting, and as loyalties and allegiances change, the fate of the post-apocalyptic world and its few survivors unfolds in bloody and yet somehow poetic detail.
June 1, 2025
Najgorszy tom jak na razie - mimo iż miał chyba najwięcej akcji.
Umarła w końcu najobrzydliwsza postać, Penny w końcu zaznała spokoju ale Lily to taki Frankenstein postaciowy że masakra XD od startu obróciła się o 360 stopni, mózg wyprany na maksa i jestem ciekawa czy im dalej tym będzie gorzej?
Umarła w końcu najobrzydliwsza postać, Penny w końcu zaznała spokoju ale Lily to taki Frankenstein postaciowy że masakra XD od startu obróciła się o 360 stopni, mózg wyprany na maksa i jestem ciekawa czy im dalej tym będzie gorzej?
November 17, 2017
So, this is the final book in the series about the Governor character from The Walking Dead. What started as a truly interesting series that added more depth to the Governor's story slowly turned into a simple retelling of the events in the comics. While occasionally comic book retellings can be rather good, this was essentially just more of the same.
I never really want to read the description of an overall wearing walker again.
The book wasn't as bad as Part One of The Fall of the Governor and it did a decent job of making Austin a rather lovable character and fully fleshing out the way that Woodbury functioned. I just wish that more effort had been put into fleshing out the Governor in general, as they did in the first book. I wanted to more fully understand his motivations, or at least how people rallied to him and agreed that events like storming the prison were a good idea. Lilly flip-flopped too much for my liking and I felt rather strongly the lack of foreshadowing as to her eventual fate.
This series could have been a lot more, and perhaps if the books weren't quite so rushed it will be just that.
I never really want to read the description of an overall wearing walker again.
The book wasn't as bad as Part One of The Fall of the Governor and it did a decent job of making Austin a rather lovable character and fully fleshing out the way that Woodbury functioned. I just wish that more effort had been put into fleshing out the Governor in general, as they did in the first book. I wanted to more fully understand his motivations, or at least how people rallied to him and agreed that events like storming the prison were a good idea. Lilly flip-flopped too much for my liking and I felt rather strongly the lack of foreshadowing as to her eventual fate.
This series could have been a lot more, and perhaps if the books weren't quite so rushed it will be just that.
December 1, 2014
I've read the comics so I knew what was coming, but I found myself insanely annoyed with the character of Lily. I mean at first, I felt bad for her, but then I found myself irritated with her and wanting to smack her. She went from hating The Governor to suddenly being on his team and down with the whole crazy program. And instead of taking responsibility for an incredibly horrible thing she does, she blames The Governor claiming he made her do it. NO ONE made her do anything. She CHOSE to do all these things and never even had the foresight or brains to ask questions.
I was ticked with the ending too, because of course she just gets to go on her merry way after she destroyed so many people's lives. This was ridiculous and disappointing and by the end all I wanted to do was smack this jerk character and let a walker or two get her. This was awful.
I was ticked with the ending too, because of course she just gets to go on her merry way after she destroyed so many people's lives. This was ridiculous and disappointing and by the end all I wanted to do was smack this jerk character and let a walker or two get her. This was awful.
August 17, 2022
I expected more from these series but I guess after third book I should’ve known better. Main character, Lily, is barely tolerable and this really shoots down any desire for me to read rest of the novels knowing she’s going to be involved again. And with Governor’s arc done the books also end the tie-in for comics books. While I would not mind reading new material on the series overall - I don’t like main character so I won’t be reading anymore. Bonansinga is also not as good a writer as he tried to be. Constantly reading same examples, words and expressions gets tiring after one tried to read more than 20 pages in one go. Overall - quality decreases with quantity and it’s a shame because I wanted to love these books as a fan of comics. But I guess shit happens.
March 11, 2014
As a huge fan of The Walking Dead tv show and comic series I've really enjoyed these novels. My only gripe about this book is I don't think it had to be divided into two seperate novels. It was interesting to learn what happened to the Woodbury surviors after the prison attack and you just never know we could see these characters again someday.
March 19, 2014
I loved this book because it was full of adventure and action. I enjoyed how the story was brought to life by the characters. This book was very well written and it was such a creative story line.
May 15, 2020
Prve 3 knihy boli skvele.. ale tato bola od polovice uz dost o nicom... dalsi diel uz asi ozeliem
June 29, 2021
The Fall of the Governor: :Part Two is a solid ending towards the story of Philip/Bryan Blake. I really enjoyed all the insights I got of the Governor in the four books about him and his story. I loved that in a way he never changed. He stayed ruthless to the end. Even when he died, still talking, still fighting dead - he was a strong willed man.
But even though he was a cruel and insane man, I admired the love he had for his daughter Penny. I know it's kinda sick to keep her after she turned. But I understand why, and where it came from. I love how he cares for her. Still sees his Penny in her. And the fact that he asked Bob to take care of her if he didn't come back says it all.
I had so much trouble connecting with Lilly in the previous books. I really was invested in the Governor's story. But the chapters about Lilly, I couldn't wait for those to end and read more about the Governor. But in this book she really grew on me.
I think in a world like the Walking Dead it's difficult to see right from wrong. The lines are so blurred. What may seem cruel yesterday, is self protection the day after.
The fact that she saw the Governor as a good and solid leader in the beginning, says a lot. I got it though. Her attempt to kill him failed in the previous book. And she had to adjust to the current situation. Her getting pregnant, feeling all those emotions were wonderful. Her losing the child broken my heart, as it broke hers.
And in the end when they attack the prison and she sees Lori dead with her baby crushed beneath her. I loved that scene. It was heartbreaking but so powerful. You felt the change in Lilly. And I am glad she killed the bastard.
Her leading the group, making it a democracy - it felt good. But in the end when the new family arrives to Woodbury. It feels like that might not be such a good thing. So I'll dive into Descent next!
And the most powerful scene for me was shen she catches Bob carrying a dead bunny, and Bob showing her Penny, and Bob letting her know how much he loves the girl. And her understanding. I really made my heart ache. I love how they set her free - gave her a burial with love and respect. And I do hope Bryan and Penny are reunited in the afterlife.
Really enjoyable book. Can't wait to read the others!
But even though he was a cruel and insane man, I admired the love he had for his daughter Penny. I know it's kinda sick to keep her after she turned. But I understand why, and where it came from. I love how he cares for her. Still sees his Penny in her. And the fact that he asked Bob to take care of her if he didn't come back says it all.
I had so much trouble connecting with Lilly in the previous books. I really was invested in the Governor's story. But the chapters about Lilly, I couldn't wait for those to end and read more about the Governor. But in this book she really grew on me.
I think in a world like the Walking Dead it's difficult to see right from wrong. The lines are so blurred. What may seem cruel yesterday, is self protection the day after.
The fact that she saw the Governor as a good and solid leader in the beginning, says a lot. I got it though. Her attempt to kill him failed in the previous book. And she had to adjust to the current situation. Her getting pregnant, feeling all those emotions were wonderful. Her losing the child broken my heart, as it broke hers.
And in the end when they attack the prison and she sees Lori dead with her baby crushed beneath her. I loved that scene. It was heartbreaking but so powerful. You felt the change in Lilly. And I am glad she killed the bastard.
Her leading the group, making it a democracy - it felt good. But in the end when the new family arrives to Woodbury. It feels like that might not be such a good thing. So I'll dive into Descent next!
And the most powerful scene for me was shen she catches Bob carrying a dead bunny, and Bob showing her Penny, and Bob letting her know how much he loves the girl. And her understanding. I really made my heart ache. I love how they set her free - gave her a burial with love and respect. And I do hope Bryan and Penny are reunited in the afterlife.
Really enjoyable book. Can't wait to read the others!
