When the City Grew Verdant

by Serein Choo

24th February 2035 marks the date where the sun had vanished, plunging us into an abyss of darkness; the immediate concern wasn't how we would survive. Survival was not the answer; modification was.

It was the day we became Oxy, altered humans integrated with parasitic plants designed to produce oxygen in a realm deprived of sunlight. This transformation marked the loss of that world, birthing a new one—our world—sustained by the symbiosis between modified humanity and parasitic flora.

Thus, it begins the new generation, Oxy-Generation.

280 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2025

About the author

Hello ALL, all those who visited this page. I thank you for coming.
I am a nobody but I like to write as writing gives me joy and that I have left something behind. Something solid,, something which came from my mind as a person.

The famous quote inspired me.
Cogito, ergo sum
"I think therefore I am,"
-René Descartes-

I like to interpret is as "I write therefore I am".

And if you have any comments/suggestions/recommendation. Please do tell me. I am open to criticism as well. Drop me a message if you are shy XD or find me through >>> Discord : serein.choo#0271

If you are interested in following/contacting me: please visit/follow Instagram#@sereinchoo.author
https://www.instagram.com/sereinchoo....
Tiktok: @sereinchoo
By the way, all covers and art attached in my profile are all my original works

Support me - buy me some coffee at
kofi.com/serein.choo (Follow are great too) XD
Link > https://ko-fi.com/K3K16RVH5
Very much appreciated (muacks muacks)
#grateful#support#love

Will follow if you follow me too ~

🌟 Main Novel : ZuoMeng: To Dream
(Prequel complete/editing) (Sequel editing)
https://www.wattpad.com/story/2770967...
🌟Story (50k words) :
- Empty Crown (Published)
https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Crown-Se...
- Flower and Coin (for ONC 2023) (WIP)
https://www.wattpad.com/1311959580-fl...
🌟 Short Stories (<50k) Completed :
- Princess YuanMing
- Wishing Well
- Cassette
- Carousel
🌟 Children Book : What Will I Be When I Grow Up? (Published)
https://www.amazon.co.jp/What-will-wh...

Other related links > click on linktree below
https://linktr.ee/serein.choo

Reviews

[Alea Aizad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s just talk about the concept—because YES, I LOVE the whole idea of the oxy-human mutation thing. It’s a freaking genius idea to write about! And the fact that this is coming from a local author too?? FREAKING LOVE IT.

What I think the author could improve on is the execution of the idea… it could have been better. I wanted to know more about the Oxy program—how the government and scientists developed it in the first place. More background stories about Ishaan, Mark, and even Jessica’s family would have added depth.

The lack of plot expansion might confuse readers as well. I was a little clueless about the whole Oxy program discussion during that one scene (I think it was an evening gala or something like that). Also, I noticed some writing inconsistencies between the first- and third-person POVs.

As for the chemistry between the two main characters, Ishaan and Jessica didn’t hit me that hard (not romantically, of course). I was hoping for a more intimate and strong connection—whether as friends or allies—so that when the betrayal moment came… IT WOULD FREAKING BREAK ME APART. But it didn’t.

Alas, it is truly a great debut novel, and I’m pretty sure the author will grow even more successful in the future. I’ll be supporting the author in her upcoming projects!

[Umi Najihah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept was interesting but my lorddd, i’m trying so hard to catch up with the plot and the POV in this book that it has become some kind of a rojak. It’s a bundle of mess, it’s too rushed. Would appreciate the author to take her time to explain the world-building and let readers be immersed in the new world first.

I always forgot that the world isn’t bright.

The characters are also inconsistent, especially Ishaan, i got really confused whether he was the good guy or the bad guy for the most part but at least at the end, the answer was revealed.

The biggest blockage for me is the use of “I” and “her” — like are you referring to 1st person POV or 3rd person POV, got confused so many times.

The concept — Oxy-Gen have sooo much potential. The idea is fresh, it’s new and it’s genius. I would really love for the author to write a sequel with a better writing style soon!

[Janice J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a wonderful way to captivate your attention. A dystopian novel set in Malaysia is something I've not heard of before, so kudos to her for that!

Please be aware of the trigger warnings before you read as it gets darker as the story unfolds (I'm here for it). The author triggers your thinking when you're reading it and also after reading. I spent the morning after thinking about it and couldn't really managed to express it fully yet. In many ways, she has managed to apply human's characteristics (both pleasant and unpleasant ones) in the future - in a grand scale and also on a personal level. The plot, no doubt lies in the future, but it got me thinking of the current situation of my life and the world. Are we doing enough? Is ethics a factor when making a huge decision? I love it when books do that. Manusia tak ubah walaupun dunia berubah. haha

Captivating and I finished it in a day :D

only thing that could be improved would be minor edits in terms of the POV and I got a bit confused about the timeline (altho it didn't really affect the storyline).

Highly recommend. Congrats, Serein :)

[S. Alyssa Azmir · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a refreshing read! 3.5 rounded up. When The City Grew Verdant has an amazing plot in mind. In a dystopian future where the sun has vanished, humanity adapts living in the dark. Electricity, heat, and petrol became a luxury, a symbol of the rich and a scarcity amongst the poor. A government programme, the Oxy, is one where you could volunteer yourself to be implanted with a parasitic plant. You'd become the plant's host, and in return, it'd give you oxygen and heat.

I would've loved to learn more about the world through more ways instead of Jessica, the MC, just overhearing these conversations that essentially told the reader instead of showing us. I want to say that the ending was brilliant, but I'd also have to preface that with saying that due to the writing style being clunky, I'm not sure if my interpretation of the ending is accurate. But I'll try:

Jessica's secret grand plan to save humanity is to try to appeal to Ishaan's "human"/light side as his dark side takes over for the last 30% of the book. In a Romeo&Juliet-esque attempt, she threatens to inject herself with a mutilated version of the Oxy. If Ishaan truly loved her (like he claimed he does, which by the way, never trust a man. Especially one you just met and have LIED multiple times?!), then he would be forced to create an antidote to save her. She did just that, and Ishaan told his men to burn her.

All of that planning and executing with the Anti-Oxy group, only for the end to rely on a MAN? Insane.

However, I still think it's a great ending, because it means that even in a world full of suffering and death, Jessica shows some character (and personality) development. In the beginning where it was a dog-eat-dog world and there was even a scene where she swat away the hand of a starving child; at the end, she believes that there's more to just survival and it's time for them to stand up against all the lies they've been fed. Humanity can be saved, even in the most heinous of man. And technically, the group still managed to get the broadcast of what the government and the rich are doing (which was SO BRILLIANT! They were giving out these free "supplements" that were actually "fertilizers" that expedited the Oxy's growth, turning the poor into plants for the rich) out to the public, so I'd like to think that even after Jessica's failed attempt, humanity did its thing and stood up for their rights. Power to the people!

[HanaKyuu · Rating 3 out of 5]

to be honest, i didn't buy this book after reading its blurb or read any spoilers. It's really my style. When i saw the title i was like, "Oh, what could this book be about?"
So i hit buy and i got it in less than a week. During the last few days before it arrived, i went to goodreads to know what's the rating for this book and i'm trying to see if this book was worth the hype. However, when i saw one 3-stars rate, i almost doubted this book. I told myself that i shouldn't make the book look less interesting because of the person's review. So, i pushed it far away from my mind. Because, every person have a different taste in books. When the book arrived and after I read the blurb, i was excited, "Oh, this book is gonna be wort id after all"

When I got somewhere half of the book, i started it think that this book's writing is sort of messed up and that also made me in a bit of a reading slump, but I pushed through anyway. But, the more i read, the more i realize the book seems to mess between the Main character's monologues with the writer's pov of the story. And this book is probably the book that I'm most disappointed in. It's not that i don't get the concept of the story but the writing is so messy *^*

[✨ sufina ✨ (thebadassreader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

🔸 About: A dystopian Malaysia where the sun had vanished and the plants died causing the lack of oxygen for humans to survive. What happened when humans were forced to be altered into OXY - half human and half plants as the alternative?

✫ When I first read the synopsis, I was so intrigued by the concept of injecting parasitic plants into humans as a way to get more oxygen.

✫ I didn't expect the plot to be more than just that. This book explored political agenda behind the project and how it affected people from different classes. It tackled capitalism issue and also social revolution.

✫ However, there were a few things that I think could be improved:
🌳 POV and grammar - I found some sentences with mixed 1st and 3rd POV and grammar mistakes.
🌳 Chemistry between Ishaan and Jessi should be explored more especially leading up to the ending for it to be more impactful.

Overall, it's a debut with lots of potential. Congratulations and hopefully we get a reprint with the errors fixed!

My rating: 3 ⭐️

[Aleeqa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the ideas for this story, where the sun died, sending the world into eternal darkness. To survive, humans turn to Oxy—a hybrid between humans and plants. A plant seed was implanted inside a human to create an Oxy.

The story is intriguing, and there is more to it than just a survival story. It explores capitalism, political agendas, and the fight for justice.
The switching between 1st person POV and 3rd person POV needs to be addressed here. It disrupts the flow of the story and the reader's reading experience.

The relationship between Jessica and Ishaan is lacking depth and should be explored and developed more.

Overall, it is still a good debut story.

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8/5
🚨TW: loss of love ones, grief, abuse, suicide, depictions of violence

An interesting story, where the world doesn't have sunlight. How do they survive? Someone came up with an idea that people become Oxy which will integrate humans with parasite plant in their bodies. People are struggling to survive so in order to survive they agreed the treatment. And it is seriously a twist in the story that you didn't see it coming. When the government is supporting the Oxy there are a group that Anti-Oxy because they don't agree with the treatment. And the ending, I was hoping for more. Hopefully, there will be a sequel for this.

[Attai Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an original concept and a book that really helps you imagine a different future. It feels gritty and shows how society might change should such horrible things happen to our world! Please try this book out!! It also gives a look into the Malaysian perspective and culture, as well as many landmarks that exist there. It’s so interesting to get a story from a place where I’ve never heard of or traveled to. Being able to see this author change and grow has been amazing and Im so thankful to get this chance to read it! :)

Reading all the way from America!! Please check it out!!

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review is coming up soon!