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The Ruins Beneath Us
She saved the prince. Now she must survive his world.
Lyria and her mother have been on the run from the human kingdom of Verdinae for as long as she can remember. She’s an elf born with magic—a double offence in a kingdom determined to eradicate both. Under her mother’s watchful protection, Lyria learns the rules that keep her alive: stay inside, stay hidden, stay safe, and above all stay calm, lest her magic flair out of control.
But when she finds a human boy being attacked by a deadly monster in the forest, Lyria risks everything by using magic to save him. She doesn’t expect his broken body to survive, and she definitely doesn’t expect him to be the crown prince.
Offered a position at the palace as the royal apothecary, Lyria seizes the chance to step into the light and prove to her mother she can control her unwieldly magic. But Verdinae is not the paradise it at first seems. The nobles are ruthless, the secrets are deadly, and Cygnus—the brooding royal healer—seems determined to expose Lyria’s every flaw. As she navigates a world of glittering gowns, deadly secrets, and stolen kisses, Lyria must keep her identity hidden. . . even from the prince who’s falling for her.
But beneath the palace lies a darkness far more dangerous than any secret. And when Lyria and Cygnus uncover a hidden world that could change everything, she must decide who to trust and how much she’s willing to risk for a love that was never meant to be.
Lyria and her mother have been on the run from the human kingdom of Verdinae for as long as she can remember. She’s an elf born with magic—a double offence in a kingdom determined to eradicate both. Under her mother’s watchful protection, Lyria learns the rules that keep her alive: stay inside, stay hidden, stay safe, and above all stay calm, lest her magic flair out of control.
But when she finds a human boy being attacked by a deadly monster in the forest, Lyria risks everything by using magic to save him. She doesn’t expect his broken body to survive, and she definitely doesn’t expect him to be the crown prince.
Offered a position at the palace as the royal apothecary, Lyria seizes the chance to step into the light and prove to her mother she can control her unwieldly magic. But Verdinae is not the paradise it at first seems. The nobles are ruthless, the secrets are deadly, and Cygnus—the brooding royal healer—seems determined to expose Lyria’s every flaw. As she navigates a world of glittering gowns, deadly secrets, and stolen kisses, Lyria must keep her identity hidden. . . even from the prince who’s falling for her.
But beneath the palace lies a darkness far more dangerous than any secret. And when Lyria and Cygnus uncover a hidden world that could change everything, she must decide who to trust and how much she’s willing to risk for a love that was never meant to be.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
199 people are currently reading
4255 people want to read
About the author
Sasha E. Sloan
1 book45 followersSasha E. Sloan is the author of
The Ruins Beneath Us
, her debut YA fantasy novel and the first in a highly anticipated duology published by Disney Hyperion. Her writing blends breakneck action, political intrigue, and lush worldbuilding to invite readers into stories that feel as epic as they are intimately human.
Sasha has long used her platform to advocate for the human right to seek asylum. As Miss Utah, she partnered with Their Story is Our Story, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing the experiences of refugees worldwide. Her activism is rooted in the belief that storytelling can spark empathy, shift perspectives, and drive meaningful change.
With an audience of over 1.6 million across platforms, Sasha has built a reputation as a leading digital creator and media personality. Partnering with major brands like Netflix, HBO, and Paramount, Sasha uses her influence to drive conversations about popular media, inviting thoughtful critique of the stories that shape our culture.
Sasha has long used her platform to advocate for the human right to seek asylum. As Miss Utah, she partnered with Their Story is Our Story, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing the experiences of refugees worldwide. Her activism is rooted in the belief that storytelling can spark empathy, shift perspectives, and drive meaningful change.
With an audience of over 1.6 million across platforms, Sasha has built a reputation as a leading digital creator and media personality. Partnering with major brands like Netflix, HBO, and Paramount, Sasha uses her influence to drive conversations about popular media, inviting thoughtful critique of the stories that shape our culture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
March 13, 2026
Only read this if you can deal with a main character who is literally given important information multiple times and then asked absolutely zero questions about it only to feel stupid later. Yeah girlfriend, I’ve known you were an idiot for a dozen chapters. Thank you for catching up.
I’m giving this two stars because there was something I didn’t see coming at the end even though I predicted nearly everything else.
I’m giving this two stars because there was something I didn’t see coming at the end even though I predicted nearly everything else.
March 31, 2026
"We are only as good as our next choice."
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I feel like this could have been an amazing YA book with some adjustments.
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I feel like this could have been an amazing YA book with some adjustments.
January 29, 2026
I am being so for real. This is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read.
And this is coming from someone who has disliked 90% of all the popular booktok fantasy books and has never understood the hype of any of those. This is one of the few fantasy books that I personally believe, deserve that level of hype. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fantasy genre (only certain types of it though, like if it is fairytale fantasy and nothing too complex or high fantasy) yet struggle to find ones that I like, since most of the ones I like are written by a small circle of self published indie authors. So I tend to be wary with fantasy. I was wary starting this. But this not only blew me away, it actually made me want to expand my horizons and try more mainstream fantasy because I enjoyed this so much. The only mainstream publication fantasy book that has EVER done that for me that I can remember.
A war between the elven world and the human world, a young elf that lives on the outskirts of the forest that surrounds the human world, who inadvertently saves the crown prince who sweeps her away to his palace to be the royal apothecary, not knowing that she’s an elf who healed him using magic. Forbidden romance, and secrets that involve deadly trials to access hidden beneath the royal palace. Phenomenal worldbuilding with phantom isles and an evil underworld, AND THERE’S A MAP? HELL YEAH.
The worldbuilding is not just good, it’s also relevant. The backstory of how the human and elven rivalry began is scarily parallel to what’s happening in today’s political climate. A selfish, greedy human achieved power by leveraging humans’ fear and distrust of magic by using propaganda and lies to turn them against the elves who had that ability. The hatred and lies he spread caused a century of pointless bloodshed, due to the propaganda he spread to sow fear about people who are different, all for his desire of power and expansion.
Sound familiar?
After these, ahem, painfully relevant events, elves can no longer exist peacefully in the kingdom of Verdinae. The ones who were smart and got out and fled to other kingdoms. The others either were killed, or learned to live in hiding. If found, any elves born with magic are killed on sight, whether they follow the law or not. The regime of hate continues, even centuries later.
Lyria is one of the elves with the bloodborne talent, which is the reason her and her mother live on the run. Until, she runs into the first human she’s ever interacted with, saving his life, and he turns out to be the prince. They spend a few days in playful romantic innocence that reminds me of Tuck and Winnie from Tuck Everlasting. Lyria is sheltered and her world is small, with only her forest cottage and her mother. Finn becomes her first ever friend. After he leaves, she fully believes she will never see him again, until he sends royal troops to her to ask for her help to defeat a deadly plague.
The world building once they get past the walls of the Hartlands, oh my gosh. Insane. Some of the most enticing world building I’ve ever seen in fantasy. Such a perfect blend of fantasy with hints of modern touches. Not to mention the opulence and immense wealth once they get into the palace. This book is the DEFINITION of reading for escapism. It’s like traveling without even leaving your couch.
The magic system, something hidden under the palace that takes deadly trials to be able to access, the politics of it all, the guesswork of who you can even trust, THE LOVE STORY, it’s all insanely well written. This is an example of GOOD fantasy in a world where quite a few tend to be misses due to the tropification of it all, and booktok. This is not just a fantasy, it’s a political message. About the dangers of hatred for people different than us. The dangers of falling for propaganda. The danger of a power hungry, hateful leader. But it’s also a story of hope, how the children of these cruel dictators are not automatically just like them, and have the potential for good, and to align with the right side of empathy.
This is fantasy done right. Really, my only feedback is Lyria as a character is aggravating, how she responds in overreactive violent anger to things and cuts people out of her life after one mistake. Not the most likable mc, but Finn made up for it as far as characters. Aside from that, you get worldbuilding that’s actually good, a male love interest who’s actually swoony, and a complex moral and political plot. And idgaf if people disagree, I LOVE Finn. The way he loves and protects Lyria and starts screaming across the palace when she goes missing for days (lol) sorry but this is the definition of a golden retriever prince. A good soul raised in a palace of corruption. His family may be corrupt but I sense a good heart who is trying his best. He truly loves Lyria and he’s just this mopey, sweet, weepy little prince when it comes to her 😭
I had no clue this wasn’t a standalone? The ending broke my heart wtf? Book 2 release date NOW!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
And this is coming from someone who has disliked 90% of all the popular booktok fantasy books and has never understood the hype of any of those. This is one of the few fantasy books that I personally believe, deserve that level of hype. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fantasy genre (only certain types of it though, like if it is fairytale fantasy and nothing too complex or high fantasy) yet struggle to find ones that I like, since most of the ones I like are written by a small circle of self published indie authors. So I tend to be wary with fantasy. I was wary starting this. But this not only blew me away, it actually made me want to expand my horizons and try more mainstream fantasy because I enjoyed this so much. The only mainstream publication fantasy book that has EVER done that for me that I can remember.
A war between the elven world and the human world, a young elf that lives on the outskirts of the forest that surrounds the human world, who inadvertently saves the crown prince who sweeps her away to his palace to be the royal apothecary, not knowing that she’s an elf who healed him using magic. Forbidden romance, and secrets that involve deadly trials to access hidden beneath the royal palace. Phenomenal worldbuilding with phantom isles and an evil underworld, AND THERE’S A MAP? HELL YEAH.
The worldbuilding is not just good, it’s also relevant. The backstory of how the human and elven rivalry began is scarily parallel to what’s happening in today’s political climate. A selfish, greedy human achieved power by leveraging humans’ fear and distrust of magic by using propaganda and lies to turn them against the elves who had that ability. The hatred and lies he spread caused a century of pointless bloodshed, due to the propaganda he spread to sow fear about people who are different, all for his desire of power and expansion.
Sound familiar?
After these, ahem, painfully relevant events, elves can no longer exist peacefully in the kingdom of Verdinae. The ones who were smart and got out and fled to other kingdoms. The others either were killed, or learned to live in hiding. If found, any elves born with magic are killed on sight, whether they follow the law or not. The regime of hate continues, even centuries later.
Lyria is one of the elves with the bloodborne talent, which is the reason her and her mother live on the run. Until, she runs into the first human she’s ever interacted with, saving his life, and he turns out to be the prince. They spend a few days in playful romantic innocence that reminds me of Tuck and Winnie from Tuck Everlasting. Lyria is sheltered and her world is small, with only her forest cottage and her mother. Finn becomes her first ever friend. After he leaves, she fully believes she will never see him again, until he sends royal troops to her to ask for her help to defeat a deadly plague.
The world building once they get past the walls of the Hartlands, oh my gosh. Insane. Some of the most enticing world building I’ve ever seen in fantasy. Such a perfect blend of fantasy with hints of modern touches. Not to mention the opulence and immense wealth once they get into the palace. This book is the DEFINITION of reading for escapism. It’s like traveling without even leaving your couch.
The magic system, something hidden under the palace that takes deadly trials to be able to access, the politics of it all, the guesswork of who you can even trust, THE LOVE STORY, it’s all insanely well written. This is an example of GOOD fantasy in a world where quite a few tend to be misses due to the tropification of it all, and booktok. This is not just a fantasy, it’s a political message. About the dangers of hatred for people different than us. The dangers of falling for propaganda. The danger of a power hungry, hateful leader. But it’s also a story of hope, how the children of these cruel dictators are not automatically just like them, and have the potential for good, and to align with the right side of empathy.
This is fantasy done right. Really, my only feedback is Lyria as a character is aggravating, how she responds in overreactive violent anger to things and cuts people out of her life after one mistake. Not the most likable mc, but Finn made up for it as far as characters. Aside from that, you get worldbuilding that’s actually good, a male love interest who’s actually swoony, and a complex moral and political plot. And idgaf if people disagree, I LOVE Finn. The way he loves and protects Lyria and starts screaming across the palace when she goes missing for days (lol) sorry but this is the definition of a golden retriever prince. A good soul raised in a palace of corruption. His family may be corrupt but I sense a good heart who is trying his best. He truly loves Lyria and he’s just this mopey, sweet, weepy little prince when it comes to her 😭
I had no clue this wasn’t a standalone? The ending broke my heart wtf? Book 2 release date NOW!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Read
November 13, 2025DNF @ 25%
Language: h*ll, d*mn, sh*t, jack*ss, g*d-d*mn, *ss, d*ck. Multiple mentions of each.
LGBTQ: one of the princes is engaged to another prince.
The girl takes off the guys shirt when he is injured and describes his chest rather detail.
Mentions of the prince being a player and not being able to keep “it” in his pants.
People think the main girl is the princes lover and is pregnant with his kid.
Mentions of worshiping gods.
Mentions of an Almighty who the royals do bad stuff in his name.
Ear tips mutilated.
Heads decapitated and place on spikes on a wall.
I didn’t make it too far into this one. There was so much cussing and the prince was a player. Plus the main girl was obsessed with looks and kept going on and on about it. She was also rather disobedient to her mother.
It was only going to get worse and I don’t want to read this type of stuff in books, so DNF.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.
Language: h*ll, d*mn, sh*t, jack*ss, g*d-d*mn, *ss, d*ck. Multiple mentions of each.
LGBTQ: one of the princes is engaged to another prince.
The girl takes off the guys shirt when he is injured and describes his chest rather detail.
Mentions of the prince being a player and not being able to keep “it” in his pants.
People think the main girl is the princes lover and is pregnant with his kid.
Mentions of worshiping gods.
Mentions of an Almighty who the royals do bad stuff in his name.
Ear tips mutilated.
Heads decapitated and place on spikes on a wall.
I didn’t make it too far into this one. There was so much cussing and the prince was a player. Plus the main girl was obsessed with looks and kept going on and on about it. She was also rather disobedient to her mother.
It was only going to get worse and I don’t want to read this type of stuff in books, so DNF.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.
March 11, 2026
The Ruins Beneath Us
by Sasha E. Sloan
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 3, 2026
Disney Publishing
Ages: 16+
Because Lyria is an elf, and born with magic, both a death sentence, she and her mother are on the run from the human kingdom of Verdinae. In hiding, Lyria learns to stay alive by staying hidden and staying calm to control her magic as she attempts to learn how to use it.
While her mother was investigating a plague, Lyria was left alone, and she heard cries for help and found a human boy being attacked by a monster. Even though she saves him from the creature, his injuries are life-threatening, but she uses all of the healing herbs her mother has taught her and her own magic to force his body to heal.
Not trusting him after he regains consciousness, she keeps him tied, but as the days move into weeks, she finds herself drawn to him; after all, he is the first boy she has spent any time with.
A while after he leaves, a group of the king's soldiers arrives at the door, offering her a position at the palace as the royal apothecary, for the boy she rescued was a prince. Wanting to prove to her mother that she can control her magic and make a difference, she goes with them and enters the palace of the humans who would kill her if they knew of her heritage and magic.
Going along the lines of a naive young girl, the MC falls in love with the first boy she meets, and thus is the majority of the first half of the story, along with life in the palace, and politics. Sure, there is some magic, but not enough to keep my interest, and the story dragged. I know it was trying to set the stage, but it was too slow. And as soon as another character was introduced, I had an idea where the story could go. Though introducing the fox did bring me back to the story.
The story did speed up when... spoiler... and that brought back my attention, but I feel more could have been added, described during those places. More action would have helped a lot.
There is violence and clean adult content, making it suitable for readers sixteen and older.
As for the ending, which now makes it a series, it was expected, but there was another part I didn't get why...spoiler... I can understand... spoiler, but... spoiler... I would like to see where this story is going, but with how long it took for this one to get to the action, it's not high on my list.
2 Stars
by Sasha E. Sloan
Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Mar 3, 2026
Disney Publishing
Ages: 16+
Because Lyria is an elf, and born with magic, both a death sentence, she and her mother are on the run from the human kingdom of Verdinae. In hiding, Lyria learns to stay alive by staying hidden and staying calm to control her magic as she attempts to learn how to use it.
While her mother was investigating a plague, Lyria was left alone, and she heard cries for help and found a human boy being attacked by a monster. Even though she saves him from the creature, his injuries are life-threatening, but she uses all of the healing herbs her mother has taught her and her own magic to force his body to heal.
Not trusting him after he regains consciousness, she keeps him tied, but as the days move into weeks, she finds herself drawn to him; after all, he is the first boy she has spent any time with.
A while after he leaves, a group of the king's soldiers arrives at the door, offering her a position at the palace as the royal apothecary, for the boy she rescued was a prince. Wanting to prove to her mother that she can control her magic and make a difference, she goes with them and enters the palace of the humans who would kill her if they knew of her heritage and magic.
Going along the lines of a naive young girl, the MC falls in love with the first boy she meets, and thus is the majority of the first half of the story, along with life in the palace, and politics. Sure, there is some magic, but not enough to keep my interest, and the story dragged. I know it was trying to set the stage, but it was too slow. And as soon as another character was introduced, I had an idea where the story could go. Though introducing the fox did bring me back to the story.
The story did speed up when... spoiler... and that brought back my attention, but I feel more could have been added, described during those places. More action would have helped a lot.
There is violence and clean adult content, making it suitable for readers sixteen and older.
As for the ending, which now makes it a series, it was expected, but there was another part I didn't get why...spoiler... I can understand... spoiler, but... spoiler... I would like to see where this story is going, but with how long it took for this one to get to the action, it's not high on my list.
2 Stars
November 25, 2025
This book has been one of my most awaited releases since it was announced, and I’m so glad to say it did NOT disappoint! I’ve been following Sasha E Sloan’s journey for the longest time, and as a teen who loves to read, she has consistently been one of my favorite and most influential creators. Honestly, this is one of the best debut YA novels I’ve ever read. The magic system and world building are very interesting, and I thought it seemed well thought out and had the capacity to be complex. Overall I liked the characters, although some
of the choices that Lyria makes annoy me (but that’s expected). Also, some of the plot twists are INSANE and keep you right on the edge of your seat, questioning everyone’s true intentions. It very much gives Throne of Glass vibes, and I hope the next book has an Heir of Fire-like arc for Lyria. So incredibly excited for the next installment, and wish Sasha the best of luck with her debut duology!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced release copy!
of the choices that Lyria makes annoy me (but that’s expected). Also, some of the plot twists are INSANE and keep you right on the edge of your seat, questioning everyone’s true intentions. It very much gives Throne of Glass vibes, and I hope the next book has an Heir of Fire-like arc for Lyria. So incredibly excited for the next installment, and wish Sasha the best of luck with her debut duology!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced release copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How can this only be a duology? Two books? That can't possibly be enough. I need at least three billion. Not that I would have time to read three billion books, so maybe quite that many :)
This book was so amazing, and I am so sad the next book isn't available already. Which, considering I received an advanced copy of this book and it hasn't even been released, isn't exactly surprising. I have already been recommending this book to people I know and across different online platforms.
As for Lyria, the main character, I just wanted to scream at her the entire book. No sense of self-preservation or common sense at all. Would like to think if this was real life, she would know better or act differently, but people (she's an elf, but whatever) can be so stupid. 😞
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This book was so amazing, and I am so sad the next book isn't available already. Which, considering I received an advanced copy of this book and it hasn't even been released, isn't exactly surprising. I have already been recommending this book to people I know and across different online platforms.
As for Lyria, the main character, I just wanted to scream at her the entire book. No sense of self-preservation or common sense at all. Would like to think if this was real life, she would know better or act differently, but people (she's an elf, but whatever) can be so stupid. 😞
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
March 13, 2026
I have mixed thoughts on this one.
I wasn’t extremely impressed nor was I disappointed. Kind of just in the middle.
I didn’t really feel any connection to Lyria. I did find her a little immature and lacking a lot of common sense.
I loved Cygnus and I wish Lyria would have treated him a little better.
I did enjoy the story, even though most of it was predictable. A few surprises here and there.
Overall it was a quick read. I love the fairytale vibes. Very much reminded me of a YA Disney show.
3.8/5⭐️ (rounded up)
I wasn’t extremely impressed nor was I disappointed. Kind of just in the middle.
I didn’t really feel any connection to Lyria. I did find her a little immature and lacking a lot of common sense.
I loved Cygnus and I wish Lyria would have treated him a little better.
I did enjoy the story, even though most of it was predictable. A few surprises here and there.
Overall it was a quick read. I love the fairytale vibes. Very much reminded me of a YA Disney show.
3.8/5⭐️ (rounded up)
March 15, 2026
Thank you to Sasha E. Sloan, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and NetGalley for this ARC.
For a debut YA Fantasy Romance this one surprised me and left me wanting more of this world.
Lyria and her mother have been in hiding from the kingdom of Verdinae all of Lyria's life. Both an elf and one that has blood born magic puts her life at risk. The King is determined to remove any threat to the realm and he views both elves and magic as a threat. There is long ago history between humans and elves. Her mother has taught her to survive by living with strict rules, stay inside the boundary, stay safe, and above all to not lose control of her magic.
All of that goes out the window when Lyria hears screaming from outside of the boundary from a young boy she saw earlier in the wood. Lyria finds him fighting a monster and losing. She ignores all the rules and saves him, not only from the monster, but also from his injuries. She has no idea that this chance encounter with a young boy will alter the life she knows. His name is Finn. That is all she knows and they get to know each other through his recovery. Once healed he leaves to return home. Invitation comes from the palace from Finn to Lyria. Turns out "Finn" is short for "Finneas", Prince Finneas that is.
Lyria ends up being the apothecary given a task to find a cure for the plague that is threatening everyone. The same plague that her mother is out investigating. Having to hide what she is within the castle walls should be the hardest task she has but as this story unfolds you will see it is just the beginning. And what is up with Cygnus? He is in charge of the hospital as the Healer and gets under Lyria's skin every chance he gets. What has she done for such a rude welcome and working relationship? Lyria has always thought something was wrong with her and her magic. Fate has a way of shining truth.
*Prophecy
*Secrets
*Unique Magic
*2 MMC's
*Court intrigue
*FMC who learns every decision has a cost & what strength she really has
*Elves, humans, dragons, unique monsters
*Rebellion
Not sure how many books will be in this series but the way this ended there has to be a book 2. Looking forward to it!
For a debut YA Fantasy Romance this one surprised me and left me wanting more of this world.
Lyria and her mother have been in hiding from the kingdom of Verdinae all of Lyria's life. Both an elf and one that has blood born magic puts her life at risk. The King is determined to remove any threat to the realm and he views both elves and magic as a threat. There is long ago history between humans and elves. Her mother has taught her to survive by living with strict rules, stay inside the boundary, stay safe, and above all to not lose control of her magic.
All of that goes out the window when Lyria hears screaming from outside of the boundary from a young boy she saw earlier in the wood. Lyria finds him fighting a monster and losing. She ignores all the rules and saves him, not only from the monster, but also from his injuries. She has no idea that this chance encounter with a young boy will alter the life she knows. His name is Finn. That is all she knows and they get to know each other through his recovery. Once healed he leaves to return home. Invitation comes from the palace from Finn to Lyria. Turns out "Finn" is short for "Finneas", Prince Finneas that is.
Lyria ends up being the apothecary given a task to find a cure for the plague that is threatening everyone. The same plague that her mother is out investigating. Having to hide what she is within the castle walls should be the hardest task she has but as this story unfolds you will see it is just the beginning. And what is up with Cygnus? He is in charge of the hospital as the Healer and gets under Lyria's skin every chance he gets. What has she done for such a rude welcome and working relationship? Lyria has always thought something was wrong with her and her magic. Fate has a way of shining truth.
*Prophecy
*Secrets
*Unique Magic
*2 MMC's
*Court intrigue
*FMC who learns every decision has a cost & what strength she really has
*Elves, humans, dragons, unique monsters
*Rebellion
Not sure how many books will be in this series but the way this ended there has to be a book 2. Looking forward to it!
November 2, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! I have been so excited to read this one.
Oh, Lyria, my heart feels for you. A teen elf who has only ever known her mother and lived in hiding, longs for more of a life and knowing others. She struggles with her magical Talent and as an elf, who must not be known to be alive humans. Her whole little world changes when she saves a human, Finn, from eminent death and he decides to bring her to his world. They develop feelings toward each other; she struggles internally with this, the world she’s brought into, and the other people she encounters. Are the feelings true? Can she really trust Finn? Can she trust Cygnus, head healer who has been tough on her from the moment he met her? What are everyone’s motives? Can she really belong here, and can she help save the lands from this mysterious plague?
There is a lot of inner turmoil in regard to herself and her abilities, her feelings, and the world she’s thrown into. This is a slow, plot driven story, and takes time to unravel many questions faced. As you read, you question as Lyria does and I found myself surprised several times throughout with motives and revelations. There’s so much more I could say about this book but I don’t want to give anything away! The end leaves you excited and wanting to jump right into book two! I cannot wait for The Ruins Beneath Us to be officially published and to see what book two will bring.
I want to note - when I first saw this was a YA Romantasy, I was hesitant to read it. As an elder millennial with a child, reading romance scenes between teens gives me pause. There are only a couple scenes between these 18-19 year olds and I feel they were very well done. They’re feelings focused and enthusiastic consent driven; fade to black and not graphic. I think depicting and emphasizing consent between characters in romantic situations is very important, especially for young adult readers.
Oh, Lyria, my heart feels for you. A teen elf who has only ever known her mother and lived in hiding, longs for more of a life and knowing others. She struggles with her magical Talent and as an elf, who must not be known to be alive humans. Her whole little world changes when she saves a human, Finn, from eminent death and he decides to bring her to his world. They develop feelings toward each other; she struggles internally with this, the world she’s brought into, and the other people she encounters. Are the feelings true? Can she really trust Finn? Can she trust Cygnus, head healer who has been tough on her from the moment he met her? What are everyone’s motives? Can she really belong here, and can she help save the lands from this mysterious plague?
There is a lot of inner turmoil in regard to herself and her abilities, her feelings, and the world she’s thrown into. This is a slow, plot driven story, and takes time to unravel many questions faced. As you read, you question as Lyria does and I found myself surprised several times throughout with motives and revelations. There’s so much more I could say about this book but I don’t want to give anything away! The end leaves you excited and wanting to jump right into book two! I cannot wait for The Ruins Beneath Us to be officially published and to see what book two will bring.
I want to note - when I first saw this was a YA Romantasy, I was hesitant to read it. As an elder millennial with a child, reading romance scenes between teens gives me pause. There are only a couple scenes between these 18-19 year olds and I feel they were very well done. They’re feelings focused and enthusiastic consent driven; fade to black and not graphic. I think depicting and emphasizing consent between characters in romantic situations is very important, especially for young adult readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
4.75 ⭐️
I loved this book so much. The writing style was absolutely perfect for me. I can’t wait to read the next one. It’s a great coming of age story set in a fantasy world. It was action packed and fast paced with a good amount of necessary world building and exposition with a romance subplot. It’s a fun journey all around and I had a blast every step of the way. I almost gave it 5 stars and have a feeling the next one will be. The only critique is not really a critique for the author but for the main character. I understand why she did what she did in the epilogue but I didn’t like it and that’s because I want Lyria to end up with said character in the epilogue.
Sasha, you truly are so talented and I can’t wait to read what you put out next even if it’s not the final book in this duology.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an Advanced copy of this book.*
I loved this book so much. The writing style was absolutely perfect for me. I can’t wait to read the next one. It’s a great coming of age story set in a fantasy world. It was action packed and fast paced with a good amount of necessary world building and exposition with a romance subplot. It’s a fun journey all around and I had a blast every step of the way. I almost gave it 5 stars and have a feeling the next one will be. The only critique is not really a critique for the author but for the main character. I understand why she did what she did in the epilogue but I didn’t like it and that’s because I want Lyria to end up with said character in the epilogue.
Sasha, you truly are so talented and I can’t wait to read what you put out next even if it’s not the final book in this duology.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an Advanced copy of this book.*
March 14, 2026
Elves, court politics, a deadly plague, and a slow burn romance? Say less. I was immediately in.
I’ve been anticipating The Ruins Beneath Us ever since it was announced, so I was beyond excited to finally read it. And honestly, it ended up being such a creative and enjoyable fantasy story that has me really curious to see where the series goes next.
The book follows Lyria, an elf who has spent her entire life hidden away from the human world because she possesses magic. Elves, especially those with Talent, are hunted and killed, so her mother has kept her essentially locked away for her own safety. But when Lyria unexpectedly saves the crown prince’s life, she’s invited into the royal court to serve as the kingdom’s apothecary and help stop a deadly plague spreading across the land.
Right away I loved the premise. I feel like we don’t see elves nearly as often in fantasy anymore, so it was honestly refreshing to jump into a story centered around them again. The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts of the book. Sasha Sloan clearly put a lot of thought into the magic system and the structure of the world. It felt immersive without becoming overwhelming, and the setting itself was easy to picture. I could easily imagine sweeping green hills, a massive city full of politics and secrets, and the castle court at the center of it all.
Lyria starts the story a little naive, but it makes sense considering the sheltered life she’s lived. Her mother has kept her hidden away for most of her life, which gives their relationship a very Rapunzel-like dynamic. What I liked most about Lyria though is that at her core she just wants to help people and make a difference. Even when things become dangerous or overwhelming, she keeps pushing forward. Finn’s arrival completely shakes up her world, and their relationship carries a lot of the emotional tension in the story. At times he feels vulnerable and sincere, and at other times frustratingly guarded. Their push and pull dynamic happened a little more often than I personally preferred, but it definitely kept things interesting. Cygnus was another standout character for me. I really loved the unexpected friendship that developed there, and his presence added a lot of intrigue to the story.
If I had one critique, it would be that I wish we had spent more time with some of the side characters. The princes and princesses are mentioned quite a bit but we never really get to know them, and I would have loved more development there. I also would have liked a bit more exploration of Lyria’s relationship with her mother because that dynamic felt like it had a lot of emotional depth that we only partially saw. Even with those things, I found myself more and more invested as the story went on. The plot pulls together a lot of classic fantasy elements but still manages to feel fresh, and by the final chapters I was completely hooked.
And the ending? Yeah… that one hurt. This is definitely one of those endings that leaves you staring at the last page like wait… that’s it?? in the best and worst way. I’m already impatient for the next book because I need to know what happens next.
Overall, this wasn’t a perfect read for me, but the world, the characters, and the direction of the story have me really excited for the rest of the series.
I’ve been anticipating The Ruins Beneath Us ever since it was announced, so I was beyond excited to finally read it. And honestly, it ended up being such a creative and enjoyable fantasy story that has me really curious to see where the series goes next.
The book follows Lyria, an elf who has spent her entire life hidden away from the human world because she possesses magic. Elves, especially those with Talent, are hunted and killed, so her mother has kept her essentially locked away for her own safety. But when Lyria unexpectedly saves the crown prince’s life, she’s invited into the royal court to serve as the kingdom’s apothecary and help stop a deadly plague spreading across the land.
Right away I loved the premise. I feel like we don’t see elves nearly as often in fantasy anymore, so it was honestly refreshing to jump into a story centered around them again. The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts of the book. Sasha Sloan clearly put a lot of thought into the magic system and the structure of the world. It felt immersive without becoming overwhelming, and the setting itself was easy to picture. I could easily imagine sweeping green hills, a massive city full of politics and secrets, and the castle court at the center of it all.
Lyria starts the story a little naive, but it makes sense considering the sheltered life she’s lived. Her mother has kept her hidden away for most of her life, which gives their relationship a very Rapunzel-like dynamic. What I liked most about Lyria though is that at her core she just wants to help people and make a difference. Even when things become dangerous or overwhelming, she keeps pushing forward. Finn’s arrival completely shakes up her world, and their relationship carries a lot of the emotional tension in the story. At times he feels vulnerable and sincere, and at other times frustratingly guarded. Their push and pull dynamic happened a little more often than I personally preferred, but it definitely kept things interesting. Cygnus was another standout character for me. I really loved the unexpected friendship that developed there, and his presence added a lot of intrigue to the story.
If I had one critique, it would be that I wish we had spent more time with some of the side characters. The princes and princesses are mentioned quite a bit but we never really get to know them, and I would have loved more development there. I also would have liked a bit more exploration of Lyria’s relationship with her mother because that dynamic felt like it had a lot of emotional depth that we only partially saw. Even with those things, I found myself more and more invested as the story went on. The plot pulls together a lot of classic fantasy elements but still manages to feel fresh, and by the final chapters I was completely hooked.
And the ending? Yeah… that one hurt. This is definitely one of those endings that leaves you staring at the last page like wait… that’s it?? in the best and worst way. I’m already impatient for the next book because I need to know what happens next.
Overall, this wasn’t a perfect read for me, but the world, the characters, and the direction of the story have me really excited for the rest of the series.
February 1, 2026
First ARC of 2026 🥳
This is a slow burn YA romantasy but it also talks about knowing your worth, and choosing yourself over a relationship which I feel like you don’t see a lot of in romantasy so it was really refreshing! I also think that in a world so obsessed with fae it was nice to see a book with elves for a change and I enjoyed this story from start to finish and will be reading the next book when it’s out ✨
This book starts with Lyria, a teen elf, and her mother living in the forest, hidden from the human world. When her mother leaves and doesn’t come back Lyria ends up in the kingdom working as a royal apothecary, making sure to hide what she is, but she can only hide for so long 👀
Between trying to cure the plague as an apothecary, and learning about the war going on between the humans and elves in the world Lyria has to choose what she’s going to fight for - her people or her love
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for the eArc
This is a slow burn YA romantasy but it also talks about knowing your worth, and choosing yourself over a relationship which I feel like you don’t see a lot of in romantasy so it was really refreshing! I also think that in a world so obsessed with fae it was nice to see a book with elves for a change and I enjoyed this story from start to finish and will be reading the next book when it’s out ✨
This book starts with Lyria, a teen elf, and her mother living in the forest, hidden from the human world. When her mother leaves and doesn’t come back Lyria ends up in the kingdom working as a royal apothecary, making sure to hide what she is, but she can only hide for so long 👀
Between trying to cure the plague as an apothecary, and learning about the war going on between the humans and elves in the world Lyria has to choose what she’s going to fight for - her people or her love
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for the eArc
March 9, 2026
If I had purchased this, I probably would rate it lower. I was given it by the disney team which was epic.
Honestly, this story was very derivative and predictable. I never found myself reeling--even though the heroine frequently finds herself shocked. She just ended up seeming stupid most of the time? I understand that she is supposed to be naive, but she was excessively dumb half of the time. Her anger at the end of the story--forced. She has almost no empathy for Cygnus...who went through nearly the same thing.
There is also a lot of cussing in this for a YA book, but most of it feels REALLY forced. Like, the author wanted to put it in there to be edgy. True, I don't read much YA, but it felt like someone who has just learned a swear word and then tries to say it as many times as possible to show grown up they are.
Also, some of the descriptions actively made me laugh. There was moment where she literally says, "I've never noticed he had chest hair." THAT IS THE COMPLETE SENTENCE AND ONE OF THE ONLY DESCRIPTIONS WE GET OF THIS GUY. I had to start cackling. I'm sorry, that was just hilarious.
It just gets to a point where it becomes painfully obvious that she was writing for tropes and trying to get people to have crushes on these fictional men. Again, you're not really told anything about them...you kinda just have to fill in the gaps with the other books/movies that have the same tropes.
Anyways, I say all of that, but I really did have a fun time reading this. I stole moments in my day where I could squeeze it in. So, is it fun to read? Yes. Will I buy the sequel? Yes. But I would not wholeheartedly encourage anyone to read this unless they want to read something they have already read at least 5-10 times before😁
Honestly, this story was very derivative and predictable. I never found myself reeling--even though the heroine frequently finds herself shocked. She just ended up seeming stupid most of the time? I understand that she is supposed to be naive, but she was excessively dumb half of the time. Her anger at the end of the story--forced. She has almost no empathy for Cygnus...who went through nearly the same thing.
There is also a lot of cussing in this for a YA book, but most of it feels REALLY forced. Like, the author wanted to put it in there to be edgy. True, I don't read much YA, but it felt like someone who has just learned a swear word and then tries to say it as many times as possible to show grown up they are.
Also, some of the descriptions actively made me laugh. There was moment where she literally says, "I've never noticed he had chest hair." THAT IS THE COMPLETE SENTENCE AND ONE OF THE ONLY DESCRIPTIONS WE GET OF THIS GUY. I had to start cackling. I'm sorry, that was just hilarious.
It just gets to a point where it becomes painfully obvious that she was writing for tropes and trying to get people to have crushes on these fictional men. Again, you're not really told anything about them...you kinda just have to fill in the gaps with the other books/movies that have the same tropes.
Anyways, I say all of that, but I really did have a fun time reading this. I stole moments in my day where I could squeeze it in. So, is it fun to read? Yes. Will I buy the sequel? Yes. But I would not wholeheartedly encourage anyone to read this unless they want to read something they have already read at least 5-10 times before😁
October 31, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I had preordered the book before knowing there would be a chance to get an ARC and honestly March cannot come soon enough.
I don’t even know how to describe how good this book is was. From the moment I started it I could not put it down. Lyria is such a complex character and seeing her gaining confidence throughout the book was amazing.
I loved the way Sasha showed us that good and evil depends on the perception of who is telling the story. And we’re right there with Lyria finding out what has been done on both sides.
Cygnus, my beloved. I loved him from the moment he was introduced even though he was being a bit of an ass. I do hope we get to see him and Lyria becoming friends again and rebuild that trust.
I don’t even know how to describe how good this book is was. From the moment I started it I could not put it down. Lyria is such a complex character and seeing her gaining confidence throughout the book was amazing.
I loved the way Sasha showed us that good and evil depends on the perception of who is telling the story. And we’re right there with Lyria finding out what has been done on both sides.
Cygnus, my beloved. I loved him from the moment he was introduced even though he was being a bit of an ass. I do hope we get to see him and Lyria becoming friends again and rebuild that trust.
March 14, 2026
This was a fantastic YA romantasy debut that I had a lot of fun with. It is fast paced, with action, riddles/trials, battles, and I am looking forward to finishing this duology.
Lyria is a well written flawed character that I found refreshing. The in traditional romantasy fashion, the author did a good job with establishing the world and magic system, and kept me on my toes for the last 1/3 of the book while she pulled out twists and turns.
The book is considered YA, but there is some mild, tasteful open door/fade to black spice that is tastefully done so it is suitable for mature teens.
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this ebook. I will be recommending it to friends!
Lyria is a well written flawed character that I found refreshing. The in traditional romantasy fashion, the author did a good job with establishing the world and magic system, and kept me on my toes for the last 1/3 of the book while she pulled out twists and turns.
The book is considered YA, but there is some mild, tasteful open door/fade to black spice that is tastefully done so it is suitable for mature teens.
Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this ebook. I will be recommending it to friends!
March 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Elven healer, Lydia, ends up working at the palace as a healer. In the kingdom Elves are the enemy so she must keep her true identity and magic a secret.
Love triangle. Secret magic. Hidden identities. Upper YA fantasy romance.
My expectations were really high because I have always really enjoyed Sasha E. Sloan’s content on social media and I think she’s very bright and talented. I know she’s talked about some other projects and I am excited to see adult works from her.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
An Elven healer, Lydia, ends up working at the palace as a healer. In the kingdom Elves are the enemy so she must keep her true identity and magic a secret.
Love triangle. Secret magic. Hidden identities. Upper YA fantasy romance.
My expectations were really high because I have always really enjoyed Sasha E. Sloan’s content on social media and I think she’s very bright and talented. I know she’s talked about some other projects and I am excited to see adult works from her.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2026
This was a really fun fantasy book with magic and political intrigue, betrayal and some fun surprises. there is some more fade to black scenes so ya to adult appropriate. the book leaves on a cliffhanger so definitely room for further books.
October 21, 2025
I want to thank Netgalley for the eARC as I have been anticipating this book since it was announced. My review might come with a bias as I have followed Sasha and her career for a few years now. Her content has taught me you can be a huge nerd, gorgeous/feminine, smart as hell, and ambitious but still remain kind and compassionate.
That being said, this book delivers on all the values Sasha has founded her personal brand on. Although romantasy has become an overdone genre, with many stories feeling the same, this books is definitely something new and unique and fascinating. An instant page turner. You get lost in the court trying to discover everyone's true intentions
The characters are endearing, complicated, and inherently interesting. Lyria reminds me so much of Rapunzel from Tangled with much darker, intricate powers she's only begun to understand IN THE BEST WAY
Sasha navigates the idea of good and evil being based in our perception and emphasizes that ever-present feeling that maybe history is being incorrectly remembered by the liars who irradicated their opponents and started burning books (reminiscent of the fictional world in Fourth Wing and the very real world in the United States of America) I appreciate the political undertones that are reminiscent of Sasha's speeches while competing to become Miss Utah.
I pre-ordered this book long before I thought I would receive an ARC and I cannot wait for my personal copy to read it again to see all the beautiful foreshadowing that is woven in.
Maybe its because one day I hope I can write and publish a book with a gorgeous fantasy map at the front, but HOLY MOLY
I am so proud of a woman I've never met but have followed on the interent for ages, which feels kind of silly but it is true. Sasha had a dream, let her Slytherin take over and put in the WORK to create an exciting story in a new epically magical world, and managed to say something meaningful with her words. I was not disappointed and can't wait for the world to read this story! (and for me to read the sequel please, ASAP)
That being said, this book delivers on all the values Sasha has founded her personal brand on. Although romantasy has become an overdone genre, with many stories feeling the same, this books is definitely something new and unique and fascinating. An instant page turner. You get lost in the court trying to discover everyone's true intentions
The characters are endearing, complicated, and inherently interesting. Lyria reminds me so much of Rapunzel from Tangled with much darker, intricate powers she's only begun to understand IN THE BEST WAY
Sasha navigates the idea of good and evil being based in our perception and emphasizes that ever-present feeling that maybe history is being incorrectly remembered by the liars who irradicated their opponents and started burning books (reminiscent of the fictional world in Fourth Wing and the very real world in the United States of America) I appreciate the political undertones that are reminiscent of Sasha's speeches while competing to become Miss Utah.
I pre-ordered this book long before I thought I would receive an ARC and I cannot wait for my personal copy to read it again to see all the beautiful foreshadowing that is woven in.
Maybe its because one day I hope I can write and publish a book with a gorgeous fantasy map at the front, but HOLY MOLY
I am so proud of a woman I've never met but have followed on the interent for ages, which feels kind of silly but it is true. Sasha had a dream, let her Slytherin take over and put in the WORK to create an exciting story in a new epically magical world, and managed to say something meaningful with her words. I was not disappointed and can't wait for the world to read this story! (and for me to read the sequel please, ASAP)
November 2, 2025
I want to thank NetGalley for the eARC. I was so excited to read it in March, but now I’m fully convinced I need to preorder a physical copy!!
I seriously could not put this book down. From the moment I started reading it. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a whole book in one day, but I could NOT book this book down.
In a world where it seems so many romantasy books have such similar plots or storylines it was so refreshing to read a book that felt completely new.
I highly recommend you preorder this book!! You won’t regret it!!
I seriously could not put this book down. From the moment I started reading it. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a whole book in one day, but I could NOT book this book down.
In a world where it seems so many romantasy books have such similar plots or storylines it was so refreshing to read a book that felt completely new.
I highly recommend you preorder this book!! You won’t regret it!!
February 7, 2026
* 3.5 stars *
From beneath you it devours….
Growing up all Lyria wanted was to see the world, but with an overprotective mother and a kingdom hellbent on eliminating magic and the Elves she is forced to remain hidden away in the woods. With her mother out she saves the life of a young man by a fabled monster and from that rescue she lands herself a spot as a royal healer looking to save the people from a mysterious plague but as she is pushed to accept her Talent whispers begin of a rebellion to free her people once and for all.
This is an interesting read with a lot of fun elements that I don’t see too often these days which is why I am giving it that little extra bump in my rating. I’ve read a few books that dive into the folklore of Elves and I’m curious to see how that is expanded upon in the series as so much of this one takes place with them all in hiding. It a a unique magic system and interesting creatures lurking below and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story and the tiny pierces of mythology we are given throughout as we lead up to the climax.
The characters however is where I felt the most underwhelmed. There’s a lot of subverting of expectation when it comes to the female characters at Court which I enjoyed as I very much expected a miscommunication trope to happen given the Prince’s reputation and Lyria’s pauper like status amongst the other Ladies. Lyria herself however was very frustrating and I am able to understand that that is the point as it is frequently brought up how naive she is but she spent more conjuring a relationship than Finn spent with her in general. I kept waiting for her to take an honest look at her situation and make a good choice but she was frustratingly loyal. The romance is fine like I said as a reader you see the writing on the wall but the latter didn’t make a strong enough impact to have you root for anything but Lyria to become a villain.
There’s a lot of promise here and it’s one that I find myself more optimistic for the future books to really round out the series and deliver on some of the better elements.
** special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
From beneath you it devours….
Growing up all Lyria wanted was to see the world, but with an overprotective mother and a kingdom hellbent on eliminating magic and the Elves she is forced to remain hidden away in the woods. With her mother out she saves the life of a young man by a fabled monster and from that rescue she lands herself a spot as a royal healer looking to save the people from a mysterious plague but as she is pushed to accept her Talent whispers begin of a rebellion to free her people once and for all.
This is an interesting read with a lot of fun elements that I don’t see too often these days which is why I am giving it that little extra bump in my rating. I’ve read a few books that dive into the folklore of Elves and I’m curious to see how that is expanded upon in the series as so much of this one takes place with them all in hiding. It a a unique magic system and interesting creatures lurking below and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story and the tiny pierces of mythology we are given throughout as we lead up to the climax.
The characters however is where I felt the most underwhelmed. There’s a lot of subverting of expectation when it comes to the female characters at Court which I enjoyed as I very much expected a miscommunication trope to happen given the Prince’s reputation and Lyria’s pauper like status amongst the other Ladies. Lyria herself however was very frustrating and I am able to understand that that is the point as it is frequently brought up how naive she is but she spent more conjuring a relationship than Finn spent with her in general. I kept waiting for her to take an honest look at her situation and make a good choice but she was frustratingly loyal. The romance is fine like I said as a reader you see the writing on the wall but the latter didn’t make a strong enough impact to have you root for anything but Lyria to become a villain.
There’s a lot of promise here and it’s one that I find myself more optimistic for the future books to really round out the series and deliver on some of the better elements.
** special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
February 13, 2026
3 stars. First, thanks a bunch to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the ARC!!
~Tropes~
🌊 Healer x Prince OR Healer x Healer
👑 Elves
🗡️ Oppression
🦊 Prophecy/riddles
Thoughts: So, this was just a classic case of an annoying FMC I think. I really didn’t care about her. She was a little selfish, rash, self-centered, and naïve to me. I just really didn’t care about her problems because she knew most of what she was doing was probably a bad idea and she kept doing it anyway 🤷♀️
Then the first MMC, Finn, was also kind of annoying at times. From the start, he’s described as the fun one, but he didn’t seem all that fun to me. He just seemed starved for affection (wink wink).
The second MMC, Cygnus, was better I think. He was mean at the beginning, but it makes sense by the end why. Idk I was on his side from the start, and lowkey think he can do better than Lyria. He’s really smart, but terrible at riddles. Like, the first riddle was SO EASY. It took me two seconds flat to figure it out, and it took them weeks?? Guys. Be so for real. Cygnus is also just the most compassionate guy. He literally remade a hospital so it would support the common folk.
I really like the princess of Urdunia. I am now realizing I don’t remember her name, it starts with Sad I think? But she seemed cool from the start, and I was right.
Dante’s a cutie patootie and I have mixed feelings about Daisy.
The plot is alright. A little predictable/basic but it’s not boring.
The world is also kind of basic if I’m being completely honest. It kind of felt like a blueprint for a romantasy.
If there’s one thing I definitely liked about this book, it would probably be the magic. I thought it was cool.
Anyway, it’s not bad, but I think there are more unique fantasy books out there. Also, the author said flowers were a big thing in this book, and I feel like they really weren’t, so idk.
(I also read this on my kindle for the most part and the formatting was really goofed up so that was annoying, but that’s an entirely different thing)
Thanks for reading! 💙
~Tropes~
🌊 Healer x Prince OR Healer x Healer
👑 Elves
🗡️ Oppression
🦊 Prophecy/riddles
Thoughts: So, this was just a classic case of an annoying FMC I think. I really didn’t care about her. She was a little selfish, rash, self-centered, and naïve to me. I just really didn’t care about her problems because she knew most of what she was doing was probably a bad idea and she kept doing it anyway 🤷♀️
Then the first MMC, Finn, was also kind of annoying at times. From the start, he’s described as the fun one, but he didn’t seem all that fun to me. He just seemed starved for affection (wink wink).
The second MMC, Cygnus, was better I think. He was mean at the beginning, but it makes sense by the end why. Idk I was on his side from the start, and lowkey think he can do better than Lyria. He’s really smart, but terrible at riddles. Like, the first riddle was SO EASY. It took me two seconds flat to figure it out, and it took them weeks?? Guys. Be so for real. Cygnus is also just the most compassionate guy. He literally remade a hospital so it would support the common folk.
I really like the princess of Urdunia. I am now realizing I don’t remember her name, it starts with Sad I think? But she seemed cool from the start, and I was right.
Dante’s a cutie patootie and I have mixed feelings about Daisy.
The plot is alright. A little predictable/basic but it’s not boring.
The world is also kind of basic if I’m being completely honest. It kind of felt like a blueprint for a romantasy.
If there’s one thing I definitely liked about this book, it would probably be the magic. I thought it was cool.
Anyway, it’s not bad, but I think there are more unique fantasy books out there. Also, the author said flowers were a big thing in this book, and I feel like they really weren’t, so idk.
(I also read this on my kindle for the most part and the formatting was really goofed up so that was annoying, but that’s an entirely different thing)
Thanks for reading! 💙
March 4, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
In this world, elves and humans are at war, and many elves are forced into hiding to survive. Lyria has grown up inside a magically protected home, constantly moving to avoid discovery. She has been taught one rule above all else: never cross the boundary. But when her mother leaves for the market and Lyria hears a desperate scream for help, she makes a choice that changes everything. One moment of compassion sets her on a path that could either shape her future for the better… or unravel everything she’s ever known.
This was such a strong coming-of-age fantasy. The world building was layered and thoughtful, especially the tension and hatred between elves and humans. I loved how the politics were woven into the story without feeling overwhelmed. It added weight to every decision and made the stakes feel very real.
The magic system was interesting and easy to follow, and the pacing stayed steady throughout. It never dragged, but it also took the time to build the emotional foundation of the story.
Honestly, the romance was one of my favorite parts. I love a well-done love triangle and this one had me invested. Lyria has not one but two love interests Finn and Cygnus and the contrast between them was clear. I never fully connected with Prince Finn. He always felt like he was holding something back or trying too hard to maintain a certain image. With Cygnus, though, I could see the connection more clearly. He may not have shared everything, but he didn’t feel deceptive in the same way. The tension between them felt more natural, and I found myself rooting for that dynamic.
Lyria’s character growth is slow, but it makes sense for her situation. She has been sheltered and controlled for most of her life, so watching her begin to reclaim her choices even when I didn’t necessarily agree with all of them felt realistic. By the end, you start to see her stepping into her own power, and that gives me hope for what’s coming next.
And that ending. I am not okay. I need book two because I cannot sit with that cliffhanger. I’m really hoping Lyria learns to trust herself and fully embrace what’s right in front of her.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
In this world, elves and humans are at war, and many elves are forced into hiding to survive. Lyria has grown up inside a magically protected home, constantly moving to avoid discovery. She has been taught one rule above all else: never cross the boundary. But when her mother leaves for the market and Lyria hears a desperate scream for help, she makes a choice that changes everything. One moment of compassion sets her on a path that could either shape her future for the better… or unravel everything she’s ever known.
This was such a strong coming-of-age fantasy. The world building was layered and thoughtful, especially the tension and hatred between elves and humans. I loved how the politics were woven into the story without feeling overwhelmed. It added weight to every decision and made the stakes feel very real.
The magic system was interesting and easy to follow, and the pacing stayed steady throughout. It never dragged, but it also took the time to build the emotional foundation of the story.
Honestly, the romance was one of my favorite parts. I love a well-done love triangle and this one had me invested. Lyria has not one but two love interests Finn and Cygnus and the contrast between them was clear. I never fully connected with Prince Finn. He always felt like he was holding something back or trying too hard to maintain a certain image. With Cygnus, though, I could see the connection more clearly. He may not have shared everything, but he didn’t feel deceptive in the same way. The tension between them felt more natural, and I found myself rooting for that dynamic.
Lyria’s character growth is slow, but it makes sense for her situation. She has been sheltered and controlled for most of her life, so watching her begin to reclaim her choices even when I didn’t necessarily agree with all of them felt realistic. By the end, you start to see her stepping into her own power, and that gives me hope for what’s coming next.
And that ending. I am not okay. I need book two because I cannot sit with that cliffhanger. I’m really hoping Lyria learns to trust herself and fully embrace what’s right in front of her.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to review this book.
March 21, 2026
Whimsical, bingeable, adventurous, and incredibly romantic!
I absolutely LOVE YA romantasy and The Ruins Beneath Us checks all the boxes for me. It's whimsical and mysterious, with a lovable cast of characters, a romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet, and a plot twist that had me staring into the void for an hour after I was done reading. It was the best time!
Lyria's is an elf with chaotic magic, hiding from the human kingdom, but through a chain of events she ends up working in the very palace she avoided her whole life. This story was so much fun. It gave me the same feeling that Throne of Glass did, but with an apothecary rather than an assassin. Each character felt intentional and memorable. I love Lyria's tenacity and fierce determination, while she also remained soft. One of my favorite details is that she wears a kerchief in her hair to help conceal her pointed ears which reminds me of the “Cinderella doing her house chores” look. It's a small thing that packs a huge punch to the whimsy vibes.
I thought I could guess where the story was going, but at every turn I was surprised by something. Whether it was a reveal or a twist, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Overall, The Ruins Beneath Us was a truly fun and compelling read. I had the best time!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
• YA romantasy — first in duology
• hidden, forbidden elf magic
• healing magic
• love triangle
• forbidden romance
• slow burn
• trust no one
• hidden identity
• forced proximity
• court intrigue
• spice: 🌶️ (somewhere between fade to black and on page, but absolutely non descriptive)
🎧 The audiobook was also fabulous and the narrator truly sold the emotional experience through her performance. I did not *love* that she pronounced the word "familiar" like "FERmiliar," but that was a minor, personal preference thing and did not take away from my enjoyment overall.
I absolutely LOVE YA romantasy and The Ruins Beneