She can control anyone with a word and a touch — but after one fatal mistake, she swore to never use her power again. Now, kidnapped into a secret society, staying silent might be deadlier than speaking.
They don’t know who they’ve unlocked.
Rayanne keeps her life small to keep others safe. Burdened by relentless fatigue and sensory disturbances, she committed to structure over emotion, control over connection.
No friends. No touch. No mistakes.
But when a charismatic stranger kidnaps her, Rayanne is dragged into a secret society of people with extraordinary powers, hidden within a seemingly utopian English country estate.
The cracks show quickly. Secrets surface. The pressure to conform tightens, and the boundaries she relies on begin to fracture.
Soon, Rayanne is forced to confront the true cost of her power — and the consequences of keeping it buried.
Because if she refuses, they will drain everything she has.
But if she gives in, she will lose herself for good.
VOID is a quietly dark fantasy about a woman whose power overwhelms her senses — and the people who refuse to let her live unnoticed.
Found family Character focused No spice Man briefly turns into a fridge Unwanted soul bond Blunt FMC Dark academia - except this time, swap the campus for an English country estate and she's not learning for the pursuit of knowledge, but to survive.
Warning: if you go into this thirsty, you will be parched. The ultimate slow burn, unwanted soul bond love triangle that doesn't resolve until the end of the trilogy.
For readers who love the survival vs integrity tension of A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, the secret society intrigue of The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, the potential love triangle in Legendborn by Tracey Deonn with a snarky FMC haunted by her past mistakes like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.
Rhea Gamble writes quietly dark fantasy about power, control, and the cost of feeling too much. Low on spoons, but high on plot twists, she lives in Dorset, England. Where she can usually be found reading obsessively, painting her favourite books onto her forever bookshelf mural, and occasionally making a spectacle of herself online. In dedication to whimsy (and a persuasive socials poll), Rhea wears a sunflower headdress in her author photo. She would like to remind you, that because it was taken by a professional photographer, it therefore displays her extreme professionalism. Find her on socials as rheagamblewrites, she would love to hear from you! Or by email: info@rheagamble.com
I read Void quickly, gripped from start to finish. As a slow reader, I usually struggle when I’m not yet used to an author’s style, but that wasn’t the case here. The way Rhea Gamble writes is the way my brain works.
Every line is exceptionally well crafted but it also flows really well. The asides are cutting and witty, often darkly funny in ways I related to deeply.
The plot unfolds chapter by chapter with steady momentum, and the story and character developments kept me invested throughout.
There’s still a lot to discover, so I am excited for book two. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, but especially to neurodivergent readers.
My favourite line: “This sludge poured into a man shaped mould has gone too far.”
First things first: dark fantasy is not my jam. When I read the Amazon description, I expected something like an adult X‑Men novel. I’ve enjoyed the movies, but the graphic novels never grabbed me (apologies to Stan Lee, may he rest in peace). Honestly, I only bought this because I saw the indie author on Bookstagram and thought she seemed pretty cool.
That being said:
I loved this book. I devoured it.
The FMC is “cursed” with powers that keep building until she can barely function. The intensity inside her makes every outside stimulus—sound, touch, light, even casual interaction—feel excruciating. It’s an incredibly relatable hook for anyone who is neurodivergent or even “just” introverted.
Her powers call to others like her, and she’s abducted by one golden‑retriever MC and one morally‑grey menace MC. They take her to a compound where people with abilities live, train, and conform. She’s given a choice: stay and learn to control her powers, or have them drained. Meanwhile, people like her are being hunted and eliminated.
The pacing is solid—never too fast to lose key details, never too slow to lose interest. The tension stays thick, broken up at just the right moments with dry, sarcastic humor. There is no spice. There is one major flaw: when I discovered Rhea Gamble’s Bonds of Ballendor trilogy, only one book was published. I am a creature who requires instant gratification, and I need the other two books immediately.
