Poppy Stringer was born to be a star. An aspiring fashion influencer by day, Poppy moonlights as a grave robber to make ends meet, wheeling and dealing dead bodies across Palm Springs.

When her hero, the flamboyant, piano-slamming rockstar Eddie Michaels, unexpectedly dies, Poppy gets a call to retrieve his body from the medical examiner’s office for a lucrative sum. It could be the last job she’ll ever need―if everything goes to plan. But the night’s delivery quickly veers off course when Eddie wakes up.

Now Poppy must fight for her life if she hopes to survive this blood-soaked joyride of carnage and extravagant entertainment.

As I said to kick things off here, expect the unexpected, that is what I have come to find with Tingle. This goes for the story itself, the method of storytelling, or really anything. What I expected with this story was grave robbing and the associated risks with this endeavor. While that is the case, it was not exactly what I had pictured in my mind. Yes, I knew Eddie would wake up, as described, I just figured there would be more to it. This is not a dig (pun-intended), but a change of what I had gone in expecting.

While it starts off a bit slow, setting the foundation for the rest of the story, Fabulous Bodies does come at you quick with neck breaking pacing. There is no rest for the wicked. When shit hit the fan, there is no stopping the fast paced, campy horror, and even humor that takes place. The speed of the book doesn’t take away from the overall story, but adds to the experience. Even in the emotional moments, the again surprised me, things felt like the peddle was to the floor. Making for an easy, and fun read.

Poppy is setup as a fantastic character from the start, someone who is extremely public facing as an influencer but also leads the double-life as some making some quick cash in the trade of the dead. I couldn’t help but think of stories such as Dexter whereas it should be obvious to those around you that something is off about you, but no one is the wiser. Makes for a funny, campy, and sometimes intense story. And when Poppy ends up on an intense, horrifying adventure with Eddie we are introduced to another well crafted character and a terrifying but amazing connection between the two.

Fabulous Bodies is filled with a great amount of dark humor paired with just the right amount of body horror and action. It can be intense at moments, but the campiness helps balance this out. How Tingle is able to accomplish all of this in a zombie-style journey is beyond me, but it works.

Fabulous Bodies is somehow disgusting, hilarious, and genuinely sweet at the same time. It’s impossible not to have fun reading this. Chuck Tingle understands that camp and sincerity actually work really well together. The book is ridiculous in the best possible way.

Let’s be honest, Fabulous Bodies shouldn’t work on paper, but somehow Chuck Tingle turns this influence satire, body horror, zombie-fueled chaos into something that is truly wildly entertaining, all while also being surprisingly heartfelt. Fabulous Bodies is disgusting and funny, making for a blood-soaked fever dream that proves Tingle is one of horror’s most original voices.

Fabulous Bodies hits bookstores everywhere on July 7, 2026 from Tor Nightfire. The audiobook, narrated by Mara Wilson, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Fabulous Bodies from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

The post Fabulous Bodies: A Chaotic Blend of Horror and Humor appeared first on Capes and Tights.

This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.

Divergent

I first read Divergent by Veronica Roth a few years back having seen the films, I felt I should dive into the stories they were inspired by. The first book was definitely entertaining and had me hooked from the outset. It’s definitely a story that was not geared towards a 40-year-old dude, but definitely can see why the intended age-range would love reading this book and by the end had me wanting more from the world crafted by Roth.

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior’s society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions.

Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she’s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

I can definitely see how some people were saying Divergent was the start of the next Hunger Games, but really only because of the initiation Tris goes through when choosing her faction. It has the competition and while Hunger Games led to death, Divergent really just would lead towards living a life faction-less. The stakes are way higher in Suzanne Collins‘ story, at least at this point.

Tris has to make some pretty grownup decisions at the age of 16, some decisions making at age 40 would be difficult enough, but having a teenager make decisions such as leaving your family behind or to keep serious secrets hidden. This alone made for an excellent story, but what takes place within this first book of the series was exciting and emotional at the same time. Divergent as all the things that make this type of book popular and is fairly well.

Divergent is a fun read, but definitely geared towards a young adult audience. Although, any adult can enjoy this dystopian tale filled with heart, action, and a budding love interest. I understand why it has been so popular and why a feature film was made from the story, but I am hoping for just a bit more from the rest of the series.

Divergent is available at bookstores everywhere from HarperCollins. The audiobook, narrated by Emma Galvin, is available via Libro.fm!

Insurgent

With the followup book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, Insurgent is a much more in depth story of fighting back and fighting for what you believe is right.

As war surges in the factions of dystopian Chicago all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Now, after finishing the second book in this series, I can see why people compare the Divergent books to the work of Suzanne Collins‘ Hunger Games series. There is the sense of facing off against those in power, those hiding the truth from the people. While the factions are still mostly intact, it’s the factionless and those who have abandoned or separated from their faction who want to do what they believe is right.

This book has a slightly different vibe than Divergent, while also still staying true to itself. While it does feel like a book than belongs in this series, it really gives off the feeling that Divergent was only a setup for this story. Like the first book in the series is almost a prequel to the main part of this tale. I know I might be the only one who feels this way, it’s just a vibe I was getting while reading the second book in the series.

Insurgent takes the foundation that made Divergent interesting and pushes it into something that is darker and far more emotional. Veronica Roth delivers on expanding the world in a way that makes the conflicts feel larger, plus the stakes are more personal. All this while also keeping the heart of the story centered around Tris. This book feels a little less of a sequel and more of what this series was preparing for all along. Let’s see how the next installment lands.

Insurgent is available at bookstores everywhere from HarperCollins. The audiobook, narrated by Emma Galvin, is available via Libro.fm!

Allegiant

I would be lying if I didn’t say that I am continuing to read these books by Veronica Roth to complete the series as a completionist. Allegiant has veered enough from Divergent that made it a bit different from what I had hoped for, yet I didn’t hate the book either.

One choice will define you. What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

Told from a riveting dual perspective, this third installment in the series follows Tris and Tobias as they battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and their selves—while facing impossible choices of courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Allegiant succeeds at answering a few questions that have been nagging at me throughout the first two books, such as the world outside the factions, even if these reveals felt a bit overcomplicated compared to the simplicity of the initial book. While the pacing drags at times and the dual point-of-views between Tris and Tobias kind of blended together instead of feeling distinct.

While this is technically not the FINAL book in the series, as the prequel collection of short stories based around Four is next, it is the final book in the linear story. With this the ending felt a bit rushed by Roth leaving me wanting a little more emotionally. It wasn’t the fact the story went a bit darker in direction, it was just I wasn’t fully invested by this point.

Allegiant may not have recaptured the spark I felt during Divergent which made me want to continue with the series, but it still has enough to give some answers that have been festering. Allegiant is a bold and emotionally heavy conclusion to the series but didn’t stick the landing I had hoped for when it was all said and done.

Allegiant is available at bookstores everywhere from HarperCollins. The audiobook, narrated by Emma Galvin & Aaron Stanford, is available via Libro.fm!

Four

The focus of the three Divergent books is on Tris’ story, from her aptitude test on, but what the Four short story collection by Veronica Roth gives us is the story behind Tobias and his evolution. It’s nice to revisit this universe, but with a fresh perspective. Four is not just a prequel to the main Divergent series, but features stories from before as well as those that run parallel to what we all read.

We first encountered Tobias as “Four” in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Now we find more of this charismatic character’s backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection.

When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias’s life. The first three pieces in this volume—”The Transfer,” “The Initiate,” and “The Son”—follow Tobias’s transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, “The Traitor,” runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.

Roth gives us a glimpse of the hurdles Tobias has to overcome to get to where he is when Divergent kicks off adds depth to not only his character but the overall plot of the series. Crafting each of these four stories (which is fitting) in a way that gives us different moments in Tobias’ journey and not just a prequel story full-length novel allowed for us to give a bit deeper into key moments.

I enjoyed getting to see more of what it took for Tobias to switch factions early on, seeing where his nickname originated from, but also how he was being trained as a leader in Dauntless. Not to mention to see his struggles when first meeting Tris and what it was like from his side of things getting to know her.

The Four collection also introduces us to some characters we got to know in the main series, but earlier on and of course features a touch of Tris towards the end. This gave the collection even more connective tissue with the main series, allowing those who wanted more from the Divergent series.

This book is definitely for those who were fans of the entire series, as it gives more context, background, and insight into characters we followed when reading the series. While some of the stories are before Divergent, it was nice to read them all after finishing the first three books as a little look back at the series.

Veronica Roth expands the world and characters in such a meaningful way, giving us a deeper understanding of Tobias’ struggles, leadership, and budding relationship with Tris, all while revisiting familiar events from a new perspective. What seems like a bonus book became one of the better books of the series as a whole.

Four is available at bookstores everywhere from HarperCollins. The audiobook, narrated by Aaron Stanford, is available via Libro.fm!

The post The Divergent Series: A Memorable Dystopian Adventure appeared first on Capes and Tights.

As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly—stinks.

So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name…

As someone who has enjoyed episodes of Supernatural and is a diehard fan of The X-Files. I know I would at least enjoy reading a book based in The Dresden Files universe. Fittingly, I started at the beginning. With other series of this length or shorter, I have pushed myself to read the entire series and while I don’t know if I will do such a thing with The Dresden Files, I do think I will read a select few here and there.

The story itself in Storm Front was pretty solid and was well paced. The detective story where a wizard is called upon was cheesy, but in a good way. It allowed me to find an interest in the story but also not to take it too seriously and allowed any flaws in the story to be pushed aside in the interest of enjoyment. It’s not a straight forward magic tale, nor a simple police procedural, but a combination of the two that places wizards in the real world.

Storm Front may not fully turn me into a fantasy reader, but it did show me why The Dresden Files have become a beloved series for over 25 years. Jim Butcher blends the supernatural with humor, mystery, and noir-style detective work to build something that feels familiar yet refreshing. Storm Front is a fun, past-paced blend of magic and murder-mystery that was an enjoyable read.

Storm Front is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by a full cast, is available via Libro.fm!

The post Storm Front: A Blend of Magic and Murder Mystery appeared first on Capes and Tights.

After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.

Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?

Yes, Devil Inside is a mixture of horror and romance, but the latter definitely takes center stage, which was much appreciated and worked so well. Chapman understandably leans hard into the horror and unsettling side of things, creating a feverish atmosphere that really never let up. He somehow finds to weave in the sense of crawling dread even in the quieter moments.

The horror was main reason for reading this story, but it was surprising how effective Chapman made the romance aspect of the story. The relationship between our characters isn’t sweet or comforting, but truly messy and emotionally raw. This felt less like your traditional romance novel and more realistically like to damaged humans spiraling towards each other, making the story feel even more compelling. The chemistry is intense from the outset and Chapman did an amazing job allowing us to understand why Jordan connotes to chase Lilith even when every instinct is saying run away.

I am always looking for a book that keeps me on my feet, not just a straightforward horror story. Chapman takes his amazing ability to craft a thrilling and engaging novel and creates a unique story that had me frightening and feeling emotional at the same time. It’s a brutal horror, yet someone how a little sexy.

In the simplest terms Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman had me hooked into the chaos from the beginning. This novel is creepy, emotional, weirdly romantic, and full of the unsettling horror that I have come to expect from Chapman. Devil Inside is a brutal, sexy, nightmare of a horror that is impossible to look away from. Once again, Chapman has proven himself as one of the great horror authors writing books these days.

Devil Inside hits bookstores everywhere on August 11, 2026 from MIRA Books. The audiobook is available at Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Devil Inside from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

The post Devil Inside: A Nightmare You’ll Fall in Love With appeared first on Capes and Tights.

The first batch starts with The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s; Daredevil: Born Again; and Doctor Strange: A Decade of Dark Magic hit bookstores this November 2025 from Paul Cornell, Chris Ryall, and Stuart Moore respectively. The second round begins in May 2026 with The Ultimates followed by Wolverine: Weapon X on June 11, Spider-Man: Miles Morales on June 25, and Marvel Explodes: From Bullpen to Big Business on October 15.

We were lucky enough to read advance digital copies as well as listen advance audiobooks of these three entries. If you choose the latter, be sure to check the accompanying pdfs to get the full experience.

Marvel Age of Comics: The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s

Paul Cornell kicks things off with a look back to The Mighty Avengers historic decade of the 1970s.

The team that defined a generation-and reshaped a universe. The Avengers was the comic book of the 1970s. From Civil Rights to the Women’s Liberation Movement, battles for the soul of America became battles between super heroes.

Writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby co-created the all-star group of six super heroes in September 1963. From there, just three main writers chronicled Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in that most turbulent of decades: Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart, and Jim Shooter, each with differing approaches. The Avengers quickly became the pivot around which the Marvel Universe turned. To look back through its issues is to get a crash course in ’70s pop culture.

Illustrated with full-color art from this legendary run, Cornell’s entry in the Marvel Age of Comics series explores how the Mighty Avengers became icons during a time of immense change and upheaval.

It was wonderful to look through the lens of Cornell’s deep dive into the 1970s era Avengers and the connections played to the turbulent times of the decade. While it was a great way to deeper my love for the Avengers and Marvel Comics. There was A LOT packed into the 120 page book. The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s was fact upon fact, upon fact over 10 years and multiple writer/artist combinations. This length of period in a short time felt a bit overwhelming. While I still enjoyed the content within, this entry was my least favorite of the first three books.

Marvel Age of Comics: The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s hit bookstores everywhere on November 11, 2025 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Cary Hite, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: The Mighty Avengers vs. the 1970s from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again

Next up, Chris Ryall focuses in on one of the best Daredevil runs in history with a look at Daredevil: Born Again.

What happens when a hero loses everything? In Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli‘s Daredevil: Born Again, the comic’s titular hero has his life destroyed after his most menacing enemy learns his real identity. His attempts to rebuild his life and sanity result in one of the most gripping and impactful super hero storylines of all time.

Released in 1986, the storyline is an extraordinary exploration of what happens when a hero’s identity is revealed, and his personal life completely annihilated. We see Daredevil reduced to the lowest depths in the character’s history, but we also follow his painstaking path toward redemption.

This entry in Marvel Age of Comics explores Daredevil: Born Again‘s gorgeous and unique artwork, the lasting impact of its story and art, and how it forever changed the ways super hero characters and their secret identities have functioned.

Unlike the first entry, Ryall’s book revolving around Daredevil: Born Again was something special. I believe the shorter period of time and slightly longer book allowed for the information to be consumed a bit easier. The focus on one main character and one series allowed for a bit more breathing room. Like the other entries, this one also featured great imagery, illustrations, and samples of the story arc to give more context.

Whether you are big fan of Daredevil, the Born Again arc, or just want to learn more about the characters and those who created the storylines, Ryall’s entry into the Marvel Age of Comics is a great place to be.

Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again hit bookstores everywhere on November 11, 2025 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Seth Podowitz, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

Marvel Age of Comics: Doctor Strange: A Decade of Dark Magic

Lastly, in the first entries into the Marvel Age of Comics, Stuart Moore deep dives into Doctor Strange.

Enter a world where reality bends, and magic reigns supreme. From psychedelic dimensions to counterculture cool, Doctor Strange was unlike anything else in comics. One of Marvel’s most fascinating early characters, he began at the hands of co-creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and his ethereal voyages through other dimensions made him an iconic figure in 1960s culture.

From his first appearance in 1963, Strange captivated a wide range of readers. Over his first ten years, a succession of writers and artists-including Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, Gardner F. Fox, P. Craig Russell, Marie Severin, and notably Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner-expanded on Ditko’s original mind-bending concepts.

This entry in the Marvel Age of Comics explores Strange’s changing roles as a mystic, super hero, and leader of a chaotic team called the Defenders, and the rise of his popularity, in parallel with the counterculture of the 1960s.

While there are a bunch of unique characters in the Marvel Universe, there is none quite like Doctor Strange. This is why Moore’s deep dive into the early years this character is so important.

Doctor Strange has never really been one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe, but that is why this book was a lot of fun to read. Learning more about someone you are little less knowledgeable about is always fun in my book. Moore gives us just enough information as to not overwhelm us along the way.

Marvel Age of Comics: Doctor Strange: A Decade of Dark Magic hit bookstores everywhere on November 11, 2025 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Jason Lasky, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: Doctor Strange: A Decade of Dark Magic from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

Marvel Age of Comics: The Ultimates

The second round of books begins with Marvel Age of Comics: The Ultimates as Ted Adams gives us more on the way this title shaped the Marvel Universe.

Writer Mark Millar, with artists Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, and Paul Neary, reimagined the classic characters that made up Marvel’s premiere super hero team, the Avengers. Looking at them through a modern, post-9/11 lens, the creators treated the characters as super soldiers who reported to the US government.

Illustrated with full-color art, Adam’s entry in The Marvel Age of Comics takes readers through Marvel of the ’90s: the Marvel Knights imprint, the creation of the Ultimate universe with Spider-Man and the X-Men, and finally the Ultimates themselves. With its unique blend of grounded realism and over-the-top action, The Ultimates ensured that comic books and pop culture would never be the same.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks when recommending new comic readers a Marvel series to read is how the new reader might have little context to go on when jumping in. Having no history with these characters makes understanding the new series a bit of a challenge. I commend Marvel to taking this and making a new universe where anyone can dive into a world where everyone is learning about these alternate versions of classic characters together.

Even better is having an author such as Adams breakdown the creation of the Ultimate Universe and the amazing team The Ultimates. Adams gives us insight to the origins of the universe, what made the team so special and how it changed comics going forward. While not required reading for those new the Ultimate Universe, it is for those who want know every detail about the comics and so much more.

Adams goes behind the panels and discusses the creators who made the Ultimate Universe and The Ultimates something special. Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Paul Neary, and many more! These creators took the task at hand and made something that stood out in comics and still has many years later.

Marvel Age of Comics: The Ultimates is a love letter to such a pivotal era in comics as well as useful guide for those who want more from this version of Marvel. Ted Adams brings together the creative risks, cultural context, and discusses the creators who made it special in a way that’s engaging without ever feeling overwhelming.

Marvel Age of Comics: The Ultimates hits bookstores everywhere on May 14, 2026 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Mack Sanderson, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: The Ultimates from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

Marvel Age of Comics: Wolverine: Weapon X

As I read through these new Marvel Age of Comics, some are gaining a bunch of information about characters I have knowledge about and are just glad to learn more, while others such as Marvel Age of Comics: Wolverine: Weapon X is one I know of the character and was dying to learn more. Jim Rugg dives deep into the original Marvel Comics Presents Weapon X storyline and how it changed the face of Wolverine, but also altered Marvel Comics moving forward.

