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Voidverse
AN ENDLESS VOID. A POWERFUL ANOMALY. A QUEST FOR REVENGE.
When The Sinker was a child, her home was destroyed by The Construct, a floating machine that consumes all in its path. To survive, she fled into the void, a seemingly infinite nothingness where few dare venture, filled with floating, vertically stacked rocks. Some of these rocks are giant magnets, some burn with eternal flame and some are influenced by the presence of seemingly magical objects – anomalies that defy physical laws.
For half a lifetime, The Sinker has wandered the void on a quest for knowledge, for understanding and for peace. But when rumours reach her that The Construct is near again, she knows fate has come full circle. With the help of Crooked Arm – the heir to a shattered throne, who happens to possess the most powerful anomaly of all – the two of them set out on a mission to end the tyranny of The Construct forever.
From one of the visionary writers of the Netflix series The OA comes a reality unlike anything you have ever encountered before.
If you're ready, enter the void...
When The Sinker was a child, her home was destroyed by The Construct, a floating machine that consumes all in its path. To survive, she fled into the void, a seemingly infinite nothingness where few dare venture, filled with floating, vertically stacked rocks. Some of these rocks are giant magnets, some burn with eternal flame and some are influenced by the presence of seemingly magical objects – anomalies that defy physical laws.
For half a lifetime, The Sinker has wandered the void on a quest for knowledge, for understanding and for peace. But when rumours reach her that The Construct is near again, she knows fate has come full circle. With the help of Crooked Arm – the heir to a shattered throne, who happens to possess the most powerful anomaly of all – the two of them set out on a mission to end the tyranny of The Construct forever.
From one of the visionary writers of the Netflix series The OA comes a reality unlike anything you have ever encountered before.
If you're ready, enter the void...
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
59 people are currently reading
11880 people want to read
About the author
Damien Ober
5 books67 followersDamien Ober is a novelist and screenwriter. He was a writer for the Netflix series The OA and has written scripts and developed TV shows for Paramount+, AMC, Netflix, and Warner Brothers. His work has appeared in The Rumpus, NOON, B O D Y Literature, The Baltimore City Paper, VLAK, and port.man.teau. He was a co-winner of the Sherwood Anderson Award, was nominated for a 2012 Pushcart Prize, and his screenplay Randle Is Benign was selected for the 2013 Black List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars
The world was unique & fascinating. Nothing derivative about it. I’ve never read anything remotely similar which was enough to get me hooked. Starts a little slow so took me a bit to become immersed in the story. Once the plot got going I couldn’t put it down. The main reason I knocked off a star was the ending. While the it wrapped things up, it was a bit pat & there were too many questions left unanswered.
The world was unique & fascinating. Nothing derivative about it. I’ve never read anything remotely similar which was enough to get me hooked. Starts a little slow so took me a bit to become immersed in the story. Once the plot got going I couldn’t put it down. The main reason I knocked off a star was the ending. While the it wrapped things up, it was a bit pat & there were too many questions left unanswered.
March 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The sink is endless. It’s impossible to right every wrong. But we’re here now. And so are those assholes. Let’s go fuck them up”
I was very lucky to receive an ARC of Voidverse, and it turned out to be one of the more unique sci-fi concepts I’ve read in a hot minute - also with a bit of existential dread mixed in.
The universe Damien Ober builds is incredibly unique. People live on individual “worlds” that resemble floating triangular rocks — flat land on top with jagged stone underneath — existing through an endless void. Travellers can rise or sink into the void to reach other worlds, which creates a vast sense of scale and possibility right from the start.
The story follows a female sinker navigating the void and the many worlds within it. One of the things I loved was how each world has its own codes, laws, and cultural traditions, which you learn alongside the protagonist as she arrives in new places.
One of my favourite details was how time works in this universe. There are no hours, days, or minutes. Time is measured in rests and breaths, which adds another layer to the strange, almost dreamlike feeling of travelling through the Void.
At the center of the story is the conflict with ‘The Construct’, a powerful entity responsible for destroying worlds and harvesting their resources. That larger struggle gave the story a bit of a Star Wars-like resistance energy, but the structure of the universe and the journey through it still felt very original.
Voidverse is the kind of story that reminds you how exciting sci-fi can be when it dares to imagine something truly different.. A very enjoyable read for anyone who likes expansive universes and stories about exploration, rebellion, and the connections formed along the way.
“The sink is endless. It’s impossible to right every wrong. But we’re here now. And so are those assholes. Let’s go fuck them up”
I was very lucky to receive an ARC of Voidverse, and it turned out to be one of the more unique sci-fi concepts I’ve read in a hot minute - also with a bit of existential dread mixed in.
The universe Damien Ober builds is incredibly unique. People live on individual “worlds” that resemble floating triangular rocks — flat land on top with jagged stone underneath — existing through an endless void. Travellers can rise or sink into the void to reach other worlds, which creates a vast sense of scale and possibility right from the start.
The story follows a female sinker navigating the void and the many worlds within it. One of the things I loved was how each world has its own codes, laws, and cultural traditions, which you learn alongside the protagonist as she arrives in new places.
One of my favourite details was how time works in this universe. There are no hours, days, or minutes. Time is measured in rests and breaths, which adds another layer to the strange, almost dreamlike feeling of travelling through the Void.
At the center of the story is the conflict with ‘The Construct’, a powerful entity responsible for destroying worlds and harvesting their resources. That larger struggle gave the story a bit of a Star Wars-like resistance energy, but the structure of the universe and the journey through it still felt very original.
Voidverse is the kind of story that reminds you how exciting sci-fi can be when it dares to imagine something truly different.. A very enjoyable read for anyone who likes expansive universes and stories about exploration, rebellion, and the connections formed along the way.
August 15, 2025
This definitely was giving Wool with the anxiety driven claustrophobia of the silos but instead it’s endless void. The setting was very unique with civilization found on vertical floating rocks and The Construct destroying said rocks for fuel (corporate America, is that you (again)?) some parts of this were lagging and confusing. I had to use both brain cells to figure out what friction (in context to the book), Far machine, liquid mirror, and axiom were but once you get past that it was an intriguing read that ended on QUITE the cliff hanger🫣
December 2, 2025
This one was so bizarre for me.
I greatly enjoyed the setting, the floating rocks populated in an endless void, I found it very intriguing. Unfortunately, the landscape of the book was the only thing that held my interest; the characters were very shallow and the plot felt slow to progress.
There was also something of Ober’s writing style that just did not hit for me.
I think the story being sold as “Lord of the Rings meets Mad Max” set me off with the wrong expectations; they were not met and I am left disappointed. I don’t quite understand the comparisons.
Realising this book is part of a series 40 pages from the end was very upsetting too.
I greatly enjoyed the setting, the floating rocks populated in an endless void, I found it very intriguing. Unfortunately, the landscape of the book was the only thing that held my interest; the characters were very shallow and the plot felt slow to progress.
There was also something of Ober’s writing style that just did not hit for me.
I think the story being sold as “Lord of the Rings meets Mad Max” set me off with the wrong expectations; they were not met and I am left disappointed. I don’t quite understand the comparisons.
Realising this book is part of a series 40 pages from the end was very upsetting too.
March 11, 2026
TLDR: Humans live on vastly scattered mini planets, all endlessly free-falling through an endless void. Myths & legends drive societies, some barbaric, some simple-minded, all isolated. A mechanical planet is destroying everything in its path, while unlikely underdogs race into an endless unknown.
This was absolutely FASCINATING. Entirely unique, unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s space sci-fi yes, but the sciencey part isn’t overwhelming (probably why I liked it.)
Each planet is so different & each new one we visit with our characters is so unpredictable & wild. Some have bubbles of liquid mirror. Some give humans descriptive names like Crooked Arm or Fast Daggers, others have endless rows of turkeys. Each mini planet also has their own ‘code’ or rules that govern their population.
This world, the rules & the vernacular are all completely new- planets are called ‘rocks’, time is measured in ‘rests’ and ‘breaths’. Humans apparently don’t need to worry about oxygen in space. However, timeless human tendencies like greed, seeking immortality & “the ends justify the means” permeate the endless time and space of the void.
Cant forget the villains- The Construct is a mechanical city, basically a flying, armed, hostile trash compactor, destroying & consuming entire planets for their own survival. You know what giant trash cans have? Bugs. There are bugs. Everywhere. (I couldn’t help but think of The Construct + it’s leader as a plague).
I loved our FMC, The Sinker. She’s the epitome of “Walk softly and carry a big stick”. She’s also pretty dam crafty with a sword.
Lastly, the writing style does take some of getting used to. There are instances where one sentence is pages long, a choppy stream of consciousness, in a way. It was a bit jarring at first, but by the end it made so much sense, as it was a way of experiencing the endless blur characters experience while in the void.
I know I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time!
**Thank you to the author + SagaPress for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
This was absolutely FASCINATING. Entirely unique, unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s space sci-fi yes, but the sciencey part isn’t overwhelming (probably why I liked it.)
Each planet is so different & each new one we visit with our characters is so unpredictable & wild. Some have bubbles of liquid mirror. Some give humans descriptive names like Crooked Arm or Fast Daggers, others have endless rows of turkeys. Each mini planet also has their own ‘code’ or rules that govern their population.
This world, the rules & the vernacular are all completely new- planets are called ‘rocks’, time is measured in ‘rests’ and ‘breaths’. Humans apparently don’t need to worry about oxygen in space. However, timeless human tendencies like greed, seeking immortality & “the ends justify the means” permeate the endless time and space of the void.
Cant forget the villains- The Construct is a mechanical city, basically a flying, armed, hostile trash compactor, destroying & consuming entire planets for their own survival. You know what giant trash cans have? Bugs. There are bugs. Everywhere. (I couldn’t help but think of The Construct + it’s leader as a plague).
I loved our FMC, The Sinker. She’s the epitome of “Walk softly and carry a big stick”. She’s also pretty dam crafty with a sword.
Lastly, the writing style does take some of getting used to. There are instances where one sentence is pages long, a choppy stream of consciousness, in a way. It was a bit jarring at first, but by the end it made so much sense, as it was a way of experiencing the endless blur characters experience while in the void.
I know I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time!
**Thank you to the author + SagaPress for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
March 15, 2026
I really enjoyed the world of the void and the various rock communities that resulted, each with their unique livelihoods and codes. The story was engaging and thought provoking, and I was always interested in what was coming next. I would definitely pick up a sequel :)
September 14, 2025
It took me a while to finish this, because I just could not bring myself to care about anything. The one that I’d typically find at least interesting wasn’t even that for me (Sinker). The concept of a mechanism devouring rocks that people call home without remorse sounds incredible, but it fell into boring surprisingly fast, because the characters and their actions were two dimensional at best. I mean, good lord, in the very beginning we have a mother who ran off to find a cure for her sick child (which is damn near taboo in her culture because sinking is worse than rising or whatever) and then didn’t even cry when he got absolutely pulverized after she decided to leave her family for good lol. Even as a reader I didn’t feel anything. Same with a few chapters in the future when you’re following another character and their wife kicks the bucket too. At least they felt something, it was too bad I did not.
I don’t know… it was just a whole lot of something, but not something that kept me interested.
Thank you NetGalley and Owlcrate for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I don’t know… it was just a whole lot of something, but not something that kept me interested.
Thank you NetGalley and Owlcrate for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
A huge thanks to Saga Press for the physical arc. The hardcover with its naked artwork and sprayed edges is a real treat.
I requested this one off the blurb and the fact that it said the author was a writer for Netflix’s The OA series. Not only was I a fan, and it was canceled before its time, but it was also filmed in my high school and the new neighborhood that bordered it, which is a super cool thing to have happen.
A poem on an old rock speaks of a second coming. The sink is filled with floating rocks, clinging to gravity out of the endless friction in the sink. For many, there is only the concept of rising, of bettering themselves, but it is also based on fear. The Sinker has no such fear, and has sank further than many thought possible. If others are so afraid to sink, then next to no one is bringing information back and forth, leaving untold knowledge below. And that just might be important to what’s coming.
I will say off the rip that I think a book with this many terms created in-world has got to come with some sort of index. Maybe because I got it early it didn’t have it, so maybe that’s a me problem, but I just really hope it includes it. Things like “the sink” and the idea of people being “sinkers” or “risers" were pretty easy to pick up on, but there were others I would have liked to have an idea of. Again, that may be a me thing, but when a book—especially one with worldbuilding like this—has that many terms (I’m bringing to mind Toothsucker by Kaden Love) I’d personally read through the key first.
This book is certainly original. Worldbuilding unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I don’t think it can be mimicked either. The idea that right off the edge of your existence is an endless “world,” that all you have to do is take the leap, is really something special. I liked the idea of the sink just being this endless friction between spaces, that people could train on how to traverse it. It is a void much like outside our planet, yet it is unlike space. And while many may wear special uniforms to help with friction, it’s not really like being an astronaut or anything. Each rock has its own way to get by, to survive the void, and with so many staying put, they have different cultures and “codes” too. It was a bit hard to picture at first, but the idea itself leaves this really lush, lived-in feel where one rock can be farmers, the next gladiators.
The characters really shine too. The author has put together a cast that you really can grow to care for. If he was a part of the character growth on The OA, then I can really see why it’s so good. The Sinker, while only going by a moniker, is anything but a caricature. She’s complex with a harsh past, a driven story. She is pushed by anger and yet helps people over and over. She’s compelling, and likewise those she comes into contact with become the same as well. The Construct, a hulking amalgamation of rock, outcroppings, add-ons, and engines, is this wonderfully imaginative space. Led by the Garent, a seemingly ageless man with a fantastic winter wardrobe, and home to a disgusting set of insects. Hiram Goegal, who has probably my favorite name ever (and I loved the fact that he was called his full name almost every time) is also a great character. Technically part of the “villains,” perhaps, but truly thinks he’s on the path of doing what’s right.
Fascinating and unique, this meshing space sci-fi and fantasy into its own little new sub-genre. A bit of a slow start, but by the end you’ll be begging for book two.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-voidve...
I requested this one off the blurb and the fact that it said the author was a writer for Netflix’s The OA series. Not only was I a fan, and it was canceled before its time, but it was also filmed in my high school and the new neighborhood that bordered it, which is a super cool thing to have happen.
A poem on an old rock speaks of a second coming. The sink is filled with floating rocks, clinging to gravity out of the endless friction in the sink. For many, there is only the concept of rising, of bettering themselves, but it is also based on fear. The Sinker has no such fear, and has sank further than many thought possible. If others are so afraid to sink, then next to no one is bringing information back and forth, leaving untold knowledge below. And that just might be important to what’s coming.
I will say off the rip that I think a book with this many terms created in-world has got to come with some sort of index. Maybe because I got it early it didn’t have it, so maybe that’s a me problem, but I just really hope it includes it. Things like “the sink” and the idea of people being “sinkers” or “risers" were pretty easy to pick up on, but there were others I would have liked to have an idea of. Again, that may be a me thing, but when a book—especially one with worldbuilding like this—has that many terms (I’m bringing to mind Toothsucker by Kaden Love) I’d personally read through the key first.
This book is certainly original. Worldbuilding unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I don’t think it can be mimicked either. The idea that right off the edge of your existence is an endless “world,” that all you have to do is take the leap, is really something special. I liked the idea of the sink just being this endless friction between spaces, that people could train on how to traverse it. It is a void much like outside our planet, yet it is unlike space. And while many may wear special uniforms to help with friction, it’s not really like being an astronaut or anything. Each rock has its own way to get by, to survive the void, and with so many staying put, they have different cultures and “codes” too. It was a bit hard to picture at first, but the idea itself leaves this really lush, lived-in feel where one rock can be farmers, the next gladiators.
The characters really shine too. The author has put together a cast that you really can grow to care for. If he was a part of the character growth on The OA, then I can really see why it’s so good. The Sinker, while only going by a moniker, is anything but a caricature. She’s complex with a harsh past, a driven story. She is pushed by anger and yet helps people over and over. She’s compelling, and likewise those she comes into contact with become the same as well. The Construct, a hulking amalgamation of rock, outcroppings, add-ons, and engines, is this wonderfully imaginative space. Led by the Garent, a seemingly ageless man with a fantastic winter wardrobe, and home to a disgusting set of insects. Hiram Goegal, who has probably my favorite name ever (and I loved the fact that he was called his full name almost every time) is also a great character. Technically part of the “villains,” perhaps, but truly thinks he’s on the path of doing what’s right.
Fascinating and unique, this meshing space sci-fi and fantasy into its own little new sub-genre. A bit of a slow start, but by the end you’ll be begging for book two.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-voidve...
March 23, 2026
Voidverse Audiobook/Book Review 🎧📖🪨thank you so much @sagapress @simon.audio for the gifted copy + audiobook! #sagasayscrew #sagapress #freegift
Voidverse
by Damien Lincoln Ober
Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
out now!
As a child, the Sinker escaped a life of violence by fleeing into the Void a vast, endless expanse where people survive on floating “rocks,” each shaped by strange and powerful forces. Unafraid of its dangers, she travels through the darkness with a sword on her back, running from a past that refuses to stay buried.
Emery, who has only ever known the safety of her home, is forced into the Void when her son falls ill. But when she returns to find everything destroyed, she’s left with nothing but a haunting dream that may hold the key to everything. As kingdoms rise and fall and a powerful force threatens to consume the Void itself, Emery and the Sinker must navigate a collapsing world, where survival may depend on a legend hidden deep within the darkness.
🗡️ My thoughts:
This story felt unlike anything I’ve read before. I split my time between the audiobook and the physical book, and both were such a great experience. The narrator truly delivered, bringing the atmosphere and emotion to life in a way that made it so easy to switch between versions without losing any of the immersion. This is definitely more of a slow build, but once the story takes off, it really pulls you in. What stood out to me most was how unique it felt. I haven’t read anything quite like this before, and I was completely fascinated by the world and its concept from the very beginning. The Void, the floating “rocks,” and the sense of something much bigger unfolding made it feel expansive and otherworldly. If you enjoy imaginative stories that have slower builds and lead to bigger payoffs, this is definitely a book to give a read or a listen!
Happy reading 📖🎧🪨🗡️
Voidverse
by Damien Lincoln Ober
Narrated by Lisa Flanagan
out now!
As a child, the Sinker escaped a life of violence by fleeing into the Void a vast, endless expanse where people survive on floating “rocks,” each shaped by strange and powerful forces. Unafraid of its dangers, she travels through the darkness with a sword on her back, running from a past that refuses to stay buried.
Emery, who has only ever known the safety of her home, is forced into the Void when her son falls ill. But when she returns to find everything destroyed, she’s left with nothing but a haunting dream that may hold the key to everything. As kingdoms rise and fall and a powerful force threatens to consume the Void itself, Emery and the Sinker must navigate a collapsing world, where survival may depend on a legend hidden deep within the darkness.
🗡️ My thoughts:
This story felt unlike anything I’ve read before. I split my time between the audiobook and the physical book, and both were such a great experience. The narrator truly delivered, bringing the atmosphere and emotion to life in a way that made it so easy to switch between versions without losing any of the immersion. This is definitely more of a slow build, but once the story takes off, it really pulls you in. What stood out to me most was how unique it felt. I haven’t read anything quite like this before, and I was completely fascinated by the world and its concept from the very beginning. The Void, the floating “rocks,” and the sense of something much bigger unfolding made it feel expansive and otherworldly. If you enjoy imaginative stories that have slower builds and lead to bigger payoffs, this is definitely a book to give a read or a listen!
Happy reading 📖🎧🪨🗡️
January 6, 2026
Wow this was a really strange one but very enjoyable. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
March 24, 2026
7.5/10.
I feel like this book was tailor made for me to at least enjoy it. Some of the writing was odd but I liked it. It’s a quickly paced science fiction book but it left me wanting more. I think some of the battle/fight scenes could have been described a bit better, but mostly I’d like it if some of the different rocks were a bit more fleshed out to show their uniqueness. Overall a very enjoyable space faring trip. Finished it in 2 days two holy shit that’s fast.
I feel like this book was tailor made for me to at least enjoy it. Some of the writing was odd but I liked it. It’s a quickly paced science fiction book but it left me wanting more. I think some of the battle/fight scenes could have been described a bit better, but mostly I’d like it if some of the different rocks were a bit more fleshed out to show their uniqueness. Overall a very enjoyable space faring trip. Finished it in 2 days two holy shit that’s fast.
September 27, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is based on an uncorrected proof, and quotes/page numbers may not match the final published edition.
Damien Ober’s Voidverse doesn’t just give you a glimpse into the Void, the Void looks back at you. This book successfully merges the core concepts of science fiction in what feels like a whole new way.
Voidverse centers on the Sinker, a mysterious woman who travels the enigmatic Void like she’s a part of it, and Emery, a woman plagued by dreams and urges she doesn’t yet understand but feel like the answer to it all. Both women are faced with constant danger from the Void, the Rocks and the people who live on them yet face it all with determination and a strong sense of the code of ethics at work within the Void. The core conflict lurks just out of sight, a legend, a myth to those who dwell on the Rocks within the Void. They are forced to confront their pasts and the future with friends and foes rising and sinking at their sides.
Voidverse starts with a slow-burn build-up that establishes the complex dimensional rules, before exploding into a breakneck second half. Ober's writing style manages to both lull the reader into a feeling of safety while also keeping them on the edge, wondering what the next Rock will bring. The worldbuilding, particularly the physics of the Void, is detailed enough to feel possible without ever overwhelming the reader. Everything clicks into place, creating a tense, relentless march toward the unknown.
Voidverse blends high-stakes adventure with profound questions about identity, family and ethics. The ending leaves you thinking about the implications long after you close the cover and looking for the next installment of the story.
Damien Ober’s Voidverse doesn’t just give you a glimpse into the Void, the Void looks back at you. This book successfully merges the core concepts of science fiction in what feels like a whole new way.
Voidverse centers on the Sinker, a mysterious woman who travels the enigmatic Void like she’s a part of it, and Emery, a woman plagued by dreams and urges she doesn’t yet understand but feel like the answer to it all. Both women are faced with constant danger from the Void, the Rocks and the people who live on them yet face it all with determination and a strong sense of the code of ethics at work within the Void. The core conflict lurks just out of sight, a legend, a myth to those who dwell on the Rocks within the Void. They are forced to confront their pasts and the future with friends and foes rising and sinking at their sides.
Voidverse starts with a slow-burn build-up that establishes the complex dimensional rules, before exploding into a breakneck second half. Ober's writing style manages to both lull the reader into a feeling of safety while also keeping them on the edge, wondering what the next Rock will bring. The worldbuilding, particularly the physics of the Void, is detailed enough to feel possible without ever overwhelming the reader. Everything clicks into place, creating a tense, relentless march toward the unknown.
Voidverse blends high-stakes adventure with profound questions about identity, family and ethics. The ending leaves you thinking about the implications long after you close the cover and looking for the next installment of the story.
December 22, 2025
(4.5) One of the most unique pieces of sci-fi I’ve read in a long time!! I was captured by the image of rocks and bodies falling through the void, and found myself imagining what it would be like to fly like the Sinker, to lean off the edge of a planet and feel the friction rushing past your face. What a fun concept completed by in-depth worldbuilding and complex characters! I loved how the different timelines and characters were woven together, and the way all of the story converged in the end was extremely satisfying. Absolutely a 2026 must-read!
March 18, 2026
I picked this up knowing almost nothing about it except that it was getting good reviews and the concept sounded interesting. I want to be honest about my experience reading it because I think it’s relevant to how you approach this book.
The first hundred pages nearly broke me. The world Damien Ober builds is genuinely unlike anything I’ve read before and he does not hold your hand getting into it. There is terminology flying at you from page one — friction, rests, the sink, risers, sinkers, the void — and no glossary, no gentle onboarding, no character conveniently explaining things to another character for the reader’s benefit. You are dropped into this world the way you’d be dropped into the ocean. Sink or swim. I was sinking for a while.
But here’s the thing. If you push through that initial disorientation something remarkable happens. The terminology stops being noise and starts being atmosphere. You stop translating and start feeling. And when that clicks the book opens up into one of the most quietly devastating things I’ve read in years.
The concept, once it lands, is deceptively simple. Imagine infinite dark space with rocks floating in it. People live on these rocks. The only force in the world is a constant upward wind, and most people spend their lives riding it higher. A few rare people travel downward against it, into the darkness below, toward the bottom of everything. The central villain is the Construct — a massive ever-expanding city-machine that survives by absorbing and destroying other rocks to fuel its engines, run by an ageless leader with a god complex and a very personal secret. Think the Dune empire crossed with Mad Max crossed with the Expanse and put in a blender.
The three main characters are Emery, an ordinary woman on a small rock whose dying son turns out to be cosmically chosen, who loses everything when the Construct destroys her home and spends the rest of the novel traveling the void alone toward answers she can’t yet name. Crooked Arm, a displaced warrior carrying a sacred object called the Nest — ancient and powerful enough to reshape the entire universe — trying to understand why his civilization was destroyed to obtain it. And the Sinker, a mysterious woman of extraordinary skill whose entire life has been building toward a single confrontation with the Construct’s leader, a confrontation rooted in something deeply and painfully personal. Their stories are told out of chronological order, braided together across hundreds of pages, converging first at a secret community built around a destructive portal in the fabric of the void, and finally at the very bottom of everything, where the truth about how the entire world came to exist is waiting for them.
The emotional core of the book is about loss and what you do after it. Every major character has lost their world — literally in some cases — and the whole novel is about the long journey you take through the darkness after that happens. The void is not just a setting. It is a feeling. That long empty space between where you were and wherever you are going next. The Sinker’s storyline in particular builds to a confrontation that is as emotionally wrenching as anything I’ve read in the genre, a scene that reframes everything you thought you understood about her and the villain in a single conversation.
The ending is the kind that will divide readers. It stops mid-sentence, on the threshold of whatever comes next, and whether you find that profound or frustrating probably depends on your tolerance for ambiguity. I found it perfect. The whole book is about a world being unmade and remade, and ending it at the moment of creation felt exactly right. Ober asks a lot of you and takes his time earning it. But he does earn it.
The first hundred pages nearly broke me. The world Damien Ober builds is genuinely unlike anything I’ve read before and he does not hold your hand getting into it. There is terminology flying at you from page one — friction, rests, the sink, risers, sinkers, the void — and no glossary, no gentle onboarding, no character conveniently explaining things to another character for the reader’s benefit. You are dropped into this world the way you’d be dropped into the ocean. Sink or swim. I was sinking for a while.
But here’s the thing. If you push through that initial disorientation something remarkable happens. The terminology stops being noise and starts being atmosphere. You stop translating and start feeling. And when that clicks the book opens up into one of the most quietly devastating things I’ve read in years.
The concept, once it lands, is deceptively simple. Imagine infinite dark space with rocks floating in it. People live on these rocks. The only force in the world is a constant upward wind, and most people spend their lives riding it higher. A few rare people travel downward against it, into the darkness below, toward the bottom of everything. The central villain is the Construct — a massive ever-expanding city-machine that survives by absorbing and destroying other rocks to fuel its engines, run by an ageless leader with a god complex and a very personal secret. Think the Dune empire crossed with Mad Max crossed with the Expanse and put in a blender.
The three main characters are Emery, an ordinary woman on a small rock whose dying son turns out to be cosmically chosen, who loses everything when the Construct destroys her home and spends the rest of the novel traveling the void alone toward answers she can’t yet name. Crooked Arm, a displaced warrior carrying a sacred object called the Nest — ancient and powerful enough to reshape the entire universe — trying to understand why his civilization was destroyed to obtain it. And the Sinker, a mysterious woman of extraordinary skill whose entire life has been building toward a single confrontation with the Construct’s leader, a confrontation rooted in something deeply and painfully personal. Their stories are told out of chronological order, braided together across hundreds of pages, converging first at a secret community built around a destructive portal in the fabric of the void, and finally at the very bottom of everything, where the truth about how the entire world came to exist is waiting for them.
The emotional core of the book is about loss and what you do after it. Every major character has lost their world — literally in some cases — and the whole novel is about the long journey you take through the darkness after that happens. The void is not just a setting. It is a feeling. That long empty space between where you were and wherever you are going next. The Sinker’s storyline in particular builds to a confrontation that is as emotionally wrenching as anything I’ve read in the genre, a scene that reframes everything you thought you understood about her and the villain in a single conversation.
The ending is the kind that will divide readers. It stops mid-sentence, on the threshold of whatever comes next, and whether you find that profound or frustrating probably depends on your tolerance for ambiguity. I found it perfect. The whole book is about a world being unmade and remade, and ending it at the moment of creation felt exactly right. Ober asks a lot of you and takes his time earning it. But he does earn it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2026
my rating: ★★★★
aesthetic: 🪨⚔️☄️🌌🛰️🪐👨🏼🚀🩸🧭✨
Voidverse was a fascinating and surprisingly unique reading experience — one that stepped well outside the genres I typically reach for, yet still managed to capture my curiosity. With such an imaginative premise, the book creates a world that feels strange, expansive, and almost dreamlike in its possibilities.
The concept alone is incredibly compelling. A seemingly endless void filled with floating vertical rock formations, mysterious anomalies that bend physical laws, and a wandering protagonist searching for answers sets the stage for a story that feels unlike anything I’ve read before. The imaginative world-building and unusual environment make every discovery feel intriguing, especially as new types of rocks, anomalies, and dangers appear along the journey.
Because of that originality, it did take me some time to adjust to the writing style and structure, particularly with the multiple POVs and the way the narrative unfolds. At first it felt slightly disorienting, but once I settled into the rhythm of the storytelling, I found myself more invested in the characters and the broader mystery surrounding the void and its forces.
The dynamic between the characters — especially as alliances form in the face of an overwhelming threat — adds emotional grounding to such a surreal setting. The sense of destiny and the looming presence of The Construct create tension that slowly builds as the story progresses.
Overall, Voidverse is an ambitious and imaginative science fiction novel that rewards patience and curiosity. While it took a little time for me to fully settle into its style, the originality of the world and the thought-provoking ending left a strong impression. For readers looking for something unusual, expansive, and concept-driven, this one is definitely worth exploring.
aesthetic: 🪨⚔️☄️🌌🛰️🪐👨🏼🚀🩸🧭✨
Voidverse was a fascinating and surprisingly unique reading experience — one that stepped well outside the genres I typically reach for, yet still managed to capture my curiosity. With such an imaginative premise, the book creates a world that feels strange, expansive, and almost dreamlike in its possibilities.
The concept alone is incredibly compelling. A seemingly endless void filled with floating vertical rock formations, mysterious anomalies that bend physical laws, and a wandering protagonist searching for answers sets the stage for a story that feels unlike anything I’ve read before. The imaginative world-building and unusual environment make every discovery feel intriguing, especially as new types of rocks, anomalies, and dangers appear along the journey.
Because of that originality, it did take me some time to adjust to the writing style and structure, particularly with the multiple POVs and the way the narrative unfolds. At first it felt slightly disorienting, but once I settled into the rhythm of the storytelling, I found myself more invested in the characters and the broader mystery surrounding the void and its forces.
The dynamic between the characters — especially as alliances form in the face of an overwhelming threat — adds emotional grounding to such a surreal setting. The sense of destiny and the looming presence of The Construct create tension that slowly builds as the story progresses.
Overall, Voidverse is an ambitious and imaginative science fiction novel that rewards patience and curiosity. While it took a little time for me to fully settle into its style, the originality of the world and the thought-provoking ending left a strong impression. For readers looking for something unusual, expansive, and concept-driven, this one is definitely worth exploring.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
From the first page, this book feels entirely different. The story takes place on floating “rocks” in an endless void, each a strange, self-contained world with its own rules and dangers. Jumping between these mini-worlds with Sinker is a highlight. Every setting is vivid, disorienting, and quietly thrilling, often carrying a creeping sense of unease and odd isolation. The book doesn’t over-explain, letting the void’s mystery draw you in.
Sinker is a clever and resourceful traveller on a quest to confront the Construct, the looming threat to the void. Along the way, she meets surprising and meaningful characters who shape her journey in unexpected ways. Her quest gradually takes on a deeper significance, unfolding towards the end in a satisfying way.
The writing balances pace and atmosphere perfectly. Short, sharp sentences keep the story moving, while dreamlike passages create tension and wonder. The unusual perspective shifts add emotional depth and make the journey feel full circle without giving anything away.
Once you settle in, the void comes alive, and the story lingers long after finishing, keeping you thinking about Sinker’s journey. Fans of immersive, surreal, literary sci-fi will find a lot to enjoy, and the book is difficult to put down once you start.
One of the most original sci-fi concepts I’ve read in years. Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC via NetGalley.
Sinker is a clever and resourceful traveller on a quest to confront the Construct, the looming threat to the void. Along the way, she meets surprising and meaningful characters who shape her journey in unexpected ways. Her quest gradually takes on a deeper significance, unfolding towards the end in a satisfying way.
The writing balances pace and atmosphere perfectly. Short, sharp sentences keep the story moving, while dreamlike passages create tension and wonder. The unusual perspective shifts add emotional depth and make the journey feel full circle without giving anything away.
Once you settle in, the void comes alive, and the story lingers long after finishing, keeping you thinking about Sinker’s journey. Fans of immersive, surreal, literary sci-fi will find a lot to enjoy, and the book is difficult to put down once you start.
One of the most original sci-fi concepts I’ve read in years. Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC via NetGalley.
March 25, 2026
Characters: 3.75⭐️
Setting: 3.50⭐️
Plot: 3.50⭐️
Themes: 4.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.50⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.75⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
A unique science fiction world where individual communities live on separate floating rocks which are stacked top of one another in a pyramid type shape with Center City at the very top and people are able to choose if they wish to Rise or Sink through the Void to travel to the different rocks. There is an anomaly and things are changing. A large floating machine called the Construct is consumes the rocks, destroying and killing. And The Sinker needs to gather the knowledge to help destroy the Construct before it continues to consume.
I had really high expectations for this book, and I think going in with high expectations was not the right move. There is little world building where you are thrown right into the story which I usually don’t mind, but it was almost as if you are expected to know this unique world before you even enter it. I liked the overall concept, but there was a lot going on for a standalone, shorter book. It was decent.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe.
Thank you to Saga Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Setting: 3.50⭐️
Plot: 3.50⭐️
Themes: 4.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.50⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.75⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
A unique science fiction world where individual communities live on separate floating rocks which are stacked top of one another in a pyramid type shape with Center City at the very top and people are able to choose if they wish to Rise or Sink through the Void to travel to the different rocks. There is an anomaly and things are changing. A large floating machine called the Construct is consumes the rocks, destroying and killing. And The Sinker needs to gather the knowledge to help destroy the Construct before it continues to consume.
I had really high expectations for this book, and I think going in with high expectations was not the right move. There is little world building where you are thrown right into the story which I usually don’t mind, but it was almost as if you are expected to know this unique world before you even enter it. I liked the overall concept, but there was a lot going on for a standalone, shorter book. It was decent.
Would I recommend this book? Maybe.
Thank you to Saga Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2026
1.5/5: The premise and world are unique and for that it gets a extra half star. The characters are shallow, either too similar or one dimensional, and we aren’t given a reason to care what happens to any of them.
As far as the writing itself goes, it’s certainly not above a middle school level. The amount of sentences that use “and” two or three times instead of commas, or just using another sentence, is distracting. There are also quite a few strange descriptions that make me wonder what the author was thinking while he was writing. Unfortunately I have wasted too much time on Voidverse already and can’t think of many off the top of my head other than describing a pet moth of a man we are supposed to think of as hard with the word “cute” and the use of “combustion stick” rather than just.. stick or wood.
Ultimately, this book could have survived many of its flaws if it showed more of the world rather than telling through, rather clunky, dialogue. This world is begging to be shown to the reader and the author completely fails to follow through. It’s very clear that Damien Ober feels more at home as a television writer with the sheer amount of dialogue and severe disregard for doing anything other than telling us about his world through dialogue or increasingly repetitive descriptions that blur one rock into another.
This is certainly no “Dune” or even a “Silo” quality of work, both novels I’ve heard this book described as being similar to.
TLDR: I read bookstagram recommendations so you don’t have to! Save yourself the trouble and read something better.
As far as the writing itself goes, it’s certainly not above a middle school level. The amount of sentences that use “and” two or three times instead of commas, or just using another sentence, is distracting. There are also quite a few strange descriptions that make me wonder what the author was thinking while he was writing. Unfortunately I have wasted too much time on Voidverse already and can’t think of many off the top of my head other than describing a pet moth of a man we are supposed to think of as hard with the word “cute” and the use of “combustion stick” rather than just.. stick or wood.
Ultimately, this book could have survived many of its flaws if it showed more of the world rather than telling through, rather clunky, dialogue. This world is begging to be shown to the reader and the author completely fails to follow through. It’s very clear that Damien Ober feels more at home as a television writer with the sheer amount of dialogue and severe disregard for doing anything other than telling us about his world through dialogue or increasingly repetitive descriptions that blur one rock into another.
This is certainly no “Dune” or even a “Silo” quality of work, both novels I’ve heard this book described as being similar to.
TLDR: I read bookstagram recommendations so you don’t have to! Save yourself the trouble and read something better.
March 25, 2026
Void Verse strikes a really satisfying balance between fantasy and science fiction. It’s strange—but never so strange that it loses you. Instead, the creativity pulls you in just enough to keep you curious.
The world has a strong dystopian feel, but what makes it especially compelling is how little you’re told upfront. You’re not entirely sure what happened, where you are, or even what rules this world follows—and that mystery is part of the magic. It keeps you turning pages, wanting to piece everything together alongside the characters.
The plot is well developed, with just the right amount of intrigue. There’s a steady sense of the unknown, where the impossible feels like it might actually be possible. It builds tension in a way that keeps you hooked without overcomplicating things.
And the ending really delivers. It’s the kind that leaves you thinking about it after you’ve finished—and honestly hoping there’s more to come. I’d absolutely read a sequel.
The world has a strong dystopian feel, but what makes it especially compelling is how little you’re told upfront. You’re not entirely sure what happened, where you are, or even what rules this world follows—and that mystery is part of the magic. It keeps you turning pages, wanting to piece everything together alongside the characters.
The plot is well developed, with just the right amount of intrigue. There’s a steady sense of the unknown, where the impossible feels like it might actually be possible. It builds tension in a way that keeps you hooked without overcomplicating things.
And the ending really delivers. It’s the kind that leaves you thinking about it after you’ve finished—and honestly hoping there’s more to come. I’d absolutely read a sequel.
March 11, 2026
Synopsis: This story follows a woman surviving in The Void, a strange dangerous work where societies exist on top of large vertical rocks and destruction by an evil entity known as The Construct.
Thoughts: I actually don’t typically pick up sci-fi books, but I am trying to expand horizons a bit, and I’m so glad I checked this one out! The world is super bizarre and unique, and the story is so tense and anxiety-inducing (at least for me!) It started a little slow, but once it picked up I seriously could not stop listening! For someone who is not super used to the genre, it may take awhile to find your footing in the story, but once everything clicks it is really a fascinating read! A note on the audio: I really enjoyed Lisa Flanagan’s narration! I did have to listen to this one at a slower speed than usual just because the immersion into this universe is a bit confusing at first.
Read this if you like:
🪨 sci-fi
🪨 unique world building
🪨 atmospheric reads
🪨 exploration
🪨 rebellion
Thoughts: I actually don’t typically pick up sci-fi books, but I am trying to expand horizons a bit, and I’m so glad I checked this one out! The world is super bizarre and unique, and the story is so tense and anxiety-inducing (at least for me!) It started a little slow, but once it picked up I seriously could not stop listening! For someone who is not super used to the genre, it may take awhile to find your footing in the story, but once everything clicks it is really a fascinating read! A note on the audio: I really enjoyed Lisa Flanagan’s narration! I did have to listen to this one at a slower speed than usual just because the immersion into this universe is a bit confusing at first.
Read this if you like:
🪨 sci-fi
🪨 unique world building
🪨 atmospheric reads
🪨 exploration
🪨 rebellion
March 22, 2026
-Slow to hook you but once it gets going, you're compelled to find out where this story takes you.
-I am assuming this book will continue as a series. if not, I'd revisit my rating.
-If it is challenging for you to suspend physical reality, this book may be challenging because much of it depends on the description of things happening in a foreign space time that will be up to you to imagine. Those with experience reading SciFi set in other systems or with aliens will most likely fare better.
-I am unable to describe the story properly so read the description. I FELT as if I were floating into the void, I felt urgency (after the first quarter), I enjoyed watch two characters who were virtually unstoppable, so safe, but also helpless when faced with a world destroying organization. And I was impressed by the world building
This is not for everyone.
Thank you to the publisher!
-I am assuming this book will continue as a series. if not, I'd revisit my rating.
-If it is challenging for you to suspend physical reality, this book may be challenging because much of it depends on the description of things happening in a foreign space time that will be up to you to imagine. Those with experience reading SciFi set in other systems or with aliens will most likely fare better.
-I am unable to describe the story properly so read the description. I FELT as if I were floating into the void, I felt urgency (after the first quarter), I enjoyed watch two characters who were virtually unstoppable, so safe, but also helpless when faced with a world destroying organization. And I was impressed by the world building
This is not for everyone.
Thank you to the publisher!
March 16, 2026
Voidverse was definitely a unique reading experience. The story starts with a strong sense of mystery, and that constant feeling of “what is actually going on here?” kept me intrigued for most of the book. Even when things were a bit confusing, the tension and curiosity about the world pulled me forward.
By the end I was still a little unsure about exactly what had happened, and I ended up looking into some explanations afterward. Once I understood more of what the characters and events represented, I could really appreciate what the book was trying to do conceptually.
Overall it was an interesting and creative ride, even if the payoff felt a bit abstract for my taste. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere, but I tend to prefer stories where the resolution is a little clearer within the narrative itself.
By the end I was still a little unsure about exactly what had happened, and I ended up looking into some explanations afterward. Once I understood more of what the characters and events represented, I could really appreciate what the book was trying to do conceptually.
Overall it was an interesting and creative ride, even if the payoff felt a bit abstract for my taste. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere, but I tend to prefer stories where the resolution is a little clearer within the narrative itself.
March 16, 2026
The initial premise and setting of the book drew me in hard, which made the final product that much more lackluster. The setting and nature of the void was fantastic, but the characters and writing left much to be desired. I did not appreciate only one character having first person writing while the other 90% of the book was in third person. Page long sentences and no paragraph breaks for entire chapters seems like a severe editing mishap rather than an intentional style choice.
March 19, 2026
Most every time there was an action sequence in the book, in order to add more meaning, the author would make the whole sequence one run on sentence. That could be anything from 1 page to 8 pages. No paragraph breaks, just commas and words. That was brutal.
Other than that it was mostly enjoyable! Confusing setting, confusing characters. Interesting ish plot. 2.5 rounded up.
Other than that it was mostly enjoyable! Confusing setting, confusing characters. Interesting ish plot. 2.5 rounded up.
Read
March 16, 2026Very creative. I’m not sure everything came together the way it was suggested by the poems and portents, but I found the world and characters intriguing.
March 25, 2026
Very unique
March 10, 2026
I loved the central premise of Voidverse; it’s a unique and clever sci‑fi concept with inventive worldbuilding. The pacing keeps the story moving, and the characters are memorable and the plot throws enough twists to stay interesting without feeling contrived. This was a fun, absorbing read!
March 20, 2026
I truly believe that this book will be interpreted differently by each person who takes it up. The ending is, well, not really an ending. I do recommend it.
March 10, 2026
Slower paced in getting to a deeper understanding of the world building. But the Imagery is on point! I could totally see this being adapted to the silver screen!
March 18, 2026
Amazing.
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