This book begins with the same action that starts Volume Eight of The Walking Dead.  Its plot ends shortly after the final moments of that same volume.  I feel as though Jay Bonansinga had an unenviable and maybe impossible task in these books:  writing Lilly Caul's story in a way that allows the reader to understand her choice to support the Governor.  As I mention in my review of part one, I found her about-face not entirely plausible.  Similarly, in this book, she seems to take massive doses of the Governor's Kool-Aid, even when she realizes he is telling lies during his saber-rattling speech to the Woodbury residents.  After the big show-down scenes at the prison (you know what happens if you've read the comics in question), it is hard for me to care what happens to her afterward.

Nonetheless, I'm still planning to read the next (and I think last) installment of this series, Descent (already checked out from the library).  It's interesting to witness these other perspectives even when I'm yelling in my head "You have to know he's a lying psychopath!  Stop him!"

I am planning to write a separate post called "The Gubernatorial Retcon,"* which will touch on plot points from this entire series through the current book.  If you've read these, you probably know what I'm thinking of as a retcon.

*Update:  I have written that post.

The final installment in the compendium was completely shocking for me. Way more shocking than this same time period in the show. I have to say that I absolutely love that the comics are so different from the show, because then both have the ability to surprise me.

There are several major character deaths in this installment. I personally feel that one of them was long overdue, but I'm going to miss some of the others.

While I am looking forward to reading the second compendium, it will be nice to read something a bit more warm and fuzzy now that I've finished this one.

Day 23: A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven't.

So, aside from pretty much my entire TBR applying to this prompt, I'd have to say:

The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared - Alice Ozma 

I've wanted to read this forever, it sounds adorable, and haven't gotten my hands on it. It's still so expensive!

Day 24: A book you wish more people would have read.

In the Bleak Midwinter (A Rev. Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery) - Julia Spencer-Fleming 

I really want more people to read this series because I love it so much and I want more people to talk to about it! Read it, people!

Day 25: A character you can relate to the most.

This one is hard as I can't remember all the times I identified with a character. So I'll go with the most recent.

HDU - India Lee 

Amanda at the beginning of this book is living close enough to what is my life I wondered if India Lee was tapping my Macbook Pro camera. Of course when the great things start happening we're not on the same level anymore, but I still got some of her feelings. Where she ends up near the end of the second book is very much like my life as well. I couldn't identify with her as much in the second book because she made me so ragey, but that one part I truly knew what she was going through.

Day 26: A book that changed your opinion about something.

I really can't come up with anything for this now. I've been racking my brain but nothing is coming. I'll make a new post for it later if I do think of something. =/

Day 27: The most surprising plot twist or ending.

All Mortal Flesh: A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery (Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) - Julia Spencer-Fleming 

I can't really say much about this without giving too much away. But the beginning wasn't expected, then it turns out the central mystery isn't as it seems. And then the end . . .  A lot happens in this book!

The Walking Dead, Vol. 8: Made to Suffer - Robert Kirkman 

I just could not expect that to happen. Even though when you get right down to it it makes sense. It takes a bit of courage to write something that fucked up.