Things are ramping up between the allianced communities and the Whisperers.
To the best of my memory, I'm listing out the differences between the show and the books. But I'm quickly running out of show. We'll be in uncharted territory soon.
Spoilers ahead!
.
.
.
Rick visits Ezekiel. Apparently Michonne is sailing the seven seas, fishing. We learn she disappeared in the middle of the night and left Ezekiel, believing she doesn't deserve happiness because she wasn't there when her daughters and husband died. Rick rebukes her and tells her to go back to Ezekiel. She agrees to at least consider coming to the fair. Then Rick tells her she's his best friend and she asks him if he's ten years old (sound familiar?). They mention Oceanside as a passing comment. (Show: Michonne and Rick were together- Rick disappeared; Carol and Ezekiel were together; there was a long, drawn out process for them discovering Oceanside. And we still haven't seen a group remotely resembling the Garbage People in the books. I don't yet know if the show created that group and the helicopter for their own plot devices or if they're jumping around the book timeline. Michonne, thus far, has not run off to sail the seven seas and Carol leaves Ezekiel, I think, because she's a childish, jealous slut at heart and wants to try to lead Darryl on. My theory. Take it or leave it. I've never liked Show Carol.)
Back at the Farm (Hilltop), they realize that Carl followed the Whisperers. (Show: It was Henry.)
Negan's cell door is left open, but rather than running, he stays in an attempt to gain Rick's trust. Rick still locks him back up when he finds out, but it changes their dynamic slightly.
Dwight is now overseeing what's left of the Saviors, but hates leadership and tells Rick he wants to step down. (Show: Darryl was in this position.)
Gregory is hung for his attempted murder on Maggie.
Rick, Andrea, Michonne, and Dante go looking for Carl. While they're gone, Alpha comes to the fair. The Whisperers approach Rick's group and they agree to take only Rick to Carl, leaving the others under guard. Rick and Carl argue, and Carl refuses to leave without Lydia. By then Alpha returns; she shows Rick the massive herd of zombies they've accumulated and threatens to guide them to the communities if he doesn't cooperate.
Rick puts his foot down and tells Carl they are leaving. Carl loudly tells Rick that Lydia is raped by members of their group and Rick finally responds to this. Alpha strikes Lydia and tells her she is weak and may as well leave with the other weak humans. But she is tearful while saying this, showing she does care for her daughter. (Show: I'm fairly confident that Alpha doesn't let Lydia leave, but rather she and Henry escape with Darryl.)
They found the boundary line the Whisperers claimed as their own marked out by stakes with the heads of their own people on them. Among them are Rosita and Ezekiel. (Show: They both remained alive. Henry, Tara, and Enid are the main characters that die in the show.)
I'd rate this book an R for swearing, violence and gore, disturbing images, and adult content such as mention of rape.
Original review posted February 23, 2020.