Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon is an intimate, character-driven sci-fi thriller that examines identity and self-expression in a future where humanity has scattered across space after Earth’s environmental collapse. We follow Wylla, a scavenger eking out a living on the outskirts of corporate-controlled space by selling whatever she can find (or steal) to the right buyer. Wylla stumbles upon a piece of cutting-edge tech infused with a human mind, forcing her into a life-or-death struggle to confront a hidden corporate conspiracy that produced this unimaginable union of human and machine.

The story is mostly told in second person, which took some getting used to, but this perspective made the story feel more intimate. We get a personal account of the tense, fast-paced action scenes juxtaposed with solemn reflections on living in the void of space.

While Haddon crafted an interesting world of new technology and interstellar travel, the focus of Volatile Memory is on Wylla’s experience as a trans woman in a society governed by hyper-capitalist corporations. Her ongoing fight to reconcile who she is with how the world tries to define her, by birth, by productivity, by conformity, drives the narrative forward. Wylla and her companion’s simmering rage against a system bent on erasing their identities propels them to seek vengeance against those corporations maintaining the status quo.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic; the narrator brought our two main characters to life and added a layer of emotional depth. Overall it’s a quick listen at just over 4 hours since the book is novella length.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Volatile Memory, and I’m looking forward to the second book in the duology. While the novella’s worldbuilding felt a bit underdeveloped, the focus on queer identity was executed very well. Check this one out if you’re looking for a more personal, emotionally-charged story of revenge and self-discovery in a sci-fi setting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was everything I wanted it to be and even more... I didn't give Anji Kills a King 5 stars due to "something lacking" and Seth Haddon hit the nail on the head and served up exactly what was missing from that book into this one - and in a fraction of the page count. The easiest 5 stars I've handed out this year and I'll be telling anyone who enjoys sci-fi, not even that, anyone who's been craving a truly soul-touching story about this book.

The thing that stands out most to me about this story is how it was written - some of the most evocative and engaging prose I've read this year (and I've read over 110+ books in 2025 as of July). I was enraptured, I was hanging on every word, I felt each sentence spoken in my bones - absolutely stellar craftsmanship. Pun intended.

And the HUGEST praise to our narrator who helped make the reader *FEEL* through every point of this story.

"Volatile" Memory indeed...

I found this story to be incredibly slow with only 3 notable scenes and a whole lot of flowery metaphor in between that really bogged what could have been a really interesting premise. The metaphor and language used was very repetitive and left me wondering if this is supposed to be a romance or a psychological horror by the end.

Volatile Memory follows Wylla, a scavenger, and a sentient AI mask that she finds after following it's signal. They set off on a journey together to find answers and purpose and a place to put their rage.

The issue being that it takes actual chapters to move from one location to another it seems like. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be an action-packed adventure, but beyond a couple bloodied heads that happen in scenes so quick to resolve that there is no time to build tension or care, this book is largely just an introspective read on one character's thoughts about the other main character. Which brings me to the next point...

Wylla is a spineless character who I never came to like or respect. I have empathy for her as a victim of HAWK (if it turns out that the relationship is genuinely supposed to be good and healthy then... I'm unsure what to say there) but don't find her to be compelling at all as a character. She feels a lot like a caricature of a trans woman rather than a real person but there is also room for the fact that this is short novella and not a 500 page novel. There isn't a ton of time to get to know our character at base which may be adding to how little we know her, not to mention the fact that the story is told from the perspective of HAWK and not Wylla, so we genuinely do not get any more interesting thought processes from our human character. I was really bothered on the contrast of if she was supposed to be this down-on-her-luck chosen girl or if she was a girl-next-door damsel in distress. Was she powerful or helpless? I couldn't tell you.

HAWK is also not likable to a much more clear degree. It seems like the text is rooting for HAWK as a protagonist, but I view HAWK as the very thing destroying Wylla's life with no <i>actual</i> care for the human person being affected. I digress that this could be intentional but is not clear in this first book. HAWK is the MAIN antagonist to Wylla and feels like a very sinister and dark force within the narrative. (Which I sincerely am uncertain if I'm supposed to think that.)

The relationship presented is so toxic and I'm unsure how we're supposed to root for it. It's really giving "first toxic girlfriend after coming out but you think she's great and maybe The One because she respects your identity". But does she? There were some really odd moments that felt so violating and disenfranchising to Wylla that are played off like bonding moments. But I think there could be something to be said about the consciousness being stored in the <i>volatile</i> memory. Perhaps Sable is so possessive and manipulative because of that? It genuinely feels like HAWK's over glorifying language to Wylla in the beginning is manipulative and corrupting.

I'm also left unsure what I was meant to get out of this story at the end. An adventure? Not much of one. Vengeance? I don't think we got enough time with injustice to feel Sable's rage. Trans and/or women empowerment? Maybe in the next installment but missing here. Discomfort? Oh, I have that in spades.

I don't think I would be quick to recommend this one, but despite my low star rating I actually can't say that this isn't for someone out there. I believe the language and the story are meant to speak to someone that isn't me, and that's okay! I would recommend this story for someone who wants a slower character driven explorative narrative for sure, and am interested in the conversations that could come from this novel.

I would like to leave room that I may be being harsh because I was so excited about the premise of this book and I was seated and ready after the opening chapter to begin a wild and fun adventure only for the perspective to shift (wouldn't be a problem on its own!) and the story to take a turn into the weirdly stilted and kind of boring territory it landed in. Being queer myself, I was really excited by our main character's identity and the potential queer themes this book could and does hold, I'm just very disappointed by the execution. By the end of the novel I was incredibly uncomfortable and felt immense grief for Wylla having been drawn into this plot. I am on the fence on if I want to continue this duology but ultimately feel as though I will continue to see how the main pairing here shakes out.

2.5⭐ The concept of this was really interesting: It's the dystopian space era and people wear these animal-inspired masks that lend them matching powers, when Wylla encounters a highly valuable mask with a sentience contained.

While world-building is limited due to the short form, I was intrigued by what we did get about the setting and would be interested to read more set within this universe.
Overall this unfortunately didn't really work for me, with the first reason being the weird insta-love of the sentience towards Wylla, it felt very over the top very suddenly, amplified by the sentience narrating in second-person directed at Wylla. Secondly, while I really appreciated the exploration of queer identity, it was very heavy-handed and I would have appreciated a bit more nuance and subtlety.

The audiobook was well-narrated by Emily Gibbons Bouchard, but I think the narrator did magnify the sentience's already intense romantic feelings towards Wylla.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio-arc!

Now this is the kind of new science fiction that we need to see consistently getting published today. This felt smart and innovative with a clear intent behind the writing.

I really enjoyed this smart little novella that packed a memorable story into a short number of pages. Told in a second person perspective, this one has a distinct narration style that will get divisive among readers. In my opinion, this choice completely works here and fits the narrative. I appreciated the conversation on personhood that was woven into the story in a complex, nuanced manner. It felt reminiscent of Ancillary Justice, which is high praise in my book.

I highly recommend this novella to any science fiction reader looking for a smart new release worthy of your time and attention.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing me an early copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This novella really packed a lot into such a short little package. We’re pretty much dropped into it from the jump, and everything just kept moving from there.

Because it’s a novella, the world building isn’t super expansive, but it felt like the just the right amount to anchor us for what was happening with these two MCs.

Along with the action scenes, there’s also a lot to unpack about these characters and their experiences both before and during this story (themes of trans, queer, ace, and a woman’s worth, among others), and I’m curious to see where they go after the end of this one. 👀

Overall, a quick, action packed and thought provoking little read.

Audiobook notes: The narrator was great! 👍

What this book is giving:
✅ Sapphic Sci-fi Novella
✅ Trans MC
✅ Fast Paced
✅ Masks
✅ Female Rage
✅ Revenge
✅ Queer
✅ First of a duology

This is a speculative novella about a space scavenger and the "mask" she scavenges. Because it's a novella, the world building is fast and furious: people wear animal-themed masks that enhance their physical and mental abilities. Wylla, the main character (although referred to in the second person) uses a Rabbit mask to help her gather and analyze information with the goal of survival.

When Wylla finds a prototype mask, Hawk, she also discovers that the mask already has a human user (the first person narrator), Sable. Sable's consciousness has been downloaded into Hawk, while her physical body no longer exists. Sable wants revenge on the person who trapped her in the mask and disposed of her body. Wylla and Sable set off on a violent mission to do just that.

The experimental narration was interesting, but I found it just a little hard to follow. I did really like the different explorations of identity: Wylla is a trans woman, and Sable has no physical body at all, meaning that they both experience their femininity in very different ways. Narrator Emily Gibbons Bouchard does a great job with the experimental POVs and the differentiation between the characters.

While the book didn't quite hit the bullseye, I really liked the writing and themes. I may be checking out Seth Haddon's other books!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an eAudio ARC of this work in exchange for my review.

Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon, narrated by Emily Bouchard, is a futuristic sci-fi novella where people use masks that enhance their abilities based on the animal theme it conveys. There are scavengers, big corporate tech companies, wealthy and powerful beings with status and systems of control, down to one's very DNA.

The main story deals with revenge, identity and what makes a soul who it is. As a character driven novella, it is excellent at world building and stakes setting, leaving the reader invested from start to finish. The story is told in a mix of first and second person, which is unusual, but works well here.

The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job. The subtle changes in voice, emotion and performance added greatly to experience.

This was so intimate I almost felt like I shouldn't have been allowed to see inside such private moments of vulnerability!

This novella is told in a first person narrative style from the perspective of a primary character that is introduced to readers almost as a surprise partway through the novel. I thought this added to a layer of intrigue and mystery while also allowing for the tension between the characters to be made stronger through this choice.

This was a really beautiful story of empowerment and identity but also of influence and survival, I was really impressed with how much of a punch it packed for being so short and loved how the author chose to explore nuanced humanness as interpreted through technology.

I think this was a wholly unique take on the science fiction story and felt new yet tender in each part of the world that we uncovered. I'd love to read more within this world if the author ever revisits it!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THIS is what good sci-fi is. Such a unique story from the very start. The idea of the masks is so interesting and unique. Smart, haunting, with important and timely commentary on our society. The second-person POV of the novella really works. Even though this novella is so short, it really packs a punch and feels COMPLETE. Too often, novellas feel unfinished and leave me wanting more from them. But this was perfect. I cannot wait for the sequel.

*4 stars*
This was a great little novella; packed with action and humanity. The mask systems used in this universe felt very unique and were really interesting. While I think this work well as a novella, I would have liked to learn more about the masks and the political systems in this story. I think this will be well received by fans of a more character centered science fiction story and a more experimental narration style. Second person isn’t for everyone but I really liked its use here and thought it added to the story.

The narration was excellent and the audio was good. This was definitely fun to listen to as an audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

Firstly, I think it's impressive that this entire novella is written in 2nd person because it's not something I see often and it adds to the tension. It took me a while to get into it but I respect the decision all the same.

The premise for this book was very original and what led me to request it, even though I tend to prefer fantasy over sci-fi. I love queer sci-fi/fantasy books, especially novellas, and this one hooked me instantly. We're right in the action and, though confused, I was engaged enough to continue.

The romance seemed like insta-love, which I've come to expect with a lot of YA books, but what I didn't like was that it seemed a bit OTT. Sable seemed to be infatuated with Wylla, as before they even got to know each other even the smallest bit she was head over heels in love. Wylla didn't seem to reciprocate this, at least not so intensely and that's to be expected.

The characters had their backgrounds and trauma, but other than that appeared one dimensional. I couldn't really tell you much about either, except their struggles, which leads me to the overall structure...

I agree with other reviews I've read which say this may have benefitted from being one novel rather than two novellas. It felt very much like build up, which explains most of what I've griped about above. As much as I love novellas, I don't think this was rounded up enough to be a coherent one.

The narrator did a great job and I'd listen to her again.

Overall, I liked a lot about this but also had some issues with it feeling unfinished and with the romance. The action was definitely there and kept me hooked, but I found myself feeling quite confused throughout. I would probably read the 2nd because I think it'll come together and I think it has the bones of a good story.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the ALC

A deeply unique and beautifully written story, I am overwhelmed by how much this author could accomplish in such a short amount of time. Every time I've read second person narrative it has packed a punch and this is another great example of just that. The narrative immediately grabs your attention and doesn't let you go. I love the exploration of gender and what it means to be a woman. I think genderqueer stories are some of the most unique and creative ones to read because they have the broadest range of experience and emotion that can all be understood and felt deeply. This is such an excellent example of using the sci fi genre to explore the meaning of gender and offers such standout perspective that I'll be thinking about it for a long while.

The narrator also did an amazing job giving their voice to the story, it really worked well with the characters and I think listening made this reading experience all the better for it.

I'm blown away and very impressed by this story, I can't wait to read more from this author. Incredible stuff.

Volatile Memory is a fast-paced, sapphic sci-fi adventure novella, which brilliantly blends themes of bodily autonomy and trans narratives into a survival plot featuring advanced tech.

Haddon’s incisive prose packs a punch, and the second-person POV pulls the reader deeper into the story.

In under 200 pages, Haddon crafts a powerful and compelling story that examines what it means to be human. Bursting with raw emotion, Volatile Memory will simultaneously itch your brain and warm your heart.

I highly recommend this one for sci-fi readers and others looking for a bold, quick, and deep dive into humanity’s core.

🎧 Emily Gibbons Bouchard is great on audio! I did prefer having a physical copy to read and ground myself.

A powerful novella about reclaiming one’s identity, personhood, and autonomy. Sabal is a scavenger on the run who comes across some important tech that changes everything, including how they see and value themselves. It’s a story about learning to trust: instincts, self, and others. It’s also about learning to love, self and others, after too many years of being subjugated because of gender stereotypes. This is an important book based in the future with very “today” issues. And it’s full of both action-adventure and poignant moments for Sabal and Wylla. Nothing is wasted. 4.5 rounded up.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #VolatileMemory for review purposes. Publication date: 22 July 2025.

This was honestly great. An exploration of queerness. identity, rage, and revenge. I wish it had been longer cause I wanted more of Wylla and Sable.

A unique Sapphic sci-fi romance that will have you believing in an echo of love.

I highlighted SO much of this book. The first chapter I didn't even breathe. It's so well written, the characters are so compelling. The worldbuilding is a perfect blend of soft enough to still surprise me and solid enough that I'm not guessing about the rules of this universe.

The idea of someone's memories being trapped in a piece of technology, (a mask in this book), without a body do you have a gender? Or if you do, is it even relevant anymore? I really like this warm inclusive nod to who is included in the definition of woman, which is that she declares it herself. "Was I made 'woman' by my body? Was I still 'woman' now?"

This dialogue about gender with the juxtaposition of Sable (trapped in a mask) and Wylla (a transwoman), both fighting each other (at first) then external forces for their autonomy and identity. It's really clever. "I've fought to make this body mine. Sharing it now seems . . . like a betrayal."

I also liked the flip between POVs, we go between first person and second person POV, which is a BOLD choice, but it works really well as we toggle between our two main characters Wylla and Sable.

This is my first Seth Haddon book by not my last.

Emily Gibbons Bouchard does an amazing job narrating.

Pick this up if you want
👩‍🚀 Sapphic sci-fi romance
👩‍🚀 Amazing trans rep
👩‍🚀 First and second POV
👩‍🚀 Fast-paced adventure
👩‍🚀 Men getting what's coming to them
👩‍🚀 Gorgeous prose
👩‍🚀 Creative worldbuilding
👩‍🚀 Compelling characters
👩‍🚀 Space fight

I was so drawn into the premise of this book and if I may say: it's beautiful cover. Volatile Memory is a deeply atmospheric and emotional novella that packs quite a punch in spite of its short length and is very readable. On its surface, it tells the story of the hunt for our protagonist for stealing technology; but more deeply it's a story of identity, technology saturation and personhood under exploitative systems. I really loved the imagination of this world. A great read for sci fi fans who love sapphic love against corporate exploitation.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC. The narration of this audiobook really gave life to these characters.

I'm unclear if this is a standalone or half of a duology based on various listings across various platforms. I'm going to assume the latter, but if we ended here, I wouldn't be too mad. I would like to see more of this world. Fingers crossed that we get more but I'd still recommend it as a single if that's the case.

ANYWAY. I'm familiar with Seth Haddon's other work and, as of this review, I think I've given every book of his a different star rating. The third book in "The World of Reforged" also included a trans character, but I felt some type of way about Haddon's treatment of that storyline. I'm happy to say that I liked Wylla's arc a lot more, in part because by the time we meet her, she's already feeling grounded in her skin. The other main character is, er, unbodied due to extenuating circumstances, and there are some lingering questions about who, or what, Sable is.

"Volatile Memory" took some big swings. Sable narrates the story in first person (love how this was introduced), but refers to Wylla in the second person. I'm not sure why Haddon chose this exactly, but I really enjoyed how this played out. The lines blur between the two characters as the story progressed as their consciousnesses become entangled, and the use of second person really highlighted the connection between maybe-Sable and her human counterpart.

The tech in this is interesting, though I would have liked a bit mor explanation about the possible tolls the various masks take on the human body. For example: it's JUST masks, right, so how does the increased strength or speed work? Does using an ox mask result in more physical damage and shorter lifespans? What tradeoffs come from using predator or prey masks? Haddon addressed some of this on a surface level, but was clearly more focused on the questions of identity and personhood that arise from the discovery of "Sable." Most of my complaints/critiques come from the fact that I wanted this to be teased out a little bit more, but this is a novella, and the story would have had to be significantly longer to address these things in a non-infodumpy kind of way. I also felt like one of the climactic scenes could have taken things a little further or been a bit more surprising in its revelations.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this, and would recommend it as philosophical scifi (rather than hard scifi, for reasons mentioned above). I listened to this on audio and thought the narrator did a good job differentiating between the different character voices. I feel like scifi is a great place to explore what it means to be embodied, and how our minds and our bodies may or may not connect. The question of what Sable is never gets fully answered. If there is a second part, I'm curious to see how this duo takes on the sapce-establishment while also being hunted by... pretty much everyone, in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC. I've been looking forward to this one for months, and the audio format was a treat.

In this inventive future, people buy and use animal masks to enhance their senses and abilities. Wylla, a scavenger, is called to a planet where she finds a hawk mask on a dead woman, though the mask is not quite what she expects. Taking the mask turns turns her into a fugitive: once Wylla uncovers the secrets of the hawk, can they outrun the past together?

Told in second person (which I assure you is not frustrating and instead completely appropriate for the plot), this sci-fi novella is creative, interesting, and very fast paced. The author explores themes such as gender, identity, love, and consent, and of course the patriarchy is horrible so there is much feminine rage and vengeance as well. Between the themes, character description, relationships and growth, and action, there is a lot packed into this short book, but it comes together and ends in a satisfying way - while this works as a stand alone, the ending obviously leaves room for more, and I did find the ending abrupt and might have liked to read one longer work instead (though I'll wait until I read the next part of the duology before making up my mind on that). The narrator was a good choice as she managed to mostly distinguish the points of view and expertly matched the pace of the plot.

Overall, if you're looking for an action packed sci-fi novella with strong, diverse characters then this is worth reading, if only for the inventive world mechanic of the masks!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.