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sarahanne8382's review
3.0
This is a novelization of the world portrayed in The Walking Dead series of graphic novels. It's the first in a series of novels telling the backstory of Philip "The Governor" Blake, the villain of several volumes of the comic. I'm really on the fence about this one. The writing is fine, but in the comics the horribleness of constantly battling zombies is balanced out by the characters trying to maintain their humanity. There isn't nearly enough of that in this book. However, there's a big twist at the end that has me just curious enough about the next one that I may keep reading.
ameserole's review
3.0
Rise of the Governor was an okay and interesting audio book. The pace was all over the pace to me though. The first half of this book was moving so agonizingly slow for me. It could've been because I was at work and honestly didn't want to be there for 8 hours.. or it could've been that narrator was so meh. I couldn't concentrate long enough in the beginning that I definitely had to back track a couple of times.
Then the action got better. The zombies got crazier and deader (if that's a thing??). Phillip was probably the craziest character I've ever been introduced for. Pretty sure he raped like two girls in this entire book?? But don't quote me on that. Then there was Penny, who was his daughter. I absolutely loved Penny.. but what happened to her was completely predictable.
Now the one thing that I didn't predict was Brian. I didn't see him becoming the Governor. No, I saw Phillip slowly coming into that role. However, that wasn't the only thing that left me surprised. Nope, Penny was still being held captive. Yes, she is still a zombie which is weird and freaky to me. I get that everyone loved this little girl.. but damn, she's dead. She should be actually dead now. Not kept like a pet.
Overall, the pacing threw me for a loop. The action got better towards the end. So many unexpected deaths throughout the book too. I hope that the second book will be a lot better. Please have a faster pace!!
Then the action got better. The zombies got crazier and deader (if that's a thing??). Phillip was probably the craziest character I've ever been introduced for. Pretty sure he raped like two girls in this entire book?? But don't quote me on that. Then there was Penny, who was his daughter. I absolutely loved Penny.. but what happened to her was completely predictable.
Now the one thing that I didn't predict was Brian. I didn't see him becoming the Governor. No, I saw Phillip slowly coming into that role. However, that wasn't the only thing that left me surprised. Nope, Penny was still being held captive. Yes, she is still a zombie which is weird and freaky to me. I get that everyone loved this little girl.. but damn, she's dead. She should be actually dead now. Not kept like a pet.
Overall, the pacing threw me for a loop. The action got better towards the end. So many unexpected deaths throughout the book too. I hope that the second book will be a lot better. Please have a faster pace!!
mariarhianne's review
4.0
The story of The Governor is so interesting to me. He's one of my favourite characters in the comic, and it's nice to see a background, his transformation. I enjoyed this and am ready to read the other Walking Dead novels.
mrwcc's review
5.0
Everything was good except the onomatopoeia; brought it down a notch from being fully a Horror novel.
brujitalaurita's review
I just got this book from a giveaway, just starting to read this, looking forward to a good Halloween read.
tobinlopes's review
4.0
A great chapter in the Walking Dead mythos. Compelling, understandable, and not very surprising. There are a few twists that I didn't see coming but one I did, and I still enjoyed the book and addition to this wonderful universe immensely.
I gave it an 8/10 on my personal scale.
-tpl
I gave it an 8/10 on my personal scale.
-tpl
stormblessed4's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
adambongobooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a solid 3 for me the whole time, then I get to the last 20 pages and was SHOCKED. It was a lot slower than I expected, but it was setting up what's to take place in the next few. For any Walking Dead fan this shows how the Governor, becomes the Governor.
suzemo's review
2.0
I received this ARC free from St. Martin's Press.
I'm not sure what I expected from this book. It's simply written, it covers the creation of the man that becomes "The Governor." There's nothing more special or twisted that happens to him that doesn't happen to *everyone* in the Walking Dead universe, so I don't know why it would be that he's so much more of a bad-ass than anyone else.
I will say I don't appreciate the rampant rapey-ness. Once was enough, but the rape-torture-porn was more than I really needed. I feel like they took the chance to write in more stuff than they could probably get away with drawing.
I give this book a resounding meh. I prefer the graphic novels.
I'm not sure what I expected from this book. It's simply written, it covers the creation of the man that becomes "The Governor." There's nothing more special or twisted that happens to him that doesn't happen to *everyone* in the Walking Dead universe, so I don't know why it would be that he's so much more of a bad-ass than anyone else.
I will say I don't appreciate the rampant rapey-ness. Once was enough, but the rape-torture-porn was more than I really needed. I feel like they took the chance to write in more stuff than they could probably get away with drawing.
I give this book a resounding meh. I prefer the graphic novels.
sharedbyayla's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5