First published 2012
The zombie outbreak tears through Atlanta's suburbs, leaving Lilly Caul fleeing from one makeshift camp to another. Walkers multiply around every corner while survivors grow desperate. Lilly finds what appears to be salvation when she reaches Woodbury, a fortified town where people trade work for meals and sleep under actual roofs. The community's leader, Philip Blake, maintains order and strengthens their defenses daily. Blake has started calling himself the Governor, and his methods of keeping citizens safe begin to disturb Lilly. She notices his approach to law and order crosses lines that make her question whether Woodbury truly offers the sanctuary she hoped to find. When Lilly joins other residents who share her concerns, their rebellion against the Governor's authority unleashes chaos that transforms their supposed refuge into something far more dangerous than the zombie-infested world outside.
Genres: dystopia, adventure, action, apocalyptic
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Atlanta, Woodbury
Period: Zombie Outbreak
277 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Dunne Books
Content warnings: gore, violence