Title: A Labyrinth of Voices: A Chronicle of Seduction and Madness
Author: Rick Ryan
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-7960-6158-1
Pages: 200
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Tara Mcnabb

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The depths of madness and the struggle to overcome it is the focus of this dark and hard-hitting novel by author Rick Ryan titled A Labyrinth of Voices: A Chronicle of Seduction and Madness.

The setting is Los Angeles during the years of 1979 to 1980, a period rife with crime, drugs, and corruption. For one man struggling to keep himself afloat, the temptation to fall into a web of depression and self-loathing proves hard to resist. Despite his attempts at living a normal life, he often finds himself feeling lost, confused, and hopeless. Perhaps worst of all, he must constantly battle the voices in his head which seem to be hell-bent on ruining his life, once and for all. So, when the opportunity arises to attend a life coaching conference, he forces himself to go. But even the enthusiastic and positive energy of the conference doesn’t seem to help, so he retreats once again into a deep melancholy. What will it take to turn his life around, and how can he find it? As he endeavors to find the answers, he slowly begins to realize that real healing comes from within, and not the other way around.

Even though the story is built on some rather dreary subjects, the grim reality of living with mental illness is portrayed in a realistic way that never feels pretentious. Anyone who struggles with depression, anxiety, and paranoia will appreciate the accurate portrayal of these issues and how hard it can be to overcome it. While there is, of course, a wide spectrum of severity when it comes to mental illness, every level requires courage and persistence, and those qualities are illuminated in this book. Although the main character at times feels helpless against the onslaught of negative thinking, he nevertheless finds the strength within himself to carry on. This heroic act is a message to readers everywhere that hope is always there, just waiting for us to notice it.

A Labyrinth of Voices is written in the first person, giving it an intimate feel as if reading someone’s diary. This results in a deeper understanding of the character’s innermost thoughts and feelings, especially during times of extreme happiness or despair: “For the first time, I believed my better angels were watching over me. I would survive no matter what course my life took.” This ultimate transformation becomes the catalyst for a new way of viewing himself and his place in the world. In the end, it’s an inspiring story of one man’s journey from being a victim of his own inner demons to a hero and beacon of hope, reminding us all that suffering doesn’t have to be permanent.