The future is clean, green, and quietly watching. Ari Vega just wants her balcony garden, her independence, and one corner of Verdant Tower that isn't run by HelioVert, the corporation behind the building's "smart" planters, wellness monitors, and the friendly but invasive GreenGrid system. Most residents have surrendered to the convenience. Ari hasn't. So when her sharp-eyed neighbor Ms. Ko disappears after a routine wellness check, Ari knows something is wrong. And Verdant Tower's polished reassurance isn't fooling her. Teaming up with Cass, the hacker next door, and Jae, the exhausted building super, Ari begins uncovering the truth behind the tower's perfect green façade: Hidden behavior scores ranking every resident Experimental bio-systems woven into their plants and air A quiet "pruning" program removing anyone who doesn't complyAs bees vanish, planters fail, and pressure mounts to "opt in," Ari and her unlikely allies turn their balconies into a living, encrypted resistance. To save Ms. Ko, and themselves, they must expose HelioVert's next big showcase before the system decides they're the next anomaly to eliminate. The Verdant Tower is a warm, atmospheric solarpunk mystery with real stakes, perfect for readers who enjoy: Hopeful near-future sci-fi Character-driven investigations Corporate conspiracy with a human heart Found-family dynamics Cozy, green, garden-filled worlds with quiet rebellionSolarpunk Balcony Mysteries, Book One delivers a comforting yet gripping near-future thriller. Step onto Ari's balcony, and you may never trust a "smart" planter again.