ReLive

ReLive opens in a bleak, collapsing future where technology has replaced human connection, then throws its main character, Priscilla, into the past—into a world of real air, dirt, and danger. She’s sent back to stop the creation of a machine that destroyed her family, forcing her to live among people she once knew: her ex-boyfriend, her best friend, and the man she’s been told she has to kill to save her son. It’s a sharp setup that turns from science fiction into a grounded thriller, with a constant tension between sterile machinery and the raw unpredictability of nature.

What works best is Priscilla herself. She isn’t a trained assassin or a sci-fi archetype—she’s a regular woman in an impossible situation. The story gets deep into her head as she learns to lie, fight, and make choices she never thought she could. The emotional stakes feel real, and the triangle of loyalty, guilt, and survival between her and the others keeps the story moving. It’s easy to care about her because she’s flawed, scared, and determined all at once.

As a debut novel, ReLive is an impressive and ambitious effort. Some of the prose overreaches, and a few scenes feel overwritten, but the core storytelling and character work are strong. The pacing builds nicely, and the mix of emotion and suspense pays off in a satisfying way. It’s the kind of first novel that shows a writer aiming high—and for the most part, hitting the mark.