August 8, 2015
I’m calling stolen valor on Bob Stookey. First he tells someone he was a Marine Corpsman First class. There is no such thing. He could be a Navy Corpsman First Class attached to a Marine unit but the marines don’t have a corpsman. Then later in the book he talks to someone else about his time as an army medic. So was he a Marine or was he in the Army? At another point he talks about working on an injured young marine master sergeant. I guess young is a matter of perspective but since almost all E-8’s are in their late 30’s or older I wouldn’t call one young. Apparently at some point in his military career, I’m not sure if this is when he was in the Marines or Army, he learns basic skills as an OBGYN. Although he does warn Lilly that he isn’t an OBGYN.
On a serious note the editing on this book is atrocious. I wish the author has spent some time making sure his military info was at least mostly correct. If you overlook these things it was a good story. I enjoyed the book and the series as a whole. I would recommend it to others to read.
On a serious note the editing on this book is atrocious. I wish the author has spent some time making sure his military info was at least mostly correct. If you overlook these things it was a good story. I enjoyed the book and the series as a whole. I would recommend it to others to read.
December 8, 2015
This is where the series starts to get better and doesn't feel like a retelling of the comics.
Lilly came back around for me. I won't give any spoilers, but when she was on the Governor's side it felt like lazy writing. No one who experienced what she did and saw what she did would suddenly be on his team. Even though I knew how their story ended from reading the comics, it felt freshly told from her perspective.
Honestly besides Lilly and the Governor, all the other characters in the book, including Rick's gang, felt like background people I didn't get a chance to know that well, like Austin, Lilly's boyfriend. They live together and he gets her, the main character esentially, pregnant, and all I feel I learned about him or ever saw of him was that he was nurturing and kind of a weanie at shooting.
Now that the story is done following the comics and goes on to tell when Lilly does with Woodbury after the Governor, I'm excited to read it again...after a bit of a Walking Dead break that is.
Lilly came back around for me. I won't give any spoilers, but when she was on the Governor's side it felt like lazy writing. No one who experienced what she did and saw what she did would suddenly be on his team. Even though I knew how their story ended from reading the comics, it felt freshly told from her perspective.
Honestly besides Lilly and the Governor, all the other characters in the book, including Rick's gang, felt like background people I didn't get a chance to know that well, like Austin, Lilly's boyfriend. They live together and he gets her, the main character esentially, pregnant, and all I feel I learned about him or ever saw of him was that he was nurturing and kind of a weanie at shooting.
Now that the story is done following the comics and goes on to tell when Lilly does with Woodbury after the Governor, I'm excited to read it again...after a bit of a Walking Dead break that is.
December 18, 2022
no puedo creer que voy a decir esto, prefiero mil veces lo qué pasa en la serie
April 4, 2025
Chapter 17 might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read. I audibly chuckled.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
This universe is Comic!verse and not AMC so it was an interesting experience to read the Governor, who I'm used to seeing as a Southern GentlemanTM, read as Diet Negan.
With that being said, this is from someone else's POV watching the Governor losing the last bit of his sanity and how they move passed him. Because it's not a visual novel, I found it to be better in the content department but still kept the sadness of the comics.
Recommended 16+ (because no near-nudity) read at your own risk.
With that being said, this is from someone else's POV watching the Governor losing the last bit of his sanity and how they move passed him. Because it's not a visual novel, I found it to be better in the content department but still kept the sadness of the comics.
Recommended 16+ (because no near-nudity) read at your own risk.
November 29, 2019
A great wrap up for the Governor’s Arc, and neat to see from his side of the fence so to speak.
Part 2 was definitely not as intense as part 1, and I would say some things could have been executed a bit better. However, the story was fun, gruesome, action packed, and colorful. It really sucks you into the character of Lilly Caul and makes you want to know more about her and see her adventures unfold. I surely hope the following entries do so.