If you like dark fantasy—and even if you don’t—you should read Void by Rhea Gamble.
This book completely overwhelmed me, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
The atmosphere is saturated with discomfort, anxiety, sensory overload, and the constant feeling that everything is just too much. The main character experiences the world through powers that make even ordinary interactions overwhelming, and I could feel that strain constantly while reading. It was exhausting, unsettling, and incredibly immersive.
The FMC is one of the most distinctive protagonists I’ve ever read about. She can come across as blunt, distant, or even rude, but I absolutely loved her. She struggles with physical contact because of both her powers and her past, and at first some of her reactions can seem extreme. But as more details are revealed, her behavior starts making more and more sense. Every new piece of information reshapes your understanding of her, and I found myself growing more attached to her with every chapter.
What I especially loved was seeing the subtle changes in her throughout the story. She never suddenly becomes a different person, but you can feel her slowly, cautiously warming up to certain people (always in her own aloof way), and those small moments felt incredibly rewarding.
The magic system is fascinating as well. I still have questions about some aspects of it, but they feel like the kind of questions that are meant to be explored in future books rather than missing explanations, so I’m excited to learn more as the series continues!
One thing I found particularly interesting was how closely the narration mirrors the protagonist’s sensory overload. This made descriptions and transitions feel slightly disjointed at times, and I didn’t always fully enjoy that effect in the moment, since it could make certain scenes harder to follow. However, it felt like a deliberate stylistic choice that made the experience memorable, and it ended up being one of the aspects that stayed with me the most.
To conclude, this was one of the most immersive reading experiences I’ve had in a while, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
I would also like to thank the author for gifting me an ARC copy of her book!! You are amazing 🫶🏻
(ARC provided by author) This novel's pacing and thoughtful use of language truly set this world apart from anything else I have read in the urban fantasy genre. The main focus of this opening installment of the trilogy seems to be really delving into building these characters and establishing a solid foundation to this world. Gamble's careful word selection throughout is what really makes this novel "sing" in my opinion. I also really enjoyed the contrast between soft and gentle moments versus the tension of the action sequences. This gave a consistent and compelling rhythm to the reading experience. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the trilogy to see how the well established characters continue to grow and for some of the lesser explored storylines to get more fleshed out.
Review of an advanced reader copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I am absolutely blown away by this book and by Rhea’s writing. This books has the most interesting writing that I’ve ever come across thus far. Definitely recommend this for anyone who loves an intricate magic system and SLOW BURN.
The story follows Rayanne, who has the power to command others with simply a word and a touch. But after an accident, she spent her whole life trying to push down her powers. However, after she gets kidnapped by two strangers, she realizes there are others like her in the world; others who also have powers. The society appears to be a utopia at first, but quickly, Rayanne realizes there’s more than meets the eye.
What I absolutely loved about this book was the writing. Rayanne has increased sensitivity to sounds and we can FEEL the sensory overload whenever she does. I’m literally reading black text on a white background but it’s as if I’m experiencing it along with her. It’s so cool how certain sounds are described, ones we never even pay attention to: the scraping of hair across bedsheets, the scratching of nails against your scalp, or the sound of an arrow as it flies through the air. This creates this hazy feel over every conversation she has; like she’s only physically there, but mentally, her brain is overloaded with everything else happening around her. But at the same time, the scene is so vivid, because we’re seeing and hearing everything that Rayanne is. This also gives an interesting perspective on having powers. For example, power doesn’t just well up inside her and then she closes her eyes and wills it to go down. Instead, the power calming is like a pop that finally clears your ears, all the sounds rushing back.
