Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book!
Hard Reset is a fast-paced, unpredictable, and clever take on the LitRPG genre, blending beloved sci-fi and apocalyptic themes to create an intricate new reality.
In this world, life begins in a coffin, cars float, a good ray gun is your best friend, and computer displays are activated with a flick of the wrist. It all feels so real, so right … and it all feels so wrong.
Some things remain the same in every reality: People with power crave more power. You’re free to live your life as long as you don’t challenge the status quo.
Tom doesn’t like the status quo. Never has.
Never will.
With a smart-mouthed computer program, a quick-shooting bounty hunter, and a pissed-off stranger as his allies, Tom takes on a corrupt, authoritarian government.
All the while, in another world, someone is studying his every move and thought. Tom may hold the key to humanity’s future.
If he can survive the game … without being reset.
My Review
Hard Reset throws you straight into the action with a story that never slows down long enough to catch its breath. IT’s a fast-paced sci-fi/LitRPG adventure that blends real-world stakes with high-intensity in-game battles, and the switch between those two settings is easily one of the most engaging parts of the reading experience.
The ending delivers a really fun twist that made the journey feel even more worthwhile, despite a few bumps in pacing and character depth. Overall, this was a quick, energetic read that kept me entertained throughout. I’d definitely pick up the follow-up book to see where the story goes next!
THE GOOD:
- The action starts immediately! There’s no waiting around for the story to start, it’s just go go go from the beginning.
- Great dual-setting contract between the game world and the real world. It gave me major early Assassin’s Creed vibes.
- Gary, the in-game AI companion, was definitely my favorite character. He adds a layer of fun humor, and his friendship with Tom is unexpectedly adorable.
- The chime mechanism in the game is a clever worldbuilding element that creates mystery and tension. I liked that players in the game weren’t given explicit directions on what they needed to do…but if they heard the chime, they were doing the right thing.
- Fight scenes are vivid, descriptive, and easy to visualize.
- The cover? Extremely cool! Shout out to the cover artist!
THE NOT-AS-GOOD:
- The writing style leans on the simpler side, which may not appeal to readers who prefer more complex prose.
- It takes a while to feel invested in the characters, who start off fairly one-dimensional but improve over time.
- Pacing choices sometimes lessen the suspense – big reveals often stay within the same POV instead of switching at a cliffhanger moment, which could have created stronger page-turner momentum.
THE NEUTRAL:
- Very plot-driven rather than character-driven. This isn’t inherently good or bad, but something you might want to consider based on your reading preferences!
- The structure leans pretty heavily on action sequences, so if you’re looking for emotional beats, you’ll find less of them here.
OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5 (rounded up to 4 stars on NetGalley)
PERFECT FOR:
- Fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl and other LitRPG adventures
- Readers who love MMO-style worldbuilding, party dynamics, and high-action progression plots
- Anyone who enjoy simulation vs. reality themes and morally shady corporations
- Sci-fi readers looking for a quick, fast-paced story with plenty of fights and a fun AI sidekick
