Honestly, I’m not sure why everyone in this world is so terrified of demons—because I’d 1000% let Antal take a bite. No regrets.

This book serves up demon smut and a solid political plot? Yes, please. It's the perfect mix of heat, intrigue, and high stakes.

I’ll admit, the worldbuilding took a little time to settle in—about 30% of the way through, things finally clicked for me. But once it did, the story really took off, and I was fully hooked. The pacing picks up beautifully, the stakes get higher, and the layers of power, corruption, and desire unfold in all the best ways.

And the ending? Actually satisfying. No loose threads, no rushed conclusions—just a strong finish that made the journey worth it.

If you like your fantasy dark, a little spicy, and backed by a real plot, this one's absolutely worth the read.

I loved the world building and the dynamic between the two species we see throughout the book. I love that the main character continuously believed that she was a coward for something she did in her past, but made steps to overcome that. I enjoyed the romance and the slow burn aspect to it. The action and adventure kept me on my toes and guessing what would happen next. There were a few plot twist that I didn’t see coming but really enjoyed. This was a fun read that got me out of a reading slump.

This book made me feel all the emotions! It made me giggle then made me want to cry.

The lush, immersive writing paired with some seriously spicy scenes made it an unforgettable read.

I’m absolutely here for monster romantasy!!

Looking forward to the next one which I think might be Astrids story…. 👀

Voidwalker is a fast paced spicy fantasy about a world where humans live on different planes of existence. These planes are broken up by the seasons and some individuals can travel between those planes by using the spaces The Void between realities. Long ago demons emerged from The Void and have taken control of the human world. These demons, the daeyari, have technological advancements, animalistic hunting abilities, and a craving for human flesh. Humans are their main source of food. When Fi, a human Voidwalker, must pair up with Antal, a recently ousted from power daeyari, sparks start to fly and Fi discovers humanity isn’t something that only humans have access to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3.5⭐️.
To be honest I went into this book almost completely blind. I had seen a spoiler that this might be an upcoming special edition book box subscription pick and drawn in by the radiant colors on the cover, I decided to take a chance on it and am pleased to report that I did enjoy this book. This ended up being my first “monster romance book” and while it hasn’t sparked a craving for more of that genre I liked this one and the relationship between not only Fi and Antal, but I really enjoyed Fi’s relationship with her brother. I know at the end it mentions that there is another book coming soon but honestly this worked well as a standalone. I look forward to not only receiving (possibly) a special edition copy of this book but to posting about it on my social media (TikTok and YouTube) closer to the release date.

This just fell a little flat for me (and that's extra sad because this was the exact kind of book I was craving/on the hunt for).

We did get some nice representation in this book (shoutout to all the bis) and I did really appreciate the different facets of out FMC, Fi. She had a nice mix of being compassionate and caring, but also strong and resilient. Not all fantasy women need to be bad asses all the time or total pushover softies, so I really did like seeing that very human range in Fi.

I did find some of the other characters to be a bit flat, I wanted just as much depth from them as we get form Fi. I really love a good side character I can fall in love with, and there really was potential for that here, if they had more of that same depth that Fi had.

I also wish there a bit more to the worldbuilding of this story, there was a lot of potential there too that I didn't think was fully taken advantage of.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my hones review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This book had me reeling emotionally and mentally! It actually took me for a ride and had me screaming and crying but also kicking my feet, giggling and laughing out loud but then also had me stressing because we never knew peace!! This book is so unserious but simultaneously serious at the same time!! They’re so many times I caught myself bursting from laughter but then two seconds later I’m stressing because the plot keeps intensifying! It finds the best moments to add humour, it manages to be so mundane but so extra I actually love it! I feel like it’s poking at my sanity because all I wanted to do was read it! Characters??? Miss SA MacLean come to the front because I must shake you hand and then hug you and then scream at you because why was that so good that it hurt me???? Antal my precious! Fi (literally my name even worse when you add Borden’s nickname Fifi which is actually my name!) I love her down!! Like she managed to make characters so lovable yet so realistically flawed because at the end of the day they WERE ALL HUMAN (even when they all of them technically weren’t) and it’s okay to make mistakes and have regrets because such is life. Things happen!!! I cannot form coherent thoughts actually! Oh wait, the writing??? I must read everything Miss MacLean has ever written because of the life she brought through this book??? To write sentences like that? So descriptive and amazing and real and like hello where has this book been all my life actually. Honestly wow.

The emotions she pulls out of these characters!!! Send help because I just might be obsessed and this book, literally might be my entire personality now!!!! The regret, heartbreak and the actions that lead to them like what????? It feels so real and I am an empath so it’s like I feel what they feel my heart!!! That Antal backstory just night be the thing that does it for me! I’m not mentally prepared! It just might kill me. Update: it did. My heart hurts for him! Honestly I must say I think I have a fictional crush and that hasn’t happened in a while like Antal??? The daeyari you are??? Fi?? My bisexual queen like I love them both individually and together and I need more! I am absolutely obsessed and have no notes.

One of my favourite parts were our fmc’s streams of consciousness because I loved the battle she had internally about Antal, about her regrets and pain and how one act defined her whole life and how it affected her and how it was the catalyst of the story! I loved that it didn’t just tell us everything but showed us! Same with the slow build up with her relationship with Antal. She went from fearing him to falling in love with him and that gradual shift was so well done! Everything had its place and made so much sense! Antal is literally my favourite character I need more. This book in general was so well executed! A perfect edition into the romantasy genre! I usually have qualms with this genre mainly because of the lack of world building because the romance usually takes centre stage but this book manages to balance the romance and plot and character arcs and fantasy setting and world so expertly! I honestly didn’t know I would enjoy it this much and I’m glad I did! Thank you to the author (who will need to pay for my therapy bills because of the emotional rollercoaster that was this book) and the publisher for the e-arc!

I absolutely loved the Phoenix Keeper last year. This is obviously a very different book, and I still liked it but not as much. It's a bit slow until the last 25%. I was very invested in the backstory between Astrid and Fi and didn't really care for Antal that much.

50000000 stars!!!

This was much more emotional and thought provoking than I had expected it to be given the genre (monster smut hahaha). However, Fi's character development blew me away. This is a story about someone who felt she was a coward and tried to change her own destiny. I LOVED THIS. That is what made this story unique.

Also, "Antlers" Antal was the cutest-grumpiest-kittycat-perching-on-ledges monster there ever was. Ehm. He does eat people though. This concept was not glossed over. It was something that some characters had to come to terms with which makes sense. BUT!! She wrote her monster as a monster. Not just a human who looks different. He has a different mindset, culture, and values than humans, because AGAIN he is a MONSTER.

The aspect of void walking was incredibly unique and fresh as I haven't read any books similar to this concept before and I do be reading a lot. I would have loved to learn more about the ruling class of the daeyeri, but maybe it will come out more in book 2.

I love the bisexual representation in this novel as well as the portrayal that some people can fall in love with a person just for their personality, not their gender! I'll just leave that there so I don't spoil anything.

HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend reading this story.

Thank you orbit US for a copy of this e-ARC!

As a huge fan of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, I was instantly intrigued by the blurb—and Voidwalker did not disappoint! I was enamored by this world. The writing is rich with an amazing prose that felt almost cinematic.

Fi is the type of heroine I adore—sarcastic, powerful, and unapologetically bold. Her dynamic with Antal had me hooked. Their banter, tension, and monster romance Asdfghjkl. I loved the world-building. This is easily one of my top reads of the year. Totally recommend it!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Where to even begin with this story? I'm utterly obsessed with S.A. MacLean's writing style. It is so delicious and beautiful--truly some of the most stunning prose I've ever read.

Fi smuggles contraband between the Planes, but when a job goes wrong, she is forced to work along side Antal--one of the immortal creatures that humans have paid blood sacrifices to for centuries. The two make for an unlikely partnership--the prey and the predator--but have to rely on each other to reverse a coup and keep Fi's village safe.

I absolutely loved the world building in this novel. It took me a little bit to fully grasp the magic system, but after that I was hooked. Beyond that, I loved Fi and Antal, separately and together. Their banter and chemistry made me never want to put down the book and was easily one of my favorite things about it.

The only issue I'm having is the acknowledgement that I'll have to wait even longer for the sequel!

I was pretty intrigued with the description of this book and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, since it’s not really like a lot of what I typically read. I was expecting the immortal beasts to be a bit more like vampires, and I struggled a bit to picture them because they had antlers, tails, feet like a cat, but then Fi would often mention how human Antal looked and I couldn’t quite reconcile that? However, it quickly didn’t matter because I really loved Antal’s character, regardless of how he looked 😂

I surprisingly struggled a bit more with Fi. I would say her insecurities and struggles early on in the story and her development throughout the book were things I really liked about her. Her insecurity over a “mistake” she made 10 years ago that she’s still suffering from was incredibly relatable! But I did find some aspects of her personality a bit jarring - namely her cursing and the dry banter on occasion which took me a bit out of the fantasy/otherworldy setting a bit? For example there’s a scene very early on where she goes and gets a caramel coffee, but this world is one in which she rides a voidhorse around for transportation and which uses gramophones for music. Fi reads a bit more like an urban fantasy type character, while the rest of the world doesn’t feel that way. And I’m no prude and curse like a sailor, it’s more just that Fi cursing as much as she does also just would throw me off a bit. On the whole I liked her, it was just a bit bumpier road than it was with Antal for me and I’m glad I pushed through it early on because I really did enjoy the story later in the book.

Something I love and want to commend the author for is that, despite this being a duology, the book had its own story arc. I’m so tired of reading books which end on a cliffhanger just to hook you in for the sequel - there’s absolutely a bigger storyline I am hoping we get some answers on in the sequel, but I also feel really satisfied with the story we were presented and like it stands well on its own. In my opinion that’s quite rare at the moment in the genre, and I anticipate enjoying the sequel much more because I won't have a halfway finished storyline I'm only halfway remembering the details on.

As silly as this is, I also adore the cover! I think this is a case of the cover adding to the story - it gave me a very clear picture of Fi, her sword, etc which helped me get a better understanding in some scenes early on especially. All in all, this had a few pieces that for me kept this from being my perfect 5 star book, but was overall a really enjoyable read and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

Voidwalker is undeniably ambitious, blending portal fantasy, monster romance, and revolution into a sprawling, high-stakes tale that aims to be the next big romantasy obsession. There’s a lot to admire here—the world-building is intricate, the premise promises bite (literally), and the author swings big on atmosphere and tension.

But while the setup is strong and the visuals are often striking, the execution doesn’t always live up to the hype. The pacing is uneven, especially in the middle stretch, where the plot gets bogged down in exposition and shifting alliances. Fionamara is a compelling protagonist in theory, but her arc sometimes feels more reactive than active, and her chemistry with Antal never quite reaches the feral heights the book promises. The romance leans more on vibes than emotional build-up, which may work for some, but left me wanting more depth.

That said, I really enjoyed the steampunky energy-core aesthetic—it’s not something I see often in fantasy and it gave the world a unique flavor that stood out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed alot about this book. First, I love a book with fun chapter titles. Fi is a great main character. She is 32, a little older than the typical fantasy/romantasy lead, which I really enjoyed. She has a bit of a snarky personality, which was fun to read. She also tends to be less prone to making infinite silly decisions while acting oblivious to her surroundings, which is a nice change for an FMC. Antal makes for a great male lead. I liked his bits of sarcasm and the banter between them. He truly does give the vibe of if a cat was a human, this is how they would behave. I could have used even more world building, the magic system was interesting and the Void realm would have been cool to delve more into. I do think we could do with a little less repition in describing the characters. We already know the FMC has rainbow/void hair without hearing it 20 times.

Friends, I really liked this! When it comes to fantasy or fantasy romance books, I’m starting to notice how rare it is for me to genuinely like (or even have positive feelings toward) the FMC. I usually find myself feeling either indifferent or mildly (massively) annoyed by them. My love for a book often hinges on the MMC, and oh my god I’m just now realizing how bad that sounds. Biggest self-insert, self-report, scheduling some much-needed reflection. ANYWAY, MOVING ON.

Fionamara was a breath of fresh air. She was realistically flawed and willing to apologize, strong-willed, and genuinely seeking redemption. She didn’t back down, and she held her own, independent from others. Watching her navigate both past and present relationships felt incredibly real and healing. There’s history and trauma that shape how those relationships move forward. It’s not something that can be easily packed away or dealt with overnight!

Antal was fun, too. I’m probably SO wrong here, but he gave me major Vessel from Sleep Token vibes. Just the general aura. I won’t elaborate further to avoid spoilers!

I struggled a little bit with the magic system, but my brain is smooth so that’s probably a me thing. It’s possible there could’ve been some editing to tighten up some bits.

Overall, I feel like this story could’ve been a standalone, but I’m excited to see where the next book takes us!

My review will be posted to goodreads on August 4, 2025.

I am obsessed with Void Walker by S.A. Maclean! There are so many things I could say, but no combination of words could fully capture how much I loved this book. It was absolute perfection from start to finish—packed with thrilling adventure, high stakes, and the kind of forbidden love that will wreck your soul in the best way possible.
We follow our fierce and fearless heroine, Fionamara—Fi for short—who lives in a world ruled by an ancient, terrifying race... that eats humans. Yup, you read that right. But Fi? She doesn’t just survive—she fights back. She’s a smuggler between planes, dealing in everything from plants to booze, doing whatever it takes to protect her town and her brother, the mayor. In a world where you could be sacrificed at any moment, Fi takes the risks no one else dares to—until one mission goes horribly wrong, and everything changes.
Fi is the blueprint. Sarcastic, brave, and full of heart, she charges headfirst into danger even when she’s terrified. She's not just battling the monsters around her—she’s facing the ones within, and she’s willing to sacrifice everything, even herself, to save the people she loves.
And then there’s Antal. Oh. My. Gods. This ancient, brooding male lead stole my heart. He’s a creature of immense power, born into a world of cruelty, but he longs for something different—something better. When he meets Fi, she challenges him, forces him to confront everything his kind has done... and he can't look away. She’s blunt, fiery, and absolutely fearless—and Antal is hooked.
The supporting cast is just as memorable, each one bringing something unique and compelling to this richly imagined world. Void Walker is a romantasy masterpiece that explores what it means to defy expectations, fight for what’s right, and love with everything you’ve got—even when it could cost you everything.
This book had me kicking my feet, screaming, and desperately craving more. I am counting down the days until book two of this amazing duology drops. If you love strong heroines, morally gray love interests, forbidden romance, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling—Void Walker needs to be on your TBR right now.

Knocked my socks off, the romance and action of the story was really well done and handled with care to the point it was very believable

Great fun. Action packed, a tiny bit angsty, some good emotional heft and a smidge of sex. The attraction felt real, as did the slow shift throughout the story from fear to revulsion to hate to anger to fascination to lust to love. The worldbuilding was interesting and the setting/universe is original.

5/5 stars!

This book swept me off my feet! I always love a good monster romance and this one was perfect. The different creatures and races of mythical beings in this world were so intriguing. I liked the feline like traits of the Daeyari. I loved Fi and Antal’s banter and the character growth throughout the book. There were so many times during vulnerable moments in the book that took my breath away. I just loved this book so much! I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

When I went into Voidwalker, I was met with incredible world building and compelling romance! This book surprised me in the best ways. I found myself especially drawn to Fi, who was refreshingly competent, flawed in believable ways, and emotionally layered without falling into common tropes. She felt like a real person, not a stock character.
Antal was equally compelling, as he was equal parts terrifying and refreshingly vulnerable. Their dynamic had real weight to it, and the slow-burn tension kept me invested. There were several moments where I thought I had the story figured out, only to have it swerve just enough to keep me guessing.
What really worked for me was how Voidwalker balanced tone. The book didn’t shy away from darkness, but it also gave space for humor, trust, and small, warm moments.
If you like romantasy that doesn’t sacrifice plot for spice, but still delivers on tension and chemistry, this one’s worth your time. It reads like a standalone, but I’ll be first in line for the sequel.

I gave this book a 4 star mainly because it was a little slow going. However, once it picked up, I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed the amount of action and romance. I also loved the fmc and how she never backed down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!