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yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series ! Picture a certain crazed actor jumping on the couch professing his love, that's how I feel about this series. 
Each book has taken me to my ultimate dark dank putrid happy place. Oh the characters, they are so real, complete and sometimes nuttier than a fruit cake, it's fantastic ! Lilly, sweet little Lilly, what have you turned into ? 
I admit to wishing her dead back in the early books. She was so pitiful, weak and stupid back then. I really am too quick to judge, shame on me. So Lilly is the unexpected MC of this book, she leads several of her groupies from the clean comfort of a Swedish mega store and back to Woodbury. She misses her old sweet home. What ? You'd have to drag my Swedish Meatball Stuffed body out by the ankles. So they leave comfort heaven to head back to the past, and the past is really rancid and mad. 
We have a new ultra level of nutter join or crew of unhappy red shirt travelers. Yup, there are a lot of red shirts, dying all over the place. It's TWD and so much better than the TV show.
The ending was a shocker, I never saw that coming. I cried like a baby, ugly tears, you know scrunched up face, twisted and pained snorts coming from a dark deep pain. 
Now where is the next book ?
Each book has taken me to my ultimate dark dank putrid happy place. Oh the characters, they are so real, complete and sometimes nuttier than a fruit cake, it's fantastic ! Lilly, sweet little Lilly, what have you turned into ? I admit to wishing her dead back in the early books. She was so pitiful, weak and stupid back then. I really am too quick to judge, shame on me. So Lilly is the unexpected MC of this book, she leads several of her groupies from the clean comfort of a Swedish mega store and back to Woodbury. She misses her old sweet home. What ? You'd have to drag my Swedish Meatball Stuffed body out by the ankles. So they leave comfort heaven to head back to the past, and the past is really rancid and mad. We have a new ultra level of nutter join or crew of unhappy red shirt travelers. Yup, there are a lot of red shirts, dying all over the place. It's TWD and so much better than the TV show.
The ending was a shocker, I never saw that coming. I cried like a baby, ugly tears, you know scrunched up face, twisted and pained snorts coming from a dark deep pain. Now where is the next book ?
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book I have read in this series. Additionally, I have yet to watch a single episode of the Walking Dead on television. Although, I know a good zombie book when I read one. This book is such a book. It is great. Despite having never read any of the other books in this series, I was able to jump right into this book.
There was a brief point in the story where I was trying to figure out the dynamics of all of the characters to one another but it was not significant. The zombies in this book are not the slow dimwitted ones. No, the zombies in this book are fast and vicious. Blood and guts will be spilled. As if worrying about zombies was not enough, Lilly has to watch her back from humans as well. Yet, I have faith in Lilly as she can kick ass.
Everyone that I met in this book were great. I did not find a weak character. Instantly, I was transported into the story as if I was right there with the survivors. Now that I have had a taste for what this series is about, I plan to go back and check out the prior novels. Zombies for life.
There was a brief point in the story where I was trying to figure out the dynamics of all of the characters to one another but it was not significant. The zombies in this book are not the slow dimwitted ones. No, the zombies in this book are fast and vicious. Blood and guts will be spilled. As if worrying about zombies was not enough, Lilly has to watch her back from humans as well. Yet, I have faith in Lilly as she can kick ass.
Everyone that I met in this book were great. I did not find a weak character. Instantly, I was transported into the story as if I was right there with the survivors. Now that I have had a taste for what this series is about, I plan to go back and check out the prior novels. Zombies for life.
scottpm's review against another edition
3.0
It started off with a break neck pace and lots of chaos, super fun to read. The ending was rushed and a little flat though.
thedayoflight's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Typical Walking Dead. Zombie hoards, gangs etc.
big_mom's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
crashhard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
so ends the Woodbury storyline of the walking dead. It was good read and better then book 7. This being book 8 in the series.
if you want to play a drinking game, take a drink everytime Lilly says a variation of "I won't let anything happen" or "It's ok".
if you want to play a drinking game, take a drink everytime Lilly says a variation of "I won't let anything happen" or "It's ok".
jnkay01's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
The last book in the series, also the worst. Makes a very strong case for going to Ikea. Woodbury just isn't worth it, Lilly, let it go!
longtimereader's review against another edition
4.0
What a happy camper am I! I was dropping into this series right here, with this book, and I liked it just fine. There were some, here come the oh-so-predictable stupid decisions, but the TV series does that as well. Lilly and survivors are holed up in Atlanta. It's cozy enough and comfy, and now they have to go back to Woodbury. Commence zombies and all the feel of the series on TV. What's next for Lilly? I wouldn't mind reading more and knowing!
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.
leahmonroe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Though definitely flawed, filled with deus-ex-machinas and conveniences, repetitive villains and lazy resolutions, being done with Jay Bonansinga's The Walking Dead felt heavy.
Lilly Caul, a character that I read many people hate and find unbearable, I actually have grown attached to. I actually felt her struggles, her heartbreaks, her tumultous love life, her jokes and grins and obssessiveness. She and all the other characters, be they of minor or major importance, made the story so immersive and such a page-turner.
What also made it a page-turner is that these were simply action books. I realised this while reading and thought that I was actually okay with this. I longed for character development and drama, about which I'll talk in a bit, but the pulpy aspect of these books is something I've accepted and affirmed, because, after all, these are zombie books. Obviously, that doesn't mean that they're supposed to be unambitious, not at all, it's just that holding them to the same standards as The Godfather is being just a tad unrealistic, and frankly, a bit of a whininh killjoy behaviour. Come on, it's zombies! And in my opinion, they were handled quite well.
It's because the action elements - all these bloody chases and gunfights and explosions and rescue missions were written well enough for the reader to fully be into it - as I were, suddenly realising that I'm thirty pages further and enjoying myself immensely.
I found great joy in nitpicking details and plotholes that I discovered along the way, but they never were things that would take out the fun or make me angry or bored or whatever. In my little notes that I took, I made some legitimate concerns, which would ultimately be my only ever problems with these series, and with Return to Woodbury really.
It was a shame that, while the action-packed sequences were awesome, they took up much of the space that could've been given to expanding and actually developing this walker-infested world and the characters. Some of the themes introduced in Search and Destroy that brought a promise of freshness, such as big cities, vaccines, community politics and railroad building, were never really explored as we rushed to face off another madman that lacked depth and humanity in him. I wanted to see some gray - as I sincerely believe that nothing in this world is black or white. It wasn't jarring that the plot was a bit repetitive, it's just that the plotpoints that could've been explored and shown Jay's creativity in how he handles the developing pandemic and its impact on the world were barely touched, giving us descriptions of cracked streets and kudzu vines again and again.
I also felt that Lilly's character and her dynamics with the group never reached their full potential. I feel like her mother-son relationship with Tommy was an amazing premise, something I teared up about in the last book during the goodbye scene, and here at the very end felt again, but knowing what it could've been breaks my heart, because I know Jay has the abilities to write something meaningful and emotional, but he went on to describe some other stuff that could never be of this impact as what that relationship might've been. I found myself rewriting the story at certain times, thinking over how great it would've been for the emotional aspect and the conflict and morality, wishing it was Jay who thought of it. Wishing that Jay would've stirred some drama in our group of survivors, who, whilst naturally loyal to Lilly, never really had any doubts or minds of their own. I wanted their strained psyches to turn up and sow doubt and frustration. I wanted Lilly's obsession with Woodbury to go the next level, to make her delusional, others to differ and see through that. I wanted some mystery. I wanted some depression and hopelessness and existential crisis. I wanted Lilly to actually unconsciously turn into the Governor, with her and the reader slowly realising it and feeling the terror and marveling at how this world plays with people.
And whilst I got none of that, and it did cause me disappointment, I will still stand by my three stars. Because it wasn't a pain to go through, quite the opposite. It was a pleasure to get through and I feel sad about leaving these series, though I do feel like it's a much deserved departure. Eight books in this setting and this format is enough. In a good way. I loved the characters. I loved the entertainment. I loved my tearing up. It was a wild ride. A good adventure.
Lilly Caul, a character that I read many people hate and find unbearable, I actually have grown attached to. I actually felt her struggles, her heartbreaks, her tumultous love life, her jokes and grins and obssessiveness. She and all the other characters, be they of minor or major importance, made the story so immersive and such a page-turner.
What also made it a page-turner is that these were simply action books. I realised this while reading and thought that I was actually okay with this. I longed for character development and drama, about which I'll talk in a bit, but the pulpy aspect of these books is something I've accepted and affirmed, because, after all, these are zombie books. Obviously, that doesn't mean that they're supposed to be unambitious, not at all, it's just that holding them to the same standards as The Godfather is being just a tad unrealistic, and frankly, a bit of a whininh killjoy behaviour. Come on, it's zombies! And in my opinion, they were handled quite well.
It's because the action elements - all these bloody chases and gunfights and explosions and rescue missions were written well enough for the reader to fully be into it - as I were, suddenly realising that I'm thirty pages further and enjoying myself immensely.
I found great joy in nitpicking details and plotholes that I discovered along the way, but they never were things that would take out the fun or make me angry or bored or whatever. In my little notes that I took, I made some legitimate concerns, which would ultimately be my only ever problems with these series, and with Return to Woodbury really.
It was a shame that, while the action-packed sequences were awesome, they took up much of the space that could've been given to expanding and actually developing this walker-infested world and the characters. Some of the themes introduced in Search and Destroy that brought a promise of freshness, such as big cities, vaccines, community politics and railroad building, were never really explored as we rushed to face off another madman that lacked depth and humanity in him. I wanted to see some gray - as I sincerely believe that nothing in this world is black or white. It wasn't jarring that the plot was a bit repetitive, it's just that the plotpoints that could've been explored and shown Jay's creativity in how he handles the developing pandemic and its impact on the world were barely touched, giving us descriptions of cracked streets and kudzu vines again and again.
I also felt that Lilly's character and her dynamics with the group never reached their full potential. I feel like her mother-son relationship with Tommy was an amazing premise, something I teared up about in the last book during the goodbye scene, and here at the very end felt again, but knowing what it could've been breaks my heart, because I know Jay has the abilities to write something meaningful and emotional, but he went on to describe some other stuff that could never be of this impact as what that relationship might've been. I found myself rewriting the story at certain times, thinking over how great it would've been for the emotional aspect and the conflict and morality, wishing it was Jay who thought of it. Wishing that Jay would've stirred some drama in our group of survivors, who, whilst naturally loyal to Lilly, never really had any doubts or minds of their own. I wanted their strained psyches to turn up and sow doubt and frustration. I wanted Lilly's obsession with Woodbury to go the next level, to make her delusional, others to differ and see through that. I wanted some mystery. I wanted some depression and hopelessness and existential crisis. I wanted Lilly to actually unconsciously turn into the Governor, with her and the reader slowly realising it and feeling the terror and marveling at how this world plays with people.
And whilst I got none of that, and it did cause me disappointment, I will still stand by my three stars. Because it wasn't a pain to go through, quite the opposite. It was a pleasure to get through and I feel sad about leaving these series, though I do feel like it's a much deserved departure. Eight books in this setting and this format is enough. In a good way. I loved the characters. I loved the entertainment. I loved my tearing up. It was a wild ride. A good adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death