Ballendor is the secret society she gets kidnapped to and Rayanne is cautious towards them from the get go (honestly fair because they did kidnap her). What baffles my mind is the fact that the council tries to get her to swear her loyalty to them the second she arrives… but is not willing to answer any of her questions. They simply deflect all her questions telling her to submit before she’s privy to it. It sounds kind of backwards to me?? Overall, I’m not a huge fan of the council (I don’t think we’re meant to lol). Everyone seems like they’re there to protect the people, but all their actions towards Rayanne seem very unfair. They expect her to vow loyalty without telling her anything, they claim she’s free to leave but threaten her at every turn, and then they force a trial on her because her power is too strong and she needs to prove she can control it… but they don’t give her time to learn?? So much manipulation here. And what do you mean you won’t cancel your fancy holiday celebration when there’s a murderous rogue running around killing your people? You were literally yapping about how your decisions are to protect YOUR PEOPLE
Rayanne was such a well written character. I’d classify her as a strong FMC but not in the traditional sense. She doesn’t have control over her powers and is struggling to learn it during the time she’s at Ballendor (I honestly love this, it’s very realistic. Not a fan of when the FMCs suddenly become super powerful over night), however, she stands her ground and doesn’t allow anyone to walk all over her. Despite being kidnapped and brought to a completely new place, she doesn’t lose sense of who she is. She sticks by her own principles and you can really see who actually wants to be her friends when she does this. The ones who truly want to get to know her accept her for who she is, changing themselves to accommodate her. This is why I loved Kiera, Amelia, and Brooke so much.
Simon is our MMC and at first, I didn’t know if his sunshine personality was creepy or not. I mean, he did kidnap Rayanne and then was all sunshine and smiles right after she wakes up. BUT if you look past the kidnapping, he’s actually such a green flag?? Okay, hear me out. He genuinely loves Rayanne for who she is, never expecting her to change. He was willing to change himself in order to respect Rayanne’s boundaries. He never once pushed her boundaries (I told you to look past the kidnapping) and still loves her after finding out about her powers. He gave major golden retriever energy and I love that.
Then we have Baylor… oh, did I not mention this had a love triangle? Well, here we have the third point of this triangle. He’s kind of an enigma for most of the book and is quite similar to Rayanne in terms of personality. That’s probably why Rayanne feels closer to him during some parts of the book. And the best part about this slow burn, love triangle plot, is that Rayanne doesn’t end up with anyone at the end of this book! She hasn’t even so much as kissed anyone! I was so satisfied by this slow burn hehe.
Anyways, if you’re looking for a fresh writing style and an FMC who calls basically everyone a prick, you’re in the right place! Can’t wait for book 2 to come out!!
This is an honest review of an ARC copy from the author.
If you are wanting a fresh read, in a new world, with a strong FMC who will call out people’s shit then this is the book you’ve been looking for.
Void is a complex world that keeps you interested to find out more about how it works. The development was great and I liked that not everything was explained in the first chapter. The world building in this utopian fantasy is amazing as well as the character development. I really loved our main character Rayanne. I will also say it was a little slow as it took me a few chapters to get into the book, but none-the-less is was great. There is also a love-triangle, but that is not a true focus for Rayanne which I appreciated and also gave into the slow-burn vibe.
The development is great as it is setting us up for more of the series (as this is the beginning of a trilogy). The wording makes this story stand out as everything is carefully chosen and clicks together as Rayanne and helps to develop her character. This is a slow burn, which is done extremely well and is actually burning slowly. The sensory overload and drainage was felt when reading and I believe it is also tied into modern society not really caring/ignoring if a woman has PMOS, Autism, or other neurodivergent/disabilities. The lack of answers from the council made me not like and trust them. Rayanne is a true character who I can relate with as she struggles with her powers and gaining control over them. This factor made her seem very much like a human as many fantasy books don’t do this well (in my opinion).
I was surprised by the chapter art but I really love it, as well as the birds. I think it is a great part of the story despite them not being as big a part as I had imagined they would be based on the cover.
I can't wait for the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The birds are not the most important part of this book, but they are one of my favorites. The cover? The end of the chapter art? The fighting for nesting safety rights? Bird fact flirting (lol)?! A raven friend?! And owls...
Anyway, for the real review. I love the idea of a safe place for all of us nuerodivergent people. A place where overstimulation and atypical responses are understood and safe. A place where you can flourish because those parts are understood. Also, tipper for nuerotypical/nonmagical people is a fun addition.
The plot itself is interesting enough. There's an unknown murderer, the leaders and members of the group are welcoming or uncomfortably scornful, and they are hiding many secrets. While she is at the manor, the FMC unwillingly learns what a friendship is and also what it means to feel just a little less overwhelmed. There's some romance, but it is a slow burn, not even really yet simmering in this book. But there is someone who is very interested while the FMC is not. Mild love triangle.
I wish there was more diversity in this book, especially in the way of queer characters. The overlap between neurodivergence and queerness is vast and ignoring that just doesn't feel right to me. Especially since the fated mates seem to only be between opposite genders. If we're going to celebrate the beauty and differences of NDs, they deserve to be represented in all their wonderful identities.
Overall, this is a solid debut and series starter. It has layers, mystery, and surprisingly comforting maybe cults. It is refreshing to see the celebration and understanding of different personalities and how that can lead to becoming more of yourself and magical.
I really enjoyed this. I didn't know much going into it but what a wonderful story I discovered.
As it is the first book in a series, and one with a fairly complex magic system, I appreciated how much time was devoted to the world building. There were some well crafted scenes to expose new elements of the world and its magics and it felt like we were learning about it all along side the main character.
The main character, Rayanne, is a walking ball of overstimulation and it gave an interesting view of the world. Her discomfort in many of the situations was palpable and she felt so real that so was her anguish. I loved her growth throughout the story and the way she learnt to be more comfortable in her skin then more she could be her true self. I also liked how she pushed back against her chosen path and wanted to find her own way in her new world.
Found family is everything and I love the one Rayanne was forming by the end of this. Everyone needs an Amelia in their corner.
There was a lot going on in the story and definitely moments when I didn't feel like I could trust any of the characters. So much mystery and intrique.
I found the magic system a little confusing at times as their were so many layers to it but I think I'd gotten the hang of it by the end.
The neurodivergence in this story was wild and I loved the representation. It is so important to be able to see yourself in characters and their stories.
All in all, a fantastic read and I can't wait for the next book.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
(ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.)
This book places a strong focus on the development of the main character, which was definitely one of the aspects I enjoyed the most. The way she is portrayed, especially her tendency to become overstimulated and avoid physical contact due to her powers, felt very realistic to me. It almost creates an interesting parallel to real-life experiences, which made her even more compelling.
I also really enjoyed some of the trials. Because the protagonist is often in a heightened state of tension and stimulation, that feeling carries directly over to the reader. There was one particular moment where I felt genuinely nervous and anxious, to the point where my heart was racing.
The magic system is also quite interesting, with affinities, talents, and specialties giving structure to both the world and the characters.
In terms of downsides, the book has a slower pace, which might not work for everyone. Personally, I didn’t mind it and actually enjoyed being able to dive deeper into the world and the character’s learning process, but I can understand why it might not appeal to all readers.
Another point was the “love interest”. I wasn’t fully convinced by him. I feel like there were other characters with more potential, and I’m curious to see how that dynamic develops in the second book.
Overall, I found myself quite invested in the story and very curious to continue the series. I really want to see where everything is going.
Rayanne isn't your typical dark academia / urban fantasy heroine. She is a voicy protagonist that's prickly, self-isolating, and a word-nerd (something that has a specific reason, which I won't spoil but let me say... it's good!!). The magic system here works as a metaphor for sensory overload. And I really appreciated that as someone who has friends and family members at different points on the neurotypical spectrum.
The worldbuilding is both novel (I've never read anything like this) and handled artfully. There's no info dumping. You learn about the world of Endys, Ra, truebonds, et cetera, through Ray figuring it out as she discovers it for the first time. It respects the reader's intelligence. The book also doesn't shy away from questions about consent and bodily autonomy (she has a LOT of choices made for her by other people or by "the way things are done." Could be a metaphor for the patriarchy? If so, I'm here for it). And Ray is never passive about any of it.
Every character feels like a real person with a unique voice and motivation. Baylor, Simon, Kiera... there are a lot of characters that all feel different and dimensional. I burned through this in a few days because I couldn't stop reading (Baylor fans, you'll understand). Desperately awaiting the next one!!!
The following is a review of an advance reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Wow, I can’t say enough good things about this book! I don’t know how I’m supposed to survive the wait for the sequel. The first few pages of chapter one already had me laughing out loud. The author’s writing style is engaging, witty, and immersive, and it’s clear they are genuinely very talented.
The story follows an FMC who I found deeply relatable, especially from the perspective of someone who is neurodivergent and living with chronic illness. The plot felt original, the magic system was unique, and the storyline made it very hard to put the book down. I absolutely fell in love with the characters (most of them, anyway), and yes, I am totally fan-girling over Bay!
I’m so glad I took a chance on this book and I encourage anyone reading this to do the same. I was slipping into a reading slump, and this completely pulled me out of it. Void reminded me why I love reading in the first place.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read Void early as an ARC reader, and thankful to the author and NetGalley for providing a free copy.
Rhea Gamble first caught my attention on social media, which piqued my interest in her debut novel, Void.
The main character, Rayanne, is a neurodivergent masterpiece. Her blunt personality, combined with her tendency to ask all the right questions—Why did you kidnap me? Why is everyone being so normal about this? Is this a cult? And truebond... say what?—kept me completely invested. I never knew what was going to come out of her mouth next, and honestly, I would read an entire book made up solely of her internal dialogue.
I did find the magic system a little cumbersome to understand at times, but it never impacted my overall enjoyment of the story. The sensory aspects of the magic were especially unique, highlighting many of the challenges neurodivergent individuals face while transforming those sensitivities into magical abilities and experiences.
It's not often we see a female protagonist in a fantasy setting choose herself, and it was a refreshing change. This first installment shows a lot of promise, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the series to see where it goes next.
What's it about? VOID is a quietly dark fantasy about a woman whose power overwhelms her senses — and the people who refuse to let her live unnoticed.
Tropes 💔 Unwanted Soul Bonds 👩🏫 Dark Academia 💗 Found Family ✂️ Blunt FMC
Perfect if you enjoy.. 🪄 Deeply complex magic systems 🇬🇧 English country estate setting 🚫 No spice stories 🧠 Neurodivergent representation 📖 Slower paced books
My thoughts I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed the slower pace of this story to allow for the complexity of the many layered magic system to shine. The author writes stressful scenes extremely well with tension and anxiety building to the point where you feel it alongside the characters. I really enjoyed Rayanne as our FMC, the way she slowly built confidence and gained understanding of herself and what she wanted was brilliant. Overall, I would say VOID Bonds Of Ballendor is a great first book in a series, i'm looking forward to see how Rayannes relationships (particularly her love interests) continue to build throughout the rest of the trilogy 💙✨️
Received advanced reader copy in exchange for honest review.
Wow. What a book! It took a minute to get used to the style of writing which I found quite jarring for the first chapter or two, but jarring in the best way. Rayanne, the FMC, struggles with overstimulation, and Rhea writes it so well that you feel as though you're experiencing it with her.
She starts off as a woman barely living, just surviving each day instead, preferring structure over emotion but soon becomes something much more.
She ends up in what feels like a cult with an intricate magical systems and political overtones, having to face trials and prove her worth.
A slower paced book which allows for brilliant worldbuilding - you have time to get to know the characters and the magic system but don't be fooled - the plot still develops nicely without being constantly action packed.
