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DRYAD: When you look into the sky at night, what don't you see?
When the Cloud descended, Earth's population refused to disappear. Some fled to the stars, and the rest - clung on in defiance of extinction.
What followed wasn’t rebirth. It was collapse. The dream of a better world gave way to control by powerful corporations. But something far stranger moved amongst them, an ancient, hidden force known only as the Dryad.
Jaxon is one of the few who still questions what’s happening. Ever since his wife died clutching a strange black crystal, he’s been obsessed with uncovering its secrets. Alongside his daughter Emily, and guided by the cryptic Book of Physis, Jaxon begins to unravel a forgotten history - one that suggests humanity may never have been in control of its own evolution.
When a spectral Girl of Light appears, the crystal begins to respond. Reality itself seems to shift. Signals pulse. Forces move. And a deeper mystery unfolds. One rooted in the origins of life, and the true purpose of our species.
Dryad is a gripping sci-fi mystery that blends environmental collapse, alien influence, and philosophical speculation into a darkly immersive future.
Perfect for readers who love bold concepts, deep lore, strange signals, and the thrill of decoding what lies just beneath the surface.
What followed wasn’t rebirth. It was collapse. The dream of a better world gave way to control by powerful corporations. But something far stranger moved amongst them, an ancient, hidden force known only as the Dryad.
Jaxon is one of the few who still questions what’s happening. Ever since his wife died clutching a strange black crystal, he’s been obsessed with uncovering its secrets. Alongside his daughter Emily, and guided by the cryptic Book of Physis, Jaxon begins to unravel a forgotten history - one that suggests humanity may never have been in control of its own evolution.
When a spectral Girl of Light appears, the crystal begins to respond. Reality itself seems to shift. Signals pulse. Forces move. And a deeper mystery unfolds. One rooted in the origins of life, and the true purpose of our species.
Dryad is a gripping sci-fi mystery that blends environmental collapse, alien influence, and philosophical speculation into a darkly immersive future.
Perfect for readers who love bold concepts, deep lore, strange signals, and the thrill of decoding what lies just beneath the surface.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2019
5 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Shaw
2 books3 followersMatthew is an indie author with a serious running problem. Married with two children he spends his “free” time either training for and running ultra marathons, or writing science fiction stories. He is passionate about writing and loves to create entertaining stories that carry deeper, hidden meaning. Mostly he likes to write about badass heroines & heroes taking on dark insidious baddies in corrupt unjust worlds. To provide the necessities of food and shelter Matthew works full time combining his love of the geological and physical sciences. He lives in Western Australia with his wife, two children and joyful puppy.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2020
Dryad by Matthew Shaw is Sci-fi mixed with ancient mythology in the most extraordinary way.
Young Emily is motherless, kidnapped, but remains strong as she is rescued. Her father is a rebel scientist who is constantly on the run from a government that wants to squelch his hopes for an uprising of Earth’s natural life.
Emily learns a miserable secret about her mother’s death and must carry on where her father left off. With a child of her own, her fight to live freely becomes even more complicated.
This story takes place in the next millennia, and is written in a clear modern way. Some descriptions are particularly vivid. For instance: “An old-fashioned, concrete bunker of a building, it had been eroded by the incessant wind and grime, so its vertebrae of rusted steel wires were exposed.”
There are interesting updates in technology but life seems to reflect common themes now.
The characters are mostly male with a taste for misogyny. The magical dryads make fascinating appearances that change the course of future history.
The sci-fi elements were interesting, and I liked the descriptions. I didn't have strong feelings for any of the characters and the dryads seemed underwhelming at times. This is still a worthy read, with a unique blend of genres.
Young Emily is motherless, kidnapped, but remains strong as she is rescued. Her father is a rebel scientist who is constantly on the run from a government that wants to squelch his hopes for an uprising of Earth’s natural life.
Emily learns a miserable secret about her mother’s death and must carry on where her father left off. With a child of her own, her fight to live freely becomes even more complicated.
This story takes place in the next millennia, and is written in a clear modern way. Some descriptions are particularly vivid. For instance: “An old-fashioned, concrete bunker of a building, it had been eroded by the incessant wind and grime, so its vertebrae of rusted steel wires were exposed.”
There are interesting updates in technology but life seems to reflect common themes now.
The characters are mostly male with a taste for misogyny. The magical dryads make fascinating appearances that change the course of future history.
The sci-fi elements were interesting, and I liked the descriptions. I didn't have strong feelings for any of the characters and the dryads seemed underwhelming at times. This is still a worthy read, with a unique blend of genres.
January 28, 2020
A really great story. Great characterization, interesting (slightly scary as it’s very realistically possible!) plot and great pacing. This story was well written, with strong science and ideas that didn’t weigh down the plot but kept it moving along nicely. Multi-faceted and intriguing, I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for installment number two!
February 18, 2021
I don’t normally read e-books. But I really enjoyed Dryad. This is a well written book, with such an interesting concept. I feel that a professional publishing house would have added polish, but this only adds to the authenticity of this book. A great effort and well worth a read.
December 4, 2019
I couldn't put this down! Its a gripping read with fully realised characters and an intriguing plot.
The worst thing about this book is that it could actually happen!
The worst thing about this book is that it could actually happen!
December 9, 2019
Such a great read! Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and look forward to seeing what’s next for Matthew Shaw!
February 18, 2021
A very good book
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews