Remember

by Cheyenne Cleveland

In the aftermath of the Last War, humanity has lost the ability to dream. Yet inside the United Regime’s concrete walls, Reyna carries a secret that could change everything. While the rest of the world sleeps in darkness, she dreams of a life before Earth’s ruin. But Reyna’s dreams don’t just reveal the truth about humanity’s forgotten past—they make her a target. She soon discovers the United Regime will do whatever it takes to control the power of her dreams.

Remember is a haunting dystopian science fiction novel about memory, survival, and awakening hope in a world determined to erase it. The first in a series, it follows Reyna’s journey to uncover the truth buried beneath lies and awaken a sleeping world.

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Novels

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Cheyenne Cleveland grew up in Western New York surrounded by a family full of authors, artists, and musicians. With a master’s degree in music education, Cheyenne has always found a sense of belonging in the creative arts—through songwriting, poetry, scripting musical theatre, and storytelling. When she’s not daydreaming about dystopian worlds, Cheyenne can be found homeschooling her four children, exploring the outdoors, or making music alongside her husband. Remember is her debut novel and the first book in its self-titled trilogy.

You can follow her author journey on Instagram @Cheyenne.Cleveland.Author

Reviews

[Kyle Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m thankful to have been selected as an ARC for this book!

In a world without dreams or vivid colors, Reyna fights against a failed system. She is trapped between two sides, both claiming to be good. She and her friends are thrust into a troublesome situation which turns their way of life on its head.
This book is well written, and delivers what it promises of an interesting plot and strong characters. It reads quickly, and makes you think on topics of deeper meaning. I recommend this book for all dystopian fans and those who like a well crafted book!! Think Giver meets Hunger games!

4.5/5 stars from me!

[S.H. Dontell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book, and am offering my free and honest review!

What an EXCELLENT story!! I always enjoy a good dystopian world, and this one was no different. The overall tone was like...Hunger Games meets the Out Of Time series. Grim and gritty, but with a spark of hope hidden deep in there—especially in the dream world.

The dream world was one of the most unexpected, amazing parts of the story. It was so rich and beautiful, both in descriptions and in faith! The faith aspect was so beautiful and well done, and I loved it!!

Obviously the main characters were great. Rey's backstory was great, and I ADORED the friendships between her and her friend group of Bunker 112. And I also loved Robin, she was so sweet.

I'm SUPER intrigued by the prophecy—unexpected but COOL—and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!!

[Fiction By Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always remember it.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This is one of those dystopian books that stick with you forever. It is filled with so much pain but also so much hope and as much as it hurt it also healed and I did not want it to be over.

This book is going to take up a permanent place on my shelf and I will forever cherish it.

Remember is one of those novels that we need more of. The faith, the visuals, the suspense and the characters were all something I loved in this book. I saw some reviews where they didn't particularly enjoy the faith aspect but I love it in books and this was the first dystopian book I've clearly seen it in and I think it was written so beautifully and uniquely!

I have discovered yet another new favorite author and I can't wait for another book from her!!!!

[Danny Falks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dreaming makes living a little bit easier. It’s a chance to experience a world much different than the one I see while I’m awake.”

Remember is the story of Reyna, a young girl living in the Omega Compound in the aftermath of nuclear warfare. Her dreams are the key to unlocking the truth — to remembering — and it’s all up to Rey because under the United Regime, dreaming is all too rare (and dangerous).

I truly enjoyed diving into the dystopian society Cleveland created in the first book of this trilogy. And while I’m not a typical sci-fi/fantasy reader (I gravitate toward thrillers) Remember had enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I found myself not knowing which characters to trust, just like Reyna, and read the last 75 pages in one sitting because I was so invested in our reluctant hero’s story.

Cleveland built a very descriptive world using gorgeous and ornate text, a testament to her artistry. I especially enjoyed the multiple references to art and music, and the colorful language throughout the novel.

There were a few times I had a bit of trouble keeping all of the characters straight, specifically those with generic names (Admiral, Professor, Warden, etc.) but anytime you are reading the first book in a series you are getting acclimated to the characters, so it wasn’t a big deal for me.

I will most definitely be reading the rest of this trilogy and encourage you to give it a try if enjoy stories with a female protagonist, secret rebellion, and found family.

[Thane Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world controlled by totalitarianism and injustice, a group of kids find friendship with shared trauma bonds and forced proximity. Amongst the group an unlikely hero develops while dealing with immense grief, feelings of total abandonment, divine absence, and learned helplessness. Themes of doubt and existentialism include deciphering our otherworldly perceptions as either bereavement hallucinations or supernatural reality. This is highlighted literarily by a reoccurring juxtaposition of the frail human condition and an opposing heavenly beauty beyond death.
Our hero struggles with being judgemental but begins to learn of the impartiality of an unconditional love. Other quirks like overstimulation, apathy, and jealousy, keep our hero relatable.
Perhaps the most relatable struggle is with the collective conscious—weighing out our beliefs between indoctrination, brainwashing, and faith.

This book will get you thinking:

Is dreaming of heaven the same as fantasying death? Is it all simply an escapism for our harsh human realities? Is the meaning of life dependent on a promise of the afterlife or is having a purpose and role to fulfill here on earth enough?

[C. Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember was an interesting dystopian world with a truly unique premise. The incorporation of dreams, the symbolism, and ultimate big picture that the story leads to was a fascinating experience.

The characters were likable and more three dimensional than even the MC credited them to at times. They were also capable characters, which means a lot to me. The plot develops slowly, but it’s a series, so there’s clearly shown to be more to come. This first book has a bigger spotlight on the world the characters occupy, who they are, and the beginnings of the mc discovering who she is and what she can do.

This book would be great for Hunger Games or Divergent lovers who appreciate high intensity and action. Just a warning for teen readers regarding violence/gore content throughout. No profanity or sensual content included.

[Shelbi Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! This is one of those books that I was constantly thinking about throughout the day. If I didn’t have 2 littles to take care of, I could have finished in a day! After the ending, I cannot wait to read book 2! To say I cried when I hit the author page at the end is insane because I didn’t want it to end!
10/10 recommend!

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy to this book from Cheyenne Cleveland in exchange for an honest review.

In a world muted in color with harsh reality, Reyna embarks on a journey to discover her potential. Turns out she is one of the very few that has this gift that society seeks to destroy. What does Reyna do? Is she really alone in all of this?

I absolutely love the FMC’s bond she has with her grandmother. Cleveland makes it clear in the dynamics that the FMC has with her friends that they really care for each other. It’s also amazing to see the mannerisms that characters have through the lens of the FMC. The author does a great job of establishing how the FMC perceives those around her, and it was comical at times. Cleveland handles the reluctant hero trope very beautifully and in a way that isn’t cliche, which was very refreshing. I can’t stress this enough, but the point of view from which the book is written was well done. For all the time we spend with the FMC, she’s so easy to love. The author introduces characters and their impact in a way that isn’t overwhelming to the readers.

When the plot started picking up, it was quite easy to get invested (even though I was quite invested to begin with) because you knew the stakes by getting to know the FMC and other characters, along with the world. The plot twists were well-written and introduced in a way that created impact for the reader. The conflict the FMC faced was really geared toward her age and really shone through. With the maturity the FMC has, it is great to see that there are still elements of her that are her age. The lore is introduced in a methodical way that isn’t overwhelming to the reader. As I mentioned, there are elements of the futuristics world and elements of today’s world in the novel; this makes certain points very thought-provoking. It’s also shocking to read about similar themes that are happening in our world today. To reiterate, the plot twists were well executed. In addition, the payoffs the readers got were well deserved; I just needed to be a little patient. There were scenes where I even got emotional while reading. The Christian faith tied so beautifully with this novel in a way that didn’t seem like it was forced down the reader’s throat because it helped build Cleveland’s overall world.


I was very sympathetic and invested in the harsh world that was the reality for some of these poor characters. I was in awe of certain dystopian elements Cleveland applied to her story. I can tell that the different settings the author explored were really thought out, based on the intricate detail, and they were just fascinating overall. I found myself connecting certain dystopian elements of the book to movies like Avatar and Disney’s Tomorrowland, which made me wonder if Cleveland took inspiration from those movies. It’s interesting how the world had elements that are futuristic and elements that are like our world today.

The FMC’s friends were introduced relatively quickly and all at once. This was overwhelming for me and took me a decent chunk of the time reading to remember who was who. At times, it even seemed like the author was throwing out names for the reader to remember; it was difficult at times. Although I understand the story was told through the FMC’s point of view and that the FMC knew more about other characters than the reader did. It was just tough at times. Some dystopian elements were difficult to grasp and I hope are explored in the second book of the trilogy. Lastly, there were times that were a little more descriptive than needed, which made me question why it was relevant to the plot, despite the story being told through FMC’s point of view. I just noticed things started to get reptitive even if they were just internal thoughts. Thank you Cheyenne Cleveland for this amazing opportunity. I’m so glad to be a part of it. I will definitely be reading this book again in the future, and I can’t wait for Book 2!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember is a haunting dystopian novel that explores the resilience of the human spirit in a world ravaged by the "Last War". With the planet a wasteland, the remnants of humanity are confined to walled camps, eking out a desperate existence under the iron fist of the United Regime. In these bleak, drab confines, the oppression goes deeper than physical walls: the Regime has stripped the survivors of their very ability to dream, a final effort to extinguish any glimmer of independence or free will.

The story kicks off with a powerful and tragic opening: the loss of the protagonist Reyna's only caretaker, her grandmother. This event sets a somber tone as Reyna is forced to move in with a group of orphans, leaving behind everything she knew. This also becomes the catalyst for something truly wondrous: she starts to dream. When the story jumps ten years forward to her teenage years, we see how these early hardships have given her character an inner strength and a fierce will to survive. The writing here is clean and precise. The United Regime feels truly Orwellian in its total control over the population's thoughts and history, and Cheyenne Cleveland does a fantastic job of making the Omega Compound feel like a real, suffocating place while contrasting it with the vivid, imaginative beauty of Reyna's dreams.

I really enjoyed this book and found the characters to be exceptionally well-developed. It’s a classic dystopian setup featuring secret within secrets, unethical government experiments, and a shadowy rebel force, but it's handled with a level of emotional depth that keeps you thinking about it long after you’ve stopped reading. Watching a reluctant Reyna realize she might be the key to humanity's awakening feels amazing, and the theme of found family with her fellow orphans adds a layer of warmth to the very dark setting. With a high-stakes ending that leaves Reyna's destiny hanging in the balance, I’m eager to see what she discovers next in her journey to awaken the world.

[Caitlynn Yanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young adult sci-fi debut set in a post-apocalyptic compound — where people are dehumanized, and oppression and injustice reign — Remember is a journey through loss, memory, spirituality, and holding on to friendship and hope.

Many thanks to Cheyenne Cleveland for the ARC! All thoughts, opinions, and critiques are my own.

(My review contains no spoilers.)

Overall well-written with cohesive plot progression, Remember follows Reyna, a grieving orphan, who must keep her ability to dream a secret, otherwise risk losing connection with her deceased grandmother; for those who can still dream, despite the oppressive regime’s measures, often disappear. One of my favorite aspects was the loyalty and friendships she had with her bunkmates, as well as their collective journey to find a way out.

While I enjoyed the dark and gritty nature of the compound, I found it difficult to connect with Reyna’s experiences in the “dream” world. The spiritual/ religious nature of this book felt inaccessible and thickly layered. I am holding out hope that the sequel will introduce other beliefs/ faiths as the setting takes place in one of the many compounds under the United Regime, thus becoming more universal.

That being said, although events take place in a dystopic setting, I personally would not classify this as a dystopian book. While “hope in oppression” is an important theme, any book with said theme isn’t automatically considered a dystopian. This is all considering the lack of accessibility and universality, as well as unclear (societal) warnings and messages, and little world-building in that regard. I wanted more from this book, and I hope the sequel expands on these points.

All in all, there were plenty of moments and parts of Remember that I enjoyed. This book wasn’t entirely for me, and that’s okay. I am still invested in Cleveland’s journey, and I look forward to her next release.


3.5/ 5 stars

[Kaitlyn Falcon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Remember by Cheyenne Cleveland, and while I ultimately finished the book, it was a bit of a mixed experience for me.

This is a dystopian novel with a very unique world, and I found it hard to get into at first. Creating a new world always takes time, and dystopian stories especially require a lot of explanation upfront. For me, that made the beginning and middle sections feel slow and, at times, a little confusing.

The author is clearly talented and knows how to write — the world is detailed and intentional — but some of the concepts, particularly the City of Life, the Creator, and the spiritual elements, were difficult for me to connect with as someone who is very religious and has strong beliefs about God, creation, and life after death. That said, I did appreciate that the portrayal of life after death was mostly peaceful and hopeful.

Some of the explanations, especially surrounding the dream world, felt long, but by the end I understood why those details mattered. Once everything started coming together, the story really picked up, and I genuinely enjoyed the ending. It left me curious about what happens next, and I would consider reading the next book in the series.

Overall, this wasn’t a favorite for me personally, but I don’t think it was a bad book. Readers who enjoy dystopian novels and complex world-building may have an easier time getting into this story than I did.

[Hazel Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning

What an incredible first book by Cheyenne. Truly. I have been an ARC reader a few times, and have yet to have an experience like I did with REMEMBER. What really stuck out the most, I would have to say, is how immersive the writing was. Every time I picked up the book I was transported to The Omega Compound. I often read at my job, where I am constantly getting interrupted and this was so easy to just pick up and continue reading.

The story reminded me of if The Giver met Divergent. 🤩 This Sci-fi dystopian is a great read for anyone, any age.


I can’t wait to see what Cheyenne does in her future projects.


Side note: something else that is super admirable, is how no ai was used. This author is pretty outspoken in the usage of ai, which is a much needed breath of fresh air in the indie author space. Often times I have decided to support small authors only to find out that ai is used whether it be for the cover art or the story itself. NONE of the work done on or in this book was done by AI, which goes to show how hard working, and how much she cares about her work. Just another thing to like about Cheyenne.

IG: hazelmbooks

[Basemath Abernathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positives:
This was a super fun read! It was a bit slow in the beginning, but by about ¼ of the way through I couldn’t put it down. Literally. 🤣 I stayed up way to late and got up way to early to finish this.
This world is so cool! I love all the descriptions and the characters so much. Cheyenne did an amazing job building this world.
The cliffhanger has left me hanging and now I need book 2 !!!! I have so many emotions.😭😱🫣😁 I also love how this book has a disguise scene (IYKYK) It reminded me of a scene in one of my favorite books!

Negative????
I don’t know if this is a negative or a stroke of genius in the authors part. The Dream POV was super confusing at first. But it did make sense later on! I think it could be genius because you are really getting all the confusion the character feels. If you are confused while reading, keep going. It DOES make sense eventually.

Content:
Romance: None
Cussing: None
Violence: Yes. There are fights and medical injuries.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book and already a big fan of Cheyenne Cleveland. This is my First time receiving a book in advance and English is not my native tongue. At the first few pages I had trouble getting into the story but then I was absolutely hooked and simply could not put it down.
The vivid language and descriptions are fantastic. I was a bit wary of the religious turn of events at First but it turned out great and the author‘s way of describing it had such a calming and reassuring effect.
I also found it really refreshing to read a Book in this Genre in which the main character had zero love interests (but then again, Reyna really did not have time for that :)
I am already looking forward to the sequel!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
I had the pleasure of reading the ARC for Remember! It’s been a minute since I’ve read a dystopian book, so it took me a minute to shift from the fantasy writing style to dystopian but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I loved the found family aspect of it that Reyna, the female protagonist, had with her friends and some of the other characters. I also loved that it kept me guessing, there was sometimes where I thought I would know where the story is going and then it went somewhere completely different. That definitely kept me interested as I went through the book. Book one also ended on a cliffhanger, so I am really excited to see where the story goes from here. So if you were looking for a dystopian book, it’s definitely worth checking out!

[Kimberly Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved the dystopian genre. There’s just something about staging a battle between good and evil in a world that looks like a warped and radicalized futuristic version of reality that ignites my imagination. And Remember is such a good addition to the dystopian genre. It has some of my favorite elements—the reluctant heroine, the oppressive government, the classism, and the beauty of undying hope. I blitzed through this story in just a couple days, thinking the whole time how well the author was able to paint the picture of this world with her words. Reyna is a sympathetic and admirable heroine navigating loss and uncertainty. I also loved the diversity and clarity of each of the side characters. I would recommend Remember to anyone who loves faith-enriched dystopian stories.

[Ani Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I signed up as an ARC reader because I’d been following Cleveland’s journey this year, and her story intrigued me. I love dystopian novels, and this one had me hooked from page one. It’s immersive, with well-written, realistic characters—no shallow personalities and no reliance on sex to drive the plot, which I really appreciated. Too many books lean on that shortcut, and this one doesn’t.

This is a fantastic debut. The story is intense at times, yet there’s always a sense that something extraordinary is coming. Although it takes place in a small corner of her world, the worldbuilding is thoughtful and compelling. I’m eager to discover more of it and can’t wait to read her future books.

[Chelsea Fain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the blending of faith, sci-fi, and dystopian all into one storyline. I think the concept is a weird mix of VERY original while also leaning on beloved story tropes.

I waffled between a 4 star and 5 star review, because there were some parts that I felt like could’ve been condensed and other parts that were missing some clarification (how did Brenton go from getting beat severely to a few days later seemingly perfectly fine?). BUT! I went with a 5 star because all the things I LIKED about the book outweighed the few things that sort of distracted me. And I’m hoping my lingering questions will be answered in book 2.

Very solid story overall! Can’t wait for book 2.

[Tina Sevich · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I was very excited about this ARC!

A post apocalyptic world, a compound with curfews, and a girl whose dreams are dangerous. This one is definitely for those who enjoy dystopian books (The Giver/Maze Runner etc), and stories that explore themes of hope and light. I loved that the characters had depth and were challenged to find strength despite all odds/fears. I found myself invested in Reyna's journey because she faced so many struggles, and yet refused to give up.

Also found the Christian parallels interesting :)

[Lisa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much. I was gripped from the opening scene. It was hard to put down. The Christian themes were woven into the story in a way that didn't feel forced and the imagery was so lovely. (the golden orbs dropping to earth--beautiful! and the cry to "Remember" moved me deeply.) I don't want to give away any spoilers but the ending....wow. I've never read an ending that made me feel that way. It was bittersweet in the best way and left me ready for the next installment in this series!

[Anna Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a surface level, Remember reads as a dystopian thriller. Just a layer or two underneath, is suspense, and psychedelic allegory. I’m no expert at young adult fiction but I resound with a tenacious female protagonist in the process of BECOMING. You’re going to find yourself flipping pages just to find out, alongside Reyna, the reasons for the violence, questions, and oppression in her world. You’re going to find yourself asking the same questions of what price would you pay to reach for freedom? What will you risk for truth? And for the people you love?
I love the clarion theme of hope in the form of Reyna remembering her true identity. It might just translate in our daily worlds as well. Pass this on, especially, to the young folks in your world for an edge-of-their seat, edge-of-reality but thudding-in-the-heart story that is closer to all of us than we realize.

[Loren Cleveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been an ARC reader before, and have seldom finished any books written by indie authors. It’s hard to believe this a debut novel from an indie author. The pacing, imagery, storyline and character development were well above my expectations when going into this advanced reader copy read. It was hard to put down once I started and once it was finished, I was disappointed that it was over. If you are a fan of stories that will keep you guessing, this is for you. Excellent read.

[Erika Horne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so bad but I literally fell asleep reading it. The concept was cool but when she was dreaming it was like she was on LSD and I had absolutely no idea what was going on or how it tied into the story. There were so many holes in the plot and so many unnecessary details, and I had a really hard time picturing all of the scenes and characters. Unfortunately a big no for me and I won’t be resign book 2 or 3.

[Ellen Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book so much! Set in a post-apocalyptic world where memories have been wiped away will one person’s memories set the world free? I loved this young adult fantasy. I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend! I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and am writing this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Savage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great dystopian novel! If you like the hunger games, divergent or maze runner this book is for you. A little slow and the beginning but the last third of the book is good.

[Ruby Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing experience. I was very scared to start the read because I thought it would be too much like the Giver which I hated reading, but Remember was way diffrent and I am eagerly awaiting book 2.

[Hannah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

First of all I want to thank the author Cheyenne Cleveland for letting me read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great debut dystopian novel with huge potential to be an amazing trilogy. The story was well paced and grabbed my attention from the start. The world building was very well done and I could clearly picture both Reyna's real and dream worlds.

I did find some scenes a little hard to follow and there is also a strong religious undertone to the story, which personally isn't for me.

However, the premise is unique and well done with a great cast of characters. I'll definitely be continuing with this series and I'm excited to see how Reyna's story develops!

[Emilee Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cheyenne Cleveland for letting me ARC read this!
Remember was such a good book! I definitely can't wait for book 2! Remember was very unique and intriguing. Full of action, found family, friendships, hope, purpose, etc. I highly recommend reading this by Cheyenne Cleveland.

If you are looking for a dystopian, a reluctant hero, a science fiction, a post-apocalyptic, a young adult fiction, a found family read, look no further than Remember. This book is exactly that! I love dystopians and found family because the storytelling of each book I read is unique and full of twists and turns I don't see coming.

Cheyenne did an amazing job with this book! I am so excited that I found her and her new book! I am very excited read more books from her!

[Moriah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great dystopian story. It was a quick and easy read over the weekend. I throughly enjoyed submerging myself into the story. The imagination of the dream world the author created is phenomenal, I never wanted the dreams to end. This novel is filled with sci-fi dystopian society vibes, a teen female protagonist and found family. REMEMBER has the makings of a secret rebellion and some government experiments—and there is a twist you won’t see coming! The creativity and imagination of the world created in this story truly teaches you that Hope can be found in any situation and all circumstance. I can’t wait to read what happens next to Reyna and how much she’s able to remember in book two.