Null Entity

The Volatile Memory Duology #2

by Seth Haddon

In Null Entity, sequel to Seth Haddon’s bloody and sapphic Volatile Memory, Wylla and Sable take their revenge to the very corporation keeping the galaxy turning.

With her identity erased from the Corporate Federation, Wylla is a ghost in the untraceable, unpredictable, and fueled by vengeance. She fights alongside Sable, the AI consciousness whose murder they avenged, the one she loves in ways no system could ever define. Together, they’ve built a reputation for tearing through VisorForge’s carefully constructed lies.

But notoriety has a cost.

When one of their attacks draws the attention of the Edenic Order—a clandestine eco-resistance whose insurgents bloom with Old Earth flora—Wylla and Sable are offered something more than a chance to dismantle VisorForge from the roots up.

As they fall deeper into the Order’s radical vision, tensions rise. Wylla, seduced by ideology, by purpose, by something—or someone—else. Sable, pushed to her morals’ limits when what she’s wanted since death is at her fingertips.

To survive, they’ll need to embrace what makes them two minds, one body, and a shared resolve to bring down a corporatized dystopia—no matter the cost.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Science Fiction, Novella, LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Adult, Romance

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2026

About the author

Seth Haddon is a queer Australian writer of fantasy. He is a video game designer and producer, has a degree in Ancient History, and previously worked with cats. Some of his previous adventures include exploring Pompeii with a famous archaeologist and being chased through a train station by a nun.


Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)]

This series takes an interesting approach to exploring identity, embodiment, and gender. In this followup, two people sharing one body take on a dystopian corporation in space and are faced with complex decisions about the ethics of having a body or taking it for oneself, in the face of medical experimentation and dehumanizing practices for corporate greed. This was a bit less focused than the first book and a lot happens. The audio narration is done pretty well though with all the moving pieces it might be one to read with your eyes. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[☕️ bookishdeza · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh well, I think we can consider Volatile Memory a standalone since this book felt so underwhelming and, honestly, quite unnecessary.

[Kalena ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆.˚✮ 2.75 stars ✮˚.⋆

while this was fine, I was really hoping for more and it was also soooo short {longer review coming soon}

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

💫Null Entity

This was a really solid conclusion to the Volatile Memory duology. I did struggle a bit in the beginning. The first 30% felt a little hard to follow and there was a lot being thrown at you all at once. But once things clicked, it came together well and I liked where everything landed.

I do wish we had more time in this world though. It felt like there was still so much to explore, and I honestly would have loved either a longer book or a full series to really flesh everything out.

I think this is one I’ll enjoy even more on audio, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the audiobook release.

🧬 What to Expect
• Sapphic sci fi
• AI consciousness
• Rebellion movement
• Hacker heroine
• Eco resistance
• Found family
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars

We’re back in the expertly contained world of Wylla and Sable. They’re fighting for autonomy and connection in a time when corporations are willing to erase the individual for capital gains. It’s action packed and emotion filled.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleased to say Null Entity was a really solid follow up to Volatile Memory! Wylla and Sable are back and are looking for revenge against the evil biotech organisation responsible for the inhumane mask testing that Sable was unwillingly part of.

I did find this one a little bit overwhelming at times as it felt like there was a lot more information introduced so I struggled to keep up at times. So I just sort of surrendered myself to being a bit confused. However, I am not a regular sci-fi reader so part of that could be on me and my brain just not being as attuned to this kind of world building. I think i’d have faired better if I read both books back to back and not with a few months between.

I really adore the way Haddon plays with the concepts of gender and body autonomy in both the context of queerness and capitalism (aka mega corps ‘ownership’ over our bodies). There was also the added layer of body autonomy between Wylla and Sable when Sable takes over Wylla’s body, though I wish this specific incident was given a bit more time to unpack the gravity of what it meant and what a violation it was.

I wish this book was longer because there was SO much to work with and a bit more time might have helped it feeling a bit less overwhelming.

I also wished we got a little more romance in this one, I was hoping to see how their romantic relationship had evolved after book one but it was a pretty minor plot point in book two, and they did spend a bit of time at odds with each other and then were too busy trying to take down the evil corporation trying to take over the world but like…there’s always time for girl kissing!!!

All in all i really enjoyed this duology, I think it’s one that’s easily enjoyed by both regular sci-fi readers and newbies like myself!

Thank you to Seth for the arc, all opinions are honest and my own!

[Lee Fr · Rating 4 out of 5]

did the parts of this confused the shit out of me? hell yeah ngl. did i still enjoy the ride? of course i did hence finishing it in one sitting. i meean i'm not nearly clever enough to fully grasp all the nerdy stuff but like with the first one (tho it was way easier to understand as far as i can remember- which btw is not that much hence a bit of trouble getting into this one at first even tho i've read it in like spring i think? welp what can you do ig) i was well and truly engaged in all of it and just love when you can't tell where the book going to go plot-wise and it manages to suprise you (even if some of it is due to your lack of understanting of certain things as we've previously established lol) still i wish it were a bit more accessible (to the likes of me at least) and less 'brain-frying' like book one was but the ending was beautiful imo so 4 stars it is

[fadadoslivross · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,75

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 - Null Entity is the conclusion in a scifi techno thriller duology (Volatile Memory being the first book) and I didn’t quite love it as much as book one.

Wylla and Sable are back. Together they continue their mission for retribution against corrupt systems and evil corporations while trying to also navigate their complex feelings for one another.

Between the pov switching (primarily first and second person), body swapping, multiple consciousnesses melding, newly introduced “biotech” type organic/machine entities, and the high tech jargon - I had a difficult time keeping things straight. It was one of those reading experiences where I just felt confused and had to accept it.

Overall, I generally had a good time but am partial to book one. Additionally, there’s a situation in which Sable makes a decision affecting Wylla’s bodily autonomy that is a huge deal, but I felt like there were barely any repercussions. That seemed like an interesting choice for this specific story.

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

[Robin Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Null Entity brings The Volatile Memory Duology to a satisfying, explosive, and heartfelt conclusion. We join Wylla and Sable several years after the first book. They've built a reputation from their attacks on VisorForge, with everything from sabotage to exposing internal conspiracies. Haddon crafts a world that feels futuristic while tackling problems that are eerily close to home. You can expect thoughts on bodily autonomy, subjugation through intractable systems, and corporate greed.

Just like in Volatile Memory, the romance between Wylla and Sable gives us an emotional pull through the story. Null Entity is a sci-fi book with a romance element (rather than a romance book in a sci-fi setting), but the relationship between the two main characters is integral to the progress and setbacks of the plot. We also get more of a focus on Sable, which added some depth to her character beyond her interactions with Wylla.

Haddon also writes beautiful, evocative descriptions at the intersection of technology and organic elements, which is a recurring theme throughout the book. We get to see more of The Edenic Order, even if it's only a small glimpse. My only gripe with this book is the small amount of time we get to inhabit and understand the unique worldbuilding; there's more than two novellas' worth of stories here. The second-person narrative is growing on me, and it certainly creates a more intimate tone that's aligned with the story's proximity to the minds of the main characters.

Overall, I enjoyed Null Entity more than the first book, and I'd highly recommend the series for anyone interested in reading sci-fi with a focus on the trans experience and questions of autonomy in the face of growing corporate power and surveillance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up enjoying Null Entity more than Volatile Memory, and I think a big reason why is that everything finally came together. The first book introduced a lot of concepts in a very short amount of time, so I spent much of it trying to get my bearings. In this sequel, I was already comfortable with the world and the characters, which let me fully appreciate the story and the emotional stakes.

Watching Wylla and Sable’s relationship continue to evolve was easily one of my favorite parts. Their connection felt even stronger here, and I loved seeing how their personal journey intertwined with the larger fight against VisorForge. The themes of identity, autonomy, and what it means to be human were explored in a way that felt thoughtful without slowing down the story.

I also appreciated how the plot expanded beyond simple revenge. The bigger rebellion, the new allies, and the growing consequences of Wylla and Sable’s actions made the world feel much larger, and by the end it felt like all the pieces had fallen into place. It delivered a satisfying and emotional conclusion to the duology.

The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and made it easy to stay immersed in the story. Overall, this was a strong conclusion that improved on the first book in every way for me, and I’m glad I stuck with the series.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seth Haddon has become one of those authors whose writing I will happily pick up without even reading the synopsis. His prose is beautiful, immersive, and unlike anything else I’ve read in science fiction.

Null Entity was a fantastic conclusion to the duology. The world is so fresh and imaginative, blending advanced technology with nature in a way that feels completely unique. I never felt like I was reading another generic space opera. Every page introduced ideas that made me want to spend even more time in this universe.

The action kept the story moving, but what really surprised me was how romantic this series is. The relationship at the center of the story has so much heart, and the emotional moments landed just as well as the bigger action scenes. It gave the book a depth that made it hard to put down.

I loved this so much that I would have happily read another several hundred pages in this world. There is so much more to explore, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave these characters behind.

If you’re looking for science fiction that feels fresh, emotionally driven, and beautifully written, I can’t recommend this duology enough. Seth Haddon has a truly distinctive voice, and I’ll be reading whatever he writes next.

[Dan Trefethen · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, you can't read this before reading the first book, 'Volatile Memory'. It introduced the concept of masks, and intriguing variations on the topic of gender. It also was a rip-roaring chase novel, avoiding the pursuit of the Big Bad Corporation.

In this second and closing novel, the protagonists take the fight to the corporation. They get some help from what, for a better term, I'll call an anarchist group.

This novel is really just the second part of the full story, and most of the interesting concepts were already covered in the first book. Consequently, I didn't find this book as compelling; I pretty much knew where it was going, although there was a twist I didn't see.

I don't know why these two books weren't published as one; they are only 346 pages combined, which a lot of novels are these days. The publisher Tordotcom does stand-alone novellas rather than novels, so I suppose that's it. But really, this is not a separate story in a series like Nghi Vo's Singing Hills cycle. It's one continuous story and should have been published as such.

[Tilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volatile Memory was one of the most memorable sci-fi books I read last year, and while I love the conceptual explorations and fierce bloody action of this duology, I found this follow-up novella less engaging than the first. Haddon’s writing is poetic and razor-sharp in its condemnations of the failings of this futuristic society, which bears an uncomfortable similarity to the crimes against bodily autonomy in our own world. While I appreciated the themes and the abstract nature of the narrative, built up in biocode and neural hacking and AI ghosts, I found myself lost at times within the machines, missing the human connection that felt underdeveloped in this short novella. I would have loved to read a longer piece about Wylla and Sable, and while it was well-done, the breakneck pacing left me wanting more.

Thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really enjoyed about Volatile Memory was the coming together of Wylla and Sable as one and learning how to co-exist within one body. What I loved about Null Entity was the story of how Wylla and Sable learned to exist without being connected physically. There is action that continues to propel the story forward as Sable continues seeking revenge yet still quiet moments between Wylla and Sable where Wylla focuses on a new life. The ending was very fitting.

Seth Haddon is a gifted writing that used imagination with realism that gave this duology a world to learn with a heart at the center of the story.

Thank you Tor Dot Com for the gifted ARC.

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Null Entity is the second half of the Volatile Memory duology by Seth Haddon, so there are spoilers here for the first book, Volatile Memory.

Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.

[Hadley Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up for two reasons. First, because I read the first book in the duology, Volatile Memory, and was really curious to see how Wylla and Sable’s story would end. Admittedly, I kind of expected it to end the way it began – in a hail of blaster fire. And it kind of did – but it also didn’t.

Second, because a more recent book, And Side By Side They Wander, reminded me of Volatile Memory quite a bit, and I found myself both curious to see if my memory was correct, AND hoping that Null Entity would manage to squeak out something like a Happy Ever After for Wylla and Sable – or at least something closer and frankly a bit more sane than the ending of And Side By Side They Wander, well, wandered into.

From one perspective, the concept behind Volatile Memory and Null Entity is both very SFnal and more than a bit different from the usual. Because Wylla is a human – admittedly a human extremely down on her luck and looking for a big score – but entirely, wholly and solely human. Her story is set in the kind of universe where corporate hegemonies rule everything. Sometimes under a veneer of civilian government – and sometimes that veneer is practically transparent. But a world in which people think they have both rights and chances that will only last as long as their real overlords, those megacorporations, allow them to.

Sable is a victim of that corporate overlordship. Also a victim of the patriarchy, in the person of her rich, slimy, megacorp stooge of a husband. I should say the ex-person, as he’s now a corpse, courtesy of Sable and Wylla.

Part of Sable’s victimization was to have her consciousness uploaded and trapped inside a mask that seems to combine cybernetics, AI, and “Big Brother is watching you”. Everyone wears a mask, which seems to be a descendant of today’s “smart glasses” combined with all of the tracking and monitoring software that conspiracy theories today believe are inside either cell phones or vaccines or both.

The experiment that trapped Sable into the LYREFIRE mask, unbeknownst to her and, as it turns out, everyone else, was merely the first step on the corporate road to something that combines the worst features of slavery, zombification, and supersoldier serum into one really disgusting amalgam of meat and machinery in order to create a mindless, soulless corporate drone.

While Sable may still be a person, she no longer has a body. The story in Volatile Memory was wrapped around Wylla and Sable working out, well, how to work together while sharing Wylla’s body, and falling in love with each other even though they’re sharing way more than most lovers would ever be willing to – even when they’re sharing less than they’d like in all the usual, physical expressions of that love.

The first story ended with Wylla and Sable on the run after their righteous killing of Sable’s slimy ex. They’re doing their best to throw a wrench into the operations of the megacorp that made Sable’s ex rich and made Sable’s current situation possible.

But the megacorps – or one megacorp in particular – have all the levers of power and are not in the least shy about using them. They’re more than willing to pull the proverbial gloves off and take over the galaxy – now that Sable has shown them just how successful – and how obliterating – the mask technology can be.

Sable and Wylla don’t have a chance of outgunning or even outrunning them. Unless a third player enters the game on their side. Or at least on their own side. This enemy of their enemy might – or might not – be their friend, but they’re even more willing than Sable and Wylla to tear the universe down in the hopes of making a chance for everyone else.

Escape Rating A-: I liked Wylla and Sable a lot in the first book. Their blending, or joining, or whatever best expresses their relationship, was a bit of a fantastic surprise. What makes this second book a good mirror image for the first book is that Volatile Memory was about the two of them figuring out how to work together and BE together while sharing a body.

This second story takes all of that and then turns it on its side and splits it on its axis, because it does the thing that they thought was impossible – it splits them back into two bodies and forces them to figure out how to trust each other when they no longer have that intimate knowing of sharing a body.

Because their separation makes their individual motivations for being in this mess in the first place abundantly clear. Sable still wants – even needs – revenge. Killing her ex wasn’t nearly enough. She wants to dismantle the entire megacorp overlord structure that enabled his villainy in the first place.

That they are using his work and her forced participation in it as a way of being even more evil – back to the zombified supersoldiers – enrages her even more. Nevertheless, her motives are rooted in the personal and not in saving the universe.

Wylla just wants to be done. She wants her own body back AND she wants to retire from running and hide herself away. That was her persona before she met Sable, and that’s who she is at heart. She’s fought all her life and she’s tired of fighting. And now she’s feeling used, by Sable, the person that she loves, to participate in a scorched earth (scorched universe?) operation more or less against her will.

And on the third, in this case definitely cybernetic, hand, the ragtag remnants of a terrorist organization that is now backing Sable’s play have an agenda of their own. They’re willing to tear everything down in the hopes that something better will rise from the ashes – even though they know they won’t live to see it.

Or at least that’s how it appears. By the time Sable and Wylla discover the Thorned Root’s true motivations, they’re all in it up to their necks.

So this whole series started out as scavengers on the run, corporate megabosses on high, ragtag resistance sniping from the sidelines and two women falling in love from inside the same body. And that’s a hell of a start that carries bits of Murderbot, Firefly, Empress of Forever, Full Speed to a Crash Landing, These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart and Sisters of the Vast Black along for its wild ride. The ending also has more than a bit of Mass Effect 3 in it, with those evil megacorps in the place of THOSE Reavers. Which is definitely saying a whole lot of somethings – including a just barely, maybe, possibly, hopeful ending.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[kilmosnaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

This was a stunning end to this duology.

We had expansive of the universe with The Edenic Order, a radical eco-resistance movement and further attempts to sabotage the mega corporation VisorForge. The allegory to current times was a little on the nose, but it works in the context of the story. I love a “was doing ALL THIS really worth it” moment.

The book switch to Sable’s POV was a little hard to get into, but once there, I was in. This has the most gorgeous turns of phrase. The way Sable was speaking about bodily autonomy in multiple contexts was everything. I was weeping at some parts.

This has what you want: female rage, vengeance, eco terrorism and sapphic romance with some body swapping happening. There was a lot going on in a tight 192 pages. I could’ve as always used more pages.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Publication Date: July 21, 2026

‘In the Corporate Federation ever asset meant leverage, every acquisition another seat on council.’

‘The scanners raise you with human, but you lacked as the nations. Erasing your GIRS record had made you a spectre, a null entity. That absence with its own alarm.’

‘And I could feel it, even before you said a word.
You wanted it.
We both did.’

“I want it,” you whispered, “but what if this is how we end up buried?”

“The Edenic Order…” The Order’s mark was a sapling, but this one had been ensnared in thorny roots. You worried it meant these people were different – not the Order you thought you knew.
But that was the issue. You didn’t really know them, that’s a nurtured idea. You, who once considered giving your flesh to their cause thought of them as monastic. Meditative. Religious in a way you respected.’

‘Revenge felt good, but not enough.’

‘This was meant to be you and me. Together. The two of us against the world.
What if it became something bigger?’

‘But you knew better. Systems don’t collapse so easily.’

‘I was alone in your body, and I hated that I loved it.’

‘If VisirForge could seize one world this way, they could seize many. Perhaps the Federation itself.’

