Driven to the Hilt: The Deepest Cut

WINNER!!

2018 Literary Classics Gold Seal for Young Adult Science Fiction - “…a wildly thrilling page-turner that will keep readers in suspense clear to the last page and beyond.”

WINNER!! 2018 Independent Author's Network Outstanding Science Fiction

“…a wildly thrilling page-turner that will keep readers in suspense clear to the last page and beyond.”

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.

FIVE 5-star Readers Favorite reviews!!

“…one of the most original and well-told stories I’ve ever read.” - SC

“For a debut, Driven to the Hilt is a great success...” and “…a gripping sci-fi that will enthrall readers.”- RD

“Cypress Grove is a stunning world packed with enough of the alien to feel different while still having enough similarities to Earth to be relatable.” - CLF

“…a debut novel that brilliantly introduces a series with huge promise of entertainment.” - RO

“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.” - SC

“The action is intense and the psychological aspect of the story comes out brilliantly.” - RO

“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.” - SC

“It is emotionally intense and it is hard not to feel for the protagonist …watching him grow through the challenges is delightful.” - RO

“This enjoyable novel is the perfect Christmas gift for kids to learn the life lesson that nothing is impossible if you put your mind, heart and soul into it.” - RT

D G 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. He 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.

Praise from Readers Favorite 5-star reviews:

“First-time author D.G. Lamb has established himself as a new talent in young adult novels with this first effort. [It] took the basic concept of man vs. nature in a totally original direction.” - SC

“I was immediately gripped by the exquisite prose, the author’s ability to create vivid images in the minds of readers and to plunge them into the consciousness of the characters.” - RO

“It escalates very quickly and the climax is mind-blowing.” - RD

“Lamb does an outstanding job of displaying Joshua’s evolving worldliness while still maintaining a childlike sense of innocence about the character.” - CLF

“The pacing is great and the paragraph breaks are well-crafted to make for an excellent read.” - RO

“DG Lamb’s scenes are masterfully written...” - RD

“...Driven to the Hilt [is] a memorable novel, but what makes it truly unique is Lamb’s use of font changes for different characters and large spaces for dramatic pauses. This ‘Dynamic Formatting’ is very effective in many instances, yet it’s subtle enough that a reader who dislikes it shouldn’t be overly distracted.” - CLF

“Author D.G. Lamb has a smooth yet intelligent style of writing.” - SC

“DG Lamb knows how to make the reader keep on turning the pages, thanks to the masterful storytelling craft and the memorable characters.” - RO

“Author D.G. Lamb navigates Joshua’s trauma with a sense of surrealism that’s both poignant and true to life.” - CLF