Title: Factory Reset
Author: astrophile 
Prompt(s): 39

Blurb: Aura awakens in The Sanctuary, a place known for repairing and rewiring humans. Nothing is known about their methods other than it works and those who enter leave happier.

Except Aura doesn't remember signing up for their treatment plans. In fact, she doesn't remember anything at all. With her identity ripped away from her, she's filled with more questions than she can get answers for, and the worst part is that she can't leave either.

When her memories begin to resurface, she starts to wish that they hadn't.

Short Review: I read the blurb of this story and I thought I knew what I was getting into, but somehow actually reading the story was So. Much. Cooler! The story opens with a shock to your system. It's not what you're expecting at all and that is what is so perfect about it. I felt like I was right there with Aura being confused about why things were the way they were and why on earth she couldn't remember some things but other things seemed to come to her so naturally. The writing choices accentuate Aura's experiences in an almost visceral way that I really enjoyed. 

Another thing I found really cool is the story's structure. Wren has set up a narrative structure where we hear from the main character, Aura, and then see a little note from someone who appears to be a researcher. They slowly expose the "rules" to us in a way that Aura is not yet aware, which means after chapter one, we are in the throes of exciting dramatic irony where we know things Aura does not. But the unsettling nature of the whole experience has me wondering how much I really know. Are those journals the truth? They seem to be, but the sinister overtones have me questioning everything I think I know. Which I actually kind of love. 

If sci-fi or intricate discussions of the human self are interesting to you, I'd highly recommend checking out Factory Reset by astrophile !

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Have you read this story? Is there anything I missed as to why someone might enjoy it? Please keep your comments positive here as not all authors are comfortable with criticism at this stage.