What Is The Confluence Novel About?

Imagine waking up one day and realizing the 'you' in another universe made better life choices. That’s the gut punch 'The Confluence' delivers early on. It’s less about flashy action (though there’s plenty) and more about the psychological weight of infinite possibilities. The protagonist, a failed artist, discovers her alternate self is a celebrated painter, which spirals into this raw exploration of Envy and self-worth. The novel’s strength lies in these quiet moments—characters sitting in diners comparing their 'what if' lives, or a heart-wrenching subplot about a Confluent trying to replace their deceased child with an alternate version. The sci-fi elements serve the human drama, not vice versa. Also, the prose shifts subtly between dimensions; one world has a lyrical, almost poetic narration, while another feels clipped and mechanical. Genius touch.

If you mashed up 'Sliders' with 'Cloud Atlas' and added a dash of existential philosophy, you’d get close to 'The Confluence.' It follows five strangers whose lives collide when they start experiencing glitches—brief flashes of other realities. A cafe barista sees herself as a CEO; a retired soldier glimpses a world where he never enlisted. When they realize these aren’t hallucinations but actual glimpses of alternate timelines, the real adventure begins. The novel’s middle act slows down for deep character studies, which some readers might find meandering, but I loved how it made the final act’s interdimensional war feel earned.

The villain, a rogue Confluent who believes collapsing all dimensions into one will 'purify' existence, is terrifyingly charismatic. His debates with the protagonists about free will versus destiny had me highlighting passages. Also, the way the author plays with structure—chapters from the perspective of non-Confluents observing the chaos—adds layers to the world. My only gripe? The romance subplot between two Confluents felt rushed, though their final scene together wrecked me.

I stumbled upon 'The Confluence' during a random bookstore visit, and its premise hooked me instantly. At its core, it’s a sprawling sci-fi epic that weaves together parallel dimensions, ancient civilizations, and a group of flawed but fascinating characters who discover they’re 'Confluents'—people capable of navigating between worlds. The author blends hard sci-fi concepts with intimate human drama, like a scientist grappling with her newfound abilities while her estranged father resurfaces as a key figure in the dimensional rift. The world-building is insane; one chapter delves into a steampunk-esque realm, the next into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, all tied together by this mysterious 'Confluence' energy.

What really stuck with me was how the story explores the cost of power. The Confluents aren’t just heroes—they’re struggling with existential dread, ethical dilemmas, and the toll their gifts take on their bodies. There’s a particularly haunting scene where one character accidentally merges with an alternate version of themselves, creating this heartbreaking identity crisis. It’s not just about cool dimension-hopping; it asks if we’d sacrifice our humanity to become something more. The sequel teased at the end has me counting down the days.