“A great adventure”
– Bro247

If you like sci-fi stories then this is a good Distopian [sic] read that is quite thought provoking. Has memorable characters which is big for me otherwise i loose interest quick. Looking forward to reading the next installment in the trilogy, will give my reveiw [sic] on that once read.

“A Rare Jolt of Narrative Originality”
– KL

In an era where speculative fiction often feels like a series of recycled tropes and predictable character beats, this book arrives as a much-needed disruptor. It side-steps the “formula” entirely, offering a structural rhythm that feels jagged, intentional, and entirely its own. Instead of walking the well-trodden path of hero archetypes we’ve seen a thousand times before, the author leans into an unorthodox storytelling style that prioritizes atmospheric tension and psychological depth over easy, cinematic payoffs. It is the kind of reading experience that demands your full attention, rewarding you with a plot that zig-zags exactly when you expect it to settle into a familiar groove.

“Loved this more than I expected.”
– Baylie

City of Thicket completely surprised me. Yes, its a gritty sci-fi dystopian filled with implants, tech that will kill you and a city on the brink of chaos. But at the heart of it is a human story about a girl who’s been running her whole life and a man quietly hoping for a second chance to be the father he never got to be.

Shentelle is one of those characters who crawls under your skin. She’s tough because she has to be. But underneath her survival instinct is just a kid who desperately wants to find somewhere to belong. Watching her navigate this world and everyone in it while hiding who she is and clinging to the scraps of connection she has left honestly broke my heart.

And then there’s Oscar. Honestly, he snuck up on me. He’s highly intelligent, closed off, and haunted by the technology he once helped create.. but he’s also just a man trying. You don’t expect to care about him as much as you do, but that’s the beauty in watching his character grow throughout the book.

Their bond isn’t instant or easy.. its messy, fragile, and real. But that’s exactly why it works.

The worldbuilding in this book is phenomenal. Its dark, weird and just feels alive. The Thicket itself feels like a character all its own. It’s full of danger, secrets and this unsettling feeling of it watching and waiting. Every twist pushes Shentelle and Oscar not just closer to what’s hunting them, but toward confronting their own pasts.

This is so much more than another dystopian thriller. Its about found family and healing and the people you never expect to show up for you when you need them most. This really is a must read!

“Don’t pass on this book.”
– Katelin W.

The firm grasp the author has on the world he’s created submerges you into this dystopian wasteland you only crave more of. The characters are flawed with necessary redeemable qualities, and I enjoyed the care and thought put behind the work. It’s well thought out, excellently executed, and a really interesting read. This book isn’t perfect, but it one-hundred percent deserves five stars.

The formatting is a little funky for the paperback, but it’s easily overlooked. There are also quite a few places that had me a bit lost, as if the transitions from one idea or place to another were too quick in their execution, and had me rereading a few things slowly.

The descriptions are unique and memorable, but I wish some were accompanied by an explanation. That being said, I’m a nerd, and would love to read about the interworking of the devices or even the city as a whole, and I understand a lot of people would find that boring and long-winded.

The future this story depicts is plausible and really does remind me of the New World Order in the Bible, along with the mark of the beast, so that was an interesting parallel to draw, even if it was unintentional. That being said, I appreciate all the Bible quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I feel like they added a lot of heart and character to the book, especially with a majority of this city functioning around the melded religions.

For anyone who loves futuristic, sci-fi, or dystopian books, this should definitely be high on your need-to-read list. It’s a trilogy and this is only the first book. Apparently, it’s been altered a bit to reflect the growth in AI over the past few years, and I found that to be really cool.
Anyway, highly recommend, especially with an ending that strong.

You don’t want to pass on this book.