This book is a surprising genre blend of science fiction, romance and dystopia. Fans of Brave New World will appreciate the modern take of this classic.

I really enjoyed this follow up to Reset. This was a sci-fi romance dystopian novel and I really couldn’t get enough of it. This book tells the story of the Four Cities so it added some backstory. I really liked it!

What a great dystopian read! It was really immersive and atmospheric. I highly recommend this for dystopia fans.

This is an intricate and complex storyline that takes us into a time of dystopia. However utopia exists for a chosen group with others living on the fringes who want to live as close a life as possible to what was lost.

Dahlan has woven a story of love as well as separation and distrust leaving the reader entangled with the possibilities of where exactly our characters will end up and us along with them. As we view the blossoming relationship between our lovers through memories, we also start to see the cracks as the pressure and obligations mount and as one becomes consumed by their idea of a better future, opting to reach it no matter what.

There is triggering material in this story regarding mass death and child loss, so take care of yourself while reading.

I really enjoyed the author’s first book in this world, Reset. I mean clearly, otherwise I’d not have requested this one, eh? Anyway, this is a prequel if we’re being technical, but it can be read as a standalone. Regardless of HOW you read it, you should read it because it’s pretty great.

I enjoyed the story in Reset, but the emotional side of Preset took the whole series to the next level. I was already invested in this world which proposes the thought provoking concept of literally resetting your life. But NOW. Now I am wholly invested in the characters, and I am even MORE invested in the world building since I understand the hugely emotional impetus that lead to it.

Bottom Line: I cannot wait for more of this series! The world is so thought provoking, and now I’m all in on the characters too.

What a delightful mindfuck of a book.

Thank you to the publishers at Blackstone publishing for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for a review!

Honestly, I’m still recovering from some of the revelations of this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on Reset to understand the world of the four cities more in depth.

This book hurt so good. Please go read it; if you have no idea what’s happening for a bit of the book, that’s fine. The story didn’t click for me until 80% through the book but once it did, it destroyed me.

Finally, even though there’s a lot of play with memory and perceptions of reality, I’d actually say that the story feels more like Children of Men meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, set in a post apocalyptic world.

"Preset" is the prequel to "Reset". It builds the world that "Reset" lives in. But it's not just building a world for stories to exist in; it's building a reality that you will simultaneously occupy and suspect.

I've said it before and it remains truer now than ever: Sarina Dahlan is an author that defies definition. To call her Sci-Fi is an insult to the truth she speaks about the human condition. To call her Fantasy is an insult to the reality that she can absolutely rip your heart out of your chest and the tears from your eyes. To call her Fiction is to ignore the fact that every one of her characters exists within every one of us.

The Four Cities post war identity unfolds page after page as we learn the story of the doomed lovers that created it. From idealistic young newly-weds to adversaries on humanity's preservation. Dahlan's characters teach us deep truths about what people will do to survive and thrive through the harshest of circumstances, even going so far as to wage asymmetric warfare in a battleground that is not as it seems.

"Preset" is a masterclass in misdirection as an intricate web unravels revealing the devastating truth
Dahlan points out: We are more likely to question the laws of physics than our own perceptions of reality.

A really interesting concept for a novel, but the writing style and plot were not strong enough to carry the cleverness of the idea. I thought the post-apocalyptic world was well imagined, and one of the strengths of the novel. However, the character of the world was better developed than the protagonists themselves, and there was a fair amount of "showing not telling" that slowed down the plot. The romance also didn't sell me, despite following a trope that I normally really enjoy.

I absolutely loved Reset, which Preset is the prequel to, so I was excited to get my hands on this ARC. It did not disappoint!

Dahlan once again works magic with her prose. It has such a dreamy quality. You can fall into the words and almost forget the apocalyptic world where these characters are fighting to forge their new lives. Preset is deeply emotional and deeply thoughtful. Heartwarming and heartbreaking. The characters, Eleanor and Eli and so many of the smaller side characters, will live with you long after you have finished their story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this arc.

I absolutely loved Reset, so I was thrilled to be able to read its prequel, Preset. Finding out how the world of Reset began, plus the personal history of its creators, was very satisfying. There was mystery, danger, love and a huge twist in this story! Excellent Sci Fi page turner!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for access to this arc.

This has an interesting premise and is executed pretty well. I liked the previous book, and the idea of a story and the cerebral aspects of the story. It's imaginatively told and includes some engaging characters. A lot of scifi fans will probably connect with this.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

Chapter 1 and chapter 2 didn’t hold my interest and I just didn’t think the book would turn around. I simultaneously wanted more and less. DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone for the ARC.

Preset grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go until it's wrung every emotion dry. Sarina Dahlan has a gift for weaving fresh post-apocalyptic worlds that capture the imagination in the most beautiful and tragic of ways. As a prequel to Reset, Preset is a startling exploration into what it means to live, love, and lose. I won't soon be able to forget Eleanor and Eli, and I don't want to.

I went into Preset not having read Reset, which it is a prequel to. I read the blurb and stopped at "Inception meets Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and knew I wanted to read it.

The premise of the book is not unlike most dystopian fiction. The world ends, the survivors have to survive. What sets this world that Dahlan has created apart, is the characters and their relationships. The backstories that are thoroughly represented. You read from two perspectives, but you come to know all the smaller characters and what makes them who they are. I found myself pausing during a lot of dialogue and introspective monologues to really think about what was being said. There was plenty of world building, character development, and (toxic) romance to keep you wanting. My one and only qualm has to do entirely with myself, and wanting precise endings. However, in a situation where this is a prequel, I should have known it would end with speculation. I do feel the end was rushed, or maybe not come to with much explanation. That's not to say it didn't make complete sense and open up the storyline for what is to come.

I will be finding out where the story goes from here as soon as I get my hands on Reset. Overall, this book was a beautiful set up to a world and an idea that I'm excited to further explore.