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2525: Gardens and Creeks
SERVE. SMILE. OBEY. UNTIL SOMEONE DARES TO LOOK BEYOND THE WALLS.
Inside Arc1983, every mind is engineered, every desire fulfilled, and all serve the good. A12 has never questioned the norms—until a sudden breach exposes an outside world alive with color and freedom, awakening a dangerous need to escape.
T23 knows attachment is forbidden, yet when a new assignment separates the pair, a forbidden longing for A12 ignites—the kind the system was built to erase. T23 risks everything to discover the truth, facing exposure, retribution… or worse.
Beyond the walls, smoke coils into the sky, an omen for those who have never faced such a threat. The world is watching, whether Sophia wills it or not.
Perfect for fans of Brave New World, 1984, Logan’s Run. Step into the Arc—where attachment is defiance, memory is controlled, and discovery itself could be the greatest danger of all.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2025
39 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2025
My gratitude to NetGalley for this eARC. I don't usually read science-fiction, but I was drawn to the blurb that described a story of forbidden love between two residents of Arc 1983, one starship of many in a futuristic society built on equity and collectivism.
I thought the concept of the book - tiny, technologically advanced beings (raits) who operate starships that manage Earth - was interesting. I also enjoyed the variety of POV chapters from the "People" (humans), ordinary raits and rait leaders known as Sophists. The parallel storylines from the different POVs eventually tie up into an ending that really subverted my expectations. Plot and pacing kept me engaged through this book.
That being said, I found this book a difficult read. I expected a fair amount of technical details given the genre, but at times I felt like I was reading an engineering manual. The explanations of how everything worked were excessive and sometimes irrelevant to the overall plotline. There were many side characters that were not well-developed, and I eventually began to forget who everyone was. Keeping track of individual raits became a problem for me, since they were all referred to by serial numbers. Technical writing aside, I found that there was also excessive exposition - too much telling and not enough showing. This was especially the case for the "People" chapters, where readers had to sit through a download of the history and lore behind every minute detail of the People's rituals.
Overall, not for me, though I imagine that more seasoned readers of science fiction/dystopian novels would enjoy this as evidenced by the other 4/5 star reviews.
I thought the concept of the book - tiny, technologically advanced beings (raits) who operate starships that manage Earth - was interesting. I also enjoyed the variety of POV chapters from the "People" (humans), ordinary raits and rait leaders known as Sophists. The parallel storylines from the different POVs eventually tie up into an ending that really subverted my expectations. Plot and pacing kept me engaged through this book.
That being said, I found this book a difficult read. I expected a fair amount of technical details given the genre, but at times I felt like I was reading an engineering manual. The explanations of how everything worked were excessive and sometimes irrelevant to the overall plotline. There were many side characters that were not well-developed, and I eventually began to forget who everyone was. Keeping track of individual raits became a problem for me, since they were all referred to by serial numbers. Technical writing aside, I found that there was also excessive exposition - too much telling and not enough showing. This was especially the case for the "People" chapters, where readers had to sit through a download of the history and lore behind every minute detail of the People's rituals.
Overall, not for me, though I imagine that more seasoned readers of science fiction/dystopian novels would enjoy this as evidenced by the other 4/5 star reviews.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
“One must recognize we’re not in control of our fate, but we are in control of our emotions.”
This is Berry’s first book and there are, as you may notice, no other reviews yet so for the first time in a long time, I was going in blind.
Storyline
Maybe it’s just my wrecked attention span (not your fault, Barry), but the first ~10% or so of the book was a little hard to follow; however, the Arc catastrophe really brings the main storyline into focus and it kicks off in earnest. With all the conversations about AI swirling around (see: my day job) this is also a timely look at the possible role of AI in the future. And, nice to see the bots are still just as frustrating in the future as they are now! It also does a great job of showing the things we’ll do for love – and the consequences – as the characters begin to unravel more of the world around them.
Worldbuilding
I felt like the book started off trying too hard to be different and dystopian in a way that felt forced. There were a *lot* of deeply technical aspects, but too few focused on what everything looked and felt like… BUT that is the same work that helped make this book so distinctly, eerily dystopian – and the juxtaposition with the transition to the People was very engaging. I loved the balance of the story back and forth between the two completely different ways of life. The eventual overlap of the two, and how they get tied together is nicely done by Barry.
Ultimately, I think the book moved a little slowly for me, but 2525 Gardens and Creeks finishes strong, showing the circle of life is complete even in a bizarre future.
### ARC Review ###
This is Berry’s first book and there are, as you may notice, no other reviews yet so for the first time in a long time, I was going in blind.
Storyline
Maybe it’s just my wrecked attention span (not your fault, Barry), but the first ~10% or so of the book was a little hard to follow; however, the Arc catastrophe really brings the main storyline into focus and it kicks off in earnest. With all the conversations about AI swirling around (see: my day job) this is also a timely look at the possible role of AI in the future. And, nice to see the bots are still just as frustrating in the future as they are now! It also does a great job of showing the things we’ll do for love – and the consequences – as the characters begin to unravel more of the world around them.
Worldbuilding
I felt like the book started off trying too hard to be different and dystopian in a way that felt forced. There were a *lot* of deeply technical aspects, but too few focused on what everything looked and felt like… BUT that is the same work that helped make this book so distinctly, eerily dystopian – and the juxtaposition with the transition to the People was very engaging. I loved the balance of the story back and forth between the two completely different ways of life. The eventual overlap of the two, and how they get tied together is nicely done by Barry.
Ultimately, I think the book moved a little slowly for me, but 2525 Gardens and Creeks finishes strong, showing the circle of life is complete even in a bizarre future.
### ARC Review ###
October 4, 2025
I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. The title is not super intriguing, and the cover, while it does work with the story, didn't really draw me in either. I loved that this book includes a playlist section, though some of the specific tracks were not available on spotify, The songs listed include an interesting range of pop/rock oldies, classic rock, and Native American traditional music, which makes more sense as you get into the story. There are some interesting twists in this book, so that while it seems somewhat inspired by Orwell's 1984 and a few other classic science fiction stories, this one is definitely not just a retelling of one of those older science fiction novels. In addition to the music playlist, this book also provides recipes of sorts to allow the reader to create beverages like what the characters drink in the story. While I did not have the ingredients on hand to play along with that part, I could imagine trying that if I read more books in this series later. I love that this book builds in opportunities for that sort of immersive reading experience.
December 6, 2025
I expected a straightforward dystopian story, but Barry Rainwater creates something stranger, heavier, and much more unsettling. Life inside Arc1983 is orderly, efficient, and intentionally stripped of anything that resembles true humanity. Watching that manufactured stability unravel after the breach is one of the strongest parts of the book. The difference between the engineered world and the life waiting outside feels sharp enough to cut.
A12’s journey hit me the hardest. Their slow realization that their memories, desires, and identity were shaped for them carries an emotional weight that builds quietly until it is impossible to ignore. T23 brings a different kind of tension. Their connection is dangerous in every possible way, but it adds warmth to a world that feels intentionally cold. Love in this story is not portrayed as a soft escape. It feels like an act of defiance, a way of clawing back something that was taken from them.
The worldbuilding is both fascinating and claustrophobic. Rainwater leans heavily on the concept of genetic control and engineered minds, and that makes the horror subtle but relentless. Nothing about this world is loud or dramatic. The danger comes from the idea that you can be shaped into someone who never thinks to question anything. The more the characters learn, the more the reader feels that pressure closing in.
There were a few moments where the new vocabulary and structural explanations slowed me down. The world is detailed, but sometimes almost too detailed, and I had to stop to make sure I understood what system or rule was being introduced. Even so, the emotional core never disappears. The themes of identity, memory, control, and freedom stay clear throughout the entire book.
Overall, 2525: Gardens and Creeks is an intense and thoughtful read. It is not comforting and it is not meant to be. It lingers in that space where dystopian fiction becomes almost too believable, and that is exactly what makes it effective.
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital copy. I really appreciate being able to give it a try, even if it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
A12’s journey hit me the hardest. Their slow realization that their memories, desires, and identity were shaped for them carries an emotional weight that builds quietly until it is impossible to ignore. T23 brings a different kind of tension. Their connection is dangerous in every possible way, but it adds warmth to a world that feels intentionally cold. Love in this story is not portrayed as a soft escape. It feels like an act of defiance, a way of clawing back something that was taken from them.
The worldbuilding is both fascinating and claustrophobic. Rainwater leans heavily on the concept of genetic control and engineered minds, and that makes the horror subtle but relentless. Nothing about this world is loud or dramatic. The danger comes from the idea that you can be shaped into someone who never thinks to question anything. The more the characters learn, the more the reader feels that pressure closing in.
There were a few moments where the new vocabulary and structural explanations slowed me down. The world is detailed, but sometimes almost too detailed, and I had to stop to make sure I understood what system or rule was being introduced. Even so, the emotional core never disappears. The themes of identity, memory, control, and freedom stay clear throughout the entire book.
Overall, 2525: Gardens and Creeks is an intense and thoughtful read. It is not comforting and it is not meant to be. It lingers in that space where dystopian fiction becomes almost too believable, and that is exactly what makes it effective.
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital copy. I really appreciate being able to give it a try, even if it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
2525: Gardens and Creeks is a sci-fi at its best. When starting, you don't understand what the heck is happening. Where are you? Who are these people? Are they even people? What's the deal with the worldbuilding? The setup is dystopian, I guess. Advanced technologies. Everyone is supposed to be happy - and feel each other. You have your purpose, you have mates, what's there to wish for?
Different POVs that allow readers to see a full picture, have a deeper understanding of all the issues of this happy society where everyone knows what they have to do (Oh, I wish I knew).
