Was pretty torn on if I wanted to round my 3.5 up or down but here’s how I broke it down:

Pro’s:
╰┈➤ Interesting magic system — think world-hopping (potentially universe-hopping?)
╰┈➤ Monster smut (if you’re into that kinda thing)
╰┈➤ Bi rep from both love interests
╰┈➤ FMC over 30 (sadly, very rare)

Cons:
╰┈➤ Pretty basic world-building, but has potential to grow in the next installment
╰┈➤ Felt like there were a lot of “filler” areas within the book that could’ve been edited down to create a better flow/pace


While there are double the pro’s than cons, this book just didn’t hold my attention super well. The pacing was the most difficult part for me and is what ultimately led me to give an overall 3.5. Worth the read? Sure. Would I continue the series? Eh, maybe not.

Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access in exchange for an unpaid review.

4.5, I can’t believe this monster romantasy has managed to move me on my strict anti-tail position

I hesitate to call him Howl coded because he actually does eat people but he’s whiny and pathetic and a bit obsessed so…

This book is the perfect blend of really clever and really bananas and I’m so glad there’s more in this world. I’m coming back for sure.

Huge thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love a good fantasy book full of lore, world building and descriptions of the places visited throughout the book that are easy to visualize in your head. I also love a good romance mixed with it, especially when one of the main characters isn’t necessarily human. Put all that together and you’ve got Voidwalker, a beautiful fantasy book that I had such a fun time reading. Fionamara, or Fi, is our FMC— a smuggler who is known as a Voidwalker, or someone who can see the curtains between life and death. The world as they know it is ruled by a species known as daeyari who, in return for aid, require a willing human to sacrifice themselves for food. The humans and the daeyari are at odds with each other, for obvious reasons, and you can feel the tension the moment that Fi and Antal, one of the daeyari, meet through circumstances.

What starts as enemies turns into delicious tension between them and the complications of a human and daeyari falling in love. I absolutely love Fi and Antal’s dynamic, their growth together being slowburn without being too slow. The other characters in Voidwalker are diverse, and their screen times made me look forward to seeing them over and over again. This was an instant five star read for me and I’ll definitely be reading this again once it releases physically!

Maclean delivers a unique world and magic system that had me turning the page to learn more!

Voidwalker was an interesting read for me, but I’m going to start with a very important thing: read the trigger warnings. This should be a given, but I didn’t skim them as seriously as I should have and the idea of monsters eating people was something I had to skip over a few times when it was described in explicit detail.

This being said, I did overall enjoy this book. The magic system and world were insanely unique to me and left me wanting more at every turn. The idea of a Planeverse with so many creatures and quirks to it had me intrigued from the start. While I think certain parts could have been explained differently early on, I thought it was full of original concepts I hadn’t seen before.

I liked the romantic build between Fi and Antel and her descriptions of him being like a grumpy cat. It fit the characterization so well and even before the title was given, I had that exact thought.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and do look forward to the second of the duo

I enjoyed this but did not love it.

My main issue with it was the clunky characterization of the main female character who consistently makes bizarre decisions all the while the reader is told that she is the best smuggler in the business. This combined with the lackluster world building made the book an okay read.

That being said, if one is reading for the romantasy elements, it's all there and bound to resonate with the readers who are looking for something like this.

publication forthcoming aug 2025
many thanks @netgalley @orbitbooks_us

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5, rounded up!
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
RELEASE DATE: August 19th, 2025 ✨

Quick thought:
My first monster fantasy romance! Mixed thoughts on it all around, but a solid story. Out next month!

My brief summary:
Smuggler Fionamara Kolbeck is used to a challenge. Traversing through Shards of the Void isn’t for the weak, after all. But when a job goes south, resulting in an explosion in the heart of the Winter Plane, Fi finds herself at the mercy of one of the creatures she’s feared the most: the Daeyari.

Lord Antal of the Daeyari, ruler of the Winter Plane, wants answers. His people betrayed him, his territory is in ruins, and his fellow Daeyari are out for blood. And worst of all: Fi is the only person who can help him find answers. Forming a reluctant alliance, the two struggle to not only survive but to reclaim his lost city.

Can an alliance between mortal enemies really last? Or will the building tension between them mean their end?

Highlights/Tropes:
👤 Single, third-person POV
😈 Monster fantasy romance
☄️ Forced proximity
💔 Ex-lover antagonist
🏳️‍🌈 M/F romance with bi rep
🤝 Reluctant allies
🚪 Parallel worlds + energy swords
🌶️🌶️🌶️+

Characters:
FMC:
Fionamara Kolbeck. “Fi.”
Bold, brazen, and terrified.
Fi is my one of my favorite types of FMC - one who is so incredibly aware of her internal fears and insecurities, yet outwardly masks everything with a layer of bravado. Her age was also different than most FMCs, at I think 32 years old, which was pretty refreshing. Her quips were funny, and her determination was pure. Overall, a good FMC.

MMC:
Lord Antal of the Daeyari. “Antlers”.
Broody, annoyed, and broken.
I adored Antal. An immortal Daeyari with horns, fangs, and claws. He was just so silly: a lump under a snow mound, a little feral bat hanging from the rafters. a heart so full of love, raised to value cruelty. and someone who is, objectively, pretty funny. I liked him as an MMC, even if he was, also objectively, a weenie. I honestly think it made me like him more.

Quotes:
‘At fourteen, she’d flee to neighboring Planes of reality to escape house chores.’

‘The middle of an argument with a carnivore: not the ideal time for discovering kinks.’

‘A whisper of doubt that, maybe, being devoured wouldn’t be the horrific end she’d envisioned.’

‘Void stop her from slapping him, just to see what would happen.’

‘would it be so bad, to be devoured?’

‘Yet how odd, you assume all your folktales of devoured mortals end in death? There are other ways to enjoy flesh, Fionamara. Types of devouring that don’t work well as cautionary tales for misbehaving girls.’

‘Fi wondered what he’d look like reincarnated. After she murdered him, of course.’

‘Cornered animals were always the most dangerous.’

Romance/Spice:
Mortal enemies to allies to lovers.
An interesting romance! I loved the bickering and the attitude, the suggestive comments and sweet compliments. The hard-edged human and the softie monster, overcoming their individual fears and past trauma to be together. + a lil bi for bi rep in an M/F relationship!
In terms of spice, pretty spicy! 3.5ish open door scenes, with some additional fade to black. Plus some claws and teeth, if you’re into that. 😏

Overall thoughts:
Mixed thoughts on this one!

Having never read a monster Romantasy, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or, honestly, what I was signing myself up for. Not sure Antal is much of a ‘monster’ (despite his appearance 🤭) but I liked it!

I do LOVE when chapters are named (it reminds me of reading when I was a kid 🥹) and these chapter names had me giggling. Such a fun add-on to the story.

The world was super interesting, the concept of places existing in multiple planes, and ‘voidwalkers’ being able to see the thin areas to pass between them. THAT was super cool. Aside from that, I couldn’t really grasp the energy requirements, or the supplemental energy things going on. It seems like a form of natural magic, but I just couldn’t really understand it that much. Might just be me 🤷🏻‍♀️

The characters themselves were also entertaining. Obviously Fi and Antlers were the stars of the show, but I enjoyed some of the supporting characters as well. Brother Brodie? A sweetheart. Kashvi? a sharp-shooter with words and energy. Astrid? ‘a wild creature.’ they didn’t have much personality individually, but their relationships with the main characters were good.

The plot was okay, though felt forced at times with some pacing issues. Nothing that truly gripped me. I did like the mention of the possibility of other Immortals throughout the Void, which would definitely make for a more interesting story moving forward. Also interested to explore the possibilities of Voidwalking, and what that could mean for Fionamara as a human.

Overall, a solid concept with a cool world, though not as well developed as I would like. a snarky FMC and a broody, monster MMC. named chapters. sweet romance between mortal enemies. a decent plot, though it didn’t quite grip me.

TLDR; book 1 of an unfinished series. a monster romantasy with parallel worlds, energy swords, and silly banter. out August 19th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit US for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own ✨

Big thanks to NetGalley & S.A. Maclean for giving me the opportunity!!

I'm not one to usually pick a sci-fi romance, but I am so glad I requested this one. I had such a great time!

I loved the plot. The world was so fun and so unique. The world building was thorough and easy to follow.

The characters were super likeable. The romantic tensions and banter were very good. The daeyari tongue?? SAY LESS.

Absolutely recommend. S.A. Maclean is definitely on my radar now!!

Voidwalker was SO fun. I think straight from the author's note, I began giggling about what was to come. Fi had a near death experience as a child which resulted her in being able to see door's from other planes/void. She began smuggling as an adult since knowing where certain "doors" and "curtains" were was apart of her "gift". Fi agrees to smuggle some bombs into the capitol in the Winter Plane when everything blows up and goes FULL BLOWN WRONG. Thus, Antal walks in and wants to find out who is doing this to HIS territory.

The world, the different planes, voids, monsters were all so interesting and not like anything I have read before. There's a lot of action, heists. It's a perfect balance of a monster romantasy where everything is equaled out/not too much of one thing or another.

I can't wait for publication date. I had a lot of fun reading Voidwalker.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is not normally a book I would have picked up, but boy, am I glad I did. It was a wild ride and I had the time of my life reading it. I thought that the setting was so interesting! There are multiple planes of reality that the FMC is able to travel between, with each belonging to a different season. There are some sci-fi-esque weapons and technology that we see. Overall, it was very unique and I feel like it was explored in-depth enough.

I loved the FMC. It's so refreshing to see a character in her 30s instead of early 20s or a teenager. I felt she was so relatable in her sexuality and how comfortable she felt in her skin. I loved seeing her change throughout the novel and I think she showed some tremendous character growth with being able to show vulnerability in the end.

The MMC was also interesting, but the one thing I didn't like about him was that he was considered "young" but was still half the age of the others of his kind. I feel that being considered "young" would be a century old or younger. He had a good backstory and was well-developed. The dynamic between him and the FMC was wonderful and their relationship had me kicking me feet. I would have loved to see him be even a little bit more submissive in their relationship, as their relationship definitely reads that way in the beginning.

I was surprised to see that this is part of a duology! I feel that it could be read as a standalone, and am guessing that the next novel will focus on different characters. Overall, if you like unique settings, a mature FMC, enemies to lovers, and slow burn romances, you'll love this!

Ok, confession time, I had the lowest of expectations for this book. I had no interest in it whatsoever and only requested it on netgalley because it was getting a special edition. But wow, I ended up absolutely loving this book!
Fi and Antal's relationship was done so well. They had amazing chemistry and I completely bought into their relationship. We actually get to see Fi slowly start to fall for Antal as she gets to know him, instead of it just being "lust at first sight." Fi was a very well written character, but she kind of annoyed me at the beginning. This actually worked in her favor though, because it made her character arc all the more satisfying. I also liked the side characters, especially Boden. I wish Astrid would have been a bit more present since she was central to the emotional conflict of the story, but the scenes we did get with her were great. The plot was also done well. I was fully invested in what was going to happen next. The shining star of this novel though was the characters and their relationships. I will definitely be checking out more of this author's works.

This is my honest review of the ARC I received from NetGalley.

Unfortunately, this was a book I could not wait to finish because I did not like it. I would have DNF’d at 30-50%, but kept going since this was an ARC.

I will start with what I liked:
- Unique world with unique magic. Multi-world, multi-universe, and multi-species. It was very interesting and a fresh perspective.
- The MFC and MMC character arcs were really great. They both had a LOT of growth, for different reasons, which happens in this book. They push each other and they grow both individually and together.
- The author did a great job blending plot, action, character development, relationship development, and world building. The pacing was well done, I was not bored with the story.

Why this book is 2 stars and I would have quit reading:

- The MFC is AWFUL, I mean AWFUL. Flat out, she is one of the worst MFC’s I have read. To be clear, I don’t mind an MFC who has trauma, trust issues, and can be sassy at times. But, what I DESPISE, is the entitled, rude, arrogant, and impulsive CONSTANTLY throughout the book. I really struggle when this type of character is the only POV and they stay that way almost the whole book despite how wonderful their family, friends, and main romantic interest are.
- I was excited to read that the MFC was 32 years old, finally! However, she acts like a solid older teenager to young 20 year old. I was so so so excited to have an MFC that was in her 30’s, as I assumed some of the impulsivity and emotional immaturity would be less, nope.

- Here are the notes I took while reading:
o Super impulsive OR when she thinks before she acts she just says screw it and does it anyway. Her excuse for her behavior is that she has to keep her image up or that she is stubborn. Then, when things go wrong it is everyone else’s fault.
o I DO LOVE that the MFC does later reflect on her actions and owns her behavior. She does that multiple times. This made up for the instant blame game she played.
o Trope: Sassy MFC who has a snarky and rude comment for the MMF, CONSTANTLY, even at the risk of her safety. “I don’t know why I am like this with him even though he could kill me.” And she just keeps doing it. Such an eye role trope for me. Some balance with snarkiness and thoughtfulness would have been more appealing to me, especially since she was in her 30’s.
o MFC is rude and just flat out mean to the MMC, even though he is challenging himself to be better, is open to feedback, and very kind, especially to her. This was not advertised as a bully romance, so I was surprised and how awful the MFC was.
 Quotes about the MMC from the MFC, again despite him being super kind, is growing to be better, etc. “Piece of shit,” even though he was not acting like one, “bastard” again he was not acting like one. “Do I trust him, absolutely not,” even though the whole book was just about them building trust. “He’d better behave himself after all the nice things she’s said about him.” WHAT!!!! SHE LITERALLY just had a whole internal dialogue about how respectful he has been, especially of her boundaries. “Cagey bastard” even though he has been amazing.
 I am thinking the whole time she is projecting, as she tends to act in ways that make her the jerk, she is the one always behaving rudely.. UGH she is MISERABLE to read about.

Several times the MFC makes choices and then wants to run away, with her internal dialogue focusing on her asking why she made these choices. It was such a repeated cycle in the book.

Many thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

The author really said, I’m going to give you a list of content warnings that scare the 💩 out of you, and then I’m going to make you obsessed from the first page to the last! I’m no stranger to monster romance, but could I handle a carnivorous monster? HELL YES GIMME MORE!

Voidwalker is just so good. The fantasy world building and plot are fantastic, and then the romance is just the pièce de resistance. I am as feral over Antal and Fi as they were for each other. Seriously, predator and prey must work together to overthrow an even worse predator, save a territory, and work together build a better alliance and government. All while being INCREDIBLY HOT together.

It is a sloooooow burn while Antal and Fi begin to work together and try to get past the whole “I eat people” thing Antal has going on. But he’s a very considerate and handsome monster. With antlers. For grabbing onto. 🥵 But they also have so much character growth together, and they help each other heal and do better.

The plot with the rebellion was great too. And I love that we get the completion of the first arc by the end of the book, with the understanding that there’s much more work to be done. I’m so excited for more in this world!!
Highly recommend!

Spoilers (mild but still) ahead.

Thank you so incredibly much Orbit for letting me read this ARC. I first read S.A. MacLean’s work when Illumicrate sent me The Phoenix Keeper in one of my monthly boxes. I loved it, and immediately looked into what else the author had written, and found this available to preorder on amazing before there was even an image guys! That is how much I enjoyed her work. As soon as I realized ARCs may be available for this I reached out directly to Orbit on a whim and they approved me! 🥺 Enough about that, about this story!

First off, the world is so unique. Voidwalking, living on a shard and having different little universes all interconnected but in their own planes and then using energy to make weapons and move around. Also void horse?? I love horses okay and I am always sold on a pet companion. The daeyari were fascinating to learn about and what ruthless little carnivores. I love Antal and getting to see his vulnerabilities as he starts to open up to Fi. Also I love that neither one of them really compete for the “top” position in the relationship. There is respect and communication, pining that is subtle but SO REAL that it creeps up on you and before you know it your thoughts have changed.

And Bodie! Um I am going to have to cry about that a little. 🥺 Hopefully he’s happy in the void with some void beasts. ❤️ I love the different creature the void has made and I hope we get to see more, definitely seems to be connected to the author she loves some mythical creatures. Great I loved it give me 14 of them right now.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I absolutely loved Voidwalker. This is one of those rare reads that hits the sweet spot between tension-filled romance and rich, imaginative world building. I’ve read a lot of monster romances, but this one stands out by miles. It felt original, emotionally layered, and surprisingly tender for a story that includes an immortal being who literally devours people.

The main characters had instant sparks, but the relationship was built with care. There’s banter, yes, but also vulnerability and moments that genuinely surprised me. The pacing lets you sink into the world without dragging, and the magic elements were fascinating without being overly complicated.

The romantic arc really stole the show for me. It’s a slower build but never boring, and when it finally delivers, it does not hold back. The spice level is definitely high, with a few standout scenes that were both steamy and meaningful.

If I had to nitpick, there were a few phrases and details that popped up a bit too often. I also felt like the stakes could have been raised slightly to match the emotional intensity. But honestly, those are small things in the bigger picture of how much I enjoyed this.

One of my top reads of the year so far. This one hit me in all the right places.

I was quite surprised by this one! I didn’t know what I was getting into but was happy to learn it was a monster romance.

The FMC is an adult, has a cool ability and lots of trauma. The MMC is a human eating creature with antlers and a tail that gives off grumpy wet cat energy lol

The world building was pretty hard for me to grasp. Cool in theory but the writing didn’t do a great job at truly capturing the concepts. I found a lot of the descriptions and phrase to be so repetitive which took me out of the story a lot! I did shed a tear which surprised me.

Overall I had a good time! Wish it was 100 pages shorter! Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review honestly!

From the very first crack of the Void, S.A. MacLean’s Voidwalker delivers a boldly immersive romp that blends pulse-pounding action, morally grey anti‑heroes, and a tantalizing slow‑burn romance—this one definitely earns its four stars of fire and wonder.

✨ Why I Loved It

A Smuggler with Soul: Fi Fionamara is not your average heroine. She’s clever, resourceful, and haunted by a lifetime of ferrying contraband, yet fiercely devoted to the tiny village she’s silently vowed to protect. That blend of scrappy independence and heartfelt loyalty is magnetic.

Building a Bite‑Me World: The fractured‑world setting, shattered realities, flesh devouring beasts, and immortal overlords, is vivid in a spine‑tingling way. The author doesn’t just build landscapes; she sculpts tension, dread, and hope into the air itself.

Line Crosser Antal: Introducing an immortal you love to hate and maybe hate to love. Antal is dangerous, seductive, and utterly compelling. His partnership with Fi crackles with dramatic friction: survival, ambition, and undeniably scorching chemistry.

Heist - Bombing - Revolution: Talk about amped story structure. It jumps from clever heist-thrills to gut-wrenching consequences, then blossoms into a full-blown rebellion. Each escalation feels earned and deepens Fi’s moral stakes.

What Kept It “Just” 4 Stars

The pacing occasionally seeds an overload of subplots, which sometimes distract from Fi’s core emotional journey. A bit of trimming could have sharpened the narrative tension in the middle act.

The romance, while deliciously feral, threatens to overshadow the darker world‑building—though to be fair, that hair‑raising “monster’s‑fang” allure is half the fun.

Final Verdict
Voidwalker is unapologetically bold, romantasy lovers will celebrate its steamy chemistry, and epic‑scale fantasy fans will revel in its cosmic rebellion. It’s a wild, blood‑soaked dance of power and temptation: messy, thrilling, and impossible to put down. MacLean’s newest universe is an explosive treat, and I can’t wait to see where Fi and Antal go next.

If you’re craving a revolution that tastes like forbidden magic and romance that bites back then Voidwalker deserves a spot on your shelf. Just brace yourself: once the Void opens, there's no going home.

I absolutely loved this book and the characters. Enemies to Allies to More. I loved the characters growth and banter throughout the book. I cant wait for Book 2 to see how the story continues. I, also, loved that there wasn't a huge cliffhanger, but left you wanting more and needing to know what happens next.

This book is exactly what I want in a Romantasy! The plot was good, the characters well developed, and the romance believabl. I feel like this is one of the few true Enemies to Lovers. The main character, Fionamara, was easy to like and relatable through her journey of being thrust into a conflict she wanted no part of but was forced into. The magic in this world is so cool, and the world building is top tier! I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before. The only downside I would give this book was there were some pacing issues in my opinion where the plot kind of hit a lull in the middle. But other than that, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a plot driven fantasy romance!

Fionamara is just your average, run of the mill smuggler, keeping out of trouble and avoiding the notice of the ruling Daeyari, the monsters who rule each territory and who require human sacrifices from those they rule. But when a job goes south, she finds herself in the direct sight of the ruler of her territory, Antal. Unknowingly starting a coup, Fionamara has to try to make things right with Antal or risk being his next meal. Becoming unlikely allies, they plot to retake his territory and slowly Fi realizes Antal might not be the monster she thought he was.

There is so much to love about Voidwalker. I have to admit, I was both nervous and excited for this book. I loved S.A. MacLean's debut, The Phoenix Keeper, but Voidwalker's premise seemed to be as far from that of Phoenix Keeper while also remaining in the same genre. Despite my apprehension, I was not disappointed in Voidwalker and absolutely loved this book, even more I did her last and I highly recommend picking up this book.

From the first few pages of this book were notable standouts about the book and story that I adored.
- This book as chapter titles! Sometimes absolutely unhinged chapter titles, several of which had me laughing out loud as I was reading
- The FMC is 32 years old, and I love having a slightly older FMC. Side note, I am also 32 yo, and realize that I am describing myself as being slightly older here as well. Her age isn't mentioned other than at the beginning, but it is relevant in her backstory, experiences, and motivations, which really added depth to the story.
- We love ourselves a blind Voidhorse (and Aisinay's naming is just :chefkiss: ) - This was something that made me realize S.A. does really well with her character development, even with smaller side characters/animals, which carries across both her works to date.
- At one point around 15% through I realized that I had absolutely no idea where this book was going (on me for not reading the synopsis any time remotely close to when I read the book), but I had no issues with simply being along for the ride.
- This was a pretty true enemies to lovers - I genuinely wasn't sure who the love interest was going to be early on. This was a slow burn (over halfway through before things started to heat up), but the tension is immaculate.
- Even after getting together, I was loving every bit of tension and banter between Fi and Antlers.
- While this is this first part of a duology, you aren't left with a massive cliffhanger. I was left with some speculation as to the focus of the next book, and I definitely can't wait to read it and see the story continue, but feel really pleased with the resolution of this first book.

Thanks to the author, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!

This was such a different book in its approach to monster romance. While it wasn't my type of read personally, I did appreciate it for the amazing story. I feel we have a lot of readers who will enjoy this, the sassy FMC and her black cat of a MMC.