Out of the ashes of a devastated Woodbury, Georgia, two opposing camps of ragtag survivors develop – each one on a collision course with the other.

Underground, in the labyrinth of ancient tunnels and mine shafts, Lilly Caul and her motley crew of senior citizens, misfits, and children struggle to build a new life. But a secret ambition still burns in Lilly’s heart and soul. She wants her beloved town of Woodbury back from the plague of walkers, and now the only thing that stands in her way currently roams the wasted backwaters of Georgia…

Way out in the hinterlands, amidst the rising tide of walkers that seem to be pushing in from all directions, the psychotic Reverend Jeremiah Garlitz rebuilds his army of followers with a diabolical secret weapon. He has designs on the destruction of Lilly and her crew – the very people who vanquished his cultish church – and now, for the first time, he has the means to bring a special brand of hell down upon the tunnel dwellers.

The final confrontation between these two human factions unleashes an unthinkable weapon – forged from the monstrous hordes of undead, perfected by a madman, and soaked in the blood of innocents.

You know, I really enjoyed the Governor series when it came out. It was a great way to get some much needed insight into how Woodbury and the Governor came to be. It even gave more insight into the time Rick, Michonne and the others spent captured by the Governor and his goons. But I feel it’s gone on for far too long.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but Reverend Jeremiah was too crazy even for me to handle. I suppose this an a positive thing to note for Jay Bonansinga, because it’s truly hard to write such a despicable character. However, usually I feel bad guys can really make the book, in this case, he broke the book. Between flat out murdering and torturing people to whining about his failed rapture, I was just not impressed.

The story of Lily and the other Woodbury survivors was easier to stomach. But it often felt like a side note. After all, they are barely hanging on and they have more children than adults among them. I don’t know how to explain what got under my skin so much, but I just found I had no interest in this book. It was hard to get into and I muddled through the first fifty pages as if I was marching slowly through a bog. The pacing never really picks up until the last few chapters and by that point it’s all too little too late. Shame. I really liked the series before. Not anymore.

Rating

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Pick up your copy on Amazon: Invasion by Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga