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The Walking Dead: Novels #5
Declínio
Após o chocante fim do ex-tirano Phillip Blake, o Governador, Woodbury se torna um oásis de tranquilidade em meio à praga dos errantes. Mas Lilly Caul e seu grupo de sobreviventes deverão superar seu passado traumático.
Quando uma família surge nos portões da cidade quase morrendo de inanição, Lilly não pensa duas vezes antes de acolhê-la. Muito religioso, Calvin Dupree, pai das três crianças, imediatamente aceita o convite, mas Meredith, sua esposa, se recusa a aceitar a hospitalidade. Lilly acaba os convencendo a ficar, sem fazer ideia de que o misterioso problema de Meredith ainda traria consequências para todos.
Enquanto isso, parte da população sai para resgatar um grupo de pessoas em perigo. Liderado por um reverendo chamado Jeremiah, o grupo religioso chega a Woodbury querendo fazer de tudo para ajudar. Isso faz Lilly pensar que enfim pode relaxar e sonhar com uma vida estável. O que ela não imaginava é que seus planos não poderiam ser mais diferentes dos ideais do grupo recém-chegado. As piores ameaças são as que não podem ser vistas...
Quando uma família surge nos portões da cidade quase morrendo de inanição, Lilly não pensa duas vezes antes de acolhê-la. Muito religioso, Calvin Dupree, pai das três crianças, imediatamente aceita o convite, mas Meredith, sua esposa, se recusa a aceitar a hospitalidade. Lilly acaba os convencendo a ficar, sem fazer ideia de que o misterioso problema de Meredith ainda traria consequências para todos.
Enquanto isso, parte da população sai para resgatar um grupo de pessoas em perigo. Liderado por um reverendo chamado Jeremiah, o grupo religioso chega a Woodbury querendo fazer de tudo para ajudar. Isso faz Lilly pensar que enfim pode relaxar e sonhar com uma vida estável. O que ela não imaginava é que seus planos não poderiam ser mais diferentes dos ideais do grupo recém-chegado. As piores ameaças são as que não podem ser vistas...
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2014
100 people are currently reading
2876 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bonansinga
110 books387 followersThe national best-selling author of ten acclaimed books – both fiction and non-fiction -- Jay Bonansinga has been called “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers” by the Chicago Tribune.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
October 4, 2015
oke it turns out that the apocolypse and religion don't go together.
November 7, 2024
Lilly Caul is not only a fearless leader, but quite the bad ass!!! Loved this installment!! On to the next!!!
February 21, 2015
Woodbury, the town of dreams and hope, the town of blood and torture and death may finally fall forever. Lily one of the lobe survivors from The Governors time is fighting for the chance to make a life for her group of ragged people. When she encounters a lone young with a tale of fellow humans she sees hope with increased numbers to help build her dream. Sadly, this new world does not allow dreams to come true, reality is an ugly black ooze that they must all finally believe.
I hate to say this but I missed the repulsive Gov. He was such a perfect nasty wicked man, the new badness just couldn't live up or down to his level of depravity. It was still a good zombie read but for me it lacked the "Holy Crispies" moments that filled the other books. I don't think it is over, the ending was open for a continuation which I will read asap.
I hate to say this but I missed the repulsive Gov. He was such a perfect nasty wicked man, the new badness just couldn't live up or down to his level of depravity. It was still a good zombie read but for me it lacked the "Holy Crispies" moments that filled the other books. I don't think it is over, the ending was open for a continuation which I will read asap.
June 3, 2017
3.5 stars!
It has taken me ages to read this with one thing or another stopping me(work etc) but I've finally got there! It was enjoyable and the writing was impeccable as always and detailed but I could only give it 3.5 as the story wasn't as good as previous books. I found myself predicting what was going to happen and it came true so for me to predict it(which I can never hardly do), it must mean it was a little predictable!
But saying that, I still enjoyed reading the story unravel and I look forward to the next chapter of the walking dead saga.
It has taken me ages to read this with one thing or another stopping me(work etc) but I've finally got there! It was enjoyable and the writing was impeccable as always and detailed but I could only give it 3.5 as the story wasn't as good as previous books. I found myself predicting what was going to happen and it came true so for me to predict it(which I can never hardly do), it must mean it was a little predictable!
But saying that, I still enjoyed reading the story unravel and I look forward to the next chapter of the walking dead saga.
June 6, 2022
I listened to this book as an audio book. I really enjoyed it. Another solid book in The Walking Dead series by Jay Bonansinga. Though I do missed a bit of Kirkman in this novel.
I was able to connect with Lilly more in this book. I enjoyed her continuous journey in Descent. And how much she cares for the community. Letting new people in to grow and expand.
Though one thing was a bit weird. Austin was supposed to be the love of her life. But she quickly moves on to Calvin. That didn't really make much sense for me. But hey, it is what it is. I think her longing to have a family, to make sense of miscarriage - made her move on quickly.
The second Jeremiah is introduced I knew he would be trouble. I didn't trust him one bit.
Lilly trusts him quickly, and offers him dual leadership with over over Woodbury. And that is the point that things go quickly downhill.
I wish she listened more to Bob. His instincts so far have been really good. And in the end proved to be the right one again.
I am curious to see how the story continues in the next book. And how well Lilly fares below ground.
Overall really enjoyable book if you liked the first four as well.
I was able to connect with Lilly more in this book. I enjoyed her continuous journey in Descent. And how much she cares for the community. Letting new people in to grow and expand.
Though one thing was a bit weird. Austin was supposed to be the love of her life. But she quickly moves on to Calvin. That didn't really make much sense for me. But hey, it is what it is. I think her longing to have a family, to make sense of miscarriage - made her move on quickly.
The second Jeremiah is introduced I knew he would be trouble. I didn't trust him one bit.
Lilly trusts him quickly, and offers him dual leadership with over over Woodbury. And that is the point that things go quickly downhill.
I wish she listened more to Bob. His instincts so far have been really good. And in the end proved to be the right one again.
I am curious to see how the story continues in the next book. And how well Lilly fares below ground.
Overall really enjoyable book if you liked the first four as well.
March 27, 2024
Ist echt nochmal was ganz anderes die Apokalypse zu lesen als sie zu gucken! :) dachte eigentlich der Band taugt nichts, aber das letzte Drittel hat nochmal rasiert :)
November 15, 2014
This latest Walking Dead novel again features Lilly Caul and the town of Woodbury. Until now the books have sort of been about telling us what happened behind the scenes in the comic series but Rick Grimes and co have now moved on and this is an entirely original story.
The fact that it is all new is a good thing as the retelling was one of the bigger problems of the earlier books. Here Lilly, Bob and the gang have to endure a superherd, rescue a religious group hiding in a church and then try and live with them in the town. It all flows together well and manages to fit in nicely with the comics universe that it is set in.
In terms of characters, the main pair are Lilly and Bob, both of whom are shown at their best here. Early on we're introduced to a few other Woodbury residents and the Dupree family consisting of Meredith and Calvin and their three children. This family are a showcase to what surviving the zombie apocalypse does to your mental state. Then there's the church survivors, lead my the enigmatic Jeremiah who is a brilliant character. The villain of the story is not obvious until the end and they are a very different villain to the Governor.
As ever though, there are a few problems with the book. One is that a lot of the plot is based on an extensive network of tunnels that have suddenly been discovered in the area. Whilst it's a nice idea it is a preposterous one. Sure, use tunnels in a book set in London or Paris or whatever where there actually are tunnels but trying to convince us there's a huge network of tunnels under Georgia is silly.
There's also the problem that Lilly is given yet another romantic interest. She sure gets through them. OK, in the context of the novel it works and makes the ending more poignant but given the string of romantic partners she's had in the previous books another seems unnecessary and unlike the character.
Overall, it's a decent book and a genuine expansion of the Walking Dead universe. The quality of these TV tie-ins is unusually high but it would be nice if we could have one without the niggly problems (and I only mentioned my biggest gripes, there were more). Still, I certainly want more!
The fact that it is all new is a good thing as the retelling was one of the bigger problems of the earlier books. Here Lilly, Bob and the gang have to endure a superherd, rescue a religious group hiding in a church and then try and live with them in the town. It all flows together well and manages to fit in nicely with the comics universe that it is set in.
In terms of characters, the main pair are Lilly and Bob, both of whom are shown at their best here. Early on we're introduced to a few other Woodbury residents and the Dupree family consisting of Meredith and Calvin and their three children. This family are a showcase to what surviving the zombie apocalypse does to your mental state. Then there's the church survivors, lead my the enigmatic Jeremiah who is a brilliant character. The villain of the story is not obvious until the end and they are a very different villain to the Governor.
As ever though, there are a few problems with the book. One is that a lot of the plot is based on an extensive network of tunnels that have suddenly been discovered in the area. Whilst it's a nice idea it is a preposterous one. Sure, use tunnels in a book set in London or Paris or whatever where there actually are tunnels but trying to convince us there's a huge network of tunnels under Georgia is silly.
There's also the problem that Lilly is given yet another romantic interest. She sure gets through them. OK, in the context of the novel it works and makes the ending more poignant but given the string of romantic partners she's had in the previous books another seems unnecessary and unlike the character.
Overall, it's a decent book and a genuine expansion of the Walking Dead universe. The quality of these TV tie-ins is unusually high but it would be nice if we could have one without the niggly problems (and I only mentioned my biggest gripes, there were more). Still, I certainly want more!
August 4, 2019
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This continues the story about Woodbury and its remaining residents after the battle between the Governor's group and Rick Grime's group. The remaining residents are trying to recoup from the battle and live a peaceful existence. To do that, they need more people as they are too low to maintain a community. They find a new group of people and usually in this universe, it isn't the most favorable news.
This was my favorite story from this series. I like the idea of what happens to Woodbury and the remaining residents after the infamous battle brought on by the Governor. The remaining people want to put that chapter behind them and move on but that means new problems to face. Whether the problem is dealing with the mentally challenged or welcoming strangers, people are learning to adapt and survive. I loved the aspect of religion in this book. Religion can be a comfort for most people but in the hands of a fanatic it can be deadly and this book explores this and continues the tradition of this universe. Humans are the monsters instead of the zombies. I do still have a problem with the writing in this series. The author's similes are just silly at times. Comparing a herd of zombies coming out of the dark like a group of demented clowns emerging from a clown car makes me shake my head instead of portraying the meant picture. The author really needs to describe situations in a more efficient manner.
This one is my favorite of this series as I have always liked when a book veers off from the established universe. This book does this as we find out more about the proceedings of Woodbury after the comics decided our time there was finished. I look forward to finding out more about these characters.
This continues the story about Woodbury and its remaining residents after the battle between the Governor's group and Rick Grime's group. The remaining residents are trying to recoup from the battle and live a peaceful existence. To do that, they need more people as they are too low to maintain a community. They find a new group of people and usually in this universe, it isn't the most favorable news.
This was my favorite story from this series. I like the idea of what happens to Woodbury and the remaining residents after the infamous battle brought on by the Governor. The remaining people want to put that chapter behind them and move on but that means new problems to face. Whether the problem is dealing with the mentally challenged or welcoming strangers, people are learning to adapt and survive. I loved the aspect of religion in this book. Religion can be a comfort for most people but in the hands of a fanatic it can be deadly and this book explores this and continues the tradition of this universe. Humans are the monsters instead of the zombies. I do still have a problem with the writing in this series. The author's similes are just silly at times. Comparing a herd of zombies coming out of the dark like a group of demented clowns emerging from a clown car makes me shake my head instead of portraying the meant picture. The author really needs to describe situations in a more efficient manner.
This one is my favorite of this series as I have always liked when a book veers off from the established universe. This book does this as we find out more about the proceedings of Woodbury after the comics decided our time there was finished. I look forward to finding out more about these characters.
October 23, 2014
So I'm just going to start out by saying I really did enjoy this book...
BUT I am only giving it a 4 because I didn't find myself overly excited about it...
I kind of felt at some points that I could take it or leave it ... It was good but I've read better ones in the series .. And I've also read better zombie stories ..
Again, as I've said over and over again.. After reading so many of Rhiannon Frater's books I have not been able to find anything else that is even remotely close to how much I love her
Books.. I get crazy addicted to them .. And literally can't put them down .. Every single book of hers is amazing ! So comparing this book to Rhiannon's i found it boring..
I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the previous books.. And I enjoyed the plot .. But it lacked action ... It lacked Zombies !
Overall good book but in my opinion it doesn't deserve a 5..
I enjoyed what happened at the end but I didn't enjoy the ending as a whole .. I'm Hoping there will Be more books in this series because I was given no closure at all to the series ...
Good book but not great (like Rhiannon Frater)
If your a fan of the series you will enjoy it ..
But I wasn't Wow'd like some of the previous books...
BUT I am only giving it a 4 because I didn't find myself overly excited about it...
I kind of felt at some points that I could take it or leave it ... It was good but I've read better ones in the series .. And I've also read better zombie stories ..
Again, as I've said over and over again.. After reading so many of Rhiannon Frater's books I have not been able to find anything else that is even remotely close to how much I love her
Books.. I get crazy addicted to them .. And literally can't put them down .. Every single book of hers is amazing ! So comparing this book to Rhiannon's i found it boring..
I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the previous books.. And I enjoyed the plot .. But it lacked action ... It lacked Zombies !
Overall good book but in my opinion it doesn't deserve a 5..
I enjoyed what happened at the end but I didn't enjoy the ending as a whole .. I'm Hoping there will Be more books in this series because I was given no closure at all to the series ...
Good book but not great (like Rhiannon Frater)
If your a fan of the series you will enjoy it ..
But I wasn't Wow'd like some of the previous books...
October 25, 2014
The Walking Dead novels are very great to read. Robert Kirkman did a good job picking Jay to write these novels. They are exactly what the graphic novelists are looking for.
Decent picks up a few months after the prison war. our unofficial hero lily and her cooking yet attractive sidekick Bob are trying to find ways to restructure Woodbury. new faces join the crowd as they gradually grow into what they dream to be a better civilization than with the governor made originally. however things fall real quickly when they decide to let too big of a group into the walls.
what makes these books very enjoyable day they are quick reads. the suspense is just right enough: not too much or not too little. Jay does very well keeping the reader wanting to know what happens next with rather expected yet shocking plot twists. What makes this book stand from the others is because the graphic novelists can see a story line from the graphic novels. Lilly & Bob's Story are just as intriguing if not more so than graphic novels. the writers does great job in intertwining concepts the parallel world of the show.
I highly recommend these books, including this one, to any The Walking Dead fanatic.
Decent picks up a few months after the prison war. our unofficial hero lily and her cooking yet attractive sidekick Bob are trying to find ways to restructure Woodbury. new faces join the crowd as they gradually grow into what they dream to be a better civilization than with the governor made originally. however things fall real quickly when they decide to let too big of a group into the walls.
what makes these books very enjoyable day they are quick reads. the suspense is just right enough: not too much or not too little. Jay does very well keeping the reader wanting to know what happens next with rather expected yet shocking plot twists. What makes this book stand from the others is because the graphic novelists can see a story line from the graphic novels. Lilly & Bob's Story are just as intriguing if not more so than graphic novels. the writers does great job in intertwining concepts the parallel world of the show.
I highly recommend these books, including this one, to any The Walking Dead fanatic.
November 8, 2014
I've read all of TWD novels, and thought that the first two were very good. This one, however, was the worst so far.
I like Lilly, but I don't understand why she has to have a new love interest in every book. Also, I get that she was a reluctant leader, but don't think that it was plausible to all of the sudden want to hand over the reigns to a stranger so quickly.
This book also introduced three new characters, none of whom were very developed. I really didn't get Jeremiah and his group. The group fights to survive, and then works hard to establish themselves, because they want to have a mass suicide? And Calvin can be convinced in a couple of hours to kill himself, his children, and possibly the woman he just fell in love with?
I'll read the next book in the series, but will quit if the next one is this bad.
I like Lilly, but I don't understand why she has to have a new love interest in every book. Also, I get that she was a reluctant leader, but don't think that it was plausible to all of the sudden want to hand over the reigns to a stranger so quickly.
This book also introduced three new characters, none of whom were very developed. I really didn't get Jeremiah and his group. The group fights to survive, and then works hard to establish themselves, because they want to have a mass suicide? And Calvin can be convinced in a couple of hours to kill himself, his children, and possibly the woman he just fell in love with?
I'll read the next book in the series, but will quit if the next one is this bad.
October 20, 2014
This was only slightly better than the last one. At least it had new storyline in it. Why is Lilly so ready to do the business with anyone who is interested? Ugh!
Want to read
February 3, 2015Taking my grandma to e doctors so I will start this later in the morning can't wait to start this so excited ! :0)
January 5, 2015
Just finished reading "The Walking Dead: Descent," by Jay Bonansinga. It's a good enough story, as are most of the TWD books I've read so far. I'm ready to get beyond Woodbury, though.
But there were several errors that I did struggle to get past regarding both firearms (eg. a Smith & Wesson single action .357 magnum revolver with "six rounds in the cylinder plus one in the chamber"), and Baptists (eg. a lifelong Baptist, Calvin was unfamiliar with full immersion).
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think S&W makes a 7 round .357 magnum revolver, and even if they did, a revolver can't have a fully loaded cylinder "plus one in the chamber." It doesn't work that way.
And no lifelong Baptist would be unfamiliar with full immersion, even if he himself had never been baptized. Which, according to the description of Calvin, would be extremely unlikely. The reason Baptists are called "Baptists" in the first place is because they "baptize" their members by fully immersing them in water, as opposed to most other denominations, who baptize by "sprinkling."
Sloppy details like these made it hard to enjoy what could have been a good story.
But there were several errors that I did struggle to get past regarding both firearms (eg. a Smith & Wesson single action .357 magnum revolver with "six rounds in the cylinder plus one in the chamber"), and Baptists (eg. a lifelong Baptist, Calvin was unfamiliar with full immersion).
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think S&W makes a 7 round .357 magnum revolver, and even if they did, a revolver can't have a fully loaded cylinder "plus one in the chamber." It doesn't work that way.
And no lifelong Baptist would be unfamiliar with full immersion, even if he himself had never been baptized. Which, according to the description of Calvin, would be extremely unlikely. The reason Baptists are called "Baptists" in the first place is because they "baptize" their members by fully immersing them in water, as opposed to most other denominations, who baptize by "sprinkling."
Sloppy details like these made it hard to enjoy what could have been a good story.
June 9, 2022
Yet another unnecessary entry in The Walking Dead's bastardised novel series that is rarely mentioned and itself seems unsure of its canonicity; this book is simply frustrating.
Woodbury itself at this point is irrelevant and the only real selling point of the series being about the Governor is gone; much of the novel is about fending off a zombie hoard and making a base sustainable, but that's been covered to death in the rest of the series' content (comics, games, TV show) .
To make it worse, the characters are about as deep as a puddle, or just downright poorly written. The only real saving graces are Bob's character and the concept of Jeremiah's religious suicide cult, however both seem sidelined in preference of the personality void that is Lilly Caul. How the focus of the novel series ended up being a minor character from early in the comics is beyond me.
Some interesting ideas and a generally harmless pulpy zombie horror, don't read Descent if you're expecting anything resembling The Walking Dead or decent character storytelling.
Woodbury itself at this point is irrelevant and the only real selling point of the series being about the Governor is gone; much of the novel is about fending off a zombie hoard and making a base sustainable, but that's been covered to death in the rest of the series' content (comics, games, TV show) .
To make it worse, the characters are about as deep as a puddle, or just downright poorly written. The only real saving graces are Bob's character and the concept of Jeremiah's religious suicide cult, however both seem sidelined in preference of the personality void that is Lilly Caul. How the focus of the novel series ended up being a minor character from early in the comics is beyond me.
Some interesting ideas and a generally harmless pulpy zombie horror, don't read Descent if you're expecting anything resembling The Walking Dead or decent character storytelling.
January 14, 2015
Y'know, I swear to myself, EVERY TIME, that I'm through with TWD. Whenever there's a new graphic comp, a new novel, a new ep... I'm ready to forego it all because my favourite characters always seem to get picked off or another herd comes sweeping through or WHATEVAH...and the rampant chauvinism drives me crazy. But I keep reading it and watching it, don't I? Yep, I sure do...
And it is for this sort of story arc right here!!! Despite questionable directional references early on ('cause NW does not, and will never, equal E, yo...geographic impossibility. Fer realz.) and the overuse of words such as "inchoate" and "acrid," I found myself deeply invested in the unfolding drama.
PS- I love Bob Stookey, because LIBRARIES and HISTORY and SURVIVAL!!! And cozy tunnel homes...yeah, freaking love Bob...
And it is for this sort of story arc right here!!! Despite questionable directional references early on ('cause NW does not, and will never, equal E, yo...geographic impossibility. Fer realz.) and the overuse of words such as "inchoate" and "acrid," I found myself deeply invested in the unfolding drama.
PS- I love Bob Stookey, because LIBRARIES and HISTORY and SURVIVAL!!! And cozy tunnel homes...yeah, freaking love Bob...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2014
The Walking dead franchise might have jumped the shark with this piece. I reckon it could be due to the fact that I am burned out on the genre or that Kirkman did not actually write this one? Maybe after reading over 100 books this past year I have more discerning tastes? Maybe it just really sucked? Anywho, my friend Sherrie always reads the last page of a novel first and I wish I would have done so and heeded the warnings therein. One of the last sentences of Descent states: "Run...run away...run for your life!" Another sentence on the final page reads, "Lilly, we got a truck load of Xanax, Ambien...Valium, even." I wish I would have ran away or had a truck load of Xanax so I could have blacked out while I read the last Walking Dead book I will ever read. Probably.
June 4, 2025
Na początku było w miarę a później stopniowo traciłam zainteresowanie - i trochę nie winie tych książek za to bo nie przetrwały próby czasu najlepiej.
Gdy czytałam to po raz pierwszy to był to całkowicie inny czas w historii dla zombie i byłam o wiele młodsza więc wtedy tekst nie musiał mieć dla mnie żadnej większej głębi (ja również nie czytałam tak pomiędzy wierszami) i wciąż nie mogę wybaczyć wydawnictwu SQN że na początku książki wyraźnie jest napisane że następna część 'Inwazja' już wkrótce się pojawi :( gdzie później nie było żadnej informacji że ten plan został porzucony przez co moje nastoletnie serce mocno ucierpiało.
Przeczytam to do końca dla mojej nastoletniej duszy może nie sprawić mi to radość i mogę zmarnować na tym czasem ale w końcu dotrę do zakończenia.
Gdy czytałam to po raz pierwszy to był to całkowicie inny czas w historii dla zombie i byłam o wiele młodsza więc wtedy tekst nie musiał mieć dla mnie żadnej większej głębi (ja również nie czytałam tak pomiędzy wierszami) i wciąż nie mogę wybaczyć wydawnictwu SQN że na początku książki wyraźnie jest napisane że następna część 'Inwazja' już wkrótce się pojawi :( gdzie później nie było żadnej informacji że ten plan został porzucony przez co moje nastoletnie serce mocno ucierpiało.
Przeczytam to do końca dla mojej nastoletniej duszy może nie sprawić mi to radość i mogę zmarnować na tym czasem ale w końcu dotrę do zakończenia.
October 12, 2016
This book was good, but not that good. I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead, but this book didn't really live up to the shows greatness. The city of Woodbury almost feels empty without the presence of the evil Governor, which makes the book not as good. Jeremiah was a good villain, but could have been given more development. I also didn't like how Calvin was a love interest for Lilly, it made the book seem like a love story too.
December 27, 2014
Another great read
The only negative comments I have is a technical one. The author needs to know the difference in weapons terminology. "Clip" & "magazine" are not interchangeable. They are two different things.
Other than that, another great Walking Dead read.
The only negative comments I have is a technical one. The author needs to know the difference in weapons terminology. "Clip" & "magazine" are not interchangeable. They are two different things.
Other than that, another great Walking Dead read.
June 30, 2025
I truly cannot understate that I went into this thinking it wasn't going to be a literary masterpiece, but I somehow still managed to get surprised time and time again by just how bad it is. I give it 2 stars because the author has a very nice writing style, but the story has so many plot holes and issues that I am tempted to just give it 1.