“What is it? What did the Subsidiary do to me?”
I didn’t want to say it. I loved you. I hated that the truth had to come from me.
“It tagged you.”

‘Years ago, you might’ve chosen nothingness over the body you were given. During your time with me, something had shifted and now, with the clarity of a reckoning, you realized some distant, perfected version of your body no longer mattered. Not as much as what you had: your body, as you had made it. You had been clawing your way to joy, and only with this distance that you realize you’d already found it.’

‘I could hold you. You were there, I was here, and at last we occupied separate bodies. What they look like, didn’t matter. You had kissed me when I was nothing but code inside a mask.’

‘And despite this being a unique hell for you, I was selfish enough to love it.’

‘… and I kneeled before you, as if in worship, to beg your understanding.’

‘Logic was easy without flesh. But emotions – those volatile, and governable things – made my hand shake, made every breath an act of will.’

‘Your vengeance was bound to justice. Mine was blood hunger.’

‘They say the body remembers, but what of a consciousness torn from flesh?
Why did it feel so visceral if I couldn’t recall specifics?’

“I want… to hurt VisorForge. I want the rot run wider, and I know two people can’t kill a system. But I still want it… I want their blood. I want their ruin.’

‘It had been good. So good.’

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, if you're considering reading this and haven't read Volatile Memory first — Stop. There are a lot of books that are parts of series that can be read stand-alone. This second novella in Volatile Memory duology is not one of them. It builds directly off the first, which introduces a number of novel and complex concepts, and would be a frustrating read if you didn't have a solid understanding of the overall narrative and setting. So, yeah, go read that first. It's only 165 pages and it's very good. Here's a bit of my review, which should give you an idea if this duology is your kind of thing.

If you take the high-tech dystopian world of Martha Wells' Murderbot, the sapphic relationship of This Is How You Lose the Time War, and the superpowered masks of the 1980s cartoon M.A.S.K., and blend them together, you could conceivably come up with this fun sci-fi tale of survival and revenge.

This novella kicks off following the significant events of the previous novella's climax. The situation is this: Wylla and Sable are still working to take down VisorForge, using the truth to combat the evil corporation's lies and attempts at control, but the longer they work at it, the more dangerous and precarious their situation becomes. Enter "clandestine eco-resistance" group the Edenic Order, who propose a more radical solution, but will the cost be too great for our heroines?

The exploration here of love through sacrifice alternates from touching, to melancholic, and to maddening, but is never unbelievable despite the speculative fiction world it inhabits. The author, Seth Haddon, truly nails the emotional, human elements of this story, which elevates it. One element of Haddon's writing I absolutely love, which pulled me into the narrative so viscerally, is his use of second person narration to tell the story. Sable is the narrator, and you, the reader, are Wylla. Here's a brief example from the opening paragraphs to explain.

"Local Hackers are aware of our presence," I told you. "Probably a minute before station security catches on."

You grunted, all grit and focus. I stayed silent. You crouched over a terminal in the ribbed underhalls of BSMC-07, a routing station so old its walls sweated rust and the relays never stopped buzzing. Through one of the slats, we spied the concourse below, where a mammoth screen blared an ad for cheap freight. That one would end any second. Our target lay three ads ahead.

We didn't have much time.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this duology. It's a fun and exciting sci-fi ride, and also pauses just long enough to interject deeper truths about late stage capitalism, the nature of identity, the expression of love, and the definition of freedom. I personally found the ending more bittersweet than I'd have liked, but I also understood by that point that it was the only way it was going to end.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Hone · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review copy courtesy of Macmillan Audio, Seth Haddon, and NetGalley.)

4⭐

I didn’t like this one as much as the first, but that does not mean it’s bad. There is still a TON to recommend here!

This second half of the duology doesn’t merely work as a good follow-up; it genuinely delivers on what the first book promised, and I cannot overstate how important that is.

Everything that worked before still works here. Haddon brings excellent worldbuilding, setting, and character depth. You can feel the female rage radiating off the page. And, as ever, the second-person narration is perfection. This POV absolutely elevates the story.

My main issue was that the plot felt more cluttered. The first book had a focused, deeply personal revenge arc. This one expands into larger organizations, corporate warfare, and much bigger stakes. That progression makes sense, but the escalation felt a little too fast and left the story less focused than its predecessor.

Also… the romance. It’s present, but strained. The characters are separated/complicated by the body-mask situation, and the reversed power dynamic creates visceral horror around bodily autonomy. It’s complicated to explain without spoilers, but there’s some real re-traumatization here, fam.

It’s also my duty as a romance enjoyer to warn you that this does not end with an HEA or HFN. However, there is a small qualifier:

Sable sacrifices herself and disperses beyond her previous form. But she is also narrating the story, so she is clearly not gone-gone, and the ending suggests she may be beginning to pull herself back together.

So no, it isn’t happy exactly, but it may be hopeful.

Audio-Specific 🎧: 5 Hours, 51 Minutes. Emily Gibbons Bouchard gives another absolutely stellar performance, and I’m SO glad she returned! The audio quality is excellent, her character differentiation is strong, and she brings every bit of the emotion this story demands. She remains the perfect match for the material. As ever, I listened at 1.5x.

📌 TL;DR: A strong, angry, and compelling conclusion with excellent audio, though the expanded scope makes it more cluttered than the first book.

[Kim Freimoeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Null Entity" by Seth Haddon is an exceptional sequel that expands the emotional and philosophical depth of "Volatile Memory" while delivering another exciting cyberpunk space adventure!
While "Volatile Memory" centered on queer love, revenge, and the fight for justice in a galaxy ruled by ruthless corporations, "Null Entity" shifts its focus. What happens when relationships face hardships? Does revenge truly soothe the soul? Do we have what it takes to do the hard work that true justice requires? While this story is certainly heavier than the first, Haddon does an excellent job of injecting enough levity to keep the reader hopeful and moving forward.
Wylla remains a phenomenal protagonist. She continues to make peace with her body after fighting for autonomy as a trans woman hunted by the corporations that dominate this dystopian future. When we last saw her, she had earned her Freedom. But freedom is not the end of her journey. Watching her navigate relationships, identity, and the lingering wounds left by violence and oppression gives the novel remarkable emotional depth. She must build trust, reckon with her past, and help dismantle the powers that sought to keep control over her and countless others.
Worldbuilding continues to be one of Haddon's greatest strengths. The cyberpunk setting feels oppressive, but his skillful writing never left me overwhemed. He paints a future where corporations and the ultra-wealthy dictate every aspect of society; a shocking deviation from our current society. (/s) The technology, politics, and social structures all reinforce the novel's central questions about autonomy, power, and who gets to determine another person's humanity.
What felt the most poignant for me was the story's exploration of revenge. Rather than treating vengeance as a satisfying conclusion, Haddon examines the emptiness that often follows it. The story argues that justice is not simply about defeating an enemy who personally wronged you. It is about dismantling oppressive structures, building supportive community, and creating something better in the aftermath. That perspective gives the story a maturity that sets it apart from many revenge-driven narratives.
If I have a small critique, it is that the quieter, more introspective moments were occasionally set aside much quicker than I felt they should have been. While I appreciated the emotional depth, there were moments where I wanted the narrative to let the weight of the moment sit and sink in.
I give "Null Entity" 4.5 stars. I recommend it to readers who enjoy cyberpunk science fiction, queer stories, and character-driven explorations of identity, autonomy, and justice. I would not recommend it to readers looking for nonstop action or a sequel that simply repeats the beats of its predecessor. "Null Entity" chooses growth over escalation, and it is all the stronger for it.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for an advanced reader's copy.

3/5 stars.

Null Entity picks up several years after the end of Volatile Memory, with Wylla and Sable continuing their quest for revenge against the evil corporation that trapped Sable in the Lyrebird mask in book 1. In this second half of the duology, Wylla and Sable go up against a host of half-human, half-machines, find allies in strange places, and make seemingly impossible choices as they navigate their unspoken love for each other with their own goals of retribution and justice.

The flip flop between first and second person POV still jarred me as it did in the first novel. I just could not get into the uncanny relationship between Wylla and Sable, although after years of sabotaging VisorForge--the aforementioned evil corporation--their relationship now feels more earned.

I appreciated the book's sense of mystery and use of corporate legalese as we discovered VisorForge's true intentions with the Lyrebird project. However, the plot did sometimes get muddied between the technical specifics of the masks, multiple transfers of consciousness, and introduction of half-human, half-machine "biocoded" entities that pop up throughout the book.

I also felt like Wylla too easily forgave Sable when she selfishly--and overtly-- pursued her revenge plot over Wylla's bodily autonomy. Once Sable experiences having a body again she, understandably, revels in it. However, if the importance of bodily autonomy is a theme of the book, it feels like this tidbit should have irrevocably changed their dynamic for the worst. She violates Wylla's trust and doesn't really face consequences for doing so.

Overall, Null Entity is an interesting foray into a not so distant reality where corporate overreach threatens the last dregs of human freedom. Through love, ambition, and sacrifice, an unlikely pair of heroines kindle an unbreakable bond over their shared experiences of cruel oppression and inspire hope for a better future.

[Josie]

Entire review @JoyfullyJay.com

3.5⭐️

At its core, the Volatile Memory duology examines autonomy, resistance, and what it means to be human in a world designed to strip your humanity and mine your existence. . . Here Haddon does a great job adding external conflict to the women’s bond and branching out into the world. Their sacred union devolves into acrimony. . .

Sable is likened to a mnemonic parasite, and if so, she is a very human one—spiteful, loving, and contradictory, angered by being “raped of her agency,” despite doing the same to the woman she loves more than once. One of the compelling undercurrents in "Volatile Memory" is if/to what extent does Sable’s dominant personality and fierceness unintentionally hack Wylla’s will. . . She exhorted Wylla to stop diminishing herself to please others but is upset when the lessons are directed at her.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t as invested as before. The first person direct POV still captures the intensity of the fast but well-paced plot. The expanded bio-tech capabilities and LYREBIRD’s conception are immersive and very interesting. . . There’s great conflict and high stakes. Yet, the story examines many social issues, and in the length of a long novella, aspects are truncated to make room.

For me, the abrupt, distancing combination of only implied relationship progression and early feuding, plus the speed of emotional resolution makes their connection feel slightly less organic. It doesn’t help that Sable dives as rapidly into rhapsodic musing about the hot, bewitching Aliers as she did about Wylla. . .

The speed of the Rebels v. Empire plot can be distracting. Plans are rash, bordering on overconfidence, rather than hasty from being hunted. Most are reasonable, but the odds go from on a wing and a prayer to on a barb and a syllable. . .

[Pujashree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED the worldbuilding and the pure anti-establishment, female rage of Volatile Memory. I thought it was a pretty self-contained novella and wasn't expecting a sequel, but once I started Null Entity it made absolute sense that there was more to the story. Even though it picks up a few years after the event of Volatile Memory and it's been a minute since I read it, it left enough of a visceral impact on me that I didn't need a reread to jump right back into what Wylla and Sable were up to in their efforts to take down VisorForge. There is more than enough resonance with the real zeitgeist in which a soulless corpocracy is blatantly making moves to unseat governments and capitalizing on controlling its product users as resources. And yet it remains grounded in the emotional core that is Sable and Wylla and their sort-of love story. I wasn't sold on this being a romance in the first book, but by the end of this one, I understand that it isn't supposed to be a romance, but a fierce kind of love that honors each other's battle scars and the individual vision and right to just exist on their own terms. This one is as action-packed as the last one, with questionable rebel allies and a little too much jargon about all the mask tech floating around and it may become hard to keep up at times. Over a longer piece of work, both the dizzying arrays of corrupted use of technologies and the Wylla-Sable relationship may have breathed better and to more effect. Still, read together, both the novellas make one hell of a story about personal agency, the dangers of unchecked AI corpocraciesn and all the ways you can be broken by the thirst for righteous vengeance. And how you learn to love yourself despite all the powers that threaten to break you into a million little pieces to be used and abused. Fantastic stuff. Big thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ebook ARC.

[Michelle G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tordotcom for the early access to this ebook. Pub date: July 21, 2026.

This is the direct sequel to Volatile Memory and it was good, but I had a few issues with it. What I liked: the progress these characters made towards their goals to topple the system and the sci-fi elements. While we don't get as much detail of this world as I'd like (and I understand that because this is a novella), what we do get is super interesting and very cool. I love the tech and the capabilities the characters have.

What I had issue with was the character development, the tension, and the conclusion. This lacked tension for me and the stakes didn't feel as high as they were. I wanted to be thrilled a little more and I just wasn't.

Regarding character development, I was okay with Wylla, but I had issue with Sable. She makes a decision here about Wylla's body that should've been a bigger issue between them than it was and, given that one of the main themes of this book are autonomy and consent, the way this was handled and the way Wylla forgives it so easily felt dissonant and disconnected. As a reader, it completely changed *my* perspective of their relationship and the love Sable had for Wylla, so seeing that it didn't change anything for Wylla and was so easily forgiven was jarring. It should've absolutely had a bigger impact on their relationship.

As for the conclusion, some of it felt satisfying and some of it didn't. Like I said, the choice Sable made about Wylla's body really changed my perspective on her and disconnected me emotionally from the character, so the conclusion lost impact for me in part because I didn't have that emotional connection anymore.

Overall, I think this is a good continuation and conlclusion and a solid duology, I just wish this second book was better.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wylla found a helmet that ended up being the AI consciousness of Sable in the first book, Volatile Memory. In Null Entity, when Wylla wears the helmet, Sable is a part of her, minds intertwined. Where the first book was primarily introspective, this second book has a lot more plot despite its novella length. I found it engaging and exciting to listen to with a lot to unpack.

If book 1 uses the 2nd person tense as an allegory for disembodied queer identity, here it feels like a measure of comfort. We are with Sable, who is talking to her love, Wylla, walking her (and us) through every trauma they face. For part of the story, Sable and Wylla inhabit the same body, but then they split, and Sable takes the body that Wylla has fought so hard for. And yet, we are in Sable's head, so she asks "Can you not be in my shoes for a moment and allow me to experience what I've lacked." As the reader, I certainly empathize with both characters, the transwoman who wants her body and the AI consciousness who just wants a body.

I enjoyed Null Entity a lot: it's thought provoking on a lot of levels. It falls a little flat by not making judgements or statements where I think strong speculative fiction does, but it makes up for it as a beautiful love story. This feels like classic science fiction, and Sable feels like a character written before AI companions started taking over lives.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for an ALC and Tordotcom for an eARC. Null Entity is out 7/21/2026.

[ambrose (castleguyTV) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Null Entity is a worthwhile follow up to Haddon's 1st installment, the fast-paced sci-fi romp Volatile Memory. Everything I wanted more of from Volatile Memory is front and center in Null Entity--complexity, high stakes, and the push and pull of Wylla and Sable's relationship culminate in a series of events at the end still sticks with me after finishing. Haddon's growth in a new genre is apparent here as worldbuilding becomes more sophisticated and concrete in his sophomore effort in sci-fi. This book relies more on soft, almost science fantasy versus more concrete logic and descriptions, which a neutral factor that may or may not be a positive or negative for certain readers. While its first iteration was a story of revenge and reclamation, Null Entity tells a different story--not quite revolution, like we might see in other epic sci-fi works, but a very common sentiment among marginalized peoples: the fight is necessary, but we're also so tired of having to fight. Where is the line? Is martyrdom necessary to make a change? All this and more is explored in a short span of time.

While I enjoyed Null Entity (and enjoyed it more than Volatile Memory), it's clear that this duology would have felt more effective if told as one story--it did feel like the worldbuilding established in Null Entity was long overdue as it hadn't really been integrated into Volatile Memory beforehand in any manner beyond names of places and organizations, and many themes and ideas that could be left for the reader to interpret are said outright--had Haddon more real estate to write a longer piece, I suspect this issue would not be present.

All in all, hats off to the author for the finale of a memorable work!

[IndubidablyAli · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Neuromancer, Cyberpunk 2077 and Killjoys.

Diving back into the world of Volatile Memory was both seamless and complex. Once again Seth has managed to create a brilliant, rich world that is both awe inspiring and terrifying in less than 200 pages and I’m dumbstruck. I went through a vast range of emotions in a mere matter of pages and could not even begin to tell you the complexity of each one, there were that many. It’s been a delight to watch Seth’s writing bloom (haha no pun intended) over time, and Null Entity is easily some of his finest work.

The character development in this narrative is complex and thought provoking, at no point did I not understand anyone’s choices which is new for me - I often find myself screaming at a character for a dumb decision- but with Wylla and Sable I felt like I could appreciate and understand each of their choices without question. I loved that they don’t just follow each other blindly, they each had their own motivations and drives.

Full of visceral rage, a fight for self agency, codependent lesbians and a whole lot of kickass women. If you want a book that feels like it would have the entire Danger Days album by MCR as the soundtrack, then you should be reading this book.

[toloveabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) I received a free eARC through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

This is a fantastic sequel to Volatile Memory. In fact, I think it improves upon its predecessor in almost every way.

I don’t want to give away any major spoilers, but I will say that this book is written entirely from Sable’s perspective. I love that we get more of her in this book; I think it really complements everything we learned about Wylla in the previous book.

One of my biggest complaints about Volatile Memory was the pacing, and this book does not have the lulls that made Volatile Memory a bit uneven. However, the result of the faster pacing is that this is essentially non-stop action. While I do wish there had been a few more quiet, intimate moments between Wylla and Sable, I am grateful for the faster pacing. I read this in one sitting, and it destroyed me.

Books that explore autonomy in a hyper-capitalistic society can be emotionally challenging to read. It seems like our society is so close to deteriorating into a hellscape very similar to the one described in this book. But instead of being discouraged, this book enraged me in the best way. I dare you to finish this and not feel inspired to fight for everyone’s right to be who they are.