Sojourn: The Beastlands

Rayn Mirago Saga #3

by B.D. Messick

With help from their new allies “The Gracelanders”, Rayn and Luk prepare to take on the most daunting part of their Sojourn; the journey into the heart of the Beastlands, a landscape of nightmares, both flora and fauna. Abominations created by chemical and biological warfare before the Great Collapse, roam the twisted jungle seeking out those foolish enough to venture inside.

As they look eastward across the Mississippi River toward the Beastlands, Rayn still carries the guilt for Amelia’s death deep within her heart; a growing storm of rage and hate, that threatens to consume her. She must overcome the darkness or risk losing everyone she loves.

333 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2016

About the author

I live in the Pittsburgh area, enduring the seemingly endless winters, and the sometimes brutally hot summers.

If I'm not writing...which is almost never, I love hiking and movies.

Best Place to Read and Write: The Park

Favorite Movie: Avatar (When I saw that movie the first time, it lit something inside me and I came home and started seriously writing for the first time.)

Reviews

[Kalli Kounavong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooo I just stayed up all night reading this book. I couldn't put it down. And then I immediately went on amazon and tried to purchase the 4th only to discover...it's not out yet!!!!!! NOOO!!! And now I have to wait for it to be released!!! In this book, Rayn and Luk have been joined on their journey by two others, Alee and Trace. They have met some interesting people who have helped them along the way, and they are also being hunted down by a group of sadistic cannibals hell-bent on capturing them. Between all this, they have to avoid the dangers that exist in their current world since anything and everything is trying to kill them, from plants, animals, and weather. All the while, they must keep their supplies stocked, and get in-doors somehow before dark. Things are looking very poorly for our band of heroes. I am DYING to know what happens!!! Suffice it to say, this author will be added to my favorite authors list!!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I'm impressed by this series.

After reading book 1 and 2 in this series, I wanted to wait for the series to be complete before picking up the last two books. In the meantime, of course, I forgot what was going on. I'm useless like that. But when I picked this up and started reading, it was like meeting up with an old friend. By the second chapter, I was back in the zone and enjoying every minute.

I can't seem to put these books down. I pick one up, and just as quickly, I'm done. It's not that they're particularly short or anything, I'm just having so much fun I can't stop.

The writing is simple, and the adventure flows smoothly from one scene to the next. There's plenty of action, plenty of violence, and plenty of romance. Luk is an angel.

The characters are wonderfully realistic, both in the party and out. There's lots of evil in this future world, but it's still full of surprisingly benevolent people too.

The worldbuilding is glorious. I feel thoroughly immersed when I'm reading and couldn't find anything to complain about. I'm just looking forward to getting to the end of the adventure now, so I can see how everything turns out.
Bring on the last book!

Please give this series a go. Start at the beginning, and I just know you'll keep reading until the end!
Enjoy!

[Daryl Moad]

I am giving this as a Christmas gift this year.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a dystopian world somewhere in the future, Rayn and Luk continue their journey on foot to reach the Enclave at Atlanta. Crossing the Beastlands is bad where mutant cannibals hunt them by night and plants try to cover them with growth while injecting poisons. Worst of all, they don't know if Atlanta still even exists. The southern cities they travel through are gone with only abandoned buildings falling down, engulfed by plants, and abandoned cars rusting on cracked and twisted roads. They are joined by two younger kids- Alee and Travis. I liked the mention of specific places but I think there should have been just a little more dangerous situations.

This is book #3 and I will be reading #4, since I want to know if they ever reach the sanctuary of Atlanta.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I jumped into this book without reading the first two books in the series. That being said I really enjoyed the plot. Rayn and Luk are trying to get to Atlanta while travelling through what is known as the Beastlands. In this Dystopian world they can't trust anyone or anything. What seems like a simple plant could kill them in just moments. They must learn to work together, even how to reconcile after Rayn leaves. I received a copy of the book.