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Neon Dust #1
Welcome to the Blast: A Cyberpunk Adventure
Survival depends on determination, daring, and Dust in this dystopian adventure—with a dash of romance—from the creator of Victor of Tucson and Cyber Dreams.
New Manhattan isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s pretty much only for those powerful, wealthy, or lethal enough to survive in its rarefied air. Megacorporations and a few elites make the rules. Everyone else just dies by them.
Tony used to be one of the hidden elite. A high-tech enhanced operative working behind the scenes, in the shadows, under the table. That is, until his handlers decided to terminate his contract, strip his hardware, and dump him in the Blast. The end of the line. A place where the airborne Dust mutates your DNA before the locals can do worse.
But Tony wasn’t just his cyberware. He still has his instincts and one hell of a desire to get even with the bastards who tore his life apart. His only real ally? Addie, a sharp, determined indie reporter with her own vendetta against the system. She’s not just chasing a story; she’s chasing justice—and willing to risk everything for it.
Together, Tony and Addie must dive deep into the grime and chaos of the Blast, their uneasy partnership tested by danger, betrayal, and an undeniable spark neither of them is ready to name. With nerve, grit, and growing trust, they’ll bring the fight to the street . . . and make sure this city remembers who they are.
New Manhattan isn’t for everyone. In fact, it’s pretty much only for those powerful, wealthy, or lethal enough to survive in its rarefied air. Megacorporations and a few elites make the rules. Everyone else just dies by them.
Tony used to be one of the hidden elite. A high-tech enhanced operative working behind the scenes, in the shadows, under the table. That is, until his handlers decided to terminate his contract, strip his hardware, and dump him in the Blast. The end of the line. A place where the airborne Dust mutates your DNA before the locals can do worse.
But Tony wasn’t just his cyberware. He still has his instincts and one hell of a desire to get even with the bastards who tore his life apart. His only real ally? Addie, a sharp, determined indie reporter with her own vendetta against the system. She’s not just chasing a story; she’s chasing justice—and willing to risk everything for it.
Together, Tony and Addie must dive deep into the grime and chaos of the Blast, their uneasy partnership tested by danger, betrayal, and an undeniable spark neither of them is ready to name. With nerve, grit, and growing trust, they’ll bring the fight to the street . . . and make sure this city remembers who they are.
- GenresCyberpunkScience Fiction
390 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2026
3 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Plum Parrot
29 books160 followersPlum Parrot is the pen name of author MC Gallup, who grew up in Southern Arizona and spent much of his youth wandering around the Sonoran Desert, hunting imaginary monsters and building forts. He studied creative writing at the University of Arizona and, for a number of years, attempted to teach middle schoolers to love literature and write their own stories. If he's not out walking his Airedale Terrier, you can find Gallup writing, reading his favorite authors, or playing D&D with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 6, 2026
Another 5 Star work by Plum Parrot!
A second series melding light LITRPG and Cyberpunk by Plum Parrot, and what an amazing story it is! I really feel this author is nailing this particular niche with the absolutely amazing Cyber Dreams series, now Neon Dust (and Aura Overload coming!). Great story of a couple of up and coming street operatives, one nearly broken from betrayal and another just learning what she can do. A great team forms, and what a couple these two make. I really like how warm this story is, despite the dystopian setting.
A second series melding light LITRPG and Cyberpunk by Plum Parrot, and what an amazing story it is! I really feel this author is nailing this particular niche with the absolutely amazing Cyber Dreams series, now Neon Dust (and Aura Overload coming!). Great story of a couple of up and coming street operatives, one nearly broken from betrayal and another just learning what she can do. A great team forms, and what a couple these two make. I really like how warm this story is, despite the dystopian setting.
Read
December 6, 2025Tony Santoro despertó en el corazón del distrito más peligroso de la ciudad sin su tecnología, sin su dinero y sin casi nada que pudiera llamarse futuro. De ser un hombre privilegiado del mundo corporativo pasó a convertirse en presa fácil para las pandillas que gobiernan el Blast, un barrio ahogado por polvo corrompido, smog y reglas propias. Con un solo ojo, un brazo amputado y ninguna respuesta sobre quién lo traicionó, debe aprender a sobrevivir en un lugar donde la miseria se mezcla con la resistencia.
Cuando Bert, un viejo dueño de un taller de empeño, decide ayudarlo, Tony se aferra a la única oportunidad que tiene para reconstruirse. Allí conoce a Adelaide Jones, una joven periodista empeñada en revelar los abusos de las megacorporaciones y de las bandas locales. Aunque ella no confía en él, sus caminos se entrelazan mientras el Blast revela que bajo el caos conviven secretos, injusticias y misterios que podrían ser la clave para averiguar por qué Tony fue destruido.