I loved both MMC and felt sorry for each of them, but Baylor had a special spot in my heart.
Void was brilliantly written and I would recommend it 100%
4.5 stars, rounding to 5! Thank you to the author & NetGalley for this ARC!
The author has brilliantly placed us inside the mind of the FMC, Rayanne. As someone who personally struggles with anxiety, overstimulation, and social interaction, Ray was such a relatable character. Her inner thoughts and interactions with the other characters are carefully written in (humorous) detail.
This first book is super character-focused and lays a strong foundational understanding of the world and unique magic system. I found the book to be pretty slow-paced which made it difficult for me to stay engaged at times--this is totally a ME thing though.
The writing is sharp and the story feels so fresh and unique. Although there is no spice, my heartbeat sped up anytime the dark & broody Baylor entered the scene.
Overall, I am so impressed that this is a debut novel, and I look forward to continuing this series!
Wow! Void was captivating and refreshing, I wasn’t sure how it was going to unfold. I enjoyed jumping head first into the complex magic system and learning alongside the FMC. Rayanne has to learn to control her magic in order to be accepted into this misguided society so that she no longer has to live in constant misery. She’s an outsider who really just wants peace from her own mind and to be left alone but finds a family a long the way. The immersive writing for Rayanne’s spirals from sensory overload made me feel like I was experiencing it as well. I really enjoyed the writing style and the focus on character development.
You have black cat coded Rayanne, golden retriever Simon and grumpy Baylor. As someone who also hates being touched I love Rayanne and her witty/ dark humor but I’m obsessed with Baylor and need more! Can’t wait to see what the next book has in store!
I was sent Void as an ARC in return I leave my honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book! I enjoyed the main character, I loved that she wasn’t the usual all singing all capable fmc, but rather much more relatable to myself as a nd person. The feelings of how overwhelming every day life is and then add in the stress of discovering a whole new part of yourself whilst coming to terms with that and then navigating it and learning is very close to my own life! I loved the layers of magics and having to find her own talent, I also loved the play on words with terminology used. For me, it was a slower paced book that I normally read, but that’s not a bad thing, it was nice to get an in depth look into her thoughts and character. I also liked that she didn’t immediately follow her “chosen” path, I’m trying not to give spoilers away! I’m looking forwards to the next book
I was very lucky to have received an ARC copy of void :)
So I really enjoyed the overall storyline, its quite different to most of the tropes I've read before.
The magic system is quite intricate and took a while for me to (personally) get into it, therefore the book felt fairly slow going at the beginning. Occasionally terms were mentioned without explanation which left me a little confused and lost until they were clarified later on. Once characters and places had been introduced further into the story the book flowed better.
Rayanne is quite a character! A people person she is not 😅 which makes for an interesting take on the MFC! I actually felt quite sorry for one (or both) of the main male characters that are featured in VOID for various reasons.
I'm definitely intrigued to see where the next book will be heading, but its definitely more of a slower paced read.
A huge thank you to the author, Rhea Gamble, for the ability to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
My favorite part of this book is that the magic system is entirely unique - sometimes fantasy can feel overdone with the same plots, but this was different. The author did an amazing job writing what overstimulation feels like: I personally felt very seen!
I would describe this book as a fantasy with a touch of cult vibes (don't sign me up to go to Ballendor but I want to manifest LOL) and a fair amount of politics. I hope the future books explore what the Ven is doing because clearly they are trouble. I loved the bonus POV of Baylor at the end and would love more of his take on things!
I wish we could see the FMC settle into herself and gain more confidence but based on the ending, that could definitely be coming in the remaining books in the trilogy.
(ARC provided by the author for honest reader review)
I thoroughly enjoyed this new romantasy series! If you're someone who likes an unconventional magic system paired with secret hierarchical societies, this is right up your alley.
I found myself connecting with the FMC as she navigated through past trauma while be exposed to something completely unexpected and counter to what she had always known. Watching her evolve over the course of the book had me cheering her on and clapping when she decided to survive and thrive against her foes out of spite.
I look forward to seeing how her potential love interests evolve in the sequel - there is a good amount of push and pull between the FMC's "fated" mate and another MMC who radiates "forced proximity" vibes. I want to know who she end up with in the end as their relationships continue to develop and evolve.
Void, although technically fantasy, reads to me more like magical realism because of the sincerity with which the main character, Rayanne, interacts with the internal and external energies she has to navigate: her own power, others’ power over her, her vulnerabilities, and her responsibility for the vulnerabilities of others. A light touch can devastate, but power itself threatens to destabilise. It’s familiar territory for ND and HSP readers, but what makes it unique — and what held my focus — was the main character’s constant awareness of her own interiority and that of others. The risk, necessity, and agency of being oneself in the world is translated into a consistent magical logic that felt very real and immediate. A very satisfying read. 4/5 stars 👌🏼
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This story follows a young woman named Rayanne who has a mysterious power that allows her to command someone’s soul through touch. She spends every day terrified of accidentally harming someone so she avoids getting close to people. Her magic also makes her sensitive to stimuli and makes it difficult for her to lead a normal life. She spends her time hiding away until one day she meets Simon and suddenly everything changes.
The first 30% of the book it felt a little redundant and Rayanne felt hard to connect with. The magic system was extensive and took some getting used to. Overall the story was unique but had slow pacing. I’m not sure that I would read the sequel.
The characters were definitely the highlight of this one for me. Baylor was easily my favorite, and I ended up liking Simon way more than I expected. Keira was also such a fun addition.
I did struggle with some of the worldbuilding. There was a lot going on between Ra, the Void, soul singing, innate powers, and all the different rules, and I found myself confused more than once trying to keep everything straight. I actually read the book twice and caught a whole lot more on my second read.
That said, I still found myself invested in the story and wanting answers. Even when I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, I cared about the characters enough to keep reading, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next. 5 stars.
This dark academia utopian fantasy novel was a really great read. The FMC is strong and not a damsel in distress and is blunt with everyone. While there is a love-triangle it is a breath of fresh air as it is actually a slow-burn and not the sole focus of this novel.
I was able to read an ARC copy before the release date and I honestly can't wait for the rest of the trilogy. Gamble's Writing is honestly amazing and I love Rayanne's voice. This is a compelling read as you are able to feel everything and the world-building is done extremely well throughout the novel.
(Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for a review)
I loved this book! As an autistic individual, I have never related to a magical individual so much as I did with Rayanne. This is a great story, filled with complicated relationships, a complex but well thought out magic system and plenty (but not too much) world building. This was the perfect read to get me out of a slump. I'm just gutted I now have to wait for the rest of the series.
Arc Review- I thoroughly enjoyed this book! A Great magic system and an FMC who didn't conform. I found Ray so relatable as someone who is Neurodivergent I completely understood the sensory overloads and the chaos it can cause on a daily basis. You have the two MMC's who felt like one a Labrador and one a German Shepard. I loved the energy from the characters and the magic system I look forward to more from Rhea
I had the pleasure of reading void as an ARC reader. Absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. Definitely worth reading and I'm looking forward to the next books.
This book has a very relatable FMC. Ray hates touch (not just because of her power) and is overstimulated the majority of the time. Shes isolated and built a basic existence (not really a life) to just get by. Enter Simon, our golden retriever puppy, who whips her off to a country manor to learn about Endys (NDs- geddit) and her powers.
This is quite a long book so it does have a slower pace - the author very much focuses on character development and relationship building over fast action. But I felt that immersed me more in her world.
My only struggle was I didn’t quite grasp the complexities of the magic system - although I readily admit that may be due to how my brain works, as I can’t visualise so struggle to process details!
I look forward to continuing the series. Thanks to the author for the ARC!