What do you think?
Rate this book
The Volatile Memory Duology #2
Null Entity
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26In Null Entity, sequel to Seth Haddon’s bloody and sapphic Volatile Memory, Wylla and Sable take their revenge to the very corporation keeping the galaxy turning.
With her identity erased from the Corporate Federation, Wylla is a ghost in the untraceable, unpredictable, and fueled by vengeance. She fights alongside Sable, the AI consciousness whose murder they avenged, the one she loves in ways no system could ever define. Together, they’ve built a reputation for tearing through VisorForge’s carefully constructed lies.
But notoriety has a cost.
When one of their attacks draws the attention of the Edenic Order—a clandestine eco-resistance whose insurgents bloom with Old Earth flora—Wylla and Sable are offered something more than a chance to dismantle VisorForge from the roots up.
As they fall deeper into the Order’s radical vision, tensions rise. Wylla, seduced by ideology, by purpose, by something—or someone—else. Sable, pushed to her morals’ limits when what she’s wanted since death is at her fingertips.
To survive, they’ll need to embrace what makes them two minds, one body, and a shared resolve to bring down a corporatized dystopia—no matter the cost.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
With her identity erased from the Corporate Federation, Wylla is a ghost in the untraceable, unpredictable, and fueled by vengeance. She fights alongside Sable, the AI consciousness whose murder they avenged, the one she loves in ways no system could ever define. Together, they’ve built a reputation for tearing through VisorForge’s carefully constructed lies.
But notoriety has a cost.
When one of their attacks draws the attention of the Edenic Order—a clandestine eco-resistance whose insurgents bloom with Old Earth flora—Wylla and Sable are offered something more than a chance to dismantle VisorForge from the roots up.
As they fall deeper into the Order’s radical vision, tensions rise. Wylla, seduced by ideology, by purpose, by something—or someone—else. Sable, pushed to her morals’ limits when what she’s wanted since death is at her fingertips.
To survive, they’ll need to embrace what makes them two minds, one body, and a shared resolve to bring down a corporatized dystopia—no matter the cost.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
192 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Seth Haddon
7 books635 followersSeth Haddon is a queer Australian writer of fantasy. He is a video game designer and producer, has a degree in Ancient History, and previously worked with cats. Some of his previous adventures include exploring Pompeii with a famous archaeologist and being chased through a train station by a nun.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
💫Null Entity
This was a really solid conclusion to the Volatile Memory duology. I did struggle a bit in the beginning. The first 30% felt a little hard to follow and there was a lot being thrown at you all at once. But once things clicked, it came together well and I liked where everything landed.
I do wish we had more time in this world though. It felt like there was still so much to explore, and I honestly would have loved either a longer book or a full series to really flesh everything out.
I think this is one I’ll enjoy even more on audio, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the audiobook release.
🧬 What to Expect
• Sapphic sci fi
• AI consciousness
• Rebellion movement
• Hacker heroine
• Eco resistance
• Found family
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This was a really solid conclusion to the Volatile Memory duology. I did struggle a bit in the beginning. The first 30% felt a little hard to follow and there was a lot being thrown at you all at once. But once things clicked, it came together well and I liked where everything landed.
I do wish we had more time in this world though. It felt like there was still so much to explore, and I honestly would have loved either a longer book or a full series to really flesh everything out.
I think this is one I’ll enjoy even more on audio, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the audiobook release.
🧬 What to Expect
• Sapphic sci fi
• AI consciousness
• Rebellion movement
• Hacker heroine
• Eco resistance
• Found family
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 26, 2026
Null Entity brings The Volatile Memory Duology to a satisfying, explosive, and heartfelt conclusion. We join Wylla and Sable several years after the first book. They've built a reputation from their attacks on VisorForge, with everything from sabotage to exposing internal conspiracies. Haddon crafts a world that feels futuristic while tackling problems that are eerily close to home. You can expect thoughts on bodily autonomy, subjugation through intractable systems, and corporate greed.
Just like in Volatile Memory, the romance between Wylla and Sable gives us an emotional pull through the story. Null Entity is a sci-fi book with a romance element (rather than a romance book in a sci-fi setting), but the relationship between the two main characters is integral to the progress and setbacks of the plot. We also get more of a focus on Sable, which added some depth to her character beyond her interactions with Wylla.
Haddon also writes beautiful, evocative descriptions at the intersection of technology and organic elements, which is a recurring theme throughout the book. We get to see more of The Edenic Order, even if it's only a small glimpse. My only gripe with this book is the small amount of time we get to inhabit and understand the unique worldbuilding; there's more than two novellas' worth of stories here. The second-person narrative is growing on me, and it certainly creates a more intimate tone that's aligned with the story's proximity to the minds of the main characters.
Overall, I enjoyed Null Entity more than the first book, and I'd highly recommend the series for anyone interested in reading sci-fi with a focus on the trans experience and questions of autonomy in the face of growing corporate power and surveillance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Just like in Volatile Memory, the romance between Wylla and Sable gives us an emotional pull through the story. Null Entity is a sci-fi book with a romance element (rather than a romance book in a sci-fi setting), but the relationship between the two main characters is integral to the progress and setbacks of the plot. We also get more of a focus on Sable, which added some depth to her character beyond her interactions with Wylla.
Haddon also writes beautiful, evocative descriptions at the intersection of technology and organic elements, which is a recurring theme throughout the book. We get to see more of The Edenic Order, even if it's only a small glimpse. My only gripe with this book is the small amount of time we get to inhabit and understand the unique worldbuilding; there's more than two novellas' worth of stories here. The second-person narrative is growing on me, and it certainly creates a more intimate tone that's aligned with the story's proximity to the minds of the main characters.
Overall, I enjoyed Null Entity more than the first book, and I'd highly recommend the series for anyone interested in reading sci-fi with a focus on the trans experience and questions of autonomy in the face of growing corporate power and surveillance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 3, 2026
4.25⭐️
This was a stunning end to this duology.
We had expansive of the universe with The Edenic Order, a radical eco-resistance movement and further attempts to sabotage the mega corporation VisorForge. The allegory to current times was a little on the nose, but it works in the context of the story. I love a “was doing ALL THIS really worth it” moment.
The book switch to Sable’s POV was a little hard to get into, but once there, I was in. This has the most gorgeous turns of phrase. The way Sable was speaking about bodily autonomy in multiple contexts was everything. I was weeping at some parts.
This has what you want: female rage, vengeance, eco terrorism and sapphic romance with some body swapping happening. There was a lot going on in a tight 192 pages. I could’ve as always used more pages.
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
‘In the Corporate Federation ever asset meant leverage, every acquisition another seat on council.’
‘The scanners raise you with human, but you lacked as the nations. Erasing your GIRS record had made you a spectre, a null entity. That absence with its own alarm.’
‘And I could feel it, even before you said a word.
You wanted it.
We both did.’
“I want it,” you whispered, “but what if this is how we end up buried?”
“The Edenic Order…” The Order’s mark was a sapling, but this one had been ensnared in thorny roots. You worried it meant these people were different – not the Order you thought you knew.
But that was the issue. You didn’t really know them, that’s a nurtured idea. You, who once considered giving your flesh to their cause thought of them as monastic. Meditative. Religious in a way you respected.’
‘Revenge felt good, but not enough.’
‘This was meant to be you and me. Together. The two of us against the world.
What if it became something bigger?’
‘But you knew better. Systems don’t collapse so easily.’
‘I was alone in your body, and I hated that I loved it.’
‘If VisirForge could seize one world this way, they could seize many. Perhaps the Federation itself.’
“What is it? What did the Subsidiary do to me?”
I didn’t want to say it. I loved you. I hated that the truth had to come from me.
“It tagged you.”
‘Years ago, you might’ve chosen nothingness over the body you were given. During your time with me, something had shifted and now, with the clarity of a reckoning, you realized some distant, perfected version of your body no longer mattered. Not as much as what you had: your body, as you had made it. You had been clawing your way to joy, and only with this distance that you realize you’d already found it.’
‘I could hold you. You were there, I was here, and at last we occupied separate bodies. What they look like, didn’t matter. You had kissed me when I was nothing but code inside a mask.’
‘And despite this being a unique hell for you, I was selfish enough to love it.’
‘… and I kneeled before you, as if in worship, to beg your understanding.’
‘Logic was easy without flesh. But emotions – those volatile, and governable things – made my hand shake, made every breath an act of will.’
‘Your vengeance was bound to justice. Mine was blood hunger.’
‘They say the body remembers, but what of a consciousness torn from flesh?
Why did it feel so visceral if I couldn’t recall specifics?’
“I want… to hurt VisorForge. I want the rot run wider, and I know two people can’t kill a system. But I still want it… I want their blood. I want their ruin.’
‘It had been good. So good.’
This was a stunning end to this duology.
We had expansive of the universe with The Edenic Order, a radical eco-resistance movement and further attempts to sabotage the mega corporation VisorForge. The allegory to current times was a little on the nose, but it works in the context of the story. I love a “was doing ALL THIS really worth it” moment.
The book switch to Sable’s POV was a little hard to get into, but once there, I was in. This has the most gorgeous turns of phrase. The way Sable was speaking about bodily autonomy in multiple contexts was everything. I was weeping at some parts.
This has what you want: female rage, vengeance, eco terrorism and sapphic romance with some body swapping happening. There was a lot going on in a tight 192 pages. I could’ve as always used more pages.
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
‘In the Corporate Federation ever asset meant leverage, every acquisition another seat on council.’
‘The scanners raise you with human, but you lacked as the nations. Erasing your GIRS record had made you a spectre, a null entity. That absence with its own alarm.’
‘And I could feel it, even before you said a word.
You wanted it.
We both did.’
“I want it,” you whispered, “but what if this is how we end up buried?”
“The Edenic Order…” The Order’s mark was a sapling, but this one had been ensnared in thorny roots. You worried it meant these people were different – not the Order you thought you knew.
But that was the issue. You didn’t really know them, that’s a nurtured idea. You, who once considered giving your flesh to their cause thought of them as monastic. Meditative. Religious in a way you respected.’
‘Revenge felt good, but not enough.’
‘This was meant to be you and me. Together. The two of us against the world.
What if it became something bigger?’
‘But you knew better. Systems don’t collapse so easily.’
‘I was alone in your body, and I hated that I loved it.’
‘If VisirForge could seize one world this way, they could seize many. Perhaps the Federation itself.’
“What is it? What did the Subsidiary do to me?”
I didn’t want to say it. I loved you. I hated that the truth had to come from me.
“It tagged you.”
‘Years ago, you might’ve chosen nothingness over the body you were given. During your time with me, something had shifted and now, with the clarity of a reckoning, you realized some distant, perfected version of your body no longer mattered. Not as much as what you had: your body, as you had made it. You had been clawing your way to joy, and only with this distance that you realize you’d already found it.’
‘I could hold you. You were there, I was here, and at last we occupied separate bodies. What they look like, didn’t matter. You had kissed me when I was nothing but code inside a mask.’
‘And despite this being a unique hell for you, I was selfish enough to love it.’
‘… and I kneeled before you, as if in worship, to beg your understanding.’
‘Logic was easy without flesh. But emotions – those volatile, and governable things – made my hand shake, made every breath an act of will.’
‘Your vengeance was bound to justice. Mine was blood hunger.’
‘They say the body remembers, but what of a consciousness torn from flesh?
Why did it feel so visceral if I couldn’t recall specifics?’
“I want… to hurt VisorForge. I want the rot run wider, and I know two people can’t kill a system. But I still want it… I want their blood. I want their ruin.’
‘It had been good. So good.’
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First off, if you're considering reading this and haven't read Volatile Memory first — Stop. There are a lot of books that are parts of series that can be read stand-alone. This second novella in Volatile Memory duology is not one of them. It builds directly off the first, which introduces a number of novel and complex concepts, and would be a frustrating read if you didn't have a solid understanding of the overall narrative and setting. So, yeah, go read that first. It's only 165 pages and it's very good. Here's a bit of my review, which should give you an idea if this duology is your kind of thing.
The exploration here of love through sacrifice alternates from touching, to melancholic, and to maddening, but is never unbelievable despite the speculative fiction world it inhabits. The author, Seth Haddon, truly nails the emotional, human elements of this story, which elevates it. One element of Haddon's writing I absolutely love, which pulled me into the narrative so viscerally, is his use of second person narration to tell the story. Sable is the narrator, and you, the reader, are Wylla. Here's a brief example from the opening paragraphs to explain.
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
If you take the high-tech dystopian world of Martha Wells' Murderbot, the sapphic relationship of This Is How You Lose the Time War, and the superpowered masks of the 1980s cartoon M.A.S.K., and blend them together, you could conceivably come up with this fun sci-fi tale of survival and revenge.This novella kicks off following the significant events of the previous novella's climax. The situation is this: Wylla and Sable are still working to take down VisorForge, using the truth to combat the evil corporation's lies and attempts at control, but the longer they work at it, the more dangerous and precarious their situation becomes. Enter "clandestine eco-resistance" group the Edenic Order, who propose a more radical solution, but will the cost be too great for our heroines?
The exploration here of love through sacrifice alternates from touching, to melancholic, and to maddening, but is never unbelievable despite the speculative fiction world it inhabits. The author, Seth Haddon, truly nails the emotional, human elements of this story, which elevates it. One element of Haddon's writing I absolutely love, which pulled me into the narrative so viscerally, is his use of second person narration to tell the story. Sable is the narrator, and you, the reader, are Wylla. Here's a brief example from the opening paragraphs to explain.
"Local Hackers are aware of our presence," I told you. "Probably a minute before station security catches on."Overall, I'd definitely recommend this duology. It's a fun and exciting sci-fi ride, and also pauses just long enough to interject deeper truths about late stage capitalism, the nature of identity, the expression of love, and the definition of freedom. I personally found the ending more bittersweet than I'd have liked, but I also understood by that point that it was the only way it was going to end.
You grunted, all grit and focus. I stayed silent. You crouched over a terminal in the ribbed underhalls of BSMC-07, a routing station so old its walls sweated rust and the relays never stopped buzzing. Through one of the slats, we spied the concourse below, where a mammoth screen blared an ad for cheap freight. That one would end any second. Our target lay three ads ahead.
We didn't have much time.
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advanced reader's copy.
3/5 stars.
Null Entity picks up several years after the end of Volatile Memory, with Wylla and Sable continuing their quest for revenge against the evil corporation that trapped Sable in the Lyrebird mask in book 1. In this second half of the duology, Wylla and Sable go up against a host of half-human, half-machines, find allies in strange places, and make seemingly impossible choices as they navigate their unspoken love for each other with their own goals of retribution and justice.
The flip flop between first and second person POV still jarred me as it did in the first novel. I just could not get into the uncanny relationship between Wylla and Sable, although after years of sabotaging VisorForge--the aforementioned evil corporation--their relationship now feels more earned.
I appreciated the book's sense of mystery and use of corporate legalese as we discovered VisorForge's true intentions with the Lyrebird project. However, the plot did sometimes get muddied between the technical specifics of the masks, multiple transfers of consciousness, and introduction of half-human, half-machine "biocoded" entities that pop up throughout the book.
I also felt like Wylla too easily forgave Sable when she selfishly--and overtly-- pursued her revenge plot over Wylla's bodily autonomy. Once Sable experiences having a body again she, understandably, revels in it. However, if the importance of bodily autonomy is a theme of the book, it feels like this tidbit should have irrevocably changed their dynamic for the worst. She violates Wylla's trust and doesn't really face consequences for doing so.
Overall, Null Entity is an interesting foray into a not so distant reality where corporate overreach threatens the last dregs of human freedom. Through love, ambition, and sacrifice, an unlikely pair of heroines kindle an unbreakable bond over their shared experiences of cruel oppression and inspire hope for a better future.
3/5 stars.
Null Entity picks up several years after the end of Volatile Memory, with Wylla and Sable continuing their quest for revenge against the evil corporation that trapped Sable in the Lyrebird mask in book 1. In this second half of the duology, Wylla and Sable go up against a host of half-human, half-machines, find allies in strange places, and make seemingly impossible choices as they navigate their unspoken love for each other with their own goals of retribution and justice.
The flip flop between first and second person POV still jarred me as it did in the first novel. I just could not get into the uncanny relationship between Wylla and Sable, although after years of sabotaging VisorForge--the aforementioned evil corporation--their relationship now feels more earned.
I appreciated the book's sense of mystery and use of corporate legalese as we discovered VisorForge's true intentions with the Lyrebird project. However, the plot did sometimes get muddied between the technical specifics of the masks, multiple transfers of consciousness, and introduction of half-human, half-machine "biocoded" entities that pop up throughout the book.
I also felt like Wylla too easily forgave Sable when she selfishly--and overtly-- pursued her revenge plot over Wylla's bodily autonomy. Once Sable experiences having a body again she, understandably, revels in it. However, if the importance of bodily autonomy is a theme of the book, it feels like this tidbit should have irrevocably changed their dynamic for the worst. She violates Wylla's trust and doesn't really face consequences for doing so.
Overall, Null Entity is an interesting foray into a not so distant reality where corporate overreach threatens the last dregs of human freedom. Through love, ambition, and sacrifice, an unlikely pair of heroines kindle an unbreakable bond over their shared experiences of cruel oppression and inspire hope for a better future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely LOVED the worldbuilding and the pure anti-establishment, female rage of Volatile Memory. I thought it was a pretty self-contained novella and wasn't expecting a sequel, but once I started Null Entity it made absolute sense that there was more to the story. Even though it picks up a few years after the event of Volatile Memory and it's been a minute since I read it, it left enough of a visceral impact on me that I didn't need a reread to jump right back into what Wylla and Sable were up to in their efforts to take down VisorForge. There is more than enough resonance with the real zeitgeist in which a soulless corpocracy is blatantly making moves to unseat governments and capitalizing on controlling its product users as resources. And yet it remains grounded in the emotional core that is Sable and Wylla and their sort-of love story. I wasn't sold on this being a romance in the first book, but by the end of this one, I understand that it isn't supposed to be a romance, but a fierce kind of love that honors each other's battle scars and the individual vision and right to just exist on their own terms. This one is as action-packed as the last one, with questionable rebel allies and a little too much jargon about all the mask tech floating around and it may become hard to keep up at times. Over a longer piece of work, both the dizzying arrays of corrupted use of technologies and the Wylla-Sable relationship may have breathed better and to more effect. Still, read together, both the novellas make one hell of a story about personal agency, the dangers of unchecked AI corpocraciesn and all the ways you can be broken by the thirst for righteous vengeance. And how you learn to love yourself despite all the powers that threaten to break you into a million little pieces to be used and abused. Fantastic stuff. Big thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ebook ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tordotcom for the early access to this ebook. Pub date: July 21, 2026.
This is the direct sequel to Volatile Memory and it was good, but I had a few issues with it. What I liked: the progress these characters made towards their goals to topple the system and the sci-fi elements. While we don't get as much detail of this world as I'd like (and I understand that because this is a novella), what we do get is super interesting and very cool. I love the tech and the capabilities the characters have.
What I had issue with was the character development, the tension, and the conclusion. This lacked tension for me and the stakes didn't feel as high as they were. I wanted to be thrilled a little more and I just wasn't.
Regarding character development, I was okay with Wylla, but I had issue with Sable. She makes a decision here about Wylla's body that should've been a bigger issue between them than it was and, given that one of the main themes of this book are autonomy and consent, the way this was handled and the way Wylla forgives it so easily felt dissonant and disconnected. As a reader, it completely changed *my* perspective of their relationship and the love Sable had for Wylla, so seeing that it didn't change anything for Wylla and was so easily forgiven was jarring. It should've absolutely had a bigger impact on their relationship.
As for the conclusion, some of it felt satisfying and some of it didn't. Like I said, the choice Sable made about Wylla's body really changed my perspective on her and disconnected me emotionally from the character, so the conclusion lost impact for me in part because I didn't have that emotional connection anymore.
Overall, I think this is a good continuation and conlclusion and a solid duology, I just wish this second book was better.
This is the direct sequel to Volatile Memory and it was good, but I had a few issues with it. What I liked: the progress these characters made towards their goals to topple the system and the sci-fi elements. While we don't get as much detail of this world as I'd like (and I understand that because this is a novella), what we do get is super interesting and very cool. I love the tech and the capabilities the characters have.
What I had issue with was the character development, the tension, and the conclusion. This lacked tension for me and the stakes didn't feel as high as they were. I wanted to be thrilled a little more and I just wasn't.
Regarding character development, I was okay with Wylla, but I had issue with Sable. She makes a decision here about Wylla's body that should've been a bigger issue between them than it was and, given that one of the main themes of this book are autonomy and consent, the way this was handled and the way Wylla forgives it so easily felt dissonant and disconnected. As a reader, it completely changed *my* perspective of their relationship and the love Sable had for Wylla, so seeing that it didn't change anything for Wylla and was so easily forgiven was jarring. It should've absolutely had a bigger impact on their relationship.
As for the conclusion, some of it felt satisfying and some of it didn't. Like I said, the choice Sable made about Wylla's body really changed my perspective on her and disconnected me emotionally from the character, so the conclusion lost impact for me in part because I didn't have that emotional connection anymore.
Overall, I think this is a good continuation and conlclusion and a solid duology, I just wish this second book was better.
May 23, 2026
For fans of Neuromancer, Cyberpunk 2077 and Killjoys.
Diving back into the world of Volatile Memory was both seamless and complex. Once again Seth has managed to create a brilliant, rich world that is both awe inspiring and terrifying in less than 200 pages and I’m dumbstruck. I went through a vast range of emotions in a mere matter of pages and could not even begin to tell you the complexity of each one, there were that many. It’s been a delight to watch Seth’s writing bloom (haha no pun intended) over time, and Null Entity is easily some of his finest work.
The character development in this narrative is complex and thought provoking, at no point did I not understand anyone’s choices which is new for me - I often find myself screaming at a character for a dumb decision- but with Wylla and Sable I felt like I could appreciate and understand each of their choices without question. I loved that they don’t just follow each other blindly, they each had their own motivations and drives.
Full of visceral rage, a fight for self agency, codependent lesbians and a whole lot of kickass women. If you want a book that feels like it would have the entire Danger Days album by MCR as the soundtrack, then you should be reading this book.
Diving back into the world of Volatile Memory was both seamless and complex. Once again Seth has managed to create a brilliant, rich world that is both awe inspiring and terrifying in less than 200 pages and I’m dumbstruck. I went through a vast range of emotions in a mere matter of pages and could not even begin to tell you the complexity of each one, there were that many. It’s been a delight to watch Seth’s writing bloom (haha no pun intended) over time, and Null Entity is easily some of his finest work.
The character development in this narrative is complex and thought provoking, at no point did I not understand anyone’s choices which is new for me - I often find myself screaming at a character for a dumb decision- but with Wylla and Sable I felt like I could appreciate and understand each of their choices without question. I loved that they don’t just follow each other blindly, they each had their own motivations and drives.
Full of visceral rage, a fight for self agency, codependent lesbians and a whole lot of kickass women. If you want a book that feels like it would have the entire Danger Days album by MCR as the soundtrack, then you should be reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!
I found the first book, Volatile Memory, to be a solid read, with a unique concept and thrilling plot.
Null Entity takes everything up a notch, with faster pacing and non-stop action, while further exploring the concepts introduced in Volatile Memory.
Wylla and Sable's relationship is tested, as their conflicting wants put them at odds with each other. It's never been clearer how different they are from each other, as Sable hungers for revenge at any cost, while Wylla tries to seek the most peaceful options. We also find out more about Lyrebird, how Sable ended up in the mask, and the origins and purpose of Lyrebird.
The action-sequences are paced really well, with each scene full of tension and enough space between to let the plot develop. The ending was very satisfying; everything leading up to the climax made the resolution feel hard won and rewarding.
Not gonna lie, some (most) of the scifi and tech explanations went completely over my head. I've never had a mind for that kind of stuff, so I can't judge how well the author did at explaining it, but I understood the story well-enough regardless.
I found the first book, Volatile Memory, to be a solid read, with a unique concept and thrilling plot.
Null Entity takes everything up a notch, with faster pacing and non-stop action, while further exploring the concepts introduced in Volatile Memory.
Wylla and Sable's relationship is tested, as their conflicting wants put them at odds with each other. It's never been clearer how different they are from each other, as Sable hungers for revenge at any cost, while Wylla tries to seek the most peaceful options. We also find out more about Lyrebird, how Sable ended up in the mask, and the origins and purpose of Lyrebird.
The action-sequences are paced really well, with each scene full of tension and enough space between to let the plot develop. The ending was very satisfying; everything leading up to the climax made the resolution feel hard won and rewarding.
Not gonna lie, some (most) of the scifi and tech explanations went completely over my head. I've never had a mind for that kind of stuff, so I can't judge how well the author did at explaining it, but I understood the story well-enough regardless.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll be honest and say that I think this series works really well as a stand alone novel, book one is just so strong and its sequel is just pretty good. The exploration of gender and bodily autonomy was really interesting to read. There's just so much to be said about the curation of the trans body and the way that it's so lovingly assembled. Seth has written some great trans lit and touches on the concept again in his book Reclaimed. I was also really interested in the weird biohacking religious sect, it was very reminiscent of This Is How You Lose the Time War. However, I was left wishing that we had gotten to learn even more about the group. Biohacking scifi monks is so cool and could frankly be a book of its own. The main thing that bogged this book down and kept it from being as successful as book one was the overwhelming amount of tech/scifi infodumps. As a reader it just felt overwhelming and took away from what makes the books interesting, the relationship between Sable and Wylla. Overall, I do think this is worth your time but if Volatile Memory was a five star read for you I don't think the sequel will reach the same heights.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5
Oh how I missed my dear Wylla and Sable. This was an absolutely outstanding ending to what has become one of my favorite duologies of all time.
We pick back up years after the end of Volatile Memory as Wylla and Sable continue their fight to take down the vile VisorForge.
I am still utterly baffled at how much was packed into such a small book. The female rage, corporate greed, and subject matter around bodily autonomy was just as present in this one as it was in book one. I really enjoyed getting more of a focus on Sable and really came to understand her more as a character. I think one of my favorite things about these books is how much they make me FEEL. When the characters are angry, im angry. Whenever they’re sad, im sad. It’s not often I find characters that infiltrate my heart like this but I know there will be a Sable and Wylla shaped hole left behind now.
May everyone have a RABBIT in their life looking out for them.
Thank you TorDotCom for the ARC
Oh how I missed my dear Wylla and Sable. This was an absolutely outstanding ending to what has become one of my favorite duologies of all time.
We pick back up years after the end of Volatile Memory as Wylla and Sable continue their fight to take down the vile VisorForge.
I am still utterly baffled at how much was packed into such a small book. The female rage, corporate greed, and subject matter around bodily autonomy was just as present in this one as it was in book one. I really enjoyed getting more of a focus on Sable and really came to understand her more as a character. I think one of my favorite things about these books is how much they make me FEEL. When the characters are angry, im angry. Whenever they’re sad, im sad. It’s not often I find characters that infiltrate my heart like this but I know there will be a Sable and Wylla shaped hole left behind now.
May everyone have a RABBIT in their life looking out for them.
Thank you TorDotCom for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.5 rounded down
A heart-pounding continuation of Volatile Memory, Null Entity finds Wylla and Sable collaborating with an eco-cult on their quest for vengeance.
The romance continues to be toothsome and compelling. Wylla and Sable start the book deeply enmeshed and all the better and worse for it. The story continues to probe philosophies of bodily autonomy and agency— this time with the help of a fungus space cult.
At times, the world feels too expansive for such short volumes, leaving me hoping that Haddon will return to further flesh out this universe.
Like Volatile Memory, the sci-fi elements in this are calibrated for a sci-fi reader more than a romance reader, so approach with caution if necessary.
If you enjoyed Volatile Memory, you will likely enjoy Null Entity. I certainly did.
A heart-pounding continuation of Volatile Memory, Null Entity finds Wylla and Sable collaborating with an eco-cult on their quest for vengeance.
The romance continues to be toothsome and compelling. Wylla and Sable start the book deeply enmeshed and all the better and worse for it. The story continues to probe philosophies of bodily autonomy and agency— this time with the help of a fungus space cult.
At times, the world feels too expansive for such short volumes, leaving me hoping that Haddon will return to further flesh out this universe.
Like Volatile Memory, the sci-fi elements in this are calibrated for a sci-fi reader more than a romance reader, so approach with caution if necessary.
If you enjoyed Volatile Memory, you will likely enjoy Null Entity. I certainly did.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 Stars
Volatile Memory was one of my favourite books of last year so I was excited to learn that there was a second book in this science fiction novella duology. Truthfully I didn't think the first book needed a sequel but I enjoyed it so much that I figured it would be great to spend more time in that universe.
Once again, the author brings interesting character development and worldbuilding but as a follow up book, it wasn't necessarily as fresh. I enjoyed spending time reading this book but I also felt like this novella didn't need to exist.
I would primarily recommend this novella for fans of the first one, who like me will need to check out the book for themselves, regardless of the reviews.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Volatile Memory was one of my favourite books of last year so I was excited to learn that there was a second book in this science fiction novella duology. Truthfully I didn't think the first book needed a sequel but I enjoyed it so much that I figured it would be great to spend more time in that universe.
Once again, the author brings interesting character development and worldbuilding but as a follow up book, it wasn't necessarily as fresh. I enjoyed spending time reading this book but I also felt like this novella didn't need to exist.
I would primarily recommend this novella for fans of the first one, who like me will need to check out the book for themselves, regardless of the reviews.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 3, 2026
My word, what a finale to this tale!
Thanks to Tordotcom and Goodreads for the ARC. It made me stop, buy, and read the first novel. The entire story end to end over two books was so engrossing.
Not having a deep history of sci fi genre this was right in that sweet spot of complexity, great for a newcomer but plenty of depth for someone wanting to get into the weeds of tech, political intrigue, and corporate dystopias. All baked together with a heaping dose of a love story.
I cannot fathom the writing process this must have been. But the story was amazing. Kudos to Haddon. May you find your RABBIT among these weird times. 🐇❤️
Thanks to Tordotcom and Goodreads for the ARC. It made me stop, buy, and read the first novel. The entire story end to end over two books was so engrossing.
Not having a deep history of sci fi genre this was right in that sweet spot of complexity, great for a newcomer but plenty of depth for someone wanting to get into the weeds of tech, political intrigue, and corporate dystopias. All baked together with a heaping dose of a love story.
I cannot fathom the writing process this must have been. But the story was amazing. Kudos to Haddon. May you find your RABBIT among these weird times. 🐇❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Null Entity finished off The Volatile Memory duology and Seth Haddon has absolutely gutted me. Wylla, Sable, and Rabbit continue to fight against the people who seek to constrain and label them. Haddon explores what it means to be oneself, and inhabit one's body, in a truly fascinating way. Wylla and Sable are so gloriously angry and channel that anger in a lot of pretty shocking ways. I think the first novella in the duology stands well enough on its own, but this is a fantastic conclusion. Thanks NetGalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amazing second volume, fast-paced action, switching bodies, hiding bodies, absence of body, sacrifice, and endurance. A tech vision of a future where we can lose control of ourselves beyond imagination, but also the plot explores relatable themes of powerful domination while the weak fight bacK.
Very creative character romance.
Characters: Wylla who is a person who does not exist, and Sable a conscience of a once-person who becomes an AI companion. Rabbit is a hypersensitive mask.
Very creative character romance.
Characters: Wylla who is a person who does not exist, and Sable a conscience of a once-person who becomes an AI companion. Rabbit is a hypersensitive mask.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
A great conclusion to The Volatile Memory duology. Super action packed and fast paced, I felt like I was holding my breath for the whole book. My only gripe with this, and the first book, is the world building. There is so much to it and I feel like we did not get to see enough of it during only two books. Overall, I absolutely loved getting more of Sable and Wylla's story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. Full review to come
March 10, 2026
We get more from Wylla and Sable, as they are drawn into an eco resistance to the corporations that rule the galaxy, and deal with the edges of their morality and seductive ideologies as they try to figure out what comes next for them. Great follow up, and would love to see more here.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
Forewarning: you should re read the first book before reading this one, otherwise you'll be kind of lost.
I enjoyed getting back into Wyla and Sable's story, especially with the nuance that was added to Sable's story with her greed. I think I enjoyed the first book more just because it was more straightforward, but all things considered I enjoyed it.
Forewarning: you should re read the first book before reading this one, otherwise you'll be kind of lost.
I enjoyed getting back into Wyla and Sable's story, especially with the nuance that was added to Sable's story with her greed. I think I enjoyed the first book more just because it was more straightforward, but all things considered I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews