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The Formation Saga #1
Transmentation | Transience: Or, an Accession to the People's Council for Nine Thousand Worlds
From bestselling authors Darkly Lem comes Transmentation | Transience, the first book in a sweeping multiverse of adventure and intrigue perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and The Expanse series.
Over thousands of years and thousands of worlds, universe-spanning societies of interdimensional travelers have arisen. Some seek to make the multiverse a better place, some seek power and glory, others knowledge, while still others simply want to write their own tale across the cosmos.
When a routine training mission goes very wrong, two competing societies are thrust into an unwanted confrontation. As intelligence officer Malculm Kilkeneade receives the blame within Burel Hird, Roamers of Tala Beinir and Shara find themselves inadvertently swept up in an assassination plot.
Meanwhile, factions within Burel Hird are vying for greater control over their society in a war of cutthroat machinations—at a heavy price. Elsewhere, two members of rival societies lay their own plans for insurrection—with ramifications that will ripple across the Many Worlds ...
Over thousands of years and thousands of worlds, universe-spanning societies of interdimensional travelers have arisen. Some seek to make the multiverse a better place, some seek power and glory, others knowledge, while still others simply want to write their own tale across the cosmos.
When a routine training mission goes very wrong, two competing societies are thrust into an unwanted confrontation. As intelligence officer Malculm Kilkeneade receives the blame within Burel Hird, Roamers of Tala Beinir and Shara find themselves inadvertently swept up in an assassination plot.
Meanwhile, factions within Burel Hird are vying for greater control over their society in a war of cutthroat machinations—at a heavy price. Elsewhere, two members of rival societies lay their own plans for insurrection—with ramifications that will ripple across the Many Worlds ...
382 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2025
21 people are currently reading
3134 people want to read
About the author
Darkly Lem
3 books23 followersDarkly Lem is five authors in an impeccably-tailored trenchcoat, namely Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, Cadwell Turnbull, and M. Darusha Wehm. They live in an Earth-type locality in the Central Cluster with their five kids, several spouses, and a modest menagerie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 7, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was an interesting experimental piece of speculative fiction. At places, I was sucked into the story. In other times, I found the narrative messy and lacking focus. This novel didn't entirely come together for me but I have more patience for experimentation over playing it safe.
I would cautiously recommend this one to readers who share my interest in unique storytelling.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an interesting experimental piece of speculative fiction. At places, I was sucked into the story. In other times, I found the narrative messy and lacking focus. This novel didn't entirely come together for me but I have more patience for experimentation over playing it safe.
I would cautiously recommend this one to readers who share my interest in unique storytelling.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
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April 28, 2025Transmentation/Transience by Darkly Lem, Narrated by Dion Graham (Audiobook)
Dropped underground, a novice is in the middle of a routine training assignment. However, what transpires results in the deaths of many Burel Hird and, ultimately, the exile of the leader of the exercise, Malculm Kilkaneade. Disgraced Malculm’s traveling rights have been revoked, but by whom? It would seem that factions are overstepping their authoritative boundaries. Infringing upon those mandated by the council. Speaking of the council, conspiratorial rumors run wild in an attempt to seize control. Duncan, our old council leader, is nearing the end of his reign and destined to relinquish his title. On another note, can old adversaries bring word of a covert plan of assassination in time?
I exhale… again, I exhale! In for four seconds, hold, out for four seconds. This was intense. Dion Graham, the narrator of said novel, was fabulous. I mean it, he was tremendous. Breathing life into several characters and making each voice's inflection unique in its presentation. The Simulacrum places individuals into foreign bodies, thereby creating different-looking and sounding individuals trying to attain access and uncover and/or implement agendas according to their origins. Sound complex? You are correct. After listening to half of the novel, I was lost. Specifically so in the beginning. However, as with any great story, the tremendous world-building aspect, while challenging, drew me in. I suppose any story with this much depth will be compared to Game of Thrones, and yes, even I will admit there were similarities. There is a soup-like density in the pages. Clam chowder, or perhaps you are a person who relishes a homemade stew. It brings that in spades.
After racking my brain for the first five hours and feeling like I had been thrown into a corn maze in a loop of frustration, I found a clear path. Subtly, I gathered my feet, seizing the moment to run out and escape, and yet… I wanted closure; no, I needed closure. I had fought tooth and nail with this beast of a book, and I wanted redemption in the form of a mutual understanding. This story got the best of me, I admit. As in a great sporting event, the tides had turned, and I found myself trading blow for blow. No, scratch that, I was winning. The novel spoke to me, and I responded in kind. The subject matter became clearer and more concise, and before I fully understood, I found myself engaged. How?
This turn of events shocked me. Perhaps one piece of advice I have learned over the years is that those books that belie an ease sometimes become the favorites, for you feel as if you have conquered something. The story takes on a special meaning within your heart, resonating wholeheartedly. Darkly Lem, a conglomeration of five authors creating this fabulous work of fiction, seamlessly directs you through the catacombs of deception and time travel. Further begging the question, who is speaking? Which character is talking right now? Oftentimes, a switch of bodies occurs and leaves you lost and abandoned, only to pick you up by the bootstraps and provide you the answers later, all while planting a firm hand on your backside and sending you on your merry way. What was once a mere nuisance soon quickly becomes a part of the novel’s charm in discovery. Mentioning discovery, this world is dense, vast, and viscerally challenging. Numerous places and groups, all connected but on the periphery, vying for political strength. Untapped resources, a sought-after prize, and an open-ended source of conversation within the Burel Hird council, offering an origin of contention within its ranks. Not everyone puts on a happy face behind closed doors, and secret alliances look to sway the balance.
As the time has arrived for me to give this rich novel its score, I am met with sadness. I will miss my daily walk with Dion Graham and his special storytelling ability. This begs the question: Is this the best way to consume this mammoth of a story? Something I asked myself multiple times, if I am honest. The narration is fabulous; however, I did wonder if a physical copy might allow me to backtrack more when I got lost. That said, Dion Graham brings such personality to each character that I believe that listening to this is a great choice. Drum roll, please, maestro…. I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars, shockingly! If you love demanding world construction with that political intrigue, something similar to Julius Caesar in the “Ides of March,” then this novel will surely have you covered. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
Dropped underground, a novice is in the middle of a routine training assignment. However, what transpires results in the deaths of many Burel Hird and, ultimately, the exile of the leader of the exercise, Malculm Kilkaneade. Disgraced Malculm’s traveling rights have been revoked, but by whom? It would seem that factions are overstepping their authoritative boundaries. Infringing upon those mandated by the council. Speaking of the council, conspiratorial rumors run wild in an attempt to seize control. Duncan, our old council leader, is nearing the end of his reign and destined to relinquish his title. On another note, can old adversaries bring word of a covert plan of assassination in time?
I exhale… again, I exhale! In for four seconds, hold, out for four seconds. This was intense. Dion Graham, the narrator of said novel, was fabulous. I mean it, he was tremendous. Breathing life into several characters and making each voice's inflection unique in its presentation. The Simulacrum places individuals into foreign bodies, thereby creating different-looking and sounding individuals trying to attain access and uncover and/or implement agendas according to their origins. Sound complex? You are correct. After listening to half of the novel, I was lost. Specifically so in the beginning. However, as with any great story, the tremendous world-building aspect, while challenging, drew me in. I suppose any story with this much depth will be compared to Game of Thrones, and yes, even I will admit there were similarities. There is a soup-like density in the pages. Clam chowder, or perhaps you are a person who relishes a homemade stew. It brings that in spades.
After racking my brain for the first five hours and feeling like I had been thrown into a corn maze in a loop of frustration, I found a clear path. Subtly, I gathered my feet, seizing the moment to run out and escape, and yet… I wanted closure; no, I needed closure. I had fought tooth and nail with this beast of a book, and I wanted redemption in the form of a mutual understanding. This story got the best of me, I admit. As in a great sporting event, the tides had turned, and I found myself trading blow for blow. No, scratch that, I was winning. The novel spoke to me, and I responded in kind. The subject matter became clearer and more concise, and before I fully understood, I found myself engaged. How?
This turn of events shocked me. Perhaps one piece of advice I have learned over the years is that those books that belie an ease sometimes become the favorites, for you feel as if you have conquered something. The story takes on a special meaning within your heart, resonating wholeheartedly. Darkly Lem, a conglomeration of five authors creating this fabulous work of fiction, seamlessly directs you through the catacombs of deception and time travel. Further begging the question, who is speaking? Which character is talking right now? Oftentimes, a switch of bodies occurs and leaves you lost and abandoned, only to pick you up by the bootstraps and provide you the answers later, all while planting a firm hand on your backside and sending you on your merry way. What was once a mere nuisance soon quickly becomes a part of the novel’s charm in discovery. Mentioning discovery, this world is dense, vast, and viscerally challenging. Numerous places and groups, all connected but on the periphery, vying for political strength. Untapped resources, a sought-after prize, and an open-ended source of conversation within the Burel Hird council, offering an origin of contention within its ranks. Not everyone puts on a happy face behind closed doors, and secret alliances look to sway the balance.
As the time has arrived for me to give this rich novel its score, I am met with sadness. I will miss my daily walk with Dion Graham and his special storytelling ability. This begs the question: Is this the best way to consume this mammoth of a story? Something I asked myself multiple times, if I am honest. The narration is fabulous; however, I did wonder if a physical copy might allow me to backtrack more when I got lost. That said, Dion Graham brings such personality to each character that I believe that listening to this is a great choice. Drum roll, please, maestro…. I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars, shockingly! If you love demanding world construction with that political intrigue, something similar to Julius Caesar in the “Ides of March,” then this novel will surely have you covered. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
March 19, 2025
Transmentation Transience is a creative project composed by a group of authors writing together under the name Darkly Lem. They describe themselves as "five authors in an impeccably-tailored trenchcoat, namely Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, Cadwell Turnbull, and M. Darusha Wehm." I came into contact with this book due to being a fan of Turnbull, so it was interesting to see what a collaborative piece would turn out to be. I honestly didn't know what to expect. I have read books where two authors are writing under one name, but cannot recall reading a book where 5 authors were. Somehow, in ways I don't fully understand, they made it work.
TT is a book about many worlds. Central to the stories are people who hop from one universe to another, finding themselves in a new body, retaining their own mind and personality, but still being changed by who they end up inhabiting. It is not fully clear how this works or what exactly it entails. This is probably a show don't tell choice, but I hope more explanation comes in future books. There are various groups existing in various universes, many of which have conflicts with one another. Thankfully, the authors give us a character list in the very beginning telling us which locality various characters are located in. As someone with a horrendous memory, I often have to take notes when reading books with tons of characters, especially when those characters are sometimes turning into other characters in another universes. I was very grateful to see this list when I opened the book.
TT is a book about many worlds. Central to the stories are people who hop from one universe to another, finding themselves in a new body, retaining their own mind and personality, but still being changed by who they end up inhabiting. It is not fully clear how this works or what exactly it entails. This is probably a show don't tell choice, but I hope more explanation comes in future books. There are various groups existing in various universes, many of which have conflicts with one another. Thankfully, the authors give us a character list in the very beginning telling us which locality various characters are located in. As someone with a horrendous memory, I often have to take notes when reading books with tons of characters, especially when those characters are sometimes turning into other characters in another universes. I was very grateful to see this list when I opened the book.
The writing in TT is cohesive. I am not sure if each author wrote a different section containing each story about characters existing in each locality. There are definite distinctions between each section that would benefit from such an approach. But, stylistically it still fits together for the most part. I would say the last quarter of the book feels a bit disjointed. That is also because there are a couple twists that occur that are not well explained.
I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers. Overall, despite all of these different universes, characters, and names, I found the book fairly easy to follow. There are some things that are just personal taste that weren't my favorite. I would say this book is what some call science fantasy more than science fiction. The way some of the worlds and the characters and beings within them are designed doesn't feel quite right to me. There are also a couple of events that occur in the last quarter that we're not introduced as fluidly as they could be. I ended up going back and rereading certain sections thinking I missed something. I had not. The characters themselves though all felt quite real to me. I especially enjoyed sections with long conversations. It's interesting that a story with so much extravagant inter-universal travel and wild action scenes enthralled me most when it was just two people discussing their experiences.
The book is definitely designed to be part of a larger series- listed as the first book in "The Formation Saga." At over 400 pages, (in my ARC at least,) the conclusion leaves you with prompts for the story to continue, rather than a bunch of concrete resolutions. This was such an interesting approach to writing that I hope the series is given the green light to continue by the publisher and not abandoned like some of these projects are. I enjoyed a glimpse into these universes and was left curious about what comes next for these characters. I do hope that when a new book is written, they will offer a decent recap of things that happened in this one for other memory-deficient people like myself.
This was also posted to my goodreads and blog.
dnf
May 17, 2025I received an audiobook ARC through NetGalley for an honest.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF @ 40%
There are some really interesting ideas being explored, but I just couldn't get into the unfocused narrative or connect with the characters, but that's me and my AuDHD.
Unfortunately, this was a DNF @ 40%
There are some really interesting ideas being explored, but I just couldn't get into the unfocused narrative or connect with the characters, but that's me and my AuDHD.
April 27, 2025
Transmentation|Transcience is a multiverse based book co-authored by 5 people. I have never read a book coauthored by so many, and of the authors the only one I’d read previously is Cadwell Turnbull (whose work I really like).
I was simultaneously intrigued by this book and slightly... apprehensive? I do think that multiverse books can be a bit ‘all over the place’ (ha!) and at times hard to follow, and I was concerned that with so many voices contributing the result might feel really messy. It doesn’t. It is, if anything, a relatively linear story that is not too hard to follow. There are a lot of characters, and this does mean the reader gets less time with each; some stood out to me more than others and a few I thought could’ve been done without.
The focus is on Burel Hird, a society that has colonized many worlds, some more thoroughly than others – worlds ranging from ‘outside’ to ‘fully under Burel Hird control’ to in betweens like ‘there are some Burel Hird agents there.’ Inevitably, there are multiple factions within and adjacent to Burel Hird with a range of ideologies and motivations and not all want Burel Hird’s dominance to continue. It is in this context that the main plot – related to an experiment, the machinations of the ruling Council, and an assassination attempt – unfolds.
This is described as being “the first book in a sweeping multiverse of adventure and intrigue;” I will pick up whatever is published next in this world for sure. I am keen to learn more about the worlds of this universe, which the first book only gave glimpses of.
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, colonization, murder
Thank you Blackstone Publishing, the authors, & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
I was simultaneously intrigued by this book and slightly... apprehensive? I do think that multiverse books can be a bit ‘all over the place’ (ha!) and at times hard to follow, and I was concerned that with so many voices contributing the result might feel really messy. It doesn’t. It is, if anything, a relatively linear story that is not too hard to follow. There are a lot of characters, and this does mean the reader gets less time with each; some stood out to me more than others and a few I thought could’ve been done without.
The focus is on Burel Hird, a society that has colonized many worlds, some more thoroughly than others – worlds ranging from ‘outside’ to ‘fully under Burel Hird control’ to in betweens like ‘there are some Burel Hird agents there.’ Inevitably, there are multiple factions within and adjacent to Burel Hird with a range of ideologies and motivations and not all want Burel Hird’s dominance to continue. It is in this context that the main plot – related to an experiment, the machinations of the ruling Council, and an assassination attempt – unfolds.
This is described as being “the first book in a sweeping multiverse of adventure and intrigue;” I will pick up whatever is published next in this world for sure. I am keen to learn more about the worlds of this universe, which the first book only gave glimpses of.
Content warnings: violence, gun violence, colonization, murder
Thank you Blackstone Publishing, the authors, & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
March 24, 2025
I was provided an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to Darkly Lem and Blackstone Publishing for letting me read this before it was available.
Like Darkly Lem (who is five authors in an impeccably tailored trench coat, in their own words), Transmentation | Transcience: [insert book’s subtitle here] is several different stories woven into a cohesive novel.
What is it about? To quote the book itself, TT is a “work of speculative history,” written by individuals from a society that is mentioned but never actually shows up. There is a disclaimer and everything, in a very academic style that thankfully does not persist throughout the book. In fact, it’s really easy to forget that bit of information as you read, because immediately after, the action starts, sweeping you up into various worlds and the wildly different tones and tensions of each.
Every universe is unique, even if they are affiliated with the same society. One thing you have to get over very quickly is that these dimensions don’t just differ in minor ways. They are completely different, working on different laws of physics and biology and what have you. We’re talking worlds made of coral and flying whales (no hotdog fingers, though). This was where it got confusing for me, personally, especially since interplanetary travel and aliens are also a thing. Still, the creativity is off the charts, and the physical, cultural, and administrative differences are all amazing, building beautiful settings that bring the worlds vividly to life.
There’s a lot that goes on in this book. So many people, places, and plots to keep track of, with many threads and details you have to hold onto in your mind until the end when things start to pay off. It can be a lot, but I think it’s worth it. (Note: it’s definitely easier to read in a digital format where you can do a word search). Thing is, TT is very much a first book, laying the foundations for what hopefully comes next, and thus the pacing is a bit off.
That said, it’s still a very fun read. There are spies, bar brawls, and conspiracies upon conspiracies, but also moments of contemplation and softness. It could also easily be interpreted as messy and tangential at times; guess it depends on what you take away from it.
And there’s a lot you can take away from it. Like any good book that tackles the multiverse, there are questions about who you are and what makes you you. I don’t know if I’m projecting, but I also see some elements that hit very close to home, considering the current (waves hands at the world). Burel Hird’s imperialism and Firmāre’s quest for profit by any means necessary may be born in different worlds, but the same is definitely happening here and now, and I’m very much invested in how things work out in the series while trying to escape from our own realities.
If there’s one thing I want to see from future books, it’s how the characters, so embedded in their societies’ beliefs, break free from them instead of follow them. For now, I’ll have to settle in to wait for the next book and hope that others have joined me by the time it’s out.
Like Darkly Lem (who is five authors in an impeccably tailored trench coat, in their own words), Transmentation | Transcience: [insert book’s subtitle here] is several different stories woven into a cohesive novel.
What is it about? To quote the book itself, TT is a “work of speculative history,” written by individuals from a society that is mentioned but never actually shows up. There is a disclaimer and everything, in a very academic style that thankfully does not persist throughout the book. In fact, it’s really easy to forget that bit of information as you read, because immediately after, the action starts, sweeping you up into various worlds and the wildly different tones and tensions of each.
Every universe is unique, even if they are affiliated with the same society. One thing you have to get over very quickly is that these dimensions don’t just differ in minor ways. They are completely different, working on different laws of physics and biology and what have you. We’re talking worlds made of coral and flying whales (no hotdog fingers, though). This was where it got confusing for me, personally, especially since interplanetary travel and aliens are also a thing. Still, the creativity is off the charts, and the physical, cultural, and administrative differences are all amazing, building beautiful settings that bring the worlds vividly to life.
There’s a lot that goes on in this book. So many people, places, and plots to keep track of, with many threads and details you have to hold onto in your mind until the end when things start to pay off. It can be a lot, but I think it’s worth it. (Note: it’s definitely easier to read in a digital format where you can do a word search). Thing is, TT is very much a first book, laying the foundations for what hopefully comes next, and thus the pacing is a bit off.
That said, it’s still a very fun read. There are spies, bar brawls, and conspiracies upon conspiracies, but also moments of contemplation and softness. It could also easily be interpreted as messy and tangential at times; guess it depends on what you take away from it.
And there’s a lot you can take away from it. Like any good book that tackles the multiverse, there are questions about who you are and what makes you you. I don’t know if I’m projecting, but I also see some elements that hit very close to home, considering the current (waves hands at the world). Burel Hird’s imperialism and Firmāre’s quest for profit by any means necessary may be born in different worlds, but the same is definitely happening here and now, and I’m very much invested in how things work out in the series while trying to escape from our own realities.
If there’s one thing I want to see from future books, it’s how the characters, so embedded in their societies’ beliefs, break free from them instead of follow them. For now, I’ll have to settle in to wait for the next book and hope that others have joined me by the time it’s out.
December 10, 2024
A bit of a mixed success, but overall an intriguing start to a series with potential.
This collaborative multiverse world-building/writing project has a lot going on - multiverse philosophical and ontological implications; coups, assassination plots, conspiracies, and subterfuge; "many worlds" travel/transference - and as a consequence, there is simultaneously a lot to get excited about and a bit that feels under-developed. Which is fine for the first book in an eventual series, but I think it's fair to note that this is particularly true for a book of this nature.
At its best, there are thoughtful, creative, eloquent explorations of the nature of being and identity in a multiverse reality. There is complex politicking, ideologically distinct factions rivaling and coexisting, intimate emotional moments of family and partnership and loneliness and grief, and a sense of fragile balance with the (many) world(s) at stake. But the potential behind both the creative exploration of ideas and the plot often takes a back seat to developing so many things at once, making progress feel slow. I like a slow, thoughtful book, but this felt like it wanted to be faster paced than it was actually being at times.
After a rocky start with sci-fi names and world building deluge, I do think this ended up being well-written, doesn't have any of the consistency issues I was worried about with five authors co-writing a book. I'm not huge on heavy (collaborative) world building or multiverse stories, and politicky space opera is hit or miss, so I'm compensating for my preferences by giving this a slight bump - if those buzzwords work better for you than for me, this is probably closer to 4 stars than 3.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me this eARC for review!
This collaborative multiverse world-building/writing project has a lot going on - multiverse philosophical and ontological implications; coups, assassination plots, conspiracies, and subterfuge; "many worlds" travel/transference - and as a consequence, there is simultaneously a lot to get excited about and a bit that feels under-developed. Which is fine for the first book in an eventual series, but I think it's fair to note that this is particularly true for a book of this nature.
At its best, there are thoughtful, creative, eloquent explorations of the nature of being and identity in a multiverse reality. There is complex politicking, ideologically distinct factions rivaling and coexisting, intimate emotional moments of family and partnership and loneliness and grief, and a sense of fragile balance with the (many) world(s) at stake. But the potential behind both the creative exploration of ideas and the plot often takes a back seat to developing so many things at once, making progress feel slow. I like a slow, thoughtful book, but this felt like it wanted to be faster paced than it was actually being at times.
After a rocky start with sci-fi names and world building deluge, I do think this ended up being well-written, doesn't have any of the consistency issues I was worried about with five authors co-writing a book. I'm not huge on heavy (collaborative) world building or multiverse stories, and politicky space opera is hit or miss, so I'm compensating for my preferences by giving this a slight bump - if those buzzwords work better for you than for me, this is probably closer to 4 stars than 3.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me this eARC for review!
Read
December 28, 2024This book has a lot going on. World building, conflict, so much!
I can't wait to see where the story goes.
#NetGalley
I can't wait to see where the story goes.
#NetGalley
April 2, 2025
This novel takes place in a sprawling multiverse, but there’s no physical travel between worlds. Instead, only your consciousness can travel between universes, jumping from host body to host body. These extra bodies are known as “proxies.”—still exist when you’re not there, with spouses and families and skills and ways of speaking, but they’re just facsimiles, going about a preset routine. If you travel to a universe you’ve never been before, a new proxy is knitted out of whole cloth, retroactively having lived out a full life for you to slip into. Reality, in every universe, bends around these travelers.
The novel has a lot to “savor” in the characters, politicians and warriors and family men; there’s a lot to love in the plots, whether it’s intrigue, prophecy, romance, or even legal drama; and there’s a lot to ponder in the ideas it tackles. Its central premise alone—transferring consciousness between bodies—throws up a hundred questions of ethics, mind-body relations, and cosmology, and many of the characters, by nature of their existence as travelers, spends a good amount of time wrestling with what they believe. The author consists of five authors that wrote this science fiction novel. I was surprised that so many authors “wrote” this novel. I would had never guessed as the novel is so well written. I enjoyed this first volume of a trilogy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel has a lot to “savor” in the characters, politicians and warriors and family men; there’s a lot to love in the plots, whether it’s intrigue, prophecy, romance, or even legal drama; and there’s a lot to ponder in the ideas it tackles. Its central premise alone—transferring consciousness between bodies—throws up a hundred questions of ethics, mind-body relations, and cosmology, and many of the characters, by nature of their existence as travelers, spends a good amount of time wrestling with what they believe. The author consists of five authors that wrote this science fiction novel. I was surprised that so many authors “wrote” this novel. I would had never guessed as the novel is so well written. I enjoyed this first volume of a trilogy.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
March 22, 2025
3.75
Very interesting read. Lots of world(s) building as characters travel through the multiverse and the different societies interact. It took a little bit of time for me to get comfortable in the world, but once I did it was a very enjoyable story.
Very interesting read. Lots of world(s) building as characters travel through the multiverse and the different societies interact. It took a little bit of time for me to get comfortable in the world, but once I did it was a very enjoyable story.
February 22, 2025
“Transmentation|Transcience” by Darkly Lem is a deep dive into a futuristic multiverse that deals with themes of corruption, power, conspiracies, exploration, and identity. Through a wide cast of characters, readers are introduced to societies and factions within the multiverse where nothing and no one is exactly who they appear to be.
A lot of world-building has been carefully thought out to create such a complex and vivid multiverse for the characters (and readers) to traverse. When it comes to fiction, especially science fiction, it’s easier to get into a story when the authors have a good comprehension of the rules and laws of the world they’ve created and what that world looks like. Not to mention, it’s easier for the setting to feel more tangible like it actually, totally exists somewhere in the universe. At the same time, the amount of information felt overwhelming and made it hard to follow at times. Yet, the pro of having so much thrown at the reader is that there is time to adapt and figure out what is going on versus having the story feel underdeveloped and left with unanswered questions.
There was a good mix of characters, each one having their own positions in these societies and multiverses. This created a good contrast of characters who had their own motivations and goals inspiring their actions. Sometimes I found the style of the writing or the voices of the characters blended and they lost their unique characterization, making it hard for me to keep the cast of characters separate when reading. I was also sad that one of the characters I really liked played a minor role in the story. It made me question why it was necessary to have them in the book at all and if the beginning could’ve started differently.
Overall, this was a fascinating read with a lot for the reader to chew on. Unfortunately, having not read a lot of sci-fi, I feel I wasn’t the perfect reader for this book as I often felt lost and confused. Those who enjoy science fiction will likely enjoy what this book is doing and what it has to offer for the genre. Even I can tell Darkly Lem is doing something really cool with this book and pushing against the margins of what sci-fi is all about. The writing style also wasn’t intriguing to me, making it hard to get into the book and keep going to the end. It felt neutral and almost monotone, like a retelling of events instead of a narrator invested (or interested) in the events taking place. While this was likely intentional, it didn’t help me fall in love with the story or the characters. Still, for five writers working to create a unified, cohesive story, they did a pretty good job and there will be a lot of sci-fi readers out there who will appreciate and enjoy Darkly Lem’s intent with this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Darkly Lem for providing me with an e-arc of this story and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review. “Transmentation|Transcience” by Darkly Lem is expected to be published on March 18th, 2025.
A lot of world-building has been carefully thought out to create such a complex and vivid multiverse for the characters (and readers) to traverse. When it comes to fiction, especially science fiction, it’s easier to get into a story when the authors have a good comprehension of the rules and laws of the world they’ve created and what that world looks like. Not to mention, it’s easier for the setting to feel more tangible like it actually, totally exists somewhere in the universe. At the same time, the amount of information felt overwhelming and made it hard to follow at times. Yet, the pro of having so much thrown at the reader is that there is time to adapt and figure out what is going on versus having the story feel underdeveloped and left with unanswered questions.
There was a good mix of characters, each one having their own positions in these societies and multiverses. This created a good contrast of characters who had their own motivations and goals inspiring their actions. Sometimes I found the style of the writing or the voices of the characters blended and they lost their unique characterization, making it hard for me to keep the cast of characters separate when reading. I was also sad that one of the characters I really liked played a minor role in the story. It made me question why it was necessary to have them in the book at all and if the beginning could’ve started differently.
Overall, this was a fascinating read with a lot for the reader to chew on. Unfortunately, having not read a lot of sci-fi, I feel I wasn’t the perfect reader for this book as I often felt lost and confused. Those who enjoy science fiction will likely enjoy what this book is doing and what it has to offer for the genre. Even I can tell Darkly Lem is doing something really cool with this book and pushing against the margins of what sci-fi is all about. The writing style also wasn’t intriguing to me, making it hard to get into the book and keep going to the end. It felt neutral and almost monotone, like a retelling of events instead of a narrator invested (or interested) in the events taking place. While this was likely intentional, it didn’t help me fall in love with the story or the characters. Still, for five writers working to create a unified, cohesive story, they did a pretty good job and there will be a lot of sci-fi readers out there who will appreciate and enjoy Darkly Lem’s intent with this story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Darkly Lem for providing me with an e-arc of this story and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review. “Transmentation|Transcience” by Darkly Lem is expected to be published on March 18th, 2025.
March 15, 2025
I was provided both an ALC and ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This is perfect for fans of Caldwell Turnbull's No Gods, No Monsters and the Convergence Saga. Turnbull is a member of the author who make up Darkly Lem, the other authors in the collaboration are Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, and M. Darusha Wehm. This didn't feel like it was written by multiple authors, and felt like a cohesive effort by the five members that make up Darkly Lem. If you enjoy that style of writing and storytelling you will enjoy this sci-fi, speculative fiction. This touches on politics, philosophy, environmental factors, corruption, self-reflection, and more.
Overall I really enjoyed this. It is strange in the best way, and while the pacing is a bit slow that fit the plot as it develops and the characters move about the multiverse. It is told from several different perspectives, but I had a hard time telling the characters apart and perhaps that was by design. There is a definite undertone of self-reflection by the characters as they move from place to place and they question their own identities. A major part of the plot is that characters can travel the multiverse and they inhabit different "husks" in different worlds. Their consciousness travels, while their "prime body" stays put, but don't quote me on that I'm still not 100% clear on that point. Some people have the ability to travel on their own, while others can move multiple people at once and the characters visit something akin to a train station to travel. It wasn't always clear if the character was another person when they traveled or if they were themselves, and that was a bit confusing for me. This is one of those books that I feel like upon re-read I would really understand the world and the science much better. I enjoyed the various characters once I got comfortable with their plotlines and motivations. There is alot going on and I was left with that feeling of "What did I just read?" when I was done. With this book that is meant as a huge compliment to the authors as I want to start over and dive back in because this book was so intriguing and interesting. I want to pick up on all of those things that I missed the first time through and pay closer attention to certain characters. I believe this is the beginning of a series and will 100% continue on.
This is perfect for fans of Caldwell Turnbull's No Gods, No Monsters and the Convergence Saga. Turnbull is a member of the author who make up Darkly Lem, the other authors in the collaboration are Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, and M. Darusha Wehm. This didn't feel like it was written by multiple authors, and felt like a cohesive effort by the five members that make up Darkly Lem. If you enjoy that style of writing and storytelling you will enjoy this sci-fi, speculative fiction. This touches on politics, philosophy, environmental factors, corruption, self-reflection, and more.
Overall I really enjoyed this. It is strange in the best way, and while the pacing is a bit slow that fit the plot as it develops and the characters move about the multiverse. It is told from several different perspectives, but I had a hard time telling the characters apart and perhaps that was by design. There is a definite undertone of self-reflection by the characters as they move from place to place and they question their own identities. A major part of the plot is that characters can travel the multiverse and they inhabit different "husks" in different worlds. Their consciousness travels, while their "prime body" stays put, but don't quote me on that I'm still not 100% clear on that point. Some people have the ability to travel on their own, while others can move multiple people at once and the characters visit something akin to a train station to travel. It wasn't always clear if the character was another person when they traveled or if they were themselves, and that was a bit confusing for me. This is one of those books that I feel like upon re-read I would really understand the world and the science much better. I enjoyed the various characters once I got comfortable with their plotlines and motivations. There is alot going on and I was left with that feeling of "What did I just read?" when I was done. With this book that is meant as a huge compliment to the authors as I want to start over and dive back in because this book was so intriguing and interesting. I want to pick up on all of those things that I missed the first time through and pay closer attention to certain characters. I believe this is the beginning of a series and will 100% continue on.
March 18, 2025
“Transmentation|Transcience” by Darkly Lem is an exciting experiment in science fiction, and would be particularly appreciated by those who enjoy their scifi with a bit of mystery and political intrigue mixed in. The first chapter of the book begins with meeting representatives of three of the societies of importance for the book, though we very quickly leave all of those characters behind to focus on the political narrative of Burel Hird, the society of most focus throughout the novel. Although we do later return to most of the characters from chapter 1, this quick change of focus does make it hard to remember the original cast of characters when they do reappear. I think this is a function of the entire Part I of the story, as the reader is quickly tossed between different groups that do not seem to have any overlap with each other. However, as the novel goes on, the characters flesh out more and the main characters gain their own voices, making them easier to remember and distinguish. The Interludes, in particular, distinguish themselves quickly as the setting is very different from the rest of the novel.
The pacing of the book is a bit slow but it also fits the plot and the focus of the story - which is mostly on the political interactions between the multiple factions and worlds. Although there are moments of action, these are rare as Darkly Lem spends most of their words slowly making readers question who are the heroes to root for, and changing that answer as the story goes on. Some time is spent on developing the multiverse of worlds that exist in the novel, as well as their way of traveling between them, but more time is spent in conversation between two or more characters, and slowly revealing a major political situation from multiple points of view. I found this very engaging and by the time the pace picked up towards the end, I was fully on board with solving the mystery.
Despite being a group of 5 authors, Darkly Lem weaved each of their unique voices into a pretty cohesive narrative in this book. I received this book as an ARC (and am providing my honest review) after reading No Monsters, No Gods by Cadwell Turnbull (a member of Darkly Lem) and I think other fans of his would also like this book. Although it takes some time to get into, the payoff at the end is completely worth it.
The pacing of the book is a bit slow but it also fits the plot and the focus of the story - which is mostly on the political interactions between the multiple factions and worlds. Although there are moments of action, these are rare as Darkly Lem spends most of their words slowly making readers question who are the heroes to root for, and changing that answer as the story goes on. Some time is spent on developing the multiverse of worlds that exist in the novel, as well as their way of traveling between them, but more time is spent in conversation between two or more characters, and slowly revealing a major political situation from multiple points of view. I found this very engaging and by the time the pace picked up towards the end, I was fully on board with solving the mystery.
Despite being a group of 5 authors, Darkly Lem weaved each of their unique voices into a pretty cohesive narrative in this book. I received this book as an ARC (and am providing my honest review) after reading No Monsters, No Gods by Cadwell Turnbull (a member of Darkly Lem) and I think other fans of his would also like this book. Although it takes some time to get into, the payoff at the end is completely worth it.
February 7, 2025
This is an interesting science fiction novel, set in a futuristic multiverse. It is written jointly by five science fiction authors using the pseudonym of "Darkly Lem". (I presume this is somehow an allusion to the great Polish sf writer Stanislaw Lem). I have only previously read solo works by one of the authors in the consortium: the excellent Cadwell Turnbull. The book is an engaging and rich narrative, set in a multiverse of sufficient complexity that it is so far hard to get a line on all the issues at stake. This book is only the first volume of what will be a multi-volume series, and it works mostly just to set things up -- many things are left hanging at the end of the book. There is a series of universes, most of which seem to have only one known inhabited planet. There are methods of traveling between the universes: when you go from one to another, you find yourself in a different body in each universe. When you go somewhere else, the body you leave behind seemingly functions autonomously on its own until you return, but it only does routine activities when it is by itself. There is no sense of consciousness for the abandoned bodies, though the travelers find their personality inflected by the particular body they are in at any given time. This shifting of identities is the most interesting aspect of the novel. Various political schemes are afoot between the different worlds (or between the powers on these different worlds). One of them is clearly imperialistic, others seem to be continually varying; the stakes of the power struggles are not entirely clear. What we mostly get is vivid pictures of particular individuals who travel from one universe to another, and who sometimes come into conflict. None of these individuals, however, is able to discern the big picture (assuming such even exists). There are maneuvers, fights, adaptations, and even an assassination of a leading political figure in one world. I have little sense of where this series is going, but it was engaging enough that I will read future volumes. I remain curious about the division of labor among the five authors.
January 22, 2025
I found this book interesting to begin with, the opening scenes really held my attention and I found myself intrigued with the different worlds that the characters seemed to be traversing. The jump between this exploration of worlds and the main cities/settlement areas I found to be a bit jarring and it almost made me feel like I was reading two different books within the one book. I do think this makes the book a unique read, and once you get used to it, it does feel less jarring. I also found it took a little bit of time to get used to the very unique names in the book, but again the names make the book quite unique.
Aside from those small things, the story is pretty interesting. There is a lot of politicking within the book, and its woven through the story in a way that doesn't make it laborious to read. There is quite a bit of world building to get through to begin with, but it given that I mainly fantasy, it wasn't an issue for me. I think the characters are well written, I didn't really have a favourite but I also didn't really hate any of the characters. It was overall just in interesting sci-fi book that kind of makes you think about the future of the human race and the possibilities of space exploration. My biggest concern, considering there were 5 people co-writing this book, was that it would feel all over the place, but overall it felt like a cohesive book and for the most part you can't really tell that more than one person wrote it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from those small things, the story is pretty interesting. There is a lot of politicking within the book, and its woven through the story in a way that doesn't make it laborious to read. There is quite a bit of world building to get through to begin with, but it given that I mainly fantasy, it wasn't an issue for me. I think the characters are well written, I didn't really have a favourite but I also didn't really hate any of the characters. It was overall just in interesting sci-fi book that kind of makes you think about the future of the human race and the possibilities of space exploration. My biggest concern, considering there were 5 people co-writing this book, was that it would feel all over the place, but overall it felt like a cohesive book and for the most part you can't really tell that more than one person wrote it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2025
✧ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, @DarklyLem @blackstonepublishing
➤ 𝚂𝚈𝙽𝙾𝙿𝚂𝙸𝚂
From bestselling authors Darkly Lem comes Transmentation | Transience, a sweeping multiverse adventure perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and The Expanse. Across thousands of worlds, competing societies of interdimensional travelers clash over power, knowledge, and survival. When a training mission goes wrong, intelligence officer Malculm Kilkeneade is blamed, Roamers of Tala Beinir and Shara are caught in an assassination plot, and rival factions within Burel Hird ignite a conflict that could send shockwaves across the Many Worlds.
➤ 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂
Transmentation | Transience by Darkly Lem dives into a sprawling, ambitious multiverse packed with corruption, conspiracies, and identity crises. The world-building is rich and detailed, sometimes a little too rich, like being handed a hundred-page manual before you're allowed to enjoy the ride. It can feel overwhelming at first, but once you find your footing, the payoff is worth it. The wide cast of characters keeps things moving, though occasionally they blur together, and the neutral, almost clinical writing style made it a little harder for me to fully connect with the story.
Still, considering this was a five-author team effort, it’s impressively cohesive and clearly pushes at the edges of what sci-fi can do. Even if it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, readers who love intricate worlds, political intrigue, and mind-bending multiverse adventures will find plenty to appreciate—and maybe even a few new existential crises to ponder.
➤ 𝚂𝚈𝙽𝙾𝙿𝚂𝙸𝚂
From bestselling authors Darkly Lem comes Transmentation | Transience, a sweeping multiverse adventure perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and The Expanse. Across thousands of worlds, competing societies of interdimensional travelers clash over power, knowledge, and survival. When a training mission goes wrong, intelligence officer Malculm Kilkeneade is blamed, Roamers of Tala Beinir and Shara are caught in an assassination plot, and rival factions within Burel Hird ignite a conflict that could send shockwaves across the Many Worlds.
➤ 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂
Transmentation | Transience by Darkly Lem dives into a sprawling, ambitious multiverse packed with corruption, conspiracies, and identity crises. The world-building is rich and detailed, sometimes a little too rich, like being handed a hundred-page manual before you're allowed to enjoy the ride. It can feel overwhelming at first, but once you find your footing, the payoff is worth it. The wide cast of characters keeps things moving, though occasionally they blur together, and the neutral, almost clinical writing style made it a little harder for me to fully connect with the story.
Still, considering this was a five-author team effort, it’s impressively cohesive and clearly pushes at the edges of what sci-fi can do. Even if it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, readers who love intricate worlds, political intrigue, and mind-bending multiverse adventures will find plenty to appreciate—and maybe even a few new existential crises to ponder.
June 5, 2025
Overall I finished this book because I refuse to mark it as a DNF after spending several hours reading it. I found the story challenging to follow at times and there seemed to be a lack of focus on what the main plot actually was, there was a lack of connection between myself and the characters, and it just did not keep my attention.
I wouldn't say I had high hopes for this book as I went it fairly blind to the story outside of the genre and concept. With the genre's and concept's however, I thought I would enjoy this book. It deals with the multiverse, which is always fascinating to me. However, dealing with the multiverse in this novel, I never quite understood the universe and how it all worked.
I was really hoping to enjoy this novel as it's written by 5 different authors. Now I wonder if the lack of focus on the main story and minimal character connection to the reader is because of that? The ending seemed as though there will be a second book. As of now I have no plans to read book 2 as I struggled and essentially forced myself to finish the book.
Actual rating: 1.75/5
Thank you Blackstone for sending me a complimentary copy of this book. Also, thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this book. - As far as the narration goes, I found certain character voices to be very low in baritone and therefore had to turn my volume considerably louder to hear and understand what was being said. the narration itself was a 3.5/5 for me.
I wouldn't say I had high hopes for this book as I went it fairly blind to the story outside of the genre and concept. With the genre's and concept's however, I thought I would enjoy this book. It deals with the multiverse, which is always fascinating to me. However, dealing with the multiverse in this novel, I never quite understood the universe and how it all worked.
I was really hoping to enjoy this novel as it's written by 5 different authors. Now I wonder if the lack of focus on the main story and minimal character connection to the reader is because of that? The ending seemed as though there will be a second book. As of now I have no plans to read book 2 as I struggled and essentially forced myself to finish the book.
Actual rating: 1.75/5
Thank you Blackstone for sending me a complimentary copy of this book. Also, thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this book. - As far as the narration goes, I found certain character voices to be very low in baritone and therefore had to turn my volume considerably louder to hear and understand what was being said. the narration itself was a 3.5/5 for me.
March 18, 2025
I was able to obtain an advanced reader audio copy through netgalley. I thank them for that.
I often like science fiction. But this one did not appeal to me as much as I would have hoped. Probably a three and a half star. The biggest problem here is the whole idea of a multiverse which I couldn't quite tell Foley that it was a multiverse rather than maybe just multi-world within one universe perhaps the individuals or travelers jump bodies. So basically they leave their body which seems to continue to function in a more muted way on its own but the individual 's personality or memory moves to another body which I don't know where they obtained that body or where the person goes whose body they end up snagging. It just felt weird enough. Plus it was hard to keep track of characters eventually you could start to catch on most of the time to who the characters were regardless of which new body they might have been in. But you really had to keep track of their names was about the only way and even then that was not always the case. Thanks so it took just a lot of concentration to try and keep up with where they had gone. Sometimes it would stay in an area long enough that at least you felt like it was a story held together. The writing was solid. Just not my preference for a type of book. It was audio and the narrator did a fantastic job.
I often like science fiction. But this one did not appeal to me as much as I would have hoped. Probably a three and a half star. The biggest problem here is the whole idea of a multiverse which I couldn't quite tell Foley that it was a multiverse rather than maybe just multi-world within one universe perhaps the individuals or travelers jump bodies. So basically they leave their body which seems to continue to function in a more muted way on its own but the individual 's personality or memory moves to another body which I don't know where they obtained that body or where the person goes whose body they end up snagging. It just felt weird enough. Plus it was hard to keep track of characters eventually you could start to catch on most of the time to who the characters were regardless of which new body they might have been in. But you really had to keep track of their names was about the only way and even then that was not always the case. Thanks so it took just a lot of concentration to try and keep up with where they had gone. Sometimes it would stay in an area long enough that at least you felt like it was a story held together. The writing was solid. Just not my preference for a type of book. It was audio and the narrator did a fantastic job.
April 1, 2025
This book is a wild ride of massive proportions. This is science fiction meets the west wing. It's one of those stories that you try to explain to a friend only to fall down a rabbit hole of details.
The team that is Darkly Lem has stitched together a mind bending story of travelers jumping from body to body across universes. The story focuses on the lives of several operatives on different sides of a multi-universe power struggle.
I really enjoyed the world building and the character development in this book. Getting used to the terms and culture of travelers was a small hurdle at the beginning, but before long it seems oddly easy. There is a good amount of action and a lot of political intrigue.
I think the only real issue I had was near the end. I don't want to post to much and spoil the plot, but there is a lot of time in the book dedicated to three characters that have a fateful encounter in the very first chapter. I didn't feel like their story went anywhere of value in this volume. I enjoyed how their various encounters unraveled more of the mechanics of the Simulacrum, but there just wasn't much payoff for all their maneuvering.
I really enjoyed the weird journey of this book. This is a very different kind of sci-fi story and I'm really happy with the final product. I look forward to what comes next.
The team that is Darkly Lem has stitched together a mind bending story of travelers jumping from body to body across universes. The story focuses on the lives of several operatives on different sides of a multi-universe power struggle.
I really enjoyed the world building and the character development in this book. Getting used to the terms and culture of travelers was a small hurdle at the beginning, but before long it seems oddly easy. There is a good amount of action and a lot of political intrigue.
I think the only real issue I had was near the end. I don't want to post to much and spoil the plot, but there is a lot of time in the book dedicated to three characters that have a fateful encounter in the very first chapter. I didn't feel like their story went anywhere of value in this volume. I enjoyed how their various encounters unraveled more of the mechanics of the Simulacrum, but there just wasn't much payoff for all their maneuvering.
I really enjoyed the weird journey of this book. This is a very different kind of sci-fi story and I'm really happy with the final product. I look forward to what comes next.
April 7, 2025
I was provided an ALC of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to Darkly Lem and Blackstone Publishing for letting me listen to this book and all opinions are my own.
I believe this is a first book in a series and there is a lot going on in sense of world building , very interesting ways of travel through universes that are soo different in atmosphere, species, laws of physics and other matters. So many people, places, and plots to keep track of, with many threads and details you have to remember and brings you to a great ending to this book.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the beautiful world building. There are also many ethical and other themes that are woven in this book. I loved most of the characters and I have found a few to dislike completely.
This would be above 4 stars - more like 4.3 for me mostly because it tries to do so much although it is a relatively ok sized listen, at once and it can be confusing with jumps between the stories, but then again our characters are doing the same through the book.
The narrator for this book was excellent and made it easier to follow and I hope he will be doing the follow up novels, which I will be surely reading when they become available.
I believe this is a first book in a series and there is a lot going on in sense of world building , very interesting ways of travel through universes that are soo different in atmosphere, species, laws of physics and other matters. So many people, places, and plots to keep track of, with many threads and details you have to remember and brings you to a great ending to this book.
I really enjoyed the writing style and the beautiful world building. There are also many ethical and other themes that are woven in this book. I loved most of the characters and I have found a few to dislike completely.
This would be above 4 stars - more like 4.3 for me mostly because it tries to do so much although it is a relatively ok sized listen, at once and it can be confusing with jumps between the stories, but then again our characters are doing the same through the book.
The narrator for this book was excellent and made it easier to follow and I hope he will be doing the follow up novels, which I will be surely reading when they become available.
October 23, 2024
An absolutely mindbending science fiction novel set in a complex multiverse. This book is dense (like a rich, tasty cake is dense), it is intricate, it is at times jawdroppingly strange (and I mean that as a sincere compliment), and it kept me hooked through all its twists and turns by telling a vast and complex story through the singular lives of several different people. The close focus on the motley crew of characters, from bureaucrats and spies, to academics and fighters, makes the story feel both vast in scope as you glimpse the immense multiverse through their eyes, and intimate, because you see the impact of ruthless political feuds and violent power-struggles on the people caught up in the midst of it all.
With body-hopping multiverse travel, fights in taverns, robots and aliens, harrowing escapes through multiple universes, fantastical worlds, and lots of intrigue and betrayals, this book is heavy with ideas. It also manages to have a real sense of humour AND pack an emotional punch as characters ponder the nature of identity, love, existence, fate, and the nature of the universe itself.
With body-hopping multiverse travel, fights in taverns, robots and aliens, harrowing escapes through multiple universes, fantastical worlds, and lots of intrigue and betrayals, this book is heavy with ideas. It also manages to have a real sense of humour AND pack an emotional punch as characters ponder the nature of identity, love, existence, fate, and the nature of the universe itself.
February 12, 2025
Darkly Lem’s richly woven tapestry of a science fiction novel asks us who we are, deeper than the flesh and memories that imprison us, and if we can ever escape the societies that we belong to. Characters jump from universe to universe, from shell to shell, seeking to hold on to core identity that they're not always confident exists. In lieu of the certainty of self, they lean on that of belonging to something greater than themselves–even when their society betrays them, they cling tightly to this sense of meaning in their lives. As someone who suffers from mental illness, I found the themes of identity fascinating.
And as a fan of expansive, thrilling science fiction, I was equally drawn in. There were universes of political scheming to match the White Tower, and others of fighting bug-eyed monsters with stolen swords. There was love, or friendship, or some ambiguous tangle that's both and neither, lost beneath ambition. Each fantastical world is as richly detailed as the characters that inhabit it, and they're combined to tell a captivating, satisfying tale.
And as a fan of expansive, thrilling science fiction, I was equally drawn in. There were universes of political scheming to match the White Tower, and others of fighting bug-eyed monsters with stolen swords. There was love, or friendship, or some ambiguous tangle that's both and neither, lost beneath ambition. Each fantastical world is as richly detailed as the characters that inhabit it, and they're combined to tell a captivating, satisfying tale.
March 22, 2025
Transmentation | Transcience is a great, albeit complex, story told by a plethora of characters. It is set in a vast multiverse and I love the effort the author(s) have put into the worldbuilding: it’s literally out of this world, with amazing features. Even so, it felt like the storyline was sometimes lost at the expense of the details. There were also moments where it was a little bit tricky to figure out who said what in the dialogue, which in the end rendered some information lost on all issues at stake. I realize I missed a few clues and pointers to the political intrigue and power struggles between the different worlds and factions that way.
All things considered, it was a book I enjoyed very much and I look forward to future volumes in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
All things considered, it was a book I enjoyed very much and I look forward to future volumes in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2025
I was hooked in the first chapter—a compelling read. Just the kind of Kindle reading novel I love reading before bedtime! At first, the extensive dramatis personae made me uneasy. Worrying that the worldbuilding would be overly expository and dense. Leaving me to struggle and give up on a weird SF version of a 19th-century Russian novel trying to keep all the names and concepts straight. My concerns were unfounded. My second concern was the different writing styles of the various authors wouldn't work, that I would favor some more than the others. This was not a problem as it worked well given the novel features alternating POVs. I look forward to the future volumes.
July 9, 2025
It picked up steam as it went but the first half was a bit of a chore. I think the world-building could have been helped by being more focused on specific characters for each of the parts. The latter half of the book worked really well for me mainly because it primarily focused on three characters interacting. The political characters and plots came mostly together at the end but didn't have enough of a payoff to justify the beginning. Overall ratings for the characters: 4 stars for Malculm, Shara, ane Beinr. 2 stars for all of the politicos.
That being said, now that I have managed to get through a lot of the world building, I am excited for the next book in the series.
That being said, now that I have managed to get through a lot of the world building, I am excited for the next book in the series.
May 23, 2025
(I listened to the audiobook version)
Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It started very strong with the world building and all, however it very quickly turned a little too much for me.
There is a moment around the first hour where the author says this girls name like a thousand times in 5 minutes, you lost me at the 100th "Trestete"
I'm sure it was a very interesting read for other people but my ADHD just couldn't keep up with it, I kept rewind it and still was very lost.
Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It started very strong with the world building and all, however it very quickly turned a little too much for me.
There is a moment around the first hour where the author says this girls name like a thousand times in 5 minutes, you lost me at the 100th "Trestete"
I'm sure it was a very interesting read for other people but my ADHD just couldn't keep up with it, I kept rewind it and still was very lost.
June 20, 2025
I listened to the audio book version, which was read very well.
A beautifully written, beautifully rendered universe. Moments captured in glimmering layers of depth, strung together through the multiverse to tell a story, or many stories, of adventure, of disillusion, of betrayal, denial, belief, the human experience... all throughout the "transmundy" (sp?) - the concept of the linked multiverse through which "travelers" can journey, from version to version of themselves. Which of course begs the question, who's the real version? What defines the real version of myself?
A beautifully written, beautifully rendered universe. Moments captured in glimmering layers of depth, strung together through the multiverse to tell a story, or many stories, of adventure, of disillusion, of betrayal, denial, belief, the human experience... all throughout the "transmundy" (sp?) - the concept of the linked multiverse through which "travelers" can journey, from version to version of themselves. Which of course begs the question, who's the real version? What defines the real version of myself?
February 22, 2025
This was a wild ride.
Speculative science fiction about identity and relating to the world. This was told primarily through dialogue between all of the characters but had a lot of plot.
A very interesting way to tell a story.
Thanks to netgalley and blackstone publishing for an eARC.
Speculative science fiction about identity and relating to the world. This was told primarily through dialogue between all of the characters but had a lot of plot.
A very interesting way to tell a story.
Thanks to netgalley and blackstone publishing for an eARC.
Read
June 29, 2025DNF at page 102. This book is an accomplishment. Written by five authors in collaboration, it follows the action through multiple universes. It's pretty dense and full of details that will delight many readers. Right now, I'm looking for a lower bar of entry, so it's a DNF for me.
September 16, 2025
Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.
Maybe this would have been better for me as a physical copy but I was just NOT getting into this. It seemed like it was going to be interesting at first but just didn't do it for me unfortunately.
Maybe this would have been better for me as a physical copy but I was just NOT getting into this. It seemed like it was going to be interesting at first but just didn't do it for me unfortunately.
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