Naked, bloody, and screaming in pain – this is the Wolverine that faced readers in the story arc Weapon X. This was more than just the tale of how Wolverine got his adamantium skeleton and claws. Legendary creator Barry Windsor-Smith challenged fans’ expectations of super hero stories and created Marvel’s most brutal and beautiful comic.

In 1991, when Weapon X was first published, Wolverine was one of Marvel’s most popular super heroes. For Weapon X, creator Windsor-Smith reimagined the super hero origin story as a cyberpunk horror story. A shadowy organization abducts Wolverine in order to create “the ultimate killing machine,” and we are plunged into a story of basic, animalistic survival. As Wolverine endures more and more trauma, the lines between reality and consciousness disappear.

Illustrated with full-color art from this legendary storyline, Rugg’s entry in the Marvel Age of Comics takes a deep-dive into one of Marvel’s most experimental and singular comics, and what many consider to be the definitive Wolverine story.

These books are great for those who know nearly nothing of these Marvel Comics characters or storylines, but also an amazing additional read for those who have been longtime fans and know most of the ins and outs. This is due to the writers, Rugg in this case, breaking down the original material in a way that gives you all you need to know before adding the details that make these books so amazing.

Rugg also dives head first into the iconic creator of Weapon X, Windsor-Smith, who single handedly wrote, penciled, inked, colored, and lettered this story in 1991. This, as many might know, is mostly unheard of in big-two comics where timelines are tight and need all hands on deck to meet these deadlines. Windsor-Smith held nothing back when crafting Weapon X, crafting some of the most violent and relentless storytelling in Marvel history. Wolverine has become one of Marvel’s most famous characters and this is at least in some part due to the work Windsor-Smith did on Weapon X.

Marvel Age of Comics: Wolverine: Weapon X is more than a simple companion story to the legendary story, it’s a passionate and insightful celebration of one Marvel’s boldest stories ever told. Jim Rugg Wonderfull breaks down what made Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X such a pivotal moment in comics in a way that is rewarding to longtime fans as well as newcomers to the tale.

Marvel Age of Comics: Wolverine: Weapon X hits bookstores everywhere on June 11, 2026 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Alexander Cendese, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: Wolverine: Weapon X from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

Marvel Age of Comics: Spider-Man: Miles Morales

These Marvel Age of Comics are an amazing way to learn so much about your favorite characters, story arcs, or periods of time, but also a great way to learn about the people behind the stories we read. Marvel Age of Comics: Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a wonderful example of this with Ytasha L. Womack at the helm.

First introduced in 2011 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles Morales reconceived Spider-Man as African American and Latinx, and his debut marked a new direction in the saga of a beloved character.

Miles Morales as Spider-Man is a coming-of-age tale of a smart, affable teen coming into his power. From his reluctance to becoming a super hero to his desire to help others, to the rocky balance between his school life and super hero responsibilities, Miles is always at the precipice of making tough decisions-choices whose consequences are as weighted in his personal life as they often are for the survival of the world.

Illustrated with full-color art, Womack’s entry in the Marvel Age of Comics looks at the hugely successful reimagining of one of the most popular super hero characters of all time.

Womack isn’t someone who had a comic book in their hand from birth, or even someone who writes superhero stories on the regular. Ytasha is more like most of the readers of these books, someone who found a passion in reading comics and is sharing their experience with not only comics in general but the impact of such a character as Miles Morales.

This book is an examination of the introduction of not only a new character, but one that changed the face of Marvel Comics as well as a socially impactful character that was perfectly executed on the pages of comics. Miles Morales brings new struggles, new perspectives, and new abilities to the classic Spider-Man character in ways that most other Ultimate Characters weren’t able to accomplish.

Womack does a fantastic job telling us who Miles Morales is, how he was originally created, and how his story compares to other classic literature in ways that surprised me. After six of these new books, I felt things might get repetitive, but I was wrong. Each discusses an important part of Marvel Comics from the perspective of so many great voices.

Marvel Age of Comics: Spider-Man: Miles Morales is really more than just a book about the fan-favorite Spider-man character, but a thoughtful exploration of of how Miles Morales reshaped Marvel Comics and brought in a whole new generation of comic readers. Ytasha L. Womack brings passion and insight to this book and continues to push this series forward.

Marvel Age of Comics: Spider-Man: Miles Morales hits bookstores everywhere on June 25, 2026 from Bloomsbury Academic. The audiobook, narrated by Xenia Willacey, is available via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Marvel Age of Comics: Spider-Man: Miles Morales from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

The post Marvel Age of Comics: A Compact Journey Through Marvel’s Legacy appeared first on Capes and Tights.

In the aftermath of the zombie virus outbreak, what remains of the Chinese government has estimated that one billion walkers (called jiangshi) are currently roaming through the country. Across this dramatic landscape, large groups of survivors have clustered together for safety in villages and towns that have been built vertically as a means of protection against the unceasing wave of jiangshi.

Before this devastation, Zhu was one of the millions of poor farmers who left their rural roots for the promise of consistent employment in one of China’s booming factory towns. Elena was an American teaching English in China while on a gap year before beginning law school. Hengyen was a grizzled military officer of some renown, and a passionate believer in his nation’s ability to surmount any obstacle.

But with the settlement’s 3,000 mouths to feed and the scavengers having to travel further and further in search of food, Zhu ends up at his home village, where he is shocked to find survivors. Does he force them to join the settlement or keep their existence a secret?

Meanwhile, Hengyen is tasked with the impossible: fortifying the Beacon against a 100,000-strong “typhoon” of walkers header their way. Even though he realizes that the Beacon hardly stands a chance, Hengyen is a believer and will stand with his compatriots to the very last, bringing him into conflict with Zhu, who intends to flee the path of the typhoon and make for the safety of China’s dramatic mountain ranges before it’s too late.

With the Bonansinga novels they weaved in using The Governor and Woodbury, both seen in the comics as well as television show, but with Typhoon its all from scratch. What it was like during the zombie apocalypse but in another country, in this case China. What makes this type of story based in this universe work so well is not having to have any knowledge heading in and allow this novel to just sit where it is and enjoy.

What longtime fans get from The Walking Dead: Typhoon is a new look at what it was like after the world fell apart in another country, as we get mostly Southern, as well as Western United States in most of the original stories. But it’s not just the physical location that sets Typhoon apart, but there are different cultural significance to things and political motivations that make Chu’s story in The Walking Dead universe stand on its own. This is something that those who have read from the start another place to engulf ourselves in the undead.

The benefits of Chu’s The Walking Dead: Typhoon is also its downfall. What I loved about reading this story also reminded me I wanted to know what was going on in Woodbury with Lilly Caul or with Rick’s ragtag group of survivors. While I cared for these characters, meticulously crafted by Chu, they weren’t the characters I have grown with. This made it a bit harder to follow there journey. This is less of a failure of the story and more of a personal fault, something that makes the story great for those without a ton of previous The Walking Dead reading (or watching).

The Walking Dead: Typhoon succeeds at telling a zombie story after the fall, mostly due to not attempting to retell the Rick Grimes story. Wesley Chu expands on the universe created by Robert Kirkman in a meaningful way, delivering a fresh, culturally rich story that shows the world as a whole is a terrifying place at the end.

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead: Typhoon is available at bookstores everywhere from Skybound Books. The audiobook, narrated by Feodor Chin, is available at Libro.fm!

The post The Walking Dead: Typhoon – Proving the Apocalypse Is Bigger Than Georgia appeared first on Capes and Tights.

In the glitz and decadence of 1970s Hollywood, an era when sex and drugs are readily available on any movie set, the writer of the next Western blockbuster, Bloodrock, has just been found dead in his motel bathtub. Now publicist Harvey Jason is desperately trying to keep the project on track while the famed Harlow Perkins, a brilliant and ruthless investigator, begins to unravel the mystery and hunt the killer down.

From scorching-hot desert locations to sleazy motel bars, the members of the cast and crew–each one with a very dark secret of their own–will send this case deeper and deeper into a maze of confusion and shadows until the shocking truth is revealed.

Will the murderer be found?

Or will the true identity of the killer turn out to be just another Hollywood illusion?

Now, was I expecting for the outstanding science-fiction Crichton is known for, of course not. I was however hoping for something a bit deeper than a popcorn murder mystery based on a movie set. Finding a dead body on a movie set and having to solve the mystery behind it was an intriguing plot and I was at least entertained.

Like with other books, including Jurassic Park (which was adapted into one of my favorite movies), Crichton doesn’t shy away from being as accurate as possible. You can tell Michael did his research before writing A Murder in Hollywood. The downside…it’s definitely full of terminology and insight into the world of making movies that almost felt overwhelming at times. While it was important in this story and Crichton did explain most of the abbreviations or positions well, it just felt like it was more about explaining the ins and outs of a movie production and less about someone being killed.

This book did have me guessing who or if anyone on set did actually commit murder or how exactly it would end, which is what you want in an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. So job well done! It’s just the surrounding stuff that had me a bit overwhelmed. Crichton is a fantastic writer and even in this earlier works it shows.

What made A Murder in Hollywood even more enjoyable for me was listening to it on audiobook. Ray Porter is one of the best narrators in the history of audio drama. His voice has this timbre that is unmistakable and adds so much to the experience. This is what drove me to finish this book in a quick pace, the incredible voice of Porter.

Despite not being the best Michael Crichton novel ever, A Murder in Hollywood was still an entertaining, old-school murder mystery based in the chaos of 1970s filmmaking. The behind-the-scenes studio production details sometimes overshadowed the mystery at hand, but Cricthton’s ability to craft a story kept me guessing.

A Murder in Hollywood is available at bookstores everywhere from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by Ray Porter, is available at Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of A Murder in Hollywood from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

The post A Murder in Hollywood: Michael Crichton’s Forgotten Hollywood Whodunit appeared first on Capes and Tights.

With the sixteen stories contained in these pages, one of the strongest impressions is Jones’ control of voice, the ease at which he effortlessly slips into character, some personalities more relatable than others, with each entry. With Carved in Salt, the collection’s opening story, we are launched directly into emotional turmoil, sustained by prolonged grief. It was actually this story that was released back in 2024 and that contributed to the inception of Rapture Publishing, that put Jones on my personal radar. As you can tell, here he as remained. Yet, as it pertains to this collection, perhaps the best place to start is with the second story in the collection, Wait in the Car, in which we are given Jones’ slant on a very popular horror staple. Experiencing an author’s version of a well-explored, well-loved pillar of the genre in their specific voice is always an enthralling time, especially when their stories are told as tightly and tensely as this. Thus kicks off our first fifty pages.

Moving through the collection, By the Wreck of Peter Iredale is the kind of story that feels so intrinsically linked with the need to understand how our world works beyond the simple mechanics of good and bad. Jones works through what it means to exist in a shade of gray as two friends make an interesting discovery amongst a ship’s wreckage. Some of that coming-of-age magic that we have come to know and love through the horror genre can be found here, heightening every sensation on the page. And speaking of horror magic, Habit of Creature fully displays how format and structure within the genre can revitalize and deliver on our favorite horrific themes, monsters and all.

Alas, concluding this review without mentioning the two stories that set my world ablaze would be a sin; let’s dig into The House of the Horse and No Fare. When thinking about these two stories sitting side by side, it’s hard to not think of them each as an example of what the macabre can offer, both the deeply disturbing and the thoroughly comforting. The House of the Horse is punchy, original horror at its finest with the best uncanny atmosphere à la David Lynch that any horror fan could ask for. It’s lean, it’s mean, it’s bizarre, and it’s so sharp, it’ll draw blood. What more could you want? Glad you asked.

Deserving a paragraph of its own, No Fare stirs the soul and asks the bigger questions about what comes at the end of this life. Jones hones in on one bus driver’s mundanities while also reflecting upon a lifetime that has led to this driver’s current position as she drives citizens around the city, observing where each individual exits. This story inherently feels like one of the best unaired episodes of The Twilight Zone, an inspiration that Jones mentions in his author notes that feels so, so apt. Laced with distinct poignancy, No Fare is the perfect example of where speculative fiction can provide comfort in face of the uncertain. It’s sure, it’s sound, and it’s damn good.

Throwing kindling on the embers of the eerie, uncanny, and often horrific, Tyler Jones has proven absolute command over the horror short story with Arson By Design. Each entry of this collection offers a varied perspective of our own inexplicable itch to burn and what just may be found in the ashes of our own demise. Sometimes it’s horror, sometimes it’s grief, and sometimes, it may just be twisted beauty. Told in such a distinctly profound manner, such fiction ignites the genre, illuminating all that is to offer. And Tyler Jones has struck his match.

Arson By Design by Tyler Jones releases from Rapture Publishing on August 25, 2026.

NOTE: I received an advance copy of Arson By Design from the publisher. Opinions are my own.

The post Arson By Design: Fanning the Flames of Stunning Short Fiction appeared first on Capes and Tights.

Maggie Wise will take your eyes.

When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.

But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.

From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.

Carry Me to My Grave has such a creepy and unsettling opening few chapters when dealing with the passing of Malcom’s mother Maggie. Golden crafts the story in such as way that I vividly can see what is going on around these characters, especially this dark figure that lurks in the willow trees. It was almost as if I didn’t want to read this tale with the lights off, that’s how uneasy it made me feel, in such a good way.

This opening scene or two is something that stayed with me throughout the book, but also as the final page was turned. However, it’s the journey on the train to Maine (my home state) that things got even more uneasy and just as creepy. On this journey we follow many different characters in different situations that all felt extremely fleshed out and were full of a level of complexity I have come to expect from Golden. The confined space of a train in the 1950s that made these characters shine even more.

The story is also full of action and pushing itself forward as the train struts along. There is this evil force behind all of this and as we try and figure out what is behind it all, we are give monsters, and other evil to deal with along the way. This mix of characters and monsters give us a unsettling, violent, and at times complicated story that has you eagerly turning the page, either by shear desire to know what happens, or to run from the previous pages.

Carry Me to My Grave is a slow-burning, eerie, and emotional ride where Christopher Golden expertly balances unsettling atmosphere with brutal horror, and complex characters. A Haunting and deeply unsettling horror journey that stays with you long after the train reaches its destination.

Carry Me to My Grave hits bookstores everywhere on July 21, 2026 from St. Martin’s Press.

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Carry Me to My Grave from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

The post Carry Me to My Grave: An Unsettling Nightmare on the Rails appeared first on Capes and Tights.

The first four novels where co-written by Kirkman and Bonansinga, but the later four were title with Kirkman’s name but written by Bonansinga with approval by Kirkman. There is a mix of what you’d expect or characters you knew from the comics in the first few books, but then focuses mostly on Lilly Caul and her rise to the leader she becomes.

These novels are great because they allow fans of the original material to expand on the universe, but are amazing for those who know little of the comics or original characters and just enjoy reading prose stories. There is enough crossover to satisfy the itch of longtime readers, but not too much to scare away those with little knowledge.

It’s been a journey and it was well-worth it.

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor

The Governor stands out as one of the greatest villains, not only in The Walking Dead universe, but in all of comics, television and film. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor explores how The Governor became the man he is, and what drove him to such extremes.

In The Walking Dead universe, there is no greater villain than The Governor. The despot who runs the walled-off town of Woodbury, he has his own sick sense of justice: whether it’s forcing prisoners to battle zombies in an arena for the townspeople’s amusement, or chopping off the appendages of those who cross him. Now, discover how The Governor became the man he is, and what drove him to such extremes.

Few have been able to even take a stab at writing stories for The Walking Dead in print media outside of Robert Kirkman himself, but one of those few is New York Times bestselling author Jay Bonansinga. The gifted writer seems to have gotten into the heads of Kirkman’s characters early in the writing process as it shows on each page. He presents plausible scenarios as well as some super gut-wrenching decisions for the survivors.

In Rise of the Governor we get a deeper look into The Governor as a character and his motivations that were touched on in the comics and TV series. Bonansinga delves into his past and provides context for his crazy actions and why he is such a complex and compelling character.

The Governor is a messed up guy and we get to see what into making him this way. While he is an awful character, Rise of the Governor changes the way we feel towards the antagonist as it shows us how much he went through prior to arriving at Woodbury giving some depth to the character. By exploring his backstory and experiences while traversing the broken world, we gain insight into his transformation from a survivor to a ruthless leader willing to do anything to protect his people and keep his power.

Bonansinga takes characters created by Kirkman fleshes them out. Their interactions are realistic and showcase their strengths and vulnerabilities. The characters are deep and engaging allowing us to connect with them on a personal level. The dynamics between them add depth to their stories and keep us invested in their fates.

This origin story of The Governor is haunting, atmospheric and complements both the comics and TV series perfectly in a way I didn’t think was possible. Fans of The Walking Dead will appreciate this deeper dive into one of its most iconic characters. While we only get a glimpse of the character in other media, Rise of the Governor really enhances our understanding of him while also providing a gripping story that adds to The Walking Dead universe.

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga is truly a must-read for all The Walking Dead fans. While the comics reign supreme over all other media, this novel follows closely to the original story told by Kirkman. The story is compelling with a chilling atmosphere delivering an engaging story that leaves us wanting more.

The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: Road to Woodbury

The big draw towards reading these The Walking Dead novels is learning more about those who they only touch on in the main comic series or the television show. That’s why books such as The Walking Dead: Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga are important. One of the drawback so such a novel is that it kind of paused the momentum of what we got started in Rise of the Governor.

The zombie plague unleashes its horrors on the suburbs of Atlanta without warning, pitting the living against the dead. Caught in the mass exodus, Lilly Caul struggles to survive in a series of ragtag encampments and improvised shelters. But the Walkers are multiplying. Dogged by their feral hunger for flesh and crippled by fear, Lilly relies on the protection of good Samaritans by seeking refuge in a walled-in town once known as Woodbury, Georgia.

At first, Woodbury seems like a perfect sanctuary. Squatters barter services for food, people have roofs over their heads, and the barricade expands, growing stronger every day. Best of all, a mysterious self-proclaimed leader named Philip Blake keeps the citizens in line. But Lilly begins to suspect that all is not as it seems…Blake, who has recently begun to call himself The Governor, has disturbing ideas about law and order.

Ultimately, Lilly and a band of rebels open up a Pandora’s box of mayhem and destruction when they challenge The Governor’s reign…and the road to Woodbury becomes the highway to hell.

In Rise of the Governor we learned who the Governor actually was and what led him to become the horrible person and eventual leader of Woodbury. Now, Road to Woodbury we learn about Lilly Caul and her journey to said place. While this was necessary for furthering this side storyline to the main Walking Dead universe, it was a bit of a letdown not focusing on the Governor. Luckily it was only for the first half of the book. It’s the second half of Road to Woodbury where we end up back at Woodbury and connect back up the final chapter of the first book.

Getting to know Lilly was a great ride, learning how she was shaped into the harden character we come to know. This is not a knock at that storyline, just a knock at a switch in momentum. Caul really is the focus character in this books series, as we will get to follow her a bit more after moving on from the Governor.

Road to the Governor sets up the events we all have come to know from the comic and television series where some well known character eventually make their appearance in The Fall of the Governor.

While the story took a momentum switch in The Walking Dead: Road to Woodbury, Jay Bonansinga does a great job introducing us to Lilly Caul and getting us setup for the epic events that take place in the next two books. A must-read to understand the rest of the series.

The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor: Part I and II

The Walking Dead novel saga continues with The Fall of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. This storyline that runs parallel with the comics, crossing over at moments, expands The Walking Dead universe in a gritty and gut-wrenching way.

In The Fall of the Governor, the Governor’s descent into madness finally erupts in a tour de force of action and horror. Beloved characters from the comic book, including Rick, Michonne, and Glenn, finally make their entrance onto this nightmarish stage, and fans of The Walking Dead will see these characters in a whole new light. Simmering grudges boil over into unthinkable confrontations, battle lines are drawn, and unexpected twists seal the fates of the innocent and guilty alike.

Where The Rise of the Governor brought us along The Governor’s journey to power, we now follow the fall of one of The Walking Dead’s most iconic villains. In The Fall of the Governor we are treated to a face-paced story with some pretty intense scenes. The co-authors do not shy away from exploring dark themes and pushing boundaries, making this book a truly immersive horror experience.

While the characters and plot of The Walking Dead was conceived by Kirkman, Bonansinga’s contribution is evident in these novels. As he expands upon the existing storylines and introduces new perspectives we can really see Bonansinga’s stamp on the story. While not without flaws, The Fall of the Governor is an easy read that delivers a gruesome story and adds to the lore of the zombie universe.

Bringing in such beloved characters from the comics such as Rick, Michonne and Glenn but from a different vantage point adds to the legitimacy of these novels and connects them even more to the comics world. Their actions and decisions take on a whole new meaning in light of the Governor’s escalating madness. By filling in gaps of the comic storyline while also offering a new and unique perspective, The Fall of the Governor adds another layer to The Walking Dead universe as a whole.

The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor Parts One and Two is not as good as the first book in this series, but adds another bit to the overall story and the more we can get in The Walking Dead universe the happier I will be overall. This book offers fresh insight, intense scenes and some gruesome action sequences that will make any fan of a horror novels excited. As this series moves along we cannot wait to see where Jay Bonansinga takes us.

Originally released as two separate novels, The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor – Part One and Two can be read as one novel and is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobooks for Part I and Part II, narrated by Fred Berman, are available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: Descent

The first four books in the prose novel The Walking Dead series revolve mostly around the villain The Governor, his rise and fall in Woodbury. This is the overall draw towards the series, in addition to the fact they give more depth to the character. However, The Walking Dead: Descent heads back to the basics of the apocalypse and deals mostly with the threats of the walkers themselves for the most part.

Out of the ashes of its dark past, Woodbury, Georgia, becomes an oasis of safety amidst the plague of the walking dead – a town reborn in the wake of its former tyrannical leader, Philip Blake, aka The Governor. Blake’s legacy of madness haunts every nook and cranny of this little walled community, but Lilly Caul and a small ragtag band of survivors are determined to overcome their traumatic past… despite the fact that a super-herd is closing in on them.

This vast stampede of zombies, driven by inexorable hunger and aimed directly at Woodbury, becomes their first true test. But Lilly and company refuse to succumb, and in a stunning counteroffensive, the beleaguered townspeople save themselves by joining forces with a mysterious religious sect fresh from the wilderness.

Led by an enigmatic preacher named Jeremiah, this rogue church group seems tailor made for Woodbury and Lilly’s dream of a democratic, family-friendly future. The two factions meld into one, the town prospers, and everything seems hopeful for the first time since the plague broke out. But things are often not what they seem. Jeremiah and his followers harbor a dark secret, the evidence of which very gradually begins to unravel.

Descent gives us a glimpse of Lilly as a leader, even if she doesn’t want to be in that position, and how Woodbury is setting itself up for life after the ruling of The Governor. The zombie apocalypse is still ever present and this is the biggest threat now. It’s nice to see the story get back to the basics of why we are in the situation we are in, while also introducing us to a new villain that may or may not be impactful in the future.

While the story is mostly revolved around the evolution of Lilly and Bob, Descent sees the foundation being set for the remainder of the series. Where the town is left after the events of not only the first four books, but also the final 30% of the book. What impact will Jeremiah’s moments in Woodbury have in the future of the rag tag group of survivors.

I signed up to read these books because of my love for The Governor character created by Robert Kirkman and expanded on by Jay Bonansinga, but seeing how these people react to the world without The Governor and fighting back against the zombie hordes was a refreshing read. Waiting to see where Bonansinga takes the series from here.

The Walking Dead: Descent is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: Invasion

Now six books into this series we are past the reign of The Governor and now able to find its own path. The Walking Dead: Invasion is the continuation of Descent with the main villain as Reverend Jeremiah Garlitz. Where I thought he was just part of the end of Descent, he takes more of a lead role in this story, a formidable foe for the group of Woodbury survivors.

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.

Along with The Walking Dead: Descent, The Walking Dead: Invasion carves its own path in The Walking Dead Universe. We are now mostly free of the characters in the main comic universe and Jay Bonansinga gets to craft his own future for this rag tag group of survivors. What makes Invasion a bit more intriguing than Descent is we get the big bad once again. Yes, Reverend Jeremiah Garlitz is featured in the back half of Descent, its Invasion where his true villainous nature shines.

The group of survivors is now stuck in limbo between Woodbury and what lays ahead, Lilly Caul continues to look back, hoping to return to the overrun town they called home. However, in their way is a horde of biters as well as the cunning Reverend Jeremiah, who is hell bent on revenge.

Invasion features a number of characters that all play a big part in the story. We get the growth of our leader Lilly, and in fitting The Walking Dead fashion we get the loss of a beloved character, making the impact on this story hit harder than expected. What lays ahead is anyone’s guess, I just know Lilly has had it with the Reverend and she shows it.

The Walking Dead: Invasion is brutal, emotional, and unforgiving as is most of these stories. Jay Bonansinga takes Robert Kirkman’s world and crafts a tale that lives up to the original material while also expanding into places unknown.

The Walking Dead: Invasion is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy

I know I said it with The Walking Dead: Invasion, but we are truly past the reign of The Governor in the series with The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy. Even more than before. This is where the story shift complete focus to the group lead by Lilly Caul and Jay Bonansinga takes the tale in a direction that caught me by surprise.

What could possibly go wrong?

For one brief moment, it seems Lilly and her plague-weary band of survivors might just engineer a better tomorrow. Banding together with other small town settlements, they begin a massive project to refurbish the railroad between Woodbury and Atlanta. The safer travel will begin a new post-apocalyptic era of trade, progress, and democracy.

Little do they know, however, that trouble is brewing back home …

Out of nowhere, a brutal new faction has attacked Woodbury while Lilly and the others have been off repairing the railroad. Now the barricades are burning. Adults have been murdered, children kidnapped. But why? Why subject innocent survivors to such a random, unprovoked assault?

Lilly Caul and her ragtag posse of rescuers will soon discover the chilling answers to these questions and more as they launch a desperate mission to save the kidnapped children. But along the way, the dark odyssey will take them into a nightmarish series of traps and hellish encounters with incomprehensible swarms of undead.

And as always, in the world of The Walking Dead, the walkers will prove to be the least of Lilly’s problems. It’s what the human adversaries have in store for her that will provide Lilly’s greatest challenge yet.

The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy reminded me that there is so much more to the world of The Walking Dead beyond what we all read in the comics, the television show, or even the video games. While the focus to get people to read these stories originally was the connection to the main storyline by using The Governor and with a small crossover featuring Rick’s group, we are now fully intrenched in a story that has nothing to do with that group, but still lays squarely in the same universe.

Bonansinga crafts a story with Search and Destroy where he reminds us that walkers are the biggest villain in these stories and that honest, hardworking, and real people will outlive those horrible people who have led these awful groups, even if there are still a few of these groups lingering around.

Search and Destroy introduces a new type of villain, one where they are doing horrible things in the name of what they believe is right. Unlike most other groups we have encountered in any of the different medium of story, where they are really bad people in roles of leadership either outright known or hiding their true nature. This story features a group doing something we all thought was in the past after most of the world collapsed, but are they going about it the right way and is there more to the story?

Bonansinga pushes Lilly Caul to her limits and even beyond in this book. She has already been through the wringer over the first six books and before, but now she is on the brink and yet again survives the day. It’s proof that Caul is such an amazing crafted character and one that gives these novels even more ground to stand on.

The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy proves that this series of novels has evolved far beyond being just a companion to the comics or television show. Jay Bonansinga delivers an intense and emotionally driven story that pushes Lilly Caul to her absolute breaking point while expanding the universe we have all come to know so well. Search and Destroy is a brutal reminder that The Walking Dead still has plenty of terrifying stories to be told.

The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The Walking Dead: Return to Woodbury

A bittersweet moment in The Walking Dead universe for me, the final novel in the Jay Bonansinga written series of novels is here with The Walking Dead: Return to Woodbury. It all boils down to this, a fitting ending to the novel series.

To risk everything…

She has weathered over four years of the apocalypse. She has done things that she would not have dreamt of doing in her darkest nightmares. But she has survived. And now, she has staked a claim in the plague-ravaged city of Atlanta. It is a safe haven for her people, rising high above the walker-ridden streets, a place of warmth and comfort.

But for Lilly Caul, something is missing…

She still dreams of her former home―the quaint little village known as Woodbury―a place of heartache as well as hope. For Lilly, Woodbury, Georgia, has become a symbol of the future, of family, of a return to normal life amidst this hell on earth. The call is so powerful that Lilly decides to risk everything in order to go back… to reclaim that little oasis in the wilderness.

Against all odds, against the wishes of her people, Lilly leads a ragtag group of true believers back across the impossible landscape of walker swarms, flooded rivers, psychotic bands of murderers, and dangers the likes of which she has never known. Along the way, she discovers a disturbing truth about herself. She is willing to go to the darkest place in order to survive, in order to save her people, in order to do the one thing she knows she has to do: Return to Woodbury.

What is crazy about these eight novels is that I never really understood if they were about The Governor’s reign, Lilly Caul, or the physical town of Woodbury. These all started off with The Governor, his rise and fall, but later was focused on Lilly’s growth in leadership, but after it was all said and done, it was always about returning to Woodbury. A place with so many memories after the fall, both good and absolutely horrendous.

In the end, it really is about how Lilly Caul became such a fantastic heroine, one that would stand up to the quality of the comics or even the television show. She only appeared in a few comics and was combined with April Chalmers in the tv show to create Lilly Chambler. This allowed her to shine in the novel series and we are happy for that.

Like the previous novel, Return to Woodbury pushes Lilly to her limits and causes her to end up in some pretty precarious positions. Her grit and determination rules out in the end, but like Walking Dead fashion others around her may not be as lucky.

Even if the first half of these stories are the better part, it’s the fact that I was able to live in The Walking Dead Universe for this long and enjoyed every moment of it. Bonansinga isn’t crafting award-winning, game-changing stories here, but ones that further the lore of the universe as well as keep us at the edge of our seats throughout.

The Walking Dead: Return to Woodbury feels like saying goodbye to an old group of friends you’ve traveled beside for years. While this is an expansion on Robert Kirkman’s original series, Jay Bonansinga succeeds in delivering a satisfying finale to the series and at the place that meant so much to us all.

The Walking Dead: Return to Woodbury is available at bookstores everywhere. The audiobook, narrated by Fred Berman, is available via Libro.fm!

The post The Walking Dead Novels: A Brutal Expansion of Kirkman’s World appeared first on Capes and Tights.