I’m excited to announce that Shadows of Verisim has earned a positive review from Kirkus Reviews! As many of you know, Kirkus is known for its discerning takes, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see them highlight some of the aspects that make the novel stand out.
The review emphasizes Shadows of Verisim as "a compellingly dark blend of noir, cyberpunk, and dystopian fiction." This is exactly the type of atmosphere I aimed to create—one where the grit of a noir detective story merges seamlessly with the futuristic, dystopian elements of a digital world teetering on the edge of collapse.
One of the key points Kirkus touched on is the novel’s exploration of Verisim, a so-called “digital utopia” that hides a darker criminal world just below its sleek surface. The reviewer notes the novel’s "gritty atmospherics and meticulous worldbuilding," and how the depiction of a just-around-the-corner America feels "chillingly prescient." This is especially meaningful because I wanted to ground the story’s futuristic elements in a reality that feels all too close to our own. The scenes of people escaping a broken world by plugging into virtual realities hit a bit too close to home, which is exactly the effect I was going for.
Kirkus also called attention to Dylan McKnight’s journey from a patrol officer in the crumbling real world to a detective in the flawed utopia of Verisim. Dylan’s internal struggle between these two worlds—and the ethical dilemmas that arise when digital escapism begins to overshadow real life—is at the heart of the novel. The reviewer acknowledged that while Dylan’s character leans on noir detective tropes, his role as a “seeker of hidden truths in a world veiled by digital illusions” holds a lot of promise for future exploration in the series.
I’m thrilled that Kirkus recognized Shadows of Verisim as a page-turner, praising the fast-paced plot that pits Dylan against a mysterious killer bent on destroying Verisim and its millions of inhabitants. It's exactly the kind of high-stakes, gripping conflict I wanted to bring to life.
If you're intrigued by the idea of a dark, atmospheric blend of cyberpunk and noir that delves into the implications of a virtual dystopia, I hope you’ll check out Shadows of Verisim. With more secrets to uncover and plenty of twists in store, this is only the beginning of Dylan McKnight’s journey.
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