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Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead: Descent  By  cover art

Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead: Descent

By: Jay Bonansinga,Robert Kirkman
Narrated by: Fred Berman
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Publisher's summary

The latest novel in the Walking Dead saga: Kirkman and Bonansinga team up again to take listeners back into the Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead series of original novels, set in the universe of Robert Kirkman's iconic comic, takes listeners down new roads in The Walking Dead: Descent. From coauthors Robert Kirkman, creator of the Eisner Award winning comic book and executive producer of AMC's blockbuster TV series, and Jay Bonansinga, Stoker award finalist and internationally acclaimed author, comes the gripping fifth in this richly woven, pause-resisting literary saga, which began with The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor.

In Rise of the Governor, uber-villain Philip Blake journeyed from his humble beginnings directly into the dark heart of the zombie apocalypse, and became the self-proclaimed leader of a small town called Woodbury. In book two, The Road to Woodbury, an innocent traveler named Lilly Caul wound up in the terrifying thrall of Phillip Blake’s twisted, violent dictatorship within Woodbury's ever tightening barricades. In The Fall of the Governor, Part One, classic characters from both the comic and television series, including Rick, Michonne, and Glenn, finally made their appearance in theWalking Dead novel series, only to discover that the Governor is a very dangerous enemy. Now, the Walking Dead series of novels continues with more fan favorite characters from the comic book and TV show.

©2014 Robert Kirkman, LLC. (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Featured Article: Stephen King’s 20 Best Audiobooks—The Definitive List


Stephen King is one of the most prolific American authors of all time. He has published 61 novels, more than 200 short stories, and six nonfiction books—and he shows no sign of stopping. His most recent novel, The Institute, was published in September of 2019, and we’ve already pre-ordered his novella anthology If It Bleeds, which is set to be released in 2020. With such a large portfolio, choosing one listen to start with can be daunting.

What listeners say about Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead: Descent

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    3 out of 5 stars

a subtly tense flight from the zombie horde

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.

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8 people found this helpful

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Loved it!

These books completely surprised me. I thought I was going to listen to a story about Woodberry's residents side of the experience, and what I got was a completely new story. They give us new characters to love and hate and new experiences for the characters we already love from the TV version of walking dead. I highly recommend these books!

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5 people found this helpful

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Another amazing installment in the series

These books are coming out so quickly that you would think it would be impossible to keep them this well written but it isn't. I am a big fan of the show but the seasons have such few episodes and the wait between seasons is so long. I think I have come to appreciate the books even more than the show.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

Getting necrotic

The story is repetitive. The crazy pastor Jim Jones Jr. Herds are a boring subject.

Yes yeeeess - the SRENCH -- we get it - but smelly isn't scary.

It seems that the WALKING DEAD brand needs to have some FRESH WRITING to come along and blow away the STENCH of

THE SAME OLD ZOMBIE STORY

yawn

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Little thin on depth

Story was a little thin this time, but it was also a relief that it wasn't as agonizingly dark as the govenor series. Like Lilly's romance wasn't built up and seemed to come from thin air. I just thought she was, well, a little careless with her womanly needs. And the guy thought the same about himself. On the other hand, there was good depth to the "bad guys".

So Woodbury is rebuidling under Lilly's relectant leadership, but theres hardly anyone left to make a thriving society. Luckily they get the chance to rescue a sizable pious congregation. Unluckily, they aren't what they seem...

Writing was great, just the story was a little "meh".

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Love the series, but religious zealots?

I liked the first four a lot more. This one was pretty good, but my least favorite of the 5 books out. Just seemed too far of a stretch for me.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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How did you like it? "Hold on a minute".......

I bought this without seeing any reviews because I liked the previous Woodbury books. This installment had too many points that made me go "Huh?" There were several points in the book where Bob was trying to get a point across to Lily, but going in such a slow meandering way, that she and I both nearly dozed off. The authors tried to hard to make a relationship between Lily and the newcomer Calvin. She miscarried about three weeks ago and his wife died a day or two ago, but they get it on in a dank hallway. Really? Lily's twin Ruger 22's are made to sound like the second coming of Dirty Harry when she wields them. The whole group risks their lives to save some strangers and manage to go 10 miles underground to get there, but Lily jumps out of a manhole cover without looking first and ends up in a zombie herd. Oh, and then she just kicks the manhole cover back into place, like they don't weigh 50-100 pounds. Then the preacher and his flock that were saved want to go all Jim Jones on Woodbury, having been surrounded before and not taking their final exit with the glass bottles and jars that the preacher has kept intact for the past two years after the turn. Bob has a miraculous comeback after falling into a hole with three walkers. The whole book just had too many weak plot lines. I will wait for reviews next time.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Another love interest for Lilly Caul

Overall this story is ok, just ok. Fred Berman does a great job as always. Love how he brings the characters to life.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I really wish the writers would STOP giving Lilly love interests. Like how am I to believe this man, who JUST lost his wife, falls in love with Lilly and sleeps with her within a week of his wife’s death. Plus, she just lost Austin like 2-3 weeks before that AND has a miscarriage. That part of the story was trash and could have been omitted.

Also don’t get why the preacher and his people didn’t kill themselves sooner. I think it was explained, but that shows you how bad of an explanation it was. WHY send someone out to find help to rescue them, when they could have just killed themselves in Carlinville?

Things worked a little too fast for me. The pace of the story felt rushed and I needed to stop several times and ask myself, why? Why make this choice in the story?

I like this series, it’s different than most zombie stories bc it focuses on people really well while also delivering the terror and gore of the zombie apocalypse. This book though was…not the best.

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    3 out of 5 stars

This one is kind of a filler book.

love the series but if you got this book as your first of the series I would not starting with it. This book is more of a filler story like the season 8 on the tv show. I would really recommend listening to the whole series though.

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This was the end of the novels for me.

I have always appreciated how TWD comics universe stayed away from cliche. I love the comics, the telltale games, and I even liked the novels...until this one. This was such an exception it soured me on the novels completely.

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