Some of my favourite (jaw droppingly bad) parts:
- There is only one African American character (a quick google search will tell you that of Georgia's population, 30% is African American) and every time he is mentioned in the book, we are first told of his race and then his name. Unsurprisingly, this is only done for this character.
- The only female character of importance decides to give up her leadership position to pursue having a family with a man she has known for what? 3 weeks?
- You got claustrophobia? No worries, through the magical miracle of one singular Xanax (that is probably nearing the end of its expiration date), you are now cured for the next 24 hours.
- Is anyone surprised when I inform you that there are no gay characters? No? Me neither tbh.
- A man who has been married to his wife for presumably >10 years does not know the mental illness that his wife has been diagnosed with & undergoing treatment for, but rather just lists the top 5 most commonly known mental illnesses when explaining it.
- Are you tasked with telling your children that your wife heroically sacrificed herself to save the town and them? Perhaps you should try Calvin 'father of the Year' Dupree's tried and true: "Your mother went and got herself killed".
- An eleven year old child makes the decision to shoot his dad in the back of the head, because he likes his new stepmom of 2 months more than his father!
- Why would the cult not have taken the poison earlier? Why didn't they do it when they were swarmed in that church? Why did they not try and convince more of the Woodbury members, but rather just suddenly pulled a "it has to be now"? Could the answer to all of this be: because the plot requires it to.
Some of my favourite (jaw droppingly bad) parts:
- There is only one African American character (a quick google search will tell you that of Georgia's population, 30% is African American) and every time he is mentioned in the book, we are first told of his race and then his name. Unsurprisingly, this is only done for this character.
- The only female character of importance decides to give up her leadership position to pursue having a family with a man she has known for what? 3 weeks?
- You got claustrophobia? No worries, through the magical miracle of one singular Xanax (that is probably nearing the end of its expiration date), you are now cured for the next 24 hours.
- Is anyone surprised when I inform you that there are no gay characters? No? Me neither tbh.
- A man who has been married to his wife for presumably >10 years does not know the mental illness that his wife has been diagnosed with & undergoing treatment for, but rather just lists the top 5 most commonly known mental illnesses when explaining it.
- Are you tasked with telling your children that your wife heroically sacrificed herself to save the town and them? Perhaps you should try Calvin 'father of the Year' Dupree's tried and true: "Your mother went and got herself killed".
- An eleven year old child makes the decision to shoot his dad in the back of the head, because he likes his new stepmom of 2 months more than his father!
- Why would the cult not have taken the poison earlier? Why didn't they do it when they were swarmed in that church? Why did they not try and convince more of the Woodbury members, but rather just suddenly pulled a "it has to be now"? Could the answer to all of this be: because the plot requires it to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2025
Oh my god this was bad. The plot was so boring and predictable and the writing was so much worse than before. It felt so weird how there was suddenly so much talk about mental health issues in the beginning, but in the end it was all pretty much forgotten (except Lilly’s claustrophobia that came out of nowhere).
My absolute favorite part (sarcasm) was right in the beginning where Meredith, who had bipolar disorder, sacrificed herself and at her funeral Lilly was looking at Calvin (Meredith’s husband) and was thinking that he looks relieved. Relieved that his wife who was mentally unstable is now dead because she must have been a burden to her family. Then Lilly and Calvin fell in love even though Lilly as well had just recently lost someone she “loved”.
All in all, the plot was bad and boring, the characters were annoying and frustrating and this was by far the worst book in this series.
My absolute favorite part (sarcasm) was right in the beginning where Meredith, who had bipolar disorder, sacrificed herself and at her funeral Lilly was looking at Calvin (Meredith’s husband) and was thinking that he looks relieved. Relieved that his wife who was mentally unstable is now dead because she must have been a burden to her family. Then Lilly and Calvin fell in love even though Lilly as well had just recently lost someone she “loved”.
All in all, the plot was bad and boring, the characters were annoying and frustrating and this was by far the worst book in this series.
September 20, 2021
Every single one of these characters is too fucking dumb to survive in the real world, never mind a zombie apocalypse
November 5, 2014
ABR's full Descent audiobook review can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Now I do not think that it is a coincidence that this fifth book of the Walking Dead Novels came out within days of the new season of the TV show. I have been waiting a long time for both to come out and I really hope it has been worth the wait. As you and I both know hype and anticipation can sometimes kill something from being successful.
I for see this one to be more about, the Governor’s dead, now what? With Lilly taking the reins. Other than that I am not so sure where the story will go. Rebuilding Woodburry? Venturing out to create a new society? Pretty much wide open for Kirkman to create with a clean slate.
A zombie horde of hundreds, maybe thousands is what Lilly, Bob and the rest have to deal with. Woodburry is destroyed, the Governor’s dead. Now is the time for our ragtag group to create something new.
Without going into a summary of the story I will say there were low points and high points. This is definitely a transition book, you the sometimes painfully slow and confusing. Doing little more than to build story lines for future books.
Kirkman and Bonansinga have mastered the evolution of deep and expansive characters within these several books. Along with that they have been able to create a sense of urgency, despair and terror within my mind. Always thinking I know what is going to happen next and turning left when I thought it was going to go right. Keeping the listener on their toes or ears?
Decent was a subtly tense flight from the zombie horde. With exquisite action sequences, all the gore that one expects from the novels. Sure there were some sleep and WTF moments, however I will continue to be an fan of this franchise. Just keep them coming.
Oh Fred Berman how I have missed thee. He is one of the narrators that I love to listen to and he did not disappoint here. I would go as far to say that this is one of if not his best performance I have heard to date.
Characterizations done to perfection, emotional injection superb. Making be believe that he is in the middle of everything going on. Expressing the torment so well. Berman’s slightly raspy imperfect voice lending so well to the zombie apocalypse.
Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.
Now I do not think that it is a coincidence that this fifth book of the Walking Dead Novels came out within days of the new season of the TV show. I have been waiting a long time for both to come out and I really hope it has been worth the wait. As you and I both know hype and anticipation can sometimes kill something from being successful.
I for see this one to be more about, the Governor’s dead, now what? With Lilly taking the reins. Other than that I am not so sure where the story will go. Rebuilding Woodburry? Venturing out to create a new society? Pretty much wide open for Kirkman to create with a clean slate.
A zombie horde of hundreds, maybe thousands is what Lilly, Bob and the rest have to deal with. Woodburry is destroyed, the Governor’s dead. Now is the time for our ragtag group to create something new.
Without going into a summary of the story I will say there were low points and high points. This is definitely a transition book, you the sometimes painfully slow and confusing. Doing little more than to build story lines for future books.
Kirkman and Bonansinga have mastered the evolution of deep and expansive characters within these several books. Along with that they have been able to create a sense of urgency, despair and terror within my mind. Always thinking I know what is going to happen next and turning left when I thought it was going to go right. Keeping the listener on their toes or ears?
Decent was a subtly tense flight from the zombie horde. With exquisite action sequences, all the gore that one expects from the novels. Sure there were some sleep and WTF moments, however I will continue to be an fan of this franchise. Just keep them coming.
Oh Fred Berman how I have missed thee. He is one of the narrators that I love to listen to and he did not disappoint here. I would go as far to say that this is one of if not his best performance I have heard to date.
Characterizations done to perfection, emotional injection superb. Making be believe that he is in the middle of everything going on. Expressing the torment so well. Berman’s slightly raspy imperfect voice lending so well to the zombie apocalypse.
Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.
September 21, 2016
I have been keeping up with everything Walking Dead related, and so reading the novel series was always a must for me. When the governor was running Woodbury, I felt like I was rereading the comic books again, but Descent is the first time I truly feel I am getting a secret, insider look at life beyond Rick Grimes. There are spoilers for those who have not kept up with the show or the comics. If that's you, be aware!
Woodbury is now run by Lilly Caul, the woman who killed Rick Grime's wife and daughter. She is a great and complex character because nothing in her life has been easy, and that doesn't include surviving the zombie apocalypse. Though I think she dates a bit too much for the state of the world, the hopeless romantic in me can sympathize with that desire. I love that she is soft and feminine at times, while also running an entire city like a badass. She is the type of girl men want to date and girls want to emulate. (Not meant to be a rhyme, but it works.)
Lilly's new love interest was a little perplexing to me. She doesn't seem to be the type of girl who is super into religious folk, but none-the-less she fell for him. In my opinion, she is just looking for a happy escape from the world around her, but we can't blame her for that.
Bob Stookey is in his element in this book. He has a keen sense of when someone is up to something no good, even if no one else can see it. His fatherly love for Lily tugs at my heartstrings every time he worries about her. He is the best thing in her life at the moment. Now that he's sobered up, he is really on his game.
The Reverend...I hate this man. I did from the beginning. Everyone reading this knows he's up to no good, but it's the mystery of what that keeps us reading. What he really had planned for the people of Woodbury was worse than I thought. Thank God for Bob is all I can say.
The story is a good one that kept me interested because of its element of mystery surrounding the Reverand and his group of followers. For the first time in a few books in the series, I didn't already know what was going to happen, because it was not in the comic books. (Though if you played the game on your phone, his future with the town was hinted at in a big way.) For anyone stuck in the rise or fall of the governor and considering giving up, don't! It does get better. I'm excited to read the next book, as this one left off on a cliffhanger.
Woodbury is now run by Lilly Caul, the woman who killed Rick Grime's wife and daughter. She is a great and complex character because nothing in her life has been easy, and that doesn't include surviving the zombie apocalypse. Though I think she dates a bit too much for the state of the world, the hopeless romantic in me can sympathize with that desire. I love that she is soft and feminine at times, while also running an entire city like a badass. She is the type of girl men want to date and girls want to emulate. (Not meant to be a rhyme, but it works.)
Lilly's new love interest was a little perplexing to me. She doesn't seem to be the type of girl who is super into religious folk, but none-the-less she fell for him. In my opinion, she is just looking for a happy escape from the world around her, but we can't blame her for that.
Bob Stookey is in his element in this book. He has a keen sense of when someone is up to something no good, even if no one else can see it. His fatherly love for Lily tugs at my heartstrings every time he worries about her. He is the best thing in her life at the moment. Now that he's sobered up, he is really on his game.
The Reverend...I hate this man. I did from the beginning. Everyone reading this knows he's up to no good, but it's the mystery of what that keeps us reading. What he really had planned for the people of Woodbury was worse than I thought. Thank God for Bob is all I can say.
The story is a good one that kept me interested because of its element of mystery surrounding the Reverand and his group of followers. For the first time in a few books in the series, I didn't already know what was going to happen, because it was not in the comic books. (Though if you played the game on your phone, his future with the town was hinted at in a big way.) For anyone stuck in the rise or fall of the governor and considering giving up, don't! It does get better. I'm excited to read the next book, as this one left off on a cliffhanger.
August 16, 2015
The amount of knowledge Bob Sookey picked up from his time in the Army, Navy, or Marines (I am not sure which one since it changes from book to book. Sometimes it changes within each book) or during the first gulf war or in Afghanistan (The first three books he was in Afghanistan, and this he fought in the first Gulf War)is amazing! One would think a medic leaving the military would be a few credits shy of graduating from med school. I am not sure how the authors can’t keep such a simple back story straight but it is one of my biggest pet peeves about this series. In the last three books Lilly’s dad was killed by a bunch of walkers when they were getting on a bus in Atlanta. All of a sudden in this one she was reminiscing about her dad’s funeral before the outbreak. Is it laziness on the part of the authors or do you blame the editors?
I was also annoyed by the super herd of walkers at the beginning of the story. They go over the fact that they were drawn into such a large group due to the noise crated by the battle at the prison. They list their supplies of guns and bombs and no one thinks to create an explosion in another direction to draw the walkers away. The best thing they can come up with is to set them on fire so they have flaming zombies coming at them. It takes a crazy lady to figure out you need to draw them away. These people deserve to die. If you can get past this point the book is actually surprisingly good. By the end I almost didn’t want them to die...almost. I hope the next book follows some other group that way they can’t screw up any more back stories.
I was also annoyed by the super herd of walkers at the beginning of the story. They go over the fact that they were drawn into such a large group due to the noise crated by the battle at the prison. They list their supplies of guns and bombs and no one thinks to create an explosion in another direction to draw the walkers away. The best thing they can come up with is to set them on fire so they have flaming zombies coming at them. It takes a crazy lady to figure out you need to draw them away. These people deserve to die. If you can get past this point the book is actually surprisingly good. By the end I almost didn’t want them to die...almost. I hope the next book follows some other group that way they can’t screw up any more back stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2014
My biggest problem with the earlier books in this series is that I never found the Governor from the comic books to be a very interesting character, and trying to make him more human and complex while sticking to the timeline of the comics just wasn't working for me. I had hoped the post-Governor novels might be a bit more interesting, and to a certain extent this one was, but the story was ultimately dragged down by plot contrivances that were way to stupid to overlook. Most notably I think the best thing for this series would be to either get rid of Jay "Inchoate" Bonansinga, or possibly open the world up to other authors.
October 16, 2019
"Lilly, look at me". He shakes her a little. "In less than twelve hours, these fruitcakes are going to turn this town into a mass suicide."
This is the first novel in the series to be totally independent of the comic, and I think Robert Kirkman, and it shows. It's not a brutal and there was no real shockers, saying that though it was good, Jeremiah was a good bad guy, I'm glad he survived it would be good to have him come back. There was no real development for Lilly in this, but I feel Bob came into his own and has healed from what happens with The Governor and is maybe becoming happier, he'll probably die soon...3 🌟
This is the first novel in the series to be totally independent of the comic, and I think Robert Kirkman, and it shows. It's not a brutal and there was no real shockers, saying that though it was good, Jeremiah was a good bad guy, I'm glad he survived it would be good to have him come back. There was no real development for Lilly in this, but I feel Bob came into his own and has healed from what happens with The Governor and is maybe becoming happier, he'll probably die soon...3 🌟
October 21, 2014
Another fun, suspenseful edition in the world of the Walking Dead as the survivors of Woodbury struggle to deal with a SUPERHERD as well as a questionable cult-like religious group they encounter from another area. Tough to discuss without spoiling, especially events from previous books in the series, but this one was a good read with some very tense scenes. I was also glad this installment had a new storyline as the last two books were sort of expanded scenes from the comics, this one was all new stuff--gory stuff.
November 8, 2015
This book was the weakest of the series for me. What drew me into this series originally was my love for the Governor. However, Lilly is not really a character I felt all that invested in. (She is the main character in this one) Although the characters discover some new and fun locations that only kept me interested a short time. It is ok, but definitely not as good as the rest of the series.
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