I really enjoyed this book! I came in as an empty slate; I found the book on NetGalley and was intrigued by the premise! It ended up being a unique, and emotional fantasy. I am impressed by this debut and look forward to reading more from the author! I cannot stop thinking about this story and characters, and am so glad I got to read it!

I loved the theme of found family within the book, and how people have different roles in their various families (daughter, mother, friend) This book is filled ith complex characters that readers will love, or love to hate.

The characters are well crafted, and the story weaves them together in a brutal struggle to free themselves from being powerless in a struggle for land

This is the best book I've read so far this year.

Cry, Voidbringer is a debut fantasy novel that follows: Hammer, a soldier, whose main goal is survival. Viridian, a child with god-like powers. And Naias, a commander, who wants to prevent the current ruler from making the same mistakes as the previous ones.

This novel has themes of tyranny, oppression, broken systems, sacrifice, found family, survival, and so much more.


*Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery for the eArc*

The last act of this book felt like getting kicked in the ribs in the best way. I was non-functional for the rest of the day after finishing this book.

A brutally honest tale that holds not just its characters, but its readers accountable for their role in the rise of tyranny. Elaine Ho's raw, unflinching storytelling coils around your chest and squeezes. Cry, Voidbringer is unlike anything I have ever read before.
- R. A. Basu, author of To Bargain with Mortals

I think this is a book that is needed right now. It is one that deals with political manipulation, oppression and the corruption of power. The author did a great job creating characters that felt real. There are so many interconnecting stories and motivations and it was heartbreaking to read, but needed to be read. The characters were not perfect, they had flaws and their own ideas about what is right. The ending was not tied up perfectly with a bow, it was fractured and hurt, like endings in the real world. I think the author did a wonderful job creating a fantasy world that mirrors the world with all of its flaws but with heroes willing to fight for it. I can only hope that we have real life heroes that are willing to fight for our world the way the characters in this book did.

Hot damn, talk about a book that pulls no punches. There are some really heavy themes here, and the author doesn’t shy away from their brutality and ugliness. But my favorite part has got to be the character work. The cast runs the full gamut: characters you want to root for, characters you want to see change, and characters you want to absolutely throttle. I find that a lot of times with multi-POV books, I always have one favorite that I’m impatient to get back to, but here, I was equally invested with each. If I had one complaint, it would be that the pacing is a bit off in the middle, but it picks back up in the third act and finishes with a bang.

I struggled with this book for the first quarter of it, not necessarily with the content but the fact that it didn’t feel edited. It felt choppy, like you’ve not been dropped in a first book but in a sequel or the second season of a TV show and you’re scrambling to understand what’s going on because they’ve changed the writers and recast half the of mains. And maybe that’s the author’s intent because the characters are in a state of confusion and chaos? That aside the story itself is outstanding and gut wrenching, and once you figure out what’s going on this twist and turn at a breakneck pace. The power system in the book is unique and something that has a ton of potential to be expanded on.

First off - WHOA. Cry, Voidbringer has been one of the most difficult reads for me in 2025. Does “difficult” mean “bad”? Absolutely not!! This author so expertly crafted complex characters navigating various shades of personal trauma, difficult emotions, and clashing motivations. The reader is given a birds eye view of rampant false promises, and is left facing the terrifying truth that complacency only breeds tyrants.

If you are looking for a happy go lucky fantasy book that’s a light read, this is not the one for you. But if you’re ready for a heavier, war torn book that makes you feel uncomfortable at times, definitely give this a try! The book’s overall vibes? Horrifying. But the execution of the writing, the presentation of the cruelties of tyrants, and the narrative of unchecked power choking the tiniest ray of hope? EXCELLENT. I was honestly blown away by this book. When I put it down, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. There were so many moments that share similarities with real life oppression strategies, the danger of corruption, and how inaction against an onslaught of political manipulation will leave no one unaffected in the end. This book presents and forces its readers to grapple with complicated feelings, all set in a fantastical world filled with Gods, gifted individuals and wartime tactics. I was stressed when I wasn’t reading this book! And quite honestly, this is a book I will not easily ever forget. Brace yourself, and check this out on October 28, 2025! Thank you to Elaine Ho, Michael LaBorn and Bindery Books for allowing me to receive an advanced reader copy!