Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut

Driven to the Hilt Book #1

by D.G. Lamb

Already a social outcast because of his father’s alleged betrayal, young Joshua finds himself trapped outside the mining colony on the planet of Cypress Grove. He faces a murky rainforest infested with a creature so deadly, it has kept all humans confined inside their only settlement for decades. If he can manage to escape these alien wilds, he must then brave the even darker dangers of the colony’s underworld.


It is a tale of survival, a premature coming of age in an environment demanding resiliency, inventiveness, and self-reliance. But when teetering on the sharp edge of stark choices, decisions of life or death, can Joshua afford to consider questions of right and wrong, or does expediency rule the day?


Debut author D G Lamb, a clinical neuropsychologist, uses his understanding of posttraumatic stress symptoms to inject psychological authenticity and complexity into Joshua's personality, creating a wounded, but endearing central character.

Unknown Binding

About the author

David Lamb is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist. His day job involves helping people to become more independent after some type of neurological injury. In addition to a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, he has a Master’s in Art Therapy. David has also worked with law enforcement officers to deal with PTSD after critical incidents. While recovering from prostate cancer surgery, his son suggested he try his hand at creative writing. Although his professional experiences certainly informed aspects of this story, he also drew upon his love of cooking and backpacking the mountain trails of Arizona (where unlike Cypress Grove, it rarely rains). This is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Leonard Tillerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were suddenly cast into the vast wilderness all on your own?  No food, shelter or friends anywhere to be seen.  Could you survive in such a man versus nature scenario?  Do you possess the knowledge and skills which are needed to transform such a seemingly desolate area into an actual home?  Able to discern that the area may not be quite as bleak as it seems.  If this idea has piqued your interest, then hold on tight as Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut by author D. G. Lamb will take you down this dystopian path.  However, this intriguing work of Science Fiction will also reveal that the harsh and dangerous conditions of the wilderness may very well pale in comparison to a far greater threat... that of man and "human civilization."

Essentially, the story follows a young boy named Joshua.  After having lost his father to very "suspect" circumstances in which he was accused of traitorous activity, Joshua and his mother are forced to live in abject poverty.  Indeed, they are virtually cast aside by the unforgiving mining colony in which they live on the planet Cypress Grove.  Life soon goes from bad to worse for Joshua and after facing more tragedy he finds himself lost in the dreaded swamp which exists just outside the colony.  This is an area feared by all and contains numerous, deadly creatures which can make the stay of any unfortunate visitors very quick indeed!

Joshua must instantly learn how to survive and adapt in the wild conditions of the swamp.  Where one wrong decision or slight miscalculation can bring with it imminent demise.  However, when he finds a way out of the swamp and into the colony's deadly underworld, eleven-year old Joshua finds out that nature is not the most dangerous entity around.  In fact, the evil and often unpredictable characteristics of the humans in this area are far more treacherous.  Joshua will have to use all his skill and wits if he is going to live to see another day.  Can a young boy possibly survive against what seem to be insurmountable odds?  Or is he soon to become another nameless victim claimed by the seedy underbelly of the colony?

There can be little doubt that the plot of this novel is absolutely gripping.  The theme of survival is supported by a story-line which is chocked full of action and adventure.  There are twists and turns around every corner.  Just when the reader thinks they know where this story is headed, it instead veers off in another direction entirely.  That is certainly one of the reasons I had such a difficult time putting this book down.  The urge to see what was coming next was overwhelming.  Also, the juxtaposition of survival in the wilderness, alongside that of "civilization", was clever and downright fascinating.  For this reader, it almost got to the point where I saw the creatures of the swamp as Joshua's allies in his struggle with the humans.  Pure engagement!

The characters in the novel also beautifully support the plot.  Joshua as the protagonist develops in great depth throughout the tale.  At times, the reader will completely forget that they are reading about an eleven-year old boy!  As the story progresses we see the inherent intelligence and cunning resourcefulness of Joshua.  In many ways he is able to shrewdly manipulate and outmaneuver the various antagonists he comes up against.  There are also a number of supporting characters in the book as well.  They all play their corresponding roles well and are developed in sufficient depth to make them believable and critical to the overall plot development.

I would be amiss if I was not to mention the excellent job that D.G. Lamb does in his depiction of the setting.  He has built a world in the future which consists of a concrete city on top of a rainforest called the swamp which is down below.  The reader soon finds out that life is much "murkier" up top!  Like all the main elements of this story, the setting plays a key role in supporting the overall theme of the novel.

I found this to be a very original novel which has a great flow to it.  The ample use of dialogue is another technique which makes the reader actually feel part of this story.  It is highly recommended for all readers as there is something in it for everyone.

5 out of 5 Machiavellian Stars for this one!  *****

[Karen Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reader did not set out to be blown away by this book – but it happened. Slowly but surely it happened.

The Deepest Cut is well-imagined, deep and rich, and satisfyingly cohesive. Often some of the most intelligent books start out ever so slightly …obscure, and you want the blanks filled in so you keep on reading, and you glean relevant information about this new world you’re discovering in bits and pieces, in a natural (therefore believable) flow. This author accomplishes this masterfully. All in good time we get to know Joshua – an utterly supportable protagonist who we can’t help but admire – and the circumstances that “put him where he ends up.” Meantime, though, the action starts early and the pace never lets up! The reader is still trying to recover from the tension of a formidable – and marvelously depicted – stickball match when Joshua finds himself engaged in a shocking life-or-death battle in a kitchen …I won’t say with WHAT. Beyond this are a multitude of adventures and challenges and ethical dilemmas that constantly force Joshua to think and choose and overcome, or fail.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the use of creative vocabulary, including slightly tweaked names for people (Tifinity and Samanatha and Alphred) and often self-descriptive terms for things (Vertabed, Cloudbrary, squarewiches). The nicely alliterative one that is sure to stick with any reader for life is: spidervipers. Which occasionally show up in kitchens, by the way!

All of this might just sound like an innocent “great read” but …ATTENTION professional and homeschool educators! This great read doubles as a teaching resource and contains a virtual mother lode of embedded lesson applications. Macchiavelli, prohibition, pollination, percentages …the more you look, the more you find.

So I recommend this wonderful book to: 1) the avid young reader who seeks more from a story than just a story, 2) the more experienced reader who can fully appreciate the many literary connections and thought-provoking life parallels woven throughout, and 3) the educator who will not lack for teachable moments in language, science, math, history, technology, philosophy, sociology …you name it, it’s there!

This journey is well worth taking …and to think that a sequel is already available! My copy of Forging the Blade is on its way to me and I can hardly wait. In my opinion this “Driven to the Hilt” series is tailor-made for the big screen as well, and has every potential to be the next big thing!

[StoryStormBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

This book is not what I expected, but wow. The back cover blurb, which I remembered only vaguely when I started reading the novel is accurate, but the sword on the cover threw my expectations: In the back of my mind, I was thinking, “this is a fantasy.” Truth be told, this book is unlike any I’ve ever read. Although hints of off-world happenings are mentioned (with futuristic technology suggesting sci-fi), the story takes place entirely on the planet Cypress Grove, in and around a settlement enclosed in a lethal jungle. The world building, particularly the descriptions of flora and fauna, proved to be one of my favorite aspects of the book: Far from being superfluous, those details proved to be integral. The author does an amazing job of setting up the “The Swamp’s” threat and even turns ordinary trips through New Cincinnati into suspenseful ventures.

I found the plot to be steady. Slow—not in the sense that I ever grew bored, but—in the overall feel. Though there were certainly moments of more intense action, what riveted me to the page was curiosity, emotion, and the steady drizzle of suspenseful expectation. I loved that Joshua was proactive—resolute. I loved that his brilliant plans to fix things sometimes mired him in a worse situation. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him discover his new world, learning new tasks until he emerged a helpless boy no longer, but self-sufficient.

Though the close camera feel (deep POV) and the style (thoughts inserted without punctuation into narrative, strings of hyphens among ellipses, etc) were at times confusing (kindle edition, note below: *), the entirety was overall effective and unbelievably engrossing. At first, some of the syntax—even the emotional responses (like the out of body experiences)—was a touch confusing, but like any good story I was mostly able to slip right in.

The descriptions were vivid and sensory—not so gruesome as to bridge into horror, but a few rare visuals earned a cringe. (That being said, I don’t know if I could tolerate this story in film version. Alien is one thing... Arachnophobia quite another.) On a similar note, I have two cautions for any sensitive readers out there: (1) There are a number of curse words in the novel (just about all of the usuals except the f-word). If a novel indulges gratuitous swearing, I usually abandon it. That wasn’t necessary here. (2) Also, there was a stretch of suggestive dialogue which, though relatively brief, made me very uncomfortable. It gave me the sense that…a bad man meant to force Joshua into his prostitution ring. Not only that, but the dialogue strongly suggested that man himself was about to “do” something to Joshua of a sexual nature. Lots of squirming on my part in that relatively brief section… but if it helps, Joshua escapes the threat in question before anything intolerable happens.

Others have said (and I agree) the author’s knowledge of psychological issues has produced a compelling hero. The emotion is rich but not oppressive (for this reader, though hero Joshua might disagree). How could anyone “watch” an 11-year-old boy go through all that—in the end defeating the odds—and not reach the satisfying yet bittersweet finish line without a “resolute” cheer? I rooted for Joshua, felt for him, and now with great anticipation look forward to his next adventure.

And can I just say…?
I…want…to…learn…more…about…slow time! Why does Joshua have this ability? How will it come into play later in the series? This is yet one more fascinating detail from the author’s boundless creativity. Luke Skywalker has the force—er, uh—midichlori-whatevers; Paul Atreides has special Bene Gesserit abilities; and Joshua Vernon has slow time. Loved. It.

But… Mind your edition*: Regarding the punctuation and formatting, there’s a special note from the author at the beginning of the kindle version. If you’re picky about that kind of thing, be sure to read the note before you decide to purchase the e-version. Personally, I was able to work with it; the story was too engaging to deter me, but other readers might feel differently…in which case, get a physical copy.

I can’t say I’m naturally drawn to survival stories. It takes talent to keep interest high when the hero spends a fair amount of time on his own, but in my view, this author succeeded. So…even if it’s not your usual fare, consider giving this novel a try. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

[Christopher Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth in advertising: I know the author well, but as he can tell you, I’m a relentless critique of everything and everybody, so when I say this book is an excellent read, it is a clinical comment about the book, not my relation to the author. The basic storyline is sort of “Robinson Crusoe” meets “Oliver Twist”. Joshua, the young hero, have to overcome natural threats to survive in the jungle surrounding the extraterrestrial city of Cypress Grove, and man-made ones in the city’s human jungle. He demonstrates a consistently keen power of observation, often driven by fear, but also a penchant for exploration, which in the case of the city, requires trusting and retaliating on occasion. Joshua’s different survival strategies make for interesting comparisons.

The diverse human, animal and plant characters Joshua encounters along the way are rendered with great realism. The author’s vivid depiction of Joshua’s key protagonists in both the city and the jungle keep the story humming along. He has to feed, shelter and improve his circumstances while defending himself from diverse dangers. Part of the pleasure in reading the book comes from vicariously experiencing the “sanctuary” Joshua creates in a dangerous environment and the relief the reader feels when he enjoys a well-earned respite.

Despite the fictional future setting the book did not feel like a SciFi novel to me. The new technology and terminology are easily comprehensible and introduced by the story in passing rather than imposed by the author in long descriptive tangents. Also, the dialogue-driven plot quickly absorbs the reader and revolves around familiar family and social relationships so that the reader is quickly at home in the story line. Thus the reader is quickly immersed in the world of Cypress Grove and the trials the young hero must endure. The book succeeds on other levels as well. There is a backdrop of political intrigue that the reader glimpses as Joshua incidentally bumps into forces larger and more complicated than he can fathom. These subplots are resolved by the end of the book, but the nature of their mysterious relation to Joshua remains hidden, presumably to be revealed more as the series continues.

Finally, there is the underlying nature vs. nurture struggle for Joshua’s developing belief system that runs concurrently throughout the novel. He tries to reconcile his mother's teachings and perceived approval and disapproval with the “survival of the fittest” lessons the jungle is teaching him. What he has to do to survive, and whether he is capable of doing it, is a constant source of tension throughout. From the beginning to the end of the novel Joshua wrestles with this dilemma, and at least up until the final scene, no pat answers have emerged.

On all three levels, Joshua's general ordeal, his specific quandaries, and his efforts to build a safe place for himself are engaging and unpredictable. He makes some decisions impulsively and some after due deliberation, with varied results for each approach. Some decisions seem life-saving, and others apparently just deepen his difficulties. Readers can ponder whether Joshua is lucky to achieve certain outcomes, or whether he is ultimately the beneficiary of his own willful efforts at self-preservation. Put more directly, does Joshua impose his will on his environment or does each “jungle” mercilessly apply its laws of behavior to its denizens, including Joshua?

[Scott Cahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut by D.G. Lamb is one of the most original and well-told stories I’ve ever read. First-time author D.G. Lamb has established himself as a new talent in young adult novels with this first effort. At its core, this is a survival tale that reminded me a little of other great books like The Martian and Swiss Family Robinson. Driven to the Hilt, however, took the basic concept of man vs. nature in a totally original direction. The story takes place in a colony of Earth on another planet in the not-too-distant-future. An eleven-year-old boy named Joshua finds himself alone after a harrowing encounter with a dreaded creature called a spiderviper. The event is the first time a spiderviper has ever ventured out of its home in the “swamp” and into the populated area where the humans live. The city is built on a concrete platform, high enough to keep humans safe from the dangerous animals in the swamp. Various events lead Joshua to run from the authorities and he accidentally falls down the steep wall that leads into the swamp. From there, we follow Joshua as he struggles to survive in the alien world that he’s trapped in. When he eventually finds a way to go back to the world of humans to get some of his necessities, he finds that there are just as many threats to his life in the city as there are in the swamp.

Author D.G. Lamb has a smooth yet intelligent style of writing. In Driven to the Hilt, he gives us lots of details about everything from the cooking ingredients that Joshua used to the intricacies of the swamp’s ecosystem. He makes everything sound believable and interesting. He also did a great job of making his main character feel real. In eleven-year-old Joshua, we’re given an extremely likable character who is very smart and resourceful and is easy to feel sympathy for. The side characters in the story were also well fleshed out and each was interesting in their own unique way. The unpredictable story arc was probably my favorite aspect. I’m not exaggerating when I say the story plot took 5 or 6 turns into directions that I had not predicted. There were even a couple of times that I was unsure if I liked the direction it was going. But, then a few pages later, I was completely hooked again and marveling at how much I was enjoying what was happening. By the end of the book, every experience that Joshua is forced to endure, and every character that he is forced to interact with all come together. It’s like a great impressionistic painting. When you look at it up close you see lots of beautiful colors, but when you step back and look at the finished product you find yourself in awe at how all the colors come together. That’s how I felt at the end of Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut.

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

When eleven-year old Joshua loses his mother to a Spider Viper attack and flees the authorities of New Cincinnati, he literally falls into the fearsome Swamp, home of the dreaded Spider Vipers. Though surrounded by unknown dangers, the young boy survives by studying his environment and videos he downloads from the net; he learns his lessons well, honing instincts and his ability to move in what he calls slow-time, while keeping his mother’s memory alive by utilizing cooking tips she had shared before her death. But will the skills he acquires out in the Swamp be enough to keep him save on the streets of New Cincinnati where the most dangerous predator is man?

This well-written tale of survival on a future world kept me turning pages. My heart ached for young Joshua as he not only faced pain and possible death in the wild and in the city, but he also battled the emotional upheaval of his mother’s death with no support. The depression and fear of being alone in the world drove Joshua to again and again remember his promise to be Resolute.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series soon.

[Karen Eisenbrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deepest Cut cleverly combines wilderness survival adventure with urban crime thriller, in a gritty sci-fi setting; kind of Hatchet meets Blade Runner.

Main character Joshua, age 11, and his widowed mother are barely scraping by, but they have dreams of opening a café in New Cincinnati, a mining colony on the planet Cypress Grove. Joshua makes a little extra money betting on stickball, a game he has a talent for. Just as he has made a couple of potential new friends through the sport, tragedy strikes and through bad luck and accident, he winds up living alone in the dreaded Swamp outside the city. I am a sucker for tales of resourceful kids surviving on their own, so I enjoyed the scenes of Joshua learning to feed and provide for himself, as well as observing (and naming) the flora and fauna of his new home in order to know which he can eat and which will eat him. His occasional forays into the city for supplies he can’t get in the Swamp brings him into contact with the criminal underworld of New Cincinnati, to the point that he’s safer in the Swamp. Joshua’s stealth and parkour-like agility get him out of an alarming number of scrapes. He also meets a handful of adults he can trust, but not enough to leave his solitary home. It’s possible he also has some kind of superpowers that he’s not aware of yet but other characters suspect. There are several more volumes in this series which most likely follow up on this and other plot threads.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut was an amazing book. The world building, plot, and character development was all really well done. The parts that I most enjoyed were the survival elements. I loved reading Gary Paulsen's Hatchet as a kid. D. G. Lamb created a similar feel by forcing Joshua into a wilderness survival situation by making him flee the settlement where he grew up. Civilization is nearby but Joshua leaves it to strike out on his own. The descriptions of alien plants and Joshua's trial and error approach were realistic and showed the danger he was in. His ability to study his environment and learn from his observations allowed him to scrape by and eventually to thrive on his own. I have the second book and am looking forward to seeing what happens next in Joshua's story.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.G. Lamb creates a dark and compelling adventure on an alien world in The Deepest Cut! When Joshua’s father dies, he sees it as his responsibility to get him and his mom out of the colony’s gang-run slums. In a roundabout way, this leads him into the world’s alien jungles, forced to survive the elements and deadly creatures as he strives to hang onto his humanity. I really liked Joshua (maybe because we share a name) and the emotion built into The Deepest Cut was excellent! If you love YA, blast off into Lamb’s shadowy sci fi universe!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua is the main character of D.G. Lamb's Driven to the Hilt I: The Deepest Cut. He is also a survivor. That's probably the best thing I can say about him and that's awesome. I didn't start out thinking that. I wasn't sure I was going to like the kid much at first. I'm a nerd. He starts out as a jock. We're kind of natural enemies. It's not that he seemed like a bad kid. He's actually a good guy. And the series  is really well named. He is legitimately driven to the hilt. I don't know how a human being could survive more than what this kid went through, but he toughed it out.


And what's more, I really do like him. He has to go through some serious stuff and make some hard decisions, but he doesn't flinch from what he has to do.He's got both brains and guts and that's a rare combination. Joshua is a teenager, but he has more maturity, at least by the end of The Deepest Cut, than a lot of adults I know. Joshua is not always a nice guy. Sometimes being nice and being alive don't go together all that well. At the end of the day though, he makes the right decisions in circumstances I wouldn't like to face personally.


Oh, and he's both intelligent and well educated, especially for his age. The story begins with his mother home schooling him and he seems to be able to understand and explain the written word better than a lot of college students I've had classes with. He's read at least some of the classics of Western literature, including Machiavelli.  He also has a love for and knowledge of show tunes that even my girlfriend would envy.


He's resourceful too. When he finds himself alone in the world at a young age he does what he has to do. He's creative. He's intelligent. He finds sources of food that no one else would think to try and thrives off of them. He builds things. He finds work in unlikely places. I can't say enough about this kid and how much he impresses me.


He has a willingness to do research that a lot of adults lack as well. I've known people who get upset at kids who just google everything, but when you think about it, it makes sense. Granted, Lamb doesn't actually call it "googling" but if when Joshua needs knowledge and doesn't have a lot of time to get it, he knows where to look. That much is good in and of itself, but he also has confindence THAT he can learn what he needs to know if he tries.


The world Joshua lives on is not Earth. This makes me happy. Some of the wildlife in The Deepest Cut is quite frankly terrifying and the more light years away it is, the more comfortable I am. Spidervipers sound like something I'd have loved to talk about as a young kid, in a weird kind of way. Remember the conversations you had as a kid about "Would a wolf win a fight against a bear?" Yeah, a spiderviper would fit in well with that. Except that spidervipers are legitimately creepy on top of being badass. I'm not the kind of guy that runs from a spider but I'd pretty much soil my shorts if one of those showed up. There are other creatures as well. Joshua learns to contend with all of them.


He also seems to be more than he seems to be. I know that doesn't make sense but you'd really have to read the book to get it. Joshua does have a trick about slowing down time that seems to be some type of power, but there are other characters who talk about him. What they say leads me to believe that this kid has some kind of destiny, but he's not Harry Potter. There are hints but no outright statements about what the destiny is or even why they think it's Joshua. There are more books coming and that's a good thing, because Lamb seems to have asked more questions with her first book than she answered.


I don't want to take things too far though. Joshua is far from perfect. He screws up a couple of times and almost gets himself killed more than once. Still though, you can't help but root for the kid when he tries this hard and refuses to give up. He's one resolute kid and his failures only accentuate how hard he's working at what he has to do.


I'm guess that Lamb spent a lot of time doing research of her own. I don't have any real survival experience of my own, but I've done some reading (Surprising, I know) and most of what Joshua learns in his research matches what I've read almost word for word. When I say he does things in a "textbook" manner it's not just a figure of speech. The actions he performs are exactly the ones that I've read about in the textbooks. I like that. I already stated that he make mistakes sometimes, but not once did I put my phone down and scream "MORON" the way I have at some other books. It's a refreshing change.


Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that parts of this book bring me back to my days as a fan of both CSI and mobster movies. At some points, I almost forgot that I was in a Science Fiction novel because a lot of the action was so realistic that it could have been happening five miles from where I'm sitting right now. Lamb did an awesome job mixing the fantastical elements of her story with the mundane ones.


My only complaint about The Deepest Cut, and it's one I've mentioned with other books a few times lately, is that it starts off kind of slow. Now, I know it's the first book in a series and that they always start out slow, but it still took me a wee bit longer to get through the first chapter or two of the book than it should have. Overall though, The Deepest Cut is still an excellent work and was a true joy to read

[Dustin]

To learn more about the author's background, as well as some fascinating insights into his unique world, check out this interview:


https://mrskat2014.wordpress.com/2018...

[Ringybinksgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Great hero and world building - different than anything else I have read. Can't wait for the next one.

[Scott Sammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty darned good.

I am Not a fan of dynamic formatting. The stories of how possessive JRR Tolkien was toward punctuation and minor phrasing to the point of delaying his books from going to print are a worthy cautionary tale for all authors. Dynamic formatting encourages a writer to play with fonts and spacing when they would be better focused on writing and practicing their punctuation, or hiring a skilled copy editor. Dynamic formatting is, in my none too humble opinion, as annoying as poetry that only rhymes visually.

Fortunately this e-book is more conventionally presented. The characters are very appealing and the story gripping. The first book was available for free or on Kindle Unlimited. Subsequent editions are currently modestly priced. If all were available on K.U. I would have downloaded them already, as it stands, I am considering the purchase. Story has a reasonable conclusion without a gut wrenching cliffhanger. This has a potential of being nearly equal to Enders Game, lacking only the deep contemplation surrounding the "speakers for the dead".

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua was a typical engaging eleven year old boy until tragedy and stark reality changed his life forever. I empathized with his sorrow and feeling of profound loss. Also, his strength and courage to survive belied his previous immature demeanor. The author's decision to constantly reveal Joshua's emotions and worries alerted the reader of the many warring thoughts and consequences surging through Joshua's mind daily. This was a purely emotional reading experience and only increased its appeal when Joshua was forced to survive in "The Swamp". I found it captivating and addictive. Great Story!

[aron zierdt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Can't wait to see what happens next

This is a really interesting and exciting book. I love dystopia fiction, but this one has a completely new feel and storyline. The story about Joshua is intriguing and the new world he discovers is amazingly well described. I really feel like I could picture the environment and struggles. It was exciting to read along with everything he is figuring out and growing stronger in this harsh reality put upon him. I can't wait to see what the future will bring for him. It's well written and a story I couldn't put down. Excited to read the next one! If you're looking for a good read, I'd definitely recommend this one!

[Anna Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I'd give this one a 3.5, though I think that teen male readers would enjoy it more. It is, after all, about a brave young boy who survives in the wild whilst I am a middle-aged woman who doesn't like camping haha.

This point is important because Lamb dwells a lot upon how Joshua survives on his own in the Swamp, even whilst impressing you with his intricate world-building, creating an alien place with terrifying and beautiful flora and fauna. Filled with SpiderVipers and SwampBunnies, Nuteggs and Bluebells, The Swamp outside New Cincinnati is dangerous unexplored territory--though it's more likely the seedy underground and gangs in The Avenue that will get Joshua killed.

Writing-wise, there are some annoying POV changes here and there--nothing that really pulls you out of the story, but just little things that niggle every once in a while. As mentioned before, Lamb is great at descriptions, and the world really comes to life through Joshua's careful explorations.

An eleven-year-old boy isn't normally expected to be mature or smart, and whilst the protagonist seems advanced for his age, his unusual upbringing and family background provide reasons for that, whilst his stupid--well, not really stupid, but naive--decisions, especially in trusting people, fleshes him out into a well-rounded character with both strengths and weaknesses.

The story settles into a nice, sweet end, still leaving you wondering what's next for Joshua.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book from the author as part of a book tour. I was given the book with no expectation of a positive review and the review is my own.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut
Author: D G Lamb

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 20
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 20 readers:
20 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
20 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
13 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
20 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
20 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘This is like a survival story in many ways. I liked the hero and how brave he was. A good book for teenagers.’ Boy, aged 15
’Tons of twists, lots happening all the way through. Joshua is an interesting character; he’s brave, smart and, generally, a good kid who has a run of very bad luck. The writing style is easy to follow and the ending is exciting.’ Girl, aged 17
‘The author is good with characters, but he’s really, really good with giving the reader a thrilling plot.’ Boy, aged 16
‘I felt for Joshua, the protagonist. He has a pretty bad life. Be he’s up for the challenge and wants to help his mum find her dreams. I liked that. It’s about survival, but it’s also about standing by your family.’ Girl, aged 15
‘Amazing story. I couldn’t put it down.’ Boy, aged 14

To Sum It Up:
‘A thrilling adventure, gripping from the very first page. A BRONZE MEDAL winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua is trapped in a mining colony on Cypress Grove, a planet infested by creatures so deadly humans have been trapped inside their compound for decades. One wrong move and he could be dead. Escape seems unlikely; but if he can make it out alive, he’ll have to contend with the colony’s criminal underworld. Even then, he’ll likely be ostracized as a social outcast because of his father’s alleged betrayal.

A serious sci-fi read with grit and substance, this book offers so much more than it would first appear. Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut, by DG Lamb is a wildly thrilling page-turner that will keep readers in suspense clear to the last page and beyond. Recommended for home and school libraries, Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut, has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.