After a shooting leaves Kenneth Barnes comatose, his mind retreats into the House of Nepenthe—a virtual reality hospice built from his memories. But with his Guardian Angel chip damaged, the House twists into a nightmare he can't escape. As his friends and enemies close in, Ken must confront the one thing more dangerous than death: his own past.
Coming June 2026. Recommended for fans of Inception, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, and Ubik by PKD.
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About the Author
Daniel Verastiqui writes character-driven cyberpunk science fiction about identity, relationships, and the technology we build to define ourselves. Based in Austin, Texas, he’s spent more than twenty years exploring the dark edges of the Vinestead Universe through novels like Vise Manor, Hybrid Mechanics, and the upcoming House of Nepenthe.
When he’s not writing, he’s studying the latest tech and thinking, “This won't end well.”
“A clever sci-fi thriller that kept me up well into the night.” — Reedsy Discovery (Sarah Orren), review of Vise Manor
“Verastiqui is a master of the cyber-punk genre.” — Reader review
“Por Vida will keep you hooked until the last word.” — Reader review
“One part science fiction, one part psychological thriller, and 100% edge-of-your-seat thrill ride.” — Reader review
Books
Daniel writes both the Vinestead Anthology (an interconnected cyberpunk series) and standalone works of speculative fiction. Explore the full catalog below.
Old iPods. Broken dishwashers. Daleon thought he left scavenging behind for good. But when a man named Rajink offers a DNA scan that opens a gateway to darkness, Daleon must make an impossible choice: follow Nola into the dark, or let her disappear forever.
Recommended for fans of The Giver, The Road, and Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer.
Eccentric tech billionaire Winston Vise invites eight guests to his secluded manor to demonstrate his AI synthetic humans. But when a murder unfolds during the event, guests must navigate a night of terror to uncover the killer—who may not be entirely human.
Recommended for fans of And Then There Were None, Westworld, and Ex Machina.
When Johnny San Vito’s final hack leaves a trail in cyberspace, it draws in Danny “Guns” Montreal and cipher den suit Megan “Tanzy” Riley. Following Johnny’s digital breadcrumbs, they find themselves on a dangerous journey to Brigham Plaza, a virtual construct that holds game-changing secrets about humanity's future.
Recommended for fans of Neuromancer, Snow Crash, and Mr. Robot.
Armando Carrillo awakens from a simulation in a bunker, realizing his life in Austin was a manufactured illusion. Determined to uncover who created him and why, Armando must escape while rescuing three other synthetic captives designed to learn human behavior.
Recommended for fans of Dark City, Westworld, and Upgrade.
In 2035, rising Hollywood star Sepideh Ahmadi undergoes a synthetic body transition to stay with her terminally ill girlfriend, Natasha. As the boundaries of identity and love blur, a machine war threatens, forcing Sepideh to confront what it means to be truly human—and whether she’s still that person.
Recommended for fans of Altered Carbon, Ex Machina, and Never Let Me Go.
As a massive beta test introduces synthetic humans to Perion City, publicist Sava Kessler must protect Perion Synthetics’ legacy while managing the media and concealing dangerous truths. With a competing corporation eager to expose them, Sava faces a moral battle to keep Perion’s secrets buried.
Recommended for fans of Devs, Gattaca, and The Circle by Dave Eggers.
In the 22nd century, augmented reality has transformed society. Deron Bishop, who struggles to control the Veneer, faces a stark choice when his ability to access the virtual world is disrupted. As he grapples with a reality he barely recognizes, he must choose whether to abandon or reclaim the life he once knew.
Recommended for fans of Ready Player One, The Matrix, and eXistenZ.
When a bomb threat shuts down the Vinestead West building in Sacramento, senior developer Rick Diaz' first thought is to head back home, but his new friend Bonnie has other ideas. From a fancy breakfast on the rich side of town to a sim parlor in the tech mecca of Umbra, Bonnie shows Rick that there's more to life than writing code for a ruthless conglomerate.
Recommended for fans of Black Mirror, Upgrade, and The Peripheral by William Gibson.
To preserve his relationship with his girlfriend, C, X uploads her consciousness into a virtual avatar, triggering unforeseen consequences. As C becomes an unstoppable presence in the virtual Net, X’s friends Natalie and G must embark on a rescue mission through a digital realm filled with deadly threats and insidious corporate forces.
Recommended for fans of Ghost in the Shell, Tron, and Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds.
Daniel Verastiqui
Daniel Verastiqui
Daniel Verastiqui
Daniel Verastiqui