Being a fan of The Walking Dead and a fan of Norman Reedus, I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to listen to the audio of his debut, especially since it is read by the author himself. And who wouldn't want to listen to that voice?

Norman Reedus - The Official Website : Actor : Producer Norman Reedus - The Official Website : Actor : Producer

Three woman who join together to rent a large space along the beach in Los Angeles for their stores—a gift shop, a bakery, and a bookstore—become fast friends as they each experience the highs, and lows, of love. After thrashing his dog-abusing boss, Hunter learns of his father’s death in a mysterious fire. Biker buddies Nugget and Itch ride with him from North Carolina to California. Stories from his father’s life help ease the struggles of small-town Americans. Hunter discovers a secret past.This is a gritty novel about three people on a ques/journey. A journey where they learn about themselves, their family, their definition of family and their search for what is important in life. Life is harsh and is many things in this book which gives it a very real feel. THE RAVAGED tells us three different stories each of which featuring a character that must go on a journey. In each story, the principal characters are propelled into action as part of that journey --- either running towards something or away from something. What I enjoyed is that the way Reedus and Bill have gone about creating each of these characters veers away from being stereotypical, which I hope will surprise most readers who are drawn to this work, and that is what keeps the trio of tales fresh and interesting. This story had so much potential and I’m so sad it didn’t live up to it. The Ravaged is heavily character driven with little plot and almost no point. If the book had started where it ended I feel like it would’ve been so much better!

The Ravaged by Norman Reedus | Goodreads

DNF After one chapter which included a section of step by step instructions on how to sharpen a mower blade, and this lovely turn of phrase, “he wraps an arm around her waist and squeezes an ass as firm as a helium-filled balloon.”All and all this is a solid debut novel. It’s written in a gritty and engaging style. All three characters have stories that have ups and downs and left me wanting to know more about them. This is actually where it lose some points for me as the ending left me needing more, and i do not believe this is intended to be the start of a series, at least not that i’ve seen. That may be part of the point though because life can leave us searching for more. Whew. Let me start this off by saying that maybe, just maybe, I may be a little biased. I adore Norman Reedus in general. I was so excited when I saw that his book was being released, but I took way too long to finally get around to reading this. Lol.

Norman Reedus | Goodreads The Ravaged by Norman Reedus | Goodreads

All three stories have open endings that leave us hopeful as the characters start to look towards everything they've ignored. There could be a sequel, but I don't think there should be as it is good to leave us with the possibilities we can imagine. One thing I didn't like was that I was quite concerned about the health of the relationship one of them got into, but I'm not entirely sure. It doesn't matter too much as it wasn't the main point of that ending, but it still bothered me a bit. A wild, gritty, propulsive work of fiction…You'll take the ride of your life with Reedus's fierce and unforgettable characters." The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus joins Cruelty Free International call for global ban on animal tests for cosmetics" (Press release). Cruelty Free International. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015 . Retrieved May 25, 2015. The story is littered with similes, constantly throwing them around, even when they didn't need to be. It made it difficult to focus on things, and stay in the story. This is a noteworthy accomplishment to be added to Reedus’ already long list. He is an actor, director, photographer, and entrepreneur and now adds author to that growing list. His fans support all of his endeavors, and his debut novel will undoubtedly follow suit.Heller, Corinne (December 24, 2018). "Norman Reedus Shares First Photo of His and Diane Kruger's Baby Girl". E! Online . Retrieved January 11, 2019. When you do television, you have this opportunity to drop these subtle hints everywhere. The way you say things for example, sometimes those seeds turn into trees. As a Walking Dead fan and Daryl Dixon fan, I was SO excited to read The Ravaged by Norman Reedus. But guys…. This book was just not for me!