The Journey

No Matter How Far You Run, Your Demons Always Follow

Fiction - Literary
270 Pages
Reviewed on 08/22/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

MARK T. RASMUSSEN is an Australian author born by the sea, cultivated in the city, formed via the world. Previously a professional journalist and editor, Mark now writes evocative, thought provoking subject matter for his adult novels and screenplays, and fun, captivating, thoughtful books for children. An avid adventurer, he currently lives in a remote Mexican seaside-jungle village with his beautiful & brilliant, author wife, and youngest son, finding it an idyllic piece of paradise to read, write, and love. For more info visit: MarkTRasmussen.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Amy Louise Hill for Readers' Favorite

The Journey: No Matter How Far You Run, Your Demons Always Follow by Mark T. Rasmussen is a story for adults. One morning, a forty-something-year-old man called Raiden sits in his home considering a decision he's about to make. Raiden battles many demons and has decided to leave his pregnant girlfriend, as well as his town. Of course, he feels bad about what he's about to do, but can't help believing it's the best option for himself, his girlfriend, and his unborn child. He heads out the door, not knowing what the future has in store for him. Raiden has a plan for his journey and it all begins with hitch-hiking out of Toronto and making his way to Mexico. Will Raiden be able to escape his demons and will there be any repercussions from the decision he made?

The Journey was an interesting read. The front cover is what attracted my attention to the book and I wasn't disappointed with what it had waiting for me inside. Mark T. Rasmussen has a talent for pulling the reader in from the very first page. As soon as I began reading, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I enjoyed reading about the journey the main character embarked on, and what he stumbled across along the way. The writing itself is professional and flawless, it flowed smoothly and satisfied my need for adventure. Congrats on the book, I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

K.C. Finn

The Journey: No Matter How Far You Run, Your Demons Always Follow is a work of fiction in the literary drama subgenre. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience owing to some instances of explicit language and sexual violence and was penned by Mark T. Rasmussen. In this tense and dramatic character-led tale, we follow the turmoil of Raiden, who finds himself facing a major crisis of self during his forties. As Raiden undertakes an epic road trip to do some serious soul-searching, a series of shocking events force him to face up to the truth: he’s soon to be a father, no matter where he runs.

Literary dramas usually rely solely on the central character as to whether you truly click with them or not, and not all readers will find protagonist Raiden endearing from the start. For those who stay the course in this dark, intense, and deeply interesting novel, Mark T. Rasmussen rewards readers with a fascinating tale of transformation that sees Raiden move from being a lost soul running from all the pressures and responsibilities of life to an individual forever changed by the people he meets during his crisis-fuelled times. Aptly titled, The Journey is a work that seeks to ask those deep questions about ourselves that we may fear and holds up a mirror to both the darker aspects of life and the joy that is still to be found - if we know how. It was an excellently penned and emotionally accomplished novel that I enjoyed a lot.

Rabia Tanveer

The Journey: No Matter How Far You Run, Your Demons Always Follow by Mark T. Rasmussen is the story of a man on a journey to find himself. Raiden was scared. Not ready for the big change that being a father would bring into his life, he took one last sip of a bitter tea, packed his bags, and left his home in search of something he didn’t even know. Raiden had one aim in mind; to get away from Toronto and get to Mexico where he could restart his life. However, he had no idea that this adventure was exactly what he needed to find himself and rebuild his life from the ground up. As Raiden meets new people along the way and experiences life-changing events, he gets to truly understand what it means to live and how you can never outrun your demons. They always find you wherever you are; you just have to man up and face them head-on.

I was not expecting to enjoy this novel as much as I did. Once I started reading, I just couldn’t put it down. Raiden’s character is relatable. I could find little pieces of myself in him as he struggled to understand why some changes can push you to the edge of your tolerance. Despite being overwhelmed at times, Raiden is a solid character that readers can form a bond with. I usually have a hard time enjoying novels written in first-person narrative, but this novel was fun from the beginning. Mark T. Rasmussen did a great job of conveying Raiden’s emotions purely and evocatively in The Journey. It made Raiden more human and relatable. The ending was wholesome and not predictable at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it!