The Void by Jinapher J. Hoffman

The Void Reviews

• 
  undertherowantree

  A highly addictive, fast paced and uncomfortably relatable science fiction novel that draws into question what being “human” should mean.
  
  
  An immoral dictator. A mad scientist. An impending apocalypse. The public are told their only route to survival is ‘The Void’. Torn from her family and imprisoned within a government facility, Madeline is forced to enter the life-threatening trials of ‘The Void’, a series of horrific tests, the government claims will help increase the human race’s chances of survival. Her options are clear; die or participate, in hope that she might survive.
  
  Plummeting you into the shocking, suspense filled twists and turns, from the first chapter, this novel was extremely hard to put down. I applaud Hoffman on the use of sentence structure to build tension and move the action forward. With almost cinematic descriptions that transport you into Madeline’s shoes. The way that the author cleverly transposes the protagonist’s level of discomfort and suspicion into the reader’s psyche was masterful. Hoffman’s ability to create morally complex characters, that develop over time, was unparalleled. The characters felt well fleshed out and their motivations felt valid. Hoffman skilfully blurs the line between good and evil, allowing the reader a glimpse into the lives of all the characters, each with their impeccably human rationale. The portrayal of grief was not only true to nature but consistent. Furthermore, I loved the technical use of mirroring and irony, as well as how Hoffman was not afraid to transport the reader into increasingly morbid, horrific scenarios.
  
  Overall, the novel was superb! The only criticisms I have were that there were a handful of typographical errors, a couple of minor plot holes and there was a slight issue with the page arrangement on my device. I also felt that the portrayal of the only homosexual character as evil was a little inconsiderate and I do not think that the threat of rape, towards the novel’s conclusion, was necessary. (Leading up to this, the author had been creative in achieving this sense of unease and dread with subtlety, for example, through the villain’s disregard for personal space.) Although, I would have preferred if all the twists had caught me off guard, I was still left shocked by parts and excited for the predictable events to unfold. The cliff-hanger also left me hungry for more!
  
  In this highly addictive, concept led science fiction novel, Jinapher Hoffman creates an uncomfortably relatable world of sickness, instability and political unrest, drawing into question what being “human” should mean and makes us question whether our current lifestyles are worth the cost. This philosophically complex tale is perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Maze Runner and The Day After Tomorrow.
  
  Trigger warnings for violence, threat of violence, threat of rape, threat of death/murder, death, murder, with themes of loss/grief, global catastrophe, global sickness, political unrest and abuse from government led authority figures.
  
• 
  Sharon Hughes

  Read at your own risk!
  
  Need The Next Book!
  Been a long time since I read a book and was upset that there was no second book waiting. THIS MUST HAVE A FINISHING BOOK!!!! At least a chapter or two to let me know what happened. I think this started out slowly, but it gained momentum like a snow ball rolling down a mountain! Please, please, p!ease get bored and busy!