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Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tony Santoro wakes up stripped of his augmentations, broke, and surrounded by people who see him as easy prey. If Bert Jones and his daughter, Adelaide, hadn’t taken him in, he might have lost the chance to figure out what happened and why.
This is a fascinating read that excels in atmosphere and setting. While ‘Hattan looms in the distance, the story grounds itself in the Blast—its neighborhoods, its gangs, and its fragile sense of community. Some businesses manage to sustain themselves even under the constant pressure of protection payments, and Boxer Corp. maintains a distant but watchful presence. Despite the struggle, moments of kindness and connection persist, giving the world a lived-in, believable texture.
The character work is deliberate and effective. Addie’s motivations and legacy are especially well developed, while Tony’s internal restraint keeps him functional—but at times makes him feel almost too composed. His concerns about his past life, including his girlfriend, fade more quickly than expected. He’s likable, but his emotional arc feels slightly muted.
Beef (Randal) stands out as a highlight. He’s a genuinely morally gray character—dangerous, loyal, and unexpectedly layered. He’s smarter than he lets on and has a dry humor. There’s a sense that he, and even those around him, might be redeemable, which gives him depth and even charm.
The cyberpunk elements are gritty and engaging, with the concept of dust serving as a particularly strong hook. The AI war and recent history provide compelling context, though I would have welcomed a bit more development in those areas. It feels to distant and mysterious even to those living in the Blast.
The dialogue has a slightly retro feel that may not work for everyone, but it remains consistent and intentional. Ultimately, it fits the tone of the story. Historical phrases often re-emerge generations later, though not many realize it.
Where the novel falters slightly is in its structure. The plot resists tightening into a clear central thread, and while there are moments of revelation and action, the climax lacks a strong shift in character perspective or stakes. The resolution arrives quickly, leaving a sense that something sharper is waiting just out of sight.
That said, this looseness also creates momentum. I want to know what happens next. I’m invested in these characters and their futures, and I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next installment. Where Into the Blast works, it’s brilliant and riveting; where it could use some refinement, all that’s required is a little definition.
This story will appeal to readers who enjoy the grittier side of cyberpunk with strong atmosphere, moral complexity, and a focus on survival and connection within an oppressive system. It is rich, immersive, and engaging.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the complimentary copy of Neon Dust: Welcome to the Blast via NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
This is a fascinating read that excels in atmosphere and setting. While ‘Hattan looms in the distance, the story grounds itself in the Blast—its neighborhoods, its gangs, and its fragile sense of community. Some businesses manage to sustain themselves even under the constant pressure of protection payments, and Boxer Corp. maintains a distant but watchful presence. Despite the struggle, moments of kindness and connection persist, giving the world a lived-in, believable texture.
The character work is deliberate and effective. Addie’s motivations and legacy are especially well developed, while Tony’s internal restraint keeps him functional—but at times makes him feel almost too composed. His concerns about his past life, including his girlfriend, fade more quickly than expected. He’s likable, but his emotional arc feels slightly muted.
Beef (Randal) stands out as a highlight. He’s a genuinely morally gray character—dangerous, loyal, and unexpectedly layered. He’s smarter than he lets on and has a dry humor. There’s a sense that he, and even those around him, might be redeemable, which gives him depth and even charm.
The cyberpunk elements are gritty and engaging, with the concept of dust serving as a particularly strong hook. The AI war and recent history provide compelling context, though I would have welcomed a bit more development in those areas. It feels to distant and mysterious even to those living in the Blast.
The dialogue has a slightly retro feel that may not work for everyone, but it remains consistent and intentional. Ultimately, it fits the tone of the story. Historical phrases often re-emerge generations later, though not many realize it.
Where the novel falters slightly is in its structure. The plot resists tightening into a clear central thread, and while there are moments of revelation and action, the climax lacks a strong shift in character perspective or stakes. The resolution arrives quickly, leaving a sense that something sharper is waiting just out of sight.
That said, this looseness also creates momentum. I want to know what happens next. I’m invested in these characters and their futures, and I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next installment. Where Into the Blast works, it’s brilliant and riveting; where it could use some refinement, all that’s required is a little definition.
This story will appeal to readers who enjoy the grittier side of cyberpunk with strong atmosphere, moral complexity, and a focus on survival and connection within an oppressive system. It is rich, immersive, and engaging.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the complimentary copy of Neon Dust: Welcome to the Blast via NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Welcome to the Blast is the first book in the new cyberpunk adventure series, Neon Dust. This first book does a fantastic job of setting up the series for success. It brings main characters Addie and Tony together in a professional capacity, and sets up the world that they live in really well - explaining the Blast neighbourhood, the gang turfs, and the corporations. The Blast felt detailed and like a real, living place. The plot was exciting and I loved that the author left some things unresolved, to be explored in the sequels.
I listened to the audiobook of Welcome to the Blast, which has fantastic duet narration by Suzy Jackson and Robb Moreira. There are some occasional lines which aren't in duet, but those are very few and far between. The two narrators were incredible at performing the range of accents used for all the characters, and I definitely recommend the audiobook format for Welcome to the Blast. I listened at x2.5 speed and it was still clear and audible with no distortion. I just didn't want to pause the book the whole time I was listening to it.
The author builds up a genuine friendship between Addie and Tony, while also showing that there is an attraction between them, but it doesn't try to do too much in book 1, which I personally really love. These are two people that start the book as strangers, so while they were attracted to each other, I liked that both of them had initial attractions to other people too, which is realistic. When a relationship is properly started in the first book of a series, it doesn't really leave space for it to progress in future books, plus there are definitely things that at least one of the MCs needs to work through first before starting any sort of relationship! So the hint of a future romance felt perfect here.
I am so excited to continue this series. I can see that there are at least two more future books in the series already listed on Goodreads, and I will definitely be picking them up!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
I listened to the audiobook of Welcome to the Blast, which has fantastic duet narration by Suzy Jackson and Robb Moreira. There are some occasional lines which aren't in duet, but those are very few and far between. The two narrators were incredible at performing the range of accents used for all the characters, and I definitely recommend the audiobook format for Welcome to the Blast. I listened at x2.5 speed and it was still clear and audible with no distortion. I just didn't want to pause the book the whole time I was listening to it.
The author builds up a genuine friendship between Addie and Tony, while also showing that there is an attraction between them, but it doesn't try to do too much in book 1, which I personally really love. These are two people that start the book as strangers, so while they were attracted to each other, I liked that both of them had initial attractions to other people too, which is realistic. When a relationship is properly started in the first book of a series, it doesn't really leave space for it to progress in future books, plus there are definitely things that at least one of the MCs needs to work through first before starting any sort of relationship! So the hint of a future romance felt perfect here.
I am so excited to continue this series. I can see that there are at least two more future books in the series already listed on Goodreads, and I will definitely be picking them up!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Listener Copy from Podium Entertainment but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really had a great time listening to this audiobook! It’s narrated in duet, with the exception of a few lines here and there - not sure if that was intentional. Suzy Jackson and Robb Moreira did a great job bringing each of the characters to life. Their ability to switch back and forth between the characters was excellent. I will be looking out for their names when looking for audiobooks.
I haven’t read very many cyberpunk stories, and if this was in fact my introduction to them, then this was one heck of a good intro. The character development was well done for the main and side characters. I really liked how the relationship between Tony and Addie evolves throughout the book. We even start to see feeling catching - maybe some romance in the next instalment?
The world development was so cool and there is also a considerable amount of action. Honestly, never a dull moment.
I recommend this book to lovers of the genre or even those looking to test the waters.
many thanks to Podium entertainment for an early copy of the audiobook. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
I haven’t read very many cyberpunk stories, and if this was in fact my introduction to them, then this was one heck of a good intro. The character development was well done for the main and side characters. I really liked how the relationship between Tony and Addie evolves throughout the book. We even start to see feeling catching - maybe some romance in the next instalment?
The world development was so cool and there is also a considerable amount of action. Honestly, never a dull moment.
I recommend this book to lovers of the genre or even those looking to test the waters.
many thanks to Podium entertainment for an early copy of the audiobook. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was so FUN!
If you liked the game, cyberpunk77, you would like this. They are different in story but similar in themes. My expectations were exceeded!
You start with the MMC getting dumped in the futuristic slums with high tech and obvious g*ng activity. He gets jumped right from the start. He soon receives help from a local shop owner who gives him the opportunities he needs to restart his life. Here, he meets our MFC. She is great with an outdated drone and knows the local community pretty well. Together, they go around filming and documenting the happenings in the neighborhood for her private journalism site. What they don't realize, is how much trouble they have managed to dig up.
There wasn't a dull moment in this book. Between locals, corps, g*ngs, and other events, the story keeps things progressing and unfolding all throughout. There were several twists too. I loved that the FMC isn't someone who is completely helpless, and I loved that the MMC isn't completely invincible. This was a very strong start to a series! I'm looking forward to the next book!
I received an ALC from the publisher and am leaving my review voluntarily.
If you liked the game, cyberpunk77, you would like this. They are different in story but similar in themes. My expectations were exceeded!
You start with the MMC getting dumped in the futuristic slums with high tech and obvious g*ng activity. He gets jumped right from the start. He soon receives help from a local shop owner who gives him the opportunities he needs to restart his life. Here, he meets our MFC. She is great with an outdated drone and knows the local community pretty well. Together, they go around filming and documenting the happenings in the neighborhood for her private journalism site. What they don't realize, is how much trouble they have managed to dig up.
There wasn't a dull moment in this book. Between locals, corps, g*ngs, and other events, the story keeps things progressing and unfolding all throughout. There were several twists too. I loved that the FMC isn't someone who is completely helpless, and I loved that the MMC isn't completely invincible. This was a very strong start to a series! I'm looking forward to the next book!
I received an ALC from the publisher and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
10 stars if I could. As you will guess, my sort of fantasy book. This is absolutely superb urban/future fantasy. Get in on the ground level, and get this book now. Book two due end of September.
I have had this on my TBR list for some time. I liked the civet and blurb, but when I had opened it initially it showed a long read time (you are getting your money’s worth).
Having finished I know now I really wish I’d started reading immediately. I want book two now!! Please.
The story has humour, and action, and a bit of gentle will they ever, and fights, and battles, and family, and the list goes on.
Addie and Tony the main characters are so much fun to spend time with, as are most of the other characters. Well you wouldn’t really want to spend too much time with the villains. The world building satisfies.
I like the authors pseudonym, and his characters have some good ones too.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the ARC. D views expressed are all mine, freely given.
I have had this on my TBR list for some time. I liked the civet and blurb, but when I had opened it initially it showed a long read time (you are getting your money’s worth).
Having finished I know now I really wish I’d started reading immediately. I want book two now!! Please.
The story has humour, and action, and a bit of gentle will they ever, and fights, and battles, and family, and the list goes on.
Addie and Tony the main characters are so much fun to spend time with, as are most of the other characters. Well you wouldn’t really want to spend too much time with the villains. The world building satisfies.
I like the authors pseudonym, and his characters have some good ones too.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the ARC. D views expressed are all mine, freely given.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked the idea of this book and it's potential, but it fell quite flat for me.
I really liked the setting, it felt very relevant. This is set in a sci-fi dystopian NYC where megacorporations run everything (not too far off from our current reality, now is it).
This story has a need for revenge, a plan for revenge, a reporter, an unlikely (and precarious) alliance, and plenty of secrets.
I didn't really like the characters. They were given backstories, but they still fell flat for me. I just couldn't really connect with them, they didn't captivate me.
I also found the writing style to feel rather juvenile. It had a Wattpad feel to it, ya know?
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I really liked the setting, it felt very relevant. This is set in a sci-fi dystopian NYC where megacorporations run everything (not too far off from our current reality, now is it).
This story has a need for revenge, a plan for revenge, a reporter, an unlikely (and precarious) alliance, and plenty of secrets.
I didn't really like the characters. They were given backstories, but they still fell flat for me. I just couldn't really connect with them, they didn't captivate me.
I also found the writing style to feel rather juvenile. It had a Wattpad feel to it, ya know?
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy
This story is well-written, with two very compelling main characters and a split POV. It sets a good pace and has a stellar cast of side characters who are easy to get attached to. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dystopian or sci-fi literature. The world-building is detailed and the overarching narrative is a compelling revenge story.
When I read it, there were a few grammatical errors, but I'm sure those have been fixed. I accessed this when it was posted on a webnovel website, for reference.
When I read it, there were a few grammatical errors, but I'm sure those have been fixed. I accessed this when it was posted on a webnovel website, for reference.
May 5, 2026
This was my first ALC through Podium entertainment and I am so glad I requested this! Both Suzy Jackson and Robb Moreira were fantastic narrators. The plot was great and I was never bored. The whole cast of characters was amazing and I was super invested. At the end it made me more emotional then I anticipated. I now patiently have to wait for book 2 because I definitely need more Addie, Tony and of course JJ and Beef! Definitely worth the read if you are a Sci-fi/ cyber punk fan!
I received this ALC from Podium Entertainment in exchange for a honest review.
I received this ALC from Podium Entertainment in exchange for a honest review.
May 6, 2026
Cyberpunk
Futuristic
Hidden abilities
3rd person POV
Duet narration - Suzy Jackson & Robb Moreira
Great performance! They are both a joy to listen to.
This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed listening to it despite it being 3rd person POV. I usually avoid 3rd POV but this one was worth the listen. This book is different from my usual listen and I was pleased that it was duet narration.
Overall, a fun and entertaining listen.
Futuristic
Hidden abilities
3rd person POV
Duet narration - Suzy Jackson & Robb Moreira
Great performance! They are both a joy to listen to.
This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed listening to it despite it being 3rd person POV. I usually avoid 3rd POV but this one was worth the listen. This book is different from my usual listen and I was pleased that it was duet narration.
Overall, a fun and entertaining listen.
May 7, 2026
Loved it
Great new series. I really hope that it goes on for a while. The characters were easy to get into and were not what I would call overpowered.
Great new series. I really hope that it goes on for a while. The characters were easy to get into and were not what I would call overpowered.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews