Preservation: A Fantasy Romance Novel

by Lea Haney

"Memory is what serves Archive objectives."

Where light is preserved in glass and truth flows like ink, Mira witnesses shadows in a collection that shouldn't exist. When her mentor Elena entrusts her with a mysterious sphere, everything she believed about her world shatters.

Fleeing with a sphere whose secrets could topple empires, Mira finds herself drawn to Callum—handsome, dangerous, and hiding fractured loyalties beneath his careful composure. Together they navigate a landscape where reality bends to power and desire burns brighter for being forbidden.

As they race to uncover what the Archive will kill to protect, Mira and Callum forge a connection neither expected—one that defies the very conditioning that shaped them. But in a world where even memories cannot be trusted, their growing passion may be the most dangerous truth of all.

What sacrifice might love demand when the past itself becomes a battleground?

487 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2025

Reviews

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Lea Haney for the ARC in exchange for a non-biased review ✨

I really enjoyed this book, the world and the premise felt really new and unique. All the characters were fun and has their individual traits, I would have loved them to have had a little more depth though in some areas.
I would have also loved some more backstory and worldbuilding, to understand why the world is shaped like this, the structure of the cities we hear about, maybe a map? But it could be open to a really interesting prequel.
The overall story kept me gripped and wanting to see how it ended, slightly devastated at the cliffhanger ending though I want to know what happens! This was a fun fantasy read, and I'd read more of Lea Haney's work after this.
I'd give this 3.5 stars 🌟

[Katharina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preservation by Lea Haney is set in a dystopian world where the preservation of memories is possible and used to control the people without their knowledge. Mira, a memory preservation apprentice, has to flee with her friends and the long lost son of her mentor Elena, after she gets entrusted with a mysterious memory sphere the Archive is searching for. On their flight they discover more and more about the preservation of memories and how the Archive uses it to manipulate the people. Will they be able to keep the sphere safe or will they die trying?

I loved the story of this book, memory preservation is such a cool topic! I also liked the characters, but sometimes they lacked a bit of depth, especially regarding their relationships. The world in which the story plays is super interesting and I'd love to get some more world building and background information. Maybe in the next book? All in all this was a nice and fast read and I am curious about how the story will continue.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a tough one to read. This was a very YA feeling book - there was some world building and character description, but quite surface level. Initially, I was so drawn by this world, and the preservation of memories is a really cool concept. However, the writing and character development fell very, very flat.

There was so much repetition in the scenes that played out, and it made me feel like I was going crazy. Maybe the book is currently in a beginning stage, but it was so hard for me to get through when the same thing kept happening, or characters knew/didn't know something that they should have.

Our main character is 17, there is one sex scene (weird) and is very cardboard. Most of the other characters didn't feel real to me either, and I didn't care much for the story as it progressed.

I hope this story undergoes some serious edits and revision, I think this book being strictly YA is fitting.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[sere_s_reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preservation was a very captivating read. A fantasy set in a dystopian world where the “preservation” of memories becomes, for an authoritarian social elite known as the Archive, a way to control people and manipulate their thoughts and behaviors.

Mira, the protagonist, is an apprentice memory collector. During one of her assignments, she encounters something unusual that challenges everything she’s been taught. She begins to understand that the Archive’s method of collecting and preserving memories isn’t the only way—and that memories are not isolated snapshots, but interconnected threads of experience. 
When the Archive targets Elena—Mira’s mentor—for her unauthorized research into memory preservation, Elena entrusts Mira with a vital task: to protect one of her memories and deliver it to a fellow master collector in another city. This sets Mira on a journey that becomes not just a mission of escape, but one of self-discovery and growth. Alongside her are two loyal friends and Callum, Elena’s son and a former Archive officer who turned his back on their methods.
Callum is a key figure in the story—his knowledge of the Archive allows Mira and her companions to better understand its manipulation and control. However, he also unknowingly leads them to be discovered and captured, as he is still under the Archive’s influence without realizing it.
The pacing of the story was initially gripping, drawing me in from the first pages, but it somewhat stalled in the middle with many repetitive dialogues and descriptions. The final part then picked up almost too quickly making the conclusion feel a bit rushed.

The central theme of mass control through the manipulation of memory felt both very interesting and highly relevant. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the risks we face in today’s world: the corruptibility of human nature, and how the widespread use of communication and information tools and the misunderstanding of precious memory of the past, can be weaponized in the wrong hands to influence thoughts, actions, and even beliefs.
I also appreciated the open-ended conclusion, which sets up the next installment in a compelling way. What will happen to Mira and her friends? Will they continue to flee? Can they defeat Loire and her oppressive regime? And what about Callum—has he truly fallen back under the Archive’s control, or will he manage to break free and reunite with Mira? 
One of my favorite elements of the book was Callum’s quiet admiration for Mira—how his respect grows into attraction, and ultimately into love. Though never openly confessed, and despite them spending just one night together, it’s clear from his actions—especially his fierce resistance against Loire to protect Mira—that his feelings run deep. But will love be enough to save him?

What I appreciated less was how Mira’s character was developed. She’s brave, loyal, and tireless, but at times she seemed to lack initiative and a well-defined personality. Strangely, her friend Tess felt more vividly drawn, with all the makings of a compelling FMC (at one point I even thought, “Tess deserves her own book—maybe with Red as the MMC!”). We know Mira is 17, but there’s little physical description of her, which made it harder to visualize her clearly. The same goes for Callum—we don’t know his age (How old is he? He’s supposed to be older than Mira, but by how much?) or much about his appearance, which made him a bit harder to fully picture as well.

If you’re into books that blend adventure, heart, and powerful themes… add this to your TBR.
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Thanks to NetGalley, author Lea Haney, and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary Anne Wangen · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Preservation by Lea Haney

Preservation is such an interesting read because the premise is unique. The story revolves around memory preservation and how it is used by the authorities (Archive) to control and manipulate people.

Mira, the FMC, is loyal, intelligent, and brave. These are characteristics that I love in FMCs because they’re not just damsels in distress. We find Mira in the middle of the chaos as she discovers distortions in a memory she preserved. This leads to adventure, betrayal, and heartache.

Callum, the MMC, is complicated because we don’t know where his loyalty lies. Is it with the Archive or Mira? Throughout the story, we are kept on a guessing game about Callum.

I love Ren and Tess. Ren is like a walking book of policy and procedures yet absolutely loyal to his friends. Meanwhile, Tess provides witty banter and comic relief. She is also smart and cunning.

Although the premise of the book is interesting, there are some things that I would have liked to happen. The description of the characters was very vague. I had an idea of what Mira and the characters looked like, but it was not clear. At some point, I questioned how old Mira and the other characters were supposed to be.

Likewise, the world building was unclear. We know of the two cities heavily emphasized in the novel, but not exactly where and when the world is set. Are we in classical or futuristic Earth? Is it another planet? Another timeline?

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It made me think about how important memories are and how they can be used to change us for the better or worse. Also, the cliffhanger made me look forward to reading the sequel.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from page one! Awesome adventure story and sort of re-imagining of 1984 in a new way.

From page one just learning how in this world they collect memories from people and preserve them in spheres for generations to come is such a neat concept. Mira is a lovely FMC and I loved her from the get-go. She was brave and intelligent but not overly so and her band of friends were delightful to read about. The way the author has you literally gripping your seat for some of the scenes is amazing.

It promises romance as the genre and you know when you meet Callum that he's the interest but the romance is very subtle/minimal. Besides there was so much other action that just a sprinkle of tension through most of the book was perfect. I loved the buildup of them being "enemies" in the way that their alliances sort of force them to be but with no real hatred behind it.

Once the action of going on the run hits so much had already happened and yet so much hadn't. The pirate ship and crew were delightful side characters. Every side character and quest was the perfect amount of mystery and action where it felt you spent the perfect amount of time reading about them. Ardell was such a cooky character and not at all what you might expect as the person who is going to help save them from the bad guys.

So many twists and turns and mystery made this a fast 5 star read and I can't wait for a book 2 to find out what they discover next.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
***
"Where light is preserved in glass and truth flows like ink, Mira witnesses shadows in a collection that shouldn't exist. When her mentor Elena entrusts her with a mysterious sphere, everything she believed about her world shatters."
Set in a dystopian world, the government can harvest, preserve, (and manipulate) memories. When the government feels threatened by certain techniques, our main character, Mira, gets swept up in a revolution.
***
To be 100% transparent, I DNF'ed this book at 80%. I still feel like I read enough to give a thoughtful and honest review. I thought the concept was really neat! However, from the very beginning, I felt like I was missing a major piece of the story. The worldbuilding was practically non-existent. Things weren't described clearly or adequately - whether it came to the government hierarchy or even the character descriptions. The book reads very, very YA (no lude remarks, no swear words, the FMC is 17) until about 70% where we get a very sudden and descriptive sex scene. While marketed as a "romance" I did not feel any tension, yearning, or true connection between the lovers.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mira una aprendiz preservadora de recuerdos, se ve envuelta en una intriga peligrosa al recibir de su mentora Elena una esfera misteriosa que podría desestabilizar el orden impuesto por el temido Archivo.

Mientras huye con este objeto cargado de secretos, Mira se une a Callum, un inspector con lealtades divididas y un pasado entrelazado con el de ella. Juntos, enfrentan una red de engaños donde los recuerdos pueden ser manipulados, el amor está condicionado, y la verdad se oculta tras el vidrio.


Me pareció interesante el tema de guardar los recuerdos para poder atesorarlos eternamente y como el Archivo (el gobierno), vio su oportunidad de tener todo el poder con dichos recuerdos ya que al modificarlos, la gente olvidaría la realidad y viviría en una burbuja artificial.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

[bookbabe_18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was such a new and unique read and I found it thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable.
The FMC Mira was my favorite part of this book she is brave and strong and I really enjoyed her memory collection training storyline!
The world building was a little unclear to me, there were a few plot holes or just things that weren’t described as well as they could have been.
But overall I enjoyed this read and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to get an ARC!

[Kristen K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars *SPOILER FREE*
Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

I liked this book, but I really enjoyed the first half. The premise felt new and interesting. I could have read a full book on Mira’s memory collecting training and the day to day operations of Elena’s workshop.

Mira, in general, is a good narrator, but I felt that her personality was lacking. Her character traits besides the usual (loyal, smart, kind, & hardworking) there wasn’t much to her, and I couldn’t even tell you what she looks like. There was a scene where she looks in a mirror and absolutely no descriptions on her appearance.

I liked her dynamic and relationship with Callum, however, by the end of the book I did in fact forget that she is supposed to be 17. I think a lot of the book would make more sense if she was older, because how old is Callum??

[vicsbookcase · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good read with an interesting, dystopian-style premise. The book describes a world where memories are preserved from people while they are alive, under an overarching body called The Archive. Strange things begin to happen with the memories, and the protagonist, Mira, and her friends have to fight back against The Archive for ‘memory freedom’.

The plot of the book was definitely interesting and a novel type of idea, for me at least. The writing was also good - relationships between characters were well-written and believable. However, there were multiple points throughout the book where specific quotes were repeated. An example of this is “Clerical oversight. Quite regrettable.” which was repeated under very similar circumstances by the same character on 2 different pages. This example was the most exact copy (it was word for word the same quote), but a similar thing happened throughout the book.

Towards the end of the book, when Mira and Callum are trying to find Elena, things did get a little confusing. It was hard to understand what was real and what wasn’t, but I understand this was probably to make you feel the way Mira was feeling in that moment.

Overall, I thought the book was good, and I’d definitely be interested in reading a sequel since this book was left on a cliffhanger.

Thanks to Lea Haney and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a non-biased review!