Part 2 was definitely not as intense as part 1, and I would say some things could have been executed a bit better. However, the story was fun, gruesome, action packed, and colorful. It really sucks you into the character of Lilly Caul and makes you want to know more about her and see her adventures unfold. I surely hope the following entries do so.
August 25, 2024
Maradjatok a képregényeknél (graphic novels are excellent). A WD-univerzum bővítését vártam tőle, de hatalmas csalódás az összes WD-könyv. Béna stílus, tudjuk, hogy hová fog kilyukadni, így sok feszültség sincs, viszont bénán, sablonosan megírt és sok benne a következetlenség (zombik viselkedése, néha etetni kell őket-mások évekig elvannak a mezőn, egyszer csak a semmiből megjelennek egy csendes házban stb...) Pár szereplőhöz kapunk vmi hátteret, de nem éri meg, nem lesz tőle semmi érthetőb, jobb. Időpazarlás :(
February 16, 2018
This book was a good book after Part One only ROBERT KIRKMAN JUST HAD TO KILL OF TWO OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS!!!!! 🙄🙄🙄. All in all I really enjoyed this book so I’ll give it 4/5 Stars just because I want to 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2024
This is most definitely my favorite book in the series! Very emotional read!!
April 24, 2014
Woodbury stands on the brink of disaster. The Governor – the cruel, ruthless, organised, skilled leader of their community has been horrendously injured by strangers to the town – strangers who have escaped and may come back. As the town fears their return, they also wait desperately for the Governor to wake up, even as the town’s functions begin to fray without his command.
It’s up to Lilly to step into the void. And, when the time comes, do whatever she must – whatever the Governor tells her – to keep them all safe from any threat.
We have had mixed experiences with this series – the problem is they are taking a story that has already been told in The Walking Dead comics and then telling them from a different angle. In the last book, that didn’t work out – we ended up with the same story regurgitated and it felt like rather a waste of time and money.
Thankfully this book is a little different. This book did bring something new to the storyline – it helped explained why. On some level we always know why people follow the brutal dictators like the Governor in dystopias – because he represents safety, because he represents stability, because it’s amazing what you can turn a blind eye to when your life depends upon it, because he’s charismatic and good at twisting the facts and selling lies, because in a dystopian world sometimes you need a monster on your side. We know all this from the many dystopians we’ve read, beyond The Walking Dead, but having a story told from Lily’s point of view, from the point of view of one of those who did follow the dictator, who believed the lies, who ignored the brutality, adds texture and a viewpoint we rarely see in the genre. Sure, we know these things – or can extrapolate them – but how often do we see them step in as protagonist? How often do we see the decisions they have to make, the thought processes – how often do we expect to be in their shoes?
And that’s what we get with Lilly; we get the fight of a pregnant woman in a dystopian world who knows she needs a safe, secure place if she’s going to have any chance to keep her baby safe. We have a woman who doesn’t just like the secure town of Woodbury and the cruel, sadistic Governor who leads it, but beyond a doubt needs both of them. She can’t afford not to trust the Governor. She cannot afford a moral high ground until she has no choice but to face the extremes of the man and his whole edifice of lies.
We also see that in Woodbury itself, the number of people who the Governor – in his twisted way – truly does care for and protect. A protection that actually starts to fall apart when the Governor and his overwhelming personality are not focused on the town – which shows they’re not wrong. They do need him.
Read More
It’s up to Lilly to step into the void. And, when the time comes, do whatever she must – whatever the Governor tells her – to keep them all safe from any threat.
We have had mixed experiences with this series – the problem is they are taking a story that has already been told in The Walking Dead comics and then telling them from a different angle. In the last book, that didn’t work out – we ended up with the same story regurgitated and it felt like rather a waste of time and money.
Thankfully this book is a little different. This book did bring something new to the storyline – it helped explained why. On some level we always know why people follow the brutal dictators like the Governor in dystopias – because he represents safety, because he represents stability, because it’s amazing what you can turn a blind eye to when your life depends upon it, because he’s charismatic and good at twisting the facts and selling lies, because in a dystopian world sometimes you need a monster on your side. We know all this from the many dystopians we’ve read, beyond The Walking Dead, but having a story told from Lily’s point of view, from the point of view of one of those who did follow the dictator, who believed the lies, who ignored the brutality, adds texture and a viewpoint we rarely see in the genre. Sure, we know these things – or can extrapolate them – but how often do we see them step in as protagonist? How often do we see the decisions they have to make, the thought processes – how often do we expect to be in their shoes?
And that’s what we get with Lilly; we get the fight of a pregnant woman in a dystopian world who knows she needs a safe, secure place if she’s going to have any chance to keep her baby safe. We have a woman who doesn’t just like the secure town of Woodbury and the cruel, sadistic Governor who leads it, but beyond a doubt needs both of them. She can’t afford not to trust the Governor. She cannot afford a moral high ground until she has no choice but to face the extremes of the man and his whole edifice of lies.
We also see that in Woodbury itself, the number of people who the Governor – in his twisted way – truly does care for and protect. A protection that actually starts to fall apart when the Governor and his overwhelming personality are not focused on the town – which shows they’re not wrong. They do need him.
Read More
September 10, 2014
Though nowhere near the train wreck of the previous entry in the series, Part Two of the Fall of the Governor suffers from the same essential issue as its predecessor: Does reading alternative POVs of the exact same scenes that took place in the WALKING DEAD comics really qualify as meaningful or even entertaining?
Obviously opinions will be divided on this, but for me, this final book in the series barely qualifies as either. Book One was a very solid read that served the purpose of getting to know and better understand the titular character; the second did much the same for Lilly Caul. The third, as I noted here served no such purpose. The Governor was already batshit crazy and doing exactly what he did through the comics, while Lilly couldn't make up her mind what she wanted and vacillated between being rebelling and subscribing to the Governor's world views.
Thankfully, Part Two gets better the further it goes because the first section of the novel is mind-numbingly boring. Everything that takes place feels like padding before the good citizens of Woodbury are led against the prison. We know the Governor is very badly wounded, and all this section of the book details is his return to vertical, while Lilly develops her leadership skills in his absence. In Part Two of Part Two - ridiculous, isn't it? - the battles at the prison take place. Again, anyone familiar with the WALKING DEAD universe knows exactly how this is going to play out. But at least there are some action beats and the exact level of the Governor's crazy is presented in full technicolour. Just in case you were in any doubt. At this point, I was fully ready to award another one-star rating to a book in this series, but the third part actually gives us something new as the survivors of the prison battle to escape the death-trap they have effectively brought upon themselves.
More of this section and the action that might have followed would have made for a worthwhile side addition to Kirkman's ongoing comic book series. But 70 or so pages is all we get, and for that there's only one extra star to be awarded.
For completists and WALKING DEAD aficionados only.
2 Spittle-Flecked, Screamed Orders for The Fall of the Governor: Part Two.
Obviously opinions will be divided on this, but for me, this final book in the series barely qualifies as either. Book One was a very solid read that served the purpose of getting to know and better understand the titular character; the second did much the same for Lilly Caul. The third, as I noted here served no such purpose. The Governor was already batshit crazy and doing exactly what he did through the comics, while Lilly couldn't make up her mind what she wanted and vacillated between being rebelling and subscribing to the Governor's world views.
Thankfully, Part Two gets better the further it goes because the first section of the novel is mind-numbingly boring. Everything that takes place feels like padding before the good citizens of Woodbury are led against the prison. We know the Governor is very badly wounded, and all this section of the book details is his return to vertical, while Lilly develops her leadership skills in his absence. In Part Two of Part Two - ridiculous, isn't it? - the battles at the prison take place. Again, anyone familiar with the WALKING DEAD universe knows exactly how this is going to play out. But at least there are some action beats and the exact level of the Governor's crazy is presented in full technicolour. Just in case you were in any doubt. At this point, I was fully ready to award another one-star rating to a book in this series, but the third part actually gives us something new as the survivors of the prison battle to escape the death-trap they have effectively brought upon themselves.
More of this section and the action that might have followed would have made for a worthwhile side addition to Kirkman's ongoing comic book series. But 70 or so pages is all we get, and for that there's only one extra star to be awarded.
For completists and WALKING DEAD aficionados only.
2 Spittle-Flecked, Screamed Orders for The Fall of the Governor: Part Two.
April 18, 2014
This was a really satisfying conclusion to the four book trilogy. I suppose that makes it a quadrilogy really. Anyhow, this book manages to tell exactly the same story as the comics do but from a completely different perspective. Despite the fact that we'd seen the vast majority of this story before (it is mostly the assault on the prison) it in no way feels like repetition as it focuses on what our key characters are doing, mainly Lilly Caul.
It works so wonderfully focussing on Lilly in this book. Essentially we get her back story filled in which explains both why she joined the assault on the prison and also why she ended up killing the Governor. I won't give anything away here but I felt satisfied that it really did give us the missing link. The author makes good use of being able to plunge into the characters thoughts and feelings but does so sparingly, not giving us pages of depressive thoughts yet still giving us enough to share what the characters are thinking.
Though Lilly is focussed on way more than anyone else, we do get a good development of other characters. We see the Governor recover from his torture and lose any humanity he had left to become a monster determined to have revenge. The internal battle between Philip Blake and the Governor personalities is fantastic. The highlight in terms of character development here though is Bob Stookey, who changes from pathetic alcoholic to excellent and caring medic. It's a change which is believable and entirely appropriate for the character.
I also liked the fact that some of the lesser characters got a bit more of a look in here, characters like Gabe and Bruce who are fairly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but the fact they are proper three-dimensional characters adds something to the story. I also thought this had a really strong ending which neatly ties up the series but allows for further tales featuring Lilly and Woodbury, which were announced this week.
Whilst the writing is not hugely strong and this not being the sort of book that is going to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, for fans of the book series and The Walking Dead in general this is a really satisfying conclusion.
It works so wonderfully focussing on Lilly in this book. Essentially we get her back story filled in which explains both why she joined the assault on the prison and also why she ended up killing the Governor. I won't give anything away here but I felt satisfied that it really did give us the missing link. The author makes good use of being able to plunge into the characters thoughts and feelings but does so sparingly, not giving us pages of depressive thoughts yet still giving us enough to share what the characters are thinking.
Though Lilly is focussed on way more than anyone else, we do get a good development of other characters. We see the Governor recover from his torture and lose any humanity he had left to become a monster determined to have revenge. The internal battle between Philip Blake and the Governor personalities is fantastic. The highlight in terms of character development here though is Bob Stookey, who changes from pathetic alcoholic to excellent and caring medic. It's a change which is believable and entirely appropriate for the character.
I also liked the fact that some of the lesser characters got a bit more of a look in here, characters like Gabe and Bruce who are fairly irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but the fact they are proper three-dimensional characters adds something to the story. I also thought this had a really strong ending which neatly ties up the series but allows for further tales featuring Lilly and Woodbury, which were announced this week.
Whilst the writing is not hugely strong and this not being the sort of book that is going to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, for fans of the book series and The Walking Dead in general this is a really satisfying conclusion.
September 7, 2017
I started out really enjoying this series, but as it went on the same things started to annoy me more and more. To the authors I strongly suggest you read "The Writer's Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference" since you do not seem to know much about guns at all.
First, "clip" and "magazine" are not interchangeable. They are two totally different things.
Second, everything does NOT smell like cordite. Cordite's use ended with the end of WWII and does not smell anything like modern gunpowder or dynamite. It looks like spaghetti and is not used in any modern-day ammunition that the people in the books are using. The last known use of cordite was 1945 so, unless a story takes place between 1889 and 1945, the word "cordite" should not be used.
Third, a Tec-9 is a 9mm semi-auto pistol. There is no way a 9mm pistol would "almost dislocate his shoulder" when he fired it.
Fourth, when the governor is practicing his shooting left-handed after he loses his right hand, he "closes his right eye and peers down the barrel with his left and fires", did you forget that at this point he only has one eye and an eye patch over the other socket? In the tv series his right eye has the patch, in the comic his left eye has the patch, so which one did he close in the book? The one with no eyeball and a patch where he would not need to close anything, or did he close his one good eye before looking down the barrel and firing?
Some of the things are just small annoyances but the constant comments about everything smelling like cordite just grated on my nerves every time I saw them.
Please, please, please do your research or at least get someone with firearms experience to proofread your books. Again I politely suggest that you read The Writer's Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference, it will at least give you enough knowledge to use the correct terms.
First, "clip" and "magazine" are not interchangeable. They are two totally different things.
Second, everything does NOT smell like cordite. Cordite's use ended with the end of WWII and does not smell anything like modern gunpowder or dynamite. It looks like spaghetti and is not used in any modern-day ammunition that the people in the books are using. The last known use of cordite was 1945 so, unless a story takes place between 1889 and 1945, the word "cordite" should not be used.
Third, a Tec-9 is a 9mm semi-auto pistol. There is no way a 9mm pistol would "almost dislocate his shoulder" when he fired it.
Fourth, when the governor is practicing his shooting left-handed after he loses his right hand, he "closes his right eye and peers down the barrel with his left and fires", did you forget that at this point he only has one eye and an eye patch over the other socket? In the tv series his right eye has the patch, in the comic his left eye has the patch, so which one did he close in the book? The one with no eyeball and a patch where he would not need to close anything, or did he close his one good eye before looking down the barrel and firing?
Some of the things are just small annoyances but the constant comments about everything smelling like cordite just grated on my nerves every time I saw them.
Please, please, please do your research or at least get someone with firearms experience to proofread your books. Again I politely suggest that you read The Writer's Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference, it will at least give you enough knowledge to use the correct terms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2014
Epic finale? or Epic fail?
The first book in this series was really good. The second was still pretty good. Then things started going down hill. I get changing the story from what we know of the tv show to keep things interesting, but at least keep it interesting. Oh, and bother to have someone other than the authors read and edit it. Maybe get info from a doctor (or even a woman) about the chances of finding the one pregnancy test that still existed that would let you know that you were pregnant only 10 days after you had sex. Then there's the bit where the Gov drags some of his men out in search of another group of his men and leaves them. They are upset that he left them on foot, and don't seem to notice that the truck from the first group was still sitting there idling. Then continuing from there (without spoiling for those who want to waste their time reading this). They spend a good 1/3 of the book detailing the weapons they have at their disposal and recounting how a medic who did one tour in Iraq was also an experienced sniper (evidently) from the advice he gave on exactly how to adjust your trajectory for distance, etc. Honestly, I finally gave up and skipped the middle section I got so bored. Only to pick it back up and still be bored. By the time the book was over I didn't care about any of the characters that were still alive. I just wanted them all dead and this torture to be over.
The first book in this series was really good. The second was still pretty good. Then things started going down hill. I get changing the story from what we know of the tv show to keep things interesting, but at least keep it interesting. Oh, and bother to have someone other than the authors read and edit it. Maybe get info from a doctor (or even a woman) about the chances of finding the one pregnancy test that still existed that would let you know that you were pregnant only 10 days after you had sex. Then there's the bit where the Gov drags some of his men out in search of another group of his men and leaves them. They are upset that he left them on foot, and don't seem to notice that the truck from the first group was still sitting there idling. Then continuing from there (without spoiling for those who want to waste their time reading this). They spend a good 1/3 of the book detailing the weapons they have at their disposal and recounting how a medic who did one tour in Iraq was also an experienced sniper (evidently) from the advice he gave on exactly how to adjust your trajectory for distance, etc. Honestly, I finally gave up and skipped the middle section I got so bored. Only to pick it back up and still be bored. By the time the book was over I didn't care about any of the characters that were still alive. I just wanted them all dead and this torture to be over.
October 8, 2016
4.5 stars
I didn't think much of Part 1 of The Fall of The Governor (too much grisly brutality for the sake of it, I thought, not enough story, seemed rushed) and nearly didn't bother to read this one, but I'm glad I did, because it was WAY better. I really enjoyed it and read it nearly all in one go, late at night when my eyes were saying 'go to sleep'.
Taken from the original comic books rather than the TV series, it was interesting to see how the TV series took ideas from this and turned them into different story lines; plot lines in this story were included in both the Woodbury story in Season 3, and Season 4, when The Governor teams up with Tara and co in his new camp. The Philip Blake of these books is much more overtly terrifying and psychotic than David Morrisey's version, and my only disappointment with this book is that the residents of Woodbury did not learn how he had duped them all into thinking that Rick's group were a bunch of bloodthirsty assassins, as they did in the TV series.
The second half of the book was absolutely riveting; a continuity error was annoying, as the Woodbury militia seemed to multiply; they started off with 24 but still ended up with about 8 of them going into the prison, even though more than 16 had been killed beforehand - but never mind! It's very good - if you love the series, you'll like these.
I didn't think much of Part 1 of The Fall of The Governor (too much grisly brutality for the sake of it, I thought, not enough story, seemed rushed) and nearly didn't bother to read this one, but I'm glad I did, because it was WAY better. I really enjoyed it and read it nearly all in one go, late at night when my eyes were saying 'go to sleep'.
Taken from the original comic books rather than the TV series, it was interesting to see how the TV series took ideas from this and turned them into different story lines; plot lines in this story were included in both the Woodbury story in Season 3, and Season 4, when The Governor teams up with Tara and co in his new camp. The Philip Blake of these books is much more overtly terrifying and psychotic than David Morrisey's version, and my only disappointment with this book is that the residents of Woodbury did not learn how he had duped them all into thinking that Rick's group were a bunch of bloodthirsty assassins, as they did in the TV series.
The second half of the book was absolutely riveting; a continuity error was annoying, as the Woodbury militia seemed to multiply; they started off with 24 but still ended up with about 8 of them going into the prison, even though more than 16 had been killed beforehand - but never mind! It's very good - if you love the series, you'll like these.
September 1, 2016
Anyone who's seen my review of the previous two books is aware that I was extremely disappointed and didn't even want to read this book. Although I'm still not happy that it was split into two parts, the second part pleasantly surprised me.
It may be because I knew this would be another Lilly-heavy installment (and I was prepared for that), that I held out no hope of this actually being something I'd enjoy, that I'd became accustomed to the present tense writing style and that the book would follow the comics. Why did I bother reading it? Because I started the series and if I don't finish then it will bother me.
I've never read the comics but follow the TV series. To be honest, I enjoyed how certain aspects of the story played out in the book much more than the series. Many loose ends were tied up here, things we never get to see in the show. I also feel that this book addressed how people think a little bit more, which helped the reader connect with the characters more than in previous books.
If another book come out to follow this series I don't think I'd run right out to read it. However, I'm glad it ended on a higher note quality-wise.
It may be because I knew this would be another Lilly-heavy installment (and I was prepared for that), that I held out no hope of this actually being something I'd enjoy, that I'd became accustomed to the present tense writing style and that the book would follow the comics. Why did I bother reading it? Because I started the series and if I don't finish then it will bother me.
I've never read the comics but follow the TV series. To be honest, I enjoyed how certain aspects of the story played out in the book much more than the series. Many loose ends were tied up here, things we never get to see in the show. I also feel that this book addressed how people think a little bit more, which helped the reader connect with the characters more than in previous books.
If another book come out to follow this series I don't think I'd run right out to read it. However, I'm glad it ended on a higher note quality-wise.
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