Having all of this, I was convinced I would enjoy this book. First chapter or so, I was reading, knowing who I would recommend this book to. AI has taken over the world - isn't it what is going on right now in our reality? So, my expectations were pretty high. The writing is solid, and I am sure a lot of people might enjoy it - but not me.
Maybe I was expecting something like Blindsight, or at least something more dystopian. I would like to have more understanding of what the deal is with the characters, rather than what I got. So, for me - DNF.
Unfortunately, for me, the book was difficult to read; it was hard for me to even concentrate and not cringe. But that's not the worst part for me, to be honest.
What I disliked the most, and why I couldn't finish the book, is the numerous sexual intercourse happening, which was hard to follow, and that was completely unwanted in this kind of book. These scenes were hard to read, and I still have no idea what they were for. And it was hard, while I still had no idea if the main characters were humans, robots, or some other kind of living creature.
2525: Gardens and Creeks is a sci-fi at its best. When starting, you don't understand what the heck is happening. Where are you? Who are these people? Are they even people? What's the deal with the worldbuilding? The setup is dystopian, I guess. Advanced technologies. Everyone is supposed to be happy - and feel each other. You have your purpose, you have mates, what's there to wish for?
Different POVs that allow readers to see a full picture, have a deeper understanding of all the issues of this happy society where everyone knows what they have to do (Oh, I wish I knew).
Having all of this, I was convinced I would enjoy this book. First chapter or so, I was reading, knowing who I would recommend this book to. AI has taken over the world - isn't it what is going on right now in our reality? So, my expectations were pretty high. The writing is solid, and I am sure a lot of people might enjoy it - but not me.
Maybe I was expecting something like Blindsight, or at least something more dystopian. I would like to have more understanding of what the deal is with the characters, rather than what I got. So, for me - DNF.
Unfortunately, for me, the book was difficult to read; it was hard for me to even concentrate and not cringe. But that's not the worst part for me, to be honest.
What I disliked the most, and why I couldn't finish the book, is the numerous sexual intercourse happening, which was hard to follow, and that was completely unwanted in this kind of book. These scenes were hard to read, and I still have no idea what they were for. And it was hard, while I still had no idea if the main characters were humans, robots, or some other kind of living creature.
November 1, 2025
Reading this novel feels like the author has absorbed all your favorite sci-fi films and distilled their best elements into something entirely new. From the richly imagined futuristic bots to the intricately built society structures, languages, and technologies, every detail contributes to a fully realized, immersive universe.
Set in a future where humanity lives in self-sustaining arcs above a damaged Earth, the novel explores a society that has sworn never to harm the planet again—by removing itself from it. Outside the arcs, native tribes live in harmony with nature, drawing from ancient civilizations like the Incas and Mayans. The tension between these two worlds fuels a powerful narrative that digs into themes of sustainability, resource control, human pleasure vs. restraint, and ultimately, what it means to be human.
It’s a rare sci-fi novel that balances vivid worldbuilding with such deep philosophical undercurrents. Thoughtful, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant—this is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction that lingers long after the final page.
Set in a future where humanity lives in self-sustaining arcs above a damaged Earth, the novel explores a society that has sworn never to harm the planet again—by removing itself from it. Outside the arcs, native tribes live in harmony with nature, drawing from ancient civilizations like the Incas and Mayans. The tension between these two worlds fuels a powerful narrative that digs into themes of sustainability, resource control, human pleasure vs. restraint, and ultimately, what it means to be human.
It’s a rare sci-fi novel that balances vivid worldbuilding with such deep philosophical undercurrents. Thoughtful, visually stunning, and emotionally resonant—this is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction that lingers long after the final page.
October 24, 2025
DNF at 8%
It might seem unfair to give feedback when I read so little but my main reason for DNFing was the amount of sexual content and innuendo in the first few chapters. I felt it was unnecessary and it spoiled my enjoyment to the point that I didn't want to read on. I also found the jargon and unfamiliar terms a bit difficult but I think I would have got used to that.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own
It might seem unfair to give feedback when I read so little but my main reason for DNFing was the amount of sexual content and innuendo in the first few chapters. I felt it was unnecessary and it spoiled my enjoyment to the point that I didn't want to read on. I also found the jargon and unfamiliar terms a bit difficult but I think I would have got used to that.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own
October 28, 2025
A smart, engaging read that digs deep into classic science-fiction themes. It thoughtfully explores the ideas of individuality and conformity , set amongst two contrasting cultures—one modern and pleasure-seeking, the other rooted in tradition and generational storytelling. The ending includes an incidental surprise that’s simply woven in as a pleasant “Ah ha! Of course!” moment. Highly recommend!
November 8, 2025
Fantastic read!
If you like pondering how far AI can go and our existence in the future combined with free will, this book is right for you. And gardening takes on a whole new meaning. You will be thinking about this book long after devouring it!
If you like pondering how far AI can go and our existence in the future combined with free will, this book is right for you. And gardening takes on a whole new meaning. You will be thinking about this book long after devouring it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews