Volatile Memory is more than an action packed sci-fi novella, at it's core it's a story of identity. We follow Wylla, a trans woman who has lived her life fighting to be who she is. And Sable, a consciousness within a mask, as readers grapple with the age old sci-fi question, what does it mean to be human?

Some elements of the story were confusing because there was so much to unpack into so few pages, but the characters were compelling and the world-building was captivating. In this universe, people wear high-tech animal masks that imbue the wearer with the traits of that animal (a rabbit mask gives you improved prey instincts, good for sensing danger).

Overall, a fast and enjoyable read and I would dive deeper into this world in the future.

trigger warnings for: transphobia, violence, and sexual assault

Will give my full review shortly! An exceptionally strange and beautiful twist on the cyberpunk genre with hackers, sapphic lovers, and augmentation.

Volatile Memory is a riptide of emotions, from anger to desire, about what it means to be a person–a woman, made in her own image or ripped from another.

I loved this author's other book Reforged. I don't often read novellas, but I was excited for a sapphic book by this author and also love trans rep. The romance didn't really make me feel anything between just imagining a mask and a shorter story. I did like the sci-fi aspects but felt like I wanted a full length novel.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free eARC 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.

3.5 Stars

As per the blurb, an irresistible message is sent out into the deep depths of space, enticing scavengers from all around with an ungettable get. This prize not only hones your senses but gives the wearer valuable survival skills where milliseconds count. What heroine Wylla doesn’t expect is something beyond comprehension with uncharted abilities, and imagine her shock when the tech comes with its very own impossible sentience whose creator wants back.

As Wylla and the embedded intelligence Sable are prudently forced to get to know and trust each other (and fast), they find solace and empowerment in shared past experiences where their autonomy mattered little to those in power. Thus they decide on a path of vindication and revenge as they investigate the hows and whys of Sable’s existence.

Perhaps as a warning, this is told in first person POV alternating with a second person narrative, lending an unique presentation style as one doesn’t see this often. What this does very well is the actual outer space setting along with interspersed intense action scenes that fully immerses the reader in its science fiction roots while showcasing a burgeoning sapphic romance and an apt commentary on identity.

This ends on the limitless potential of Wylla and Sable’s partnership. Good thing this is going to be a duology so we can see what else is in store for these two!

Thank you to the author and Tor Publishing Group via NetGalley for an e-copy to review honestly

⋆.˚✮ 3.75 stars ✮˚.⋆

⤿ Thank you to Tordotcom for the advanced physical arc in exchange for an honest review!

I've gotten very lucky to be sent so many amazing novellas by Tordotcom that I was really excited for what sounded like a unique sounding science fiction. I can be very picky about my science fiction books and what I want from them, at least in terms of adventure and technology, but this one was super interesting! I know it's a novella so it's bound to be a little less detailed, but I really wish there was even more exploration of the world and society in this novel. I have heard it's going to be a duology though, and that ending made it feel like there would be even more exploration of how these societies work. There were some commentaries on current issues in our world though, so that was interesting to see be spun in a new light for science fiction.

This is definitely for fans of This is How You Lose the Time War, which wasn't a book that I absolutely loved, but thought was unique. This book gives similar vibes because of the situation that the main characters find themselves in, and the connection they make together even if one of them is stuck in the AI-mask. It was really interesting reading about this and learning about all the technology and how Hawk/Sable is so different from other models. I loved this technology and how it was used for survival, appraising, weaponry, and more by lots of people, especially with how it was linked to animals and their abilities.

Overall, this was a very interesting science fiction novella that I am looking forward to hopefully, getting even more of. The technology was fun and it left me feeling interested in the connection between the two main characters!

↬ trigger warnings: death of family members, dismemberment, mentions of torture, depictions of grief and mental health

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.

This was a fast-paced and gripping sci-fi novella - assertive, bleak, haunting, intense, philosophical, and utterly action-packed. And I enjoyed it immensely! Despite its brevity, it was able to explore some fascinating themes while keeping the suspense high and the emotional stakes engaging.

The world-building and advanced technology were especially unique and fascinating, with high-tech masks based on animals that impart their primary instinct or skill (like an ox for strength, a mouse for hyper awareness of threats, and so on). The concept is imaginative and rich with possibilities, and I would absolutely read a full-length novel or even a series utilizing this technology and expanding upon it (so I suppose it’s a good thing there’s a second novella coming eventually!)

The story also tackles some serious ideas from trafficking, to misogyny and bodily autonomy, to the question of what it means to be human and what makes an individual themselves. There’s also a significant amount of violence (pretty damn violent at times, fair warning!) which I felt fit the world Haddon built and was a match for the raw emotion of the story.

Wylla was a standout character and fantastic protagonist - I found her extremely likable from the very first scene! As for Sable, I’m not entirely sure how to feel about her or where I land on the central debate surrounding her identity, but that ambiguity raised some additional philosophical questions that I enjoyed contemplating, such as whether memory is what makes us who we are, or if it’s our body, or a combination, or neither! “What makes us human” is one of my favourite classic sci-fi questions, and this novella did not disappoint in the way it engaged with it.

Overall, this was a compelling and thought-provoking read. It packs a lot into a small package, and I’d love to spend more time in this world with these characters! I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, but this was great and I’d highly recommend checking it out! I’m excited for the sequel.


Representation: trans, lesbian, and asexual characters

Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, violence, gore, body horror, trafficking, sexual assault, forced medical procedures, medical experimentation, transphobia, infertility

Wow. That was... new. Honestly, it's one of the freshest sci-fi novellas I've read in a very long time. Excellent world-building, great character development, and an exciting plot that will keep you hooked from page 1. Definitely recommend to any sci-fi enthusiasts!

I really enjoyed Volatile Memory!

The question of what it means to be human, how your body can be separate from your mind, being in a body and what that means, and what it means to be human, body or consciousness or otherwise, was well written.

I loved Sable and Wylla. Their relationship was different from anything I’ve ever read, but it’s now one of my favorites. The moments of intimacy, especially toward the end, were so deep and I could visually see it in my mind.

I’m definitely going to read more of Haddon’s work. Definitely recommend if you like Black Mirror (especially the AI episodes), the trope of “What does it mean to be human?”, and sci-fi with femme rage and endearing romance.

Out 22 July 2025 "Volatile Memory" by Seth Haddon is a sci-fi novella that's cover immediately made sense once I got context. And it's good context.

Wylla gets a call, a call to collect a piece of salvage that could turn her life around. Except others got the call. But she rabbited out with the HAWK mask and found out the salvage was alive. And that consciousness wants to find out who put her there.

Narrated by Emily Gibbons Bouchard, the voice changes a little bit based on the masks used is a great touch.

Reasons to read:
-Bit of sci-fi dystopia as a treat
-The technology being masked based and it influencing what folks can do
-How they both accept things over the course of the story
-The set up for the conclusion

Cons:
-The curse of any good novella and wanting more after then ending and things are wrapped up well

This was so good for a sci-fi novella. There is a lot going on with the world and technology but the author makes it all work so well. This was a really solid read.

Willa, a scavenger, answers a beacon to an artifact that ends up being a helmet, containing the mind of narrator Sable. Willa and Sable work together to unlock what Sable has become and what happened in her past.

Told primarily in 2nd person and using disembodied characters to represent queer identity, this science fiction novella blends reflective prose and intriguing worldbuilding. While it isn't an "all vibes low plot" story, it leans more on the vibes and reflection on the shape of society in the future for anyone who doesn't fit the norm as defined by society.

Unfortunately I think I'm a bigger fan of Seth Haddon's fantasy novels than his sci-fi. But then, I'm more of a fantasy fan in general. While there are some exciting moments at the beginning and the use of second person is intriguing, it took me way too long to read, especially given how short it is.

Wylla thinks she's made the discovery of a lifetime when she uncovers a valuable HAWK mask. But there is far more to this mask than meets the eye...

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC—all thoughts are my own.

Volatile Memory did not work for me, even though I absolutely adored the premise. Volatile Memory follows a down-on-her-luck scavenger named Wylla, who finds a sentient AI mask on a barren planet. The woman inside the mask is real, and she and Wylla set off to demand answers from the man who discarded her once before: her ex-husband.

At the crux of the problem: I didn’t enjoy either of these protagonists or their dynamic with each other. HAWK’s immediate infatuation with Wylla smells strongly of instant love, a trope that I rarely enjoy. And because we’re reading from HAWK’s perspective, her characterization of Wylla as an essentially perfect being who does no wrong was…somewhat off-putting.

Was Volatile Memory meant to be healing or cathartic? The constant affirmation of Wylla’s character seems to indicate that it was, though it felt insincere. The purpose of literature is to demonstrate why a character is worthy (or not worthy) of praise, not to merely sing the praises of a certain character. I didn’t feel that here.

There is no grit to Wylla’s character. She is spineless. She consistently makes terrible decisions to preserve her moral integrity, despite living in an amoral world. She is an irritating protagonist to be forced to read, especially in a story that is ostensibly about righteous female anger.

Yet after spending so much time digesting HAWK’s worship of Wylla’s goodness, we are meant to throw all that aside and accept Wylla’s eventual turn to the dark side. The messaging is muddled here. Is HAWK good for Wylla? Is Wylla good for HAWK? Or neither?

The text seems to suggest that their union is a perfect one, but I was left with a sense of vertigo. There is no thematic pillar to Volatile Memory. It does not synthesize empathy with vengeance, goodness with anger. It mashes the two together as diametrically opposed forces.

But to be fair to Volatile Memory, I think I am only so harsh because I expected so much more from it. I absolutely adored the world-building, for one. I hated the Corporate Federation and all its inherent misogyny and conformity. I was shocked and disgusted by the use of technology for profit and control.

I wish Volatile Memory had spent more time being introspective and curious, rather than leaning into the hard-hitting action and anti-corporate vibes. Then again, I think I would have let a lot go if I had liked Wylla and if I had liked HAWK, but because I didn’t connect with either, I really struggled with this one.

Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon is short but definitely packs a punch. A lot gets crammed into this novella.
A quick and satisfying read. The story focuses on a (very) small cast of characters as they explore themes of identity, freedom, and self-actualization.

Overall, we enjoyed Haddon's sci-fi debut. Very interesting premise with very interesting world-building.
While we do have some qualms with the tech and how it all works...we still had fun reading the book.
We think the similarities to This Is How You Lose the Time War and Ex Machina are apt. Readers who enjoy the themes and sass of Murderbot may also enjoy Volatile Memory.

Our in depth spoiler-free and full-spoilers thoughts will be released in a forthcoming episode.

Volatile Memory. A sapphic sci-fi adventure that had my head spinning!

This book follows the story of scavenger Wylla looking for a big payday when she stumbles upon a corpse wearing an AI mask. It’s a lone consciousness floating without a body. Masks aren’t supposed to retain memory let alone a person and their memories. But the woman inside of the Mark I HAWK is real and Wylla will do whatever it takes to protect her.


This book was pretty hard to get into because it’s written in second person. It was so odd to wrap my brain around that but once I did I discovered such a rich world with a delicate little romance at the helm.

This book feels like a piece of literature I want to study. The writing is poignant and profound. I love Sci-fi books and this one is no exception. It doesn’t get too lost in the technical jargon but forges forward in a very fast paced story!

The romance is pretty light but it still felt significant. I’m glad this is going to be a duology because I really want to see where this romance goes now that the story has set up a continuation!


Overall, 4.5 ⭐️ would certainly recommend this one if you’re wanting to try something different and challenging!

Thank you SOOO much to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for this arc.

The book releases July 22nd! So keep an eye out for it because I have a feeling people are going to be talking about this one 👀

I received this novella through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Volatile Memory is really unique story, told through a pov that I have never read before. I like how the mask played such a major role in the main character learning to embrace her gender identity.

The story was very interesting. However, I found it hard to lose myself in. There weren't any elements that I could relate to personally, and it does take a weird/interesting twist with the mask near the end that I was not expecting.

That being said, I think a lot of people would really enjoy this! For someone who doesn't read sci-fi a lot, the scientific information was easy to understand while still being detailed!

4.25 stars✨This is a scifi novella that packs a punch despite being a quick read - an exploration of identity/self in the throes of a tech dominated, capitalistic government.

I was stunned by how well the queer romance was interwoven into a story of female rage, revenge, and an intergalactic heist. Overall, this book was intriguing, unique, and a refreshing addition to the world of queer scifi!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.