What do you think?
Rate this book
ravaged souls
- GenresLove
330 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2019
9 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 25, 2019
About the book
The story that follows lives of young and successful friends who are very protective of each other. Caring and embrace their diversities. They drank together, laughed together, cried together and supported each other in everything they did. The brotherhood is live in this group.
A story that deals with your emotions in all levels, from all directions. While you think you are happy for your favourite couple something comes or revealed that will wipe that smile off your face.
When Lubabalo, a pastor’s son decided to come out of the closet he is met with all sorts of reactions. Some are angry, some are very supportive and understanding, some are confused but the most crucial one is the one that is caught by his beliefs and judgements and it becomes so difficult to adapt and accept when it is happening in his doorstep.
The confusion and indecisiveness of Luba almost costs him his love. The drama that his partner Ryan has does not make it easy for him as he has been out of the closet years ago and has tasted its fruits and is not prepared to go back in the closet again. So, Luba has to decide, is it going to be his gorgeous partner with Blue eyes or is it going to be family.
Follow their drama, their love, the passion they have for each other, their weaknesses, their health condition as they deal with your emotions up and down.
Vuyo and Luxolo- childhood sweethearts. Married with a son Uvi. In the book you feel their connection and their love. They are a very close and loving couple until tragedy strikes in their home. An accident that no parent would wish to see. The author takes you through their pain and there is no way you will not feel likeyou are in the scene. It is heart breaking, even the strong ones will have glittering eyes in this scene. It deals with your emotions terribly. But as they say life happens, and life goes on. With support of family and friends they had to stand again and move on.
There are lot of relationships that are formed in this group and there are a lot of secrets that are revealed that tear families apart.
The themes covered in the book include, homophobia, deception, marriage, death, family secrets, sexual exploration, cheating, divorce, racism, depression, anxiety, cross-cultural relationships and many more.
As I am not a fan of lot of sexual scenes- ask me if I ever jumped Luba and Ryan’s scenes, I will tell no lies. Maybe it’s curiosity but whenever they had those sessions, I read them, and I read them slowly with understanding and imagination. Mind blowing, I tell you. So nje 21SN
Thank you Pumza for this page turner. Even ravaged souls deserve love. When the heart wants what it wants, even the mind cannot win. Where there is love there is a way-a story of determination, a story of hope and a story that shows power of love. As we wait for book 3 and hear what Sanda has in-store for us. What will Vuyo and Luba be like? Will we finally attend that wedding in the Caribbean?
The story that follows lives of young and successful friends who are very protective of each other. Caring and embrace their diversities. They drank together, laughed together, cried together and supported each other in everything they did. The brotherhood is live in this group.
A story that deals with your emotions in all levels, from all directions. While you think you are happy for your favourite couple something comes or revealed that will wipe that smile off your face.
When Lubabalo, a pastor’s son decided to come out of the closet he is met with all sorts of reactions. Some are angry, some are very supportive and understanding, some are confused but the most crucial one is the one that is caught by his beliefs and judgements and it becomes so difficult to adapt and accept when it is happening in his doorstep.
The confusion and indecisiveness of Luba almost costs him his love. The drama that his partner Ryan has does not make it easy for him as he has been out of the closet years ago and has tasted its fruits and is not prepared to go back in the closet again. So, Luba has to decide, is it going to be his gorgeous partner with Blue eyes or is it going to be family.
Follow their drama, their love, the passion they have for each other, their weaknesses, their health condition as they deal with your emotions up and down.
Vuyo and Luxolo- childhood sweethearts. Married with a son Uvi. In the book you feel their connection and their love. They are a very close and loving couple until tragedy strikes in their home. An accident that no parent would wish to see. The author takes you through their pain and there is no way you will not feel likeyou are in the scene. It is heart breaking, even the strong ones will have glittering eyes in this scene. It deals with your emotions terribly. But as they say life happens, and life goes on. With support of family and friends they had to stand again and move on.
There are lot of relationships that are formed in this group and there are a lot of secrets that are revealed that tear families apart.
The themes covered in the book include, homophobia, deception, marriage, death, family secrets, sexual exploration, cheating, divorce, racism, depression, anxiety, cross-cultural relationships and many more.
As I am not a fan of lot of sexual scenes- ask me if I ever jumped Luba and Ryan’s scenes, I will tell no lies. Maybe it’s curiosity but whenever they had those sessions, I read them, and I read them slowly with understanding and imagination. Mind blowing, I tell you. So nje 21SN
Thank you Pumza for this page turner. Even ravaged souls deserve love. When the heart wants what it wants, even the mind cannot win. Where there is love there is a way-a story of determination, a story of hope and a story that shows power of love. As we wait for book 3 and hear what Sanda has in-store for us. What will Vuyo and Luba be like? Will we finally attend that wedding in the Caribbean?
September 13, 2019
This book had so much emotions involved thought would finish it in a day like i did with The Unspoken Truth by iiii i failed to much was being involked i felt bare and raw on so many occassions had to close and take a breather🙌🏾🙌🏾.
Lubah and Blue's love story and the ups and downs involved lets you question and think abt these major areas that touches us every single day:sexuality, religion, family, loyalty it was just too much to deal with but i learnt alot as well even about myself
Vuyo and Lux going thru that loss i actually cried😭😭😭😭(i have a 6month old baby) so could actually relate on how i would feel on losing him and their marriage getting tested it was too raw pliz, how do you move from that🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
Overally, it was a great story unpredictable at all and enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of it but the ending tho🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️
Cant wait for the next book🤸🏾♂️📖
Lubah and Blue's love story and the ups and downs involved lets you question and think abt these major areas that touches us every single day:sexuality, religion, family, loyalty it was just too much to deal with but i learnt alot as well even about myself
Vuyo and Lux going thru that loss i actually cried😭😭😭😭(i have a 6month old baby) so could actually relate on how i would feel on losing him and their marriage getting tested it was too raw pliz, how do you move from that🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
Overally, it was a great story unpredictable at all and enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of it but the ending tho🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️
Cant wait for the next book🤸🏾♂️📖
November 16, 2020
From the first page till the last you are captivated and taken with all the characters you feel like you are one with them. Ry and Lu have a love soo strong but with their families against them and their love it is soo difficult for them to be completely happy and content but they are push through and their happiness is all that matters especially with the support they have from their friends who they now consider family.
What an ending Gosh!!!?
What an ending Gosh!!!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2020
This is an emotional roller coaster... Reading this book is emotional extreme sports. I couldnt finish this book in 2 days like Unspoken truth. I kept putting it down to give myself a break. Lubabalo's father is a hypocrite who puts his church before his kids forcing Luba to live a lie. The abuse Ryan went through is another issue. And I thought Luxolo is wise but he
is still a man letting a naked body control him. And Vuyo's self pity got a bit too much #rollseyes
is still a man letting a naked body control him. And Vuyo's self pity got a bit too much #rollseyes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2019
Listen here this book is litreally going into the most uncomfortable issues people deal with on a daily but lets you walk the journey with these people.
The rawness of the emotions in this book. You feel everything from the side jokes, the sexual heat, the anger, the pain, the love... everything litreally.
But im in love. The love journey between Lubah and Blue is probably what most go through as part of the LGBTQ but it also highlights normal challenges in a relationship.
As for Vuyo and Lux... sheesh its something else. Its a whole different level of emotions between a married couple. Marriage tests arent only about faithfulness and whether one is cheating or not, its stretched beyond that and my goodness... the foundation has to be strong.
Read the book and go through this pool of emotions.
The rawness of the emotions in this book. You feel everything from the side jokes, the sexual heat, the anger, the pain, the love... everything litreally.
But im in love. The love journey between Lubah and Blue is probably what most go through as part of the LGBTQ but it also highlights normal challenges in a relationship.
As for Vuyo and Lux... sheesh its something else. Its a whole different level of emotions between a married couple. Marriage tests arent only about faithfulness and whether one is cheating or not, its stretched beyond that and my goodness... the foundation has to be strong.
Read the book and go through this pool of emotions.
September 21, 2019
A very good read from Pumza. The journey Lubabalo and Ryan is very captivating. The love they share reminds me of my ultimate favourite couple, Bongs and Gco. Lubs father and family represents a lot of families in how they deny their children because of unpopular choices they make. Pumza effortlessly makes you feel his pain and love he has for Ryan. Once you start reading a Pumza book, you will not want to put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
Pumza Shabangu has come back again with another thought provoking book following a group of friends who are more than friends actually.
This book right here, wheeeew, knowing Pumza, I knew there will be eye popping moments however nothing prepared me for the tears I cried in this book. I think I'm still crying.
This story is about acceptance, faith, survival after all hope is gone. When Luba found true love, after being a no strings attached kind of guy, he didn't see it coming, cupid short his arrow his way he couldn't avoid it. However it wouldn't come as easily being the preacher's son and all, having certain norms and beliefs he had to abide to, he had to choose between love and family. Boy oh boy, that was not as easy as he thought it would be. Then came the biggest tragedy that shook the whole group of friends and they had to pull together in order to survive the guilt, the pain, the betrayal and dishonesty.. I mean how to go on when you have lost someone so precious, a true miracle?
As much as they had a close knit kind of family, each had his/her own demons that they were dealing with. Which resulted in the biggest cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, which left me with so many unanswered questions and needing more.
This book right here, wheeeew, knowing Pumza, I knew there will be eye popping moments however nothing prepared me for the tears I cried in this book. I think I'm still crying.
This story is about acceptance, faith, survival after all hope is gone. When Luba found true love, after being a no strings attached kind of guy, he didn't see it coming, cupid short his arrow his way he couldn't avoid it. However it wouldn't come as easily being the preacher's son and all, having certain norms and beliefs he had to abide to, he had to choose between love and family. Boy oh boy, that was not as easy as he thought it would be. Then came the biggest tragedy that shook the whole group of friends and they had to pull together in order to survive the guilt, the pain, the betrayal and dishonesty.. I mean how to go on when you have lost someone so precious, a true miracle?
As much as they had a close knit kind of family, each had his/her own demons that they were dealing with. Which resulted in the biggest cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, which left me with so many unanswered questions and needing more.
December 29, 2024
Ryan and Lubabalo’s relationship felt unoriginal and predictable, which made it rather dull for me. The dynamic between the openly gay man and the deeply closeted, straight-presenting man is overdone at this point. I’m also not a fan of LGBTQ+ relationships in stories being dominated by struggles and drama. While I appreciate narratives that reflect reality, this depiction didn’t resonate with me in this instance.
Gcobani was aggressive, irritating, and overly involved in Ryan’s relationship—behavior that clashed with the character presented in his own storyline. Let the man live his life; Ryan is an adult. Speaking of Ryan, while I empathized with his trauma and mental health struggles, the university drama became tiresome.
Another aspect that felt forced was the overly convenient connections between characters. For instance, Nosipho’s connection to Ryan’s dad felt completely random. It added little to the narrative and seemed contrived.
If I missed certain details, it’s because I intentionally skipped several pages. I ultimately chose to DNF at 80%. That said, I did find Luxolo and Vuyolwethu’s story more engaging, though I don’t have much to say about them.
This book had potential, but its execution left much to be desired.
Gcobani was aggressive, irritating, and overly involved in Ryan’s relationship—behavior that clashed with the character presented in his own storyline. Let the man live his life; Ryan is an adult. Speaking of Ryan, while I empathized with his trauma and mental health struggles, the university drama became tiresome.
Another aspect that felt forced was the overly convenient connections between characters. For instance, Nosipho’s connection to Ryan’s dad felt completely random. It added little to the narrative and seemed contrived.
If I missed certain details, it’s because I intentionally skipped several pages. I ultimately chose to DNF at 80%. That said, I did find Luxolo and Vuyolwethu’s story more engaging, though I don’t have much to say about them.
This book had potential, but its execution left much to be desired.
November 17, 2020
I loved how detailed this book was on each of the characters journeys. This second book by Pumza is by far my favorite, particularly because of how she touched on the different themes such as loss, grief, sexuality, family dynamics, friendship and love which were interconnected. In this book, we are introduced to how families may affect how their children deal with their personal issues, especially sexuality. Unlike in the first book where Bongani and Gcobani's family were much more receptive of who they are, in this one we learn of how our social and family conditions can influence the decisions we make. Pumza writes in such a way that makes you feel every emotion that her characters go through. She touches on loss and grief in different aspects. The loss of losing a loved one by death but also the loss of losing your family because of your sexuality. Ultimately, this family of friends is bound by the one thing they have always had and fought for each other, love.
January 10, 2021
Brilliant book, thought provoking and challenging. There are a number of areas where I wanted things to go my way ... but went a way I hadn’t thought of instead ... quiet a revelation of what we think we might know but don’t ... entertaining and educational. It says a lot of our insecurities that inform our unwelcome judgements...
The detail in the intimate encounters L & V, R & L, N & L ... beautifully done ... more of the scene setting and detailing please in the next one ... staff of poetry that.
There are areas where I thought there’s a lot if not too much going on ... the level of fertility is unparalleled I had to slow down ... hopefully it’s a set up for a sequel that brings it all together ... I wonder how and who will negotiate on L’s behalf ... is the next story about V & L ... or L & R or The billionaire and L’s mother ... what will N & L be up to ... the children’s and the parents ... I wonder?
I first gave it a 4 then 3 ... honestly It’s a 5... well done.
The detail in the intimate encounters L & V, R & L, N & L ... beautifully done ... more of the scene setting and detailing please in the next one ... staff of poetry that.
There are areas where I thought there’s a lot if not too much going on ... the level of fertility is unparalleled I had to slow down ... hopefully it’s a set up for a sequel that brings it all together ... I wonder how and who will negotiate on L’s behalf ... is the next story about V & L ... or L & R or The billionaire and L’s mother ... what will N & L be up to ... the children’s and the parents ... I wonder?
I first gave it a 4 then 3 ... honestly It’s a 5... well done.
November 22, 2020
Beautifully written, a love story that will have you experiencing multiple emotions at once. the love between Ryan and Lubabalo is wonderfully crafted. The book was an eye-opener to issues of coming out from the closet the catastrophic events, even worse the prison and cage secrets do and how hard it is to bear all. The love between Luxolo and Vuyo is something inspiring of friendship turning to love, forgiveness, and weathering the storm together.
Pumza as always delivered even for unevolved creatures as I, the book I could not put down till the end.
Pumza as always delivered even for unevolved creatures as I, the book I could not put down till the end.
September 14, 2025
Pumza introduces us into lives of different people that we get to see and journey with them from Pain to joy,heartbreaks,mental health then laughter and tears that's what this book is all about...
I still want to know what happened to the babies at the party
Grab Your copy and enjoy this and a quick one though The sex escapades in this book are to just Wish I had this 🤭👌
I still want to know what happened to the babies at the party
Grab Your copy and enjoy this and a quick one though The sex escapades in this book are to just Wish I had this 🤭👌
November 16, 2020
What happened between Luh and Ryan shows that true love will always prevails no matter what. As for Vuyo and Lux it shows that a love that has never been tested you'll never know how strong it is. Their love was tested and at the end it showed that what they have is genuine.
November 20, 2020
This book had so much emotions involved...everyone went through so much but what touched me was the love and support that resonated around everyone it was refreshing. The love and soild friendships that were created absolutely beautiful. ❤️❤️
November 16, 2020
It was a good read
January 4, 2021
A beautiful well written book about Love, loss and friendship. A book that makes us realize that sometimes blood doesn't make you family but loyalty to the people who always have your back.
January 23, 2022
Wouldn’t recommend
March 7, 2024
RAVAGED SOULS. The book title is indeed fitting as the story takes us through the lives of four individuals who are broken, in their own ways, some aware and some oblivious. Took me through an emotional rollercoaster along with the characters. The author articulated the story so beautifully! The style in which she wrote about gay love completely blew my mind. All misconceptions and previous reservations I had about reading a gay love story were thrown out the window. In fact, Ryan and Lubabalo's love and journeys were my favorite parts in the book.
Rating it 4 stars because felt like there wasn't much of a story around Vuyo and Luxolo's love, and not much character development. I assume the author didn't want to make the book unnecessarily thick, but it would've been nice to see more from them.
Otherwise, if you're looking for a read with themes such as homosexuality and Christianity, toxic family dynamics, marriage, friendship, love - then this is your read. Very intriguing. You will not be able to put it down!
Rating it 4 stars because felt like there wasn't much of a story around Vuyo and Luxolo's love, and not much character development. I assume the author didn't want to make the book unnecessarily thick, but it would've been nice to see more from them.
Otherwise, if you're looking for a read with themes such as homosexuality and Christianity, toxic family dynamics, marriage, friendship, love - then this is your read. Very intriguing. You will not be able to put it down!
September 21, 2019
I love the book 😍
September 21, 2019
From the very first page to the very last it's captivating. It will take you on a roller coaster of emotions making you wish for something you've never had.
October 12, 2019
Wait!!!!!!! The ending!!!!! What a cliffhanger. I literally can't wait for the next book... The wait is going to be torture 😭😭 Absolutely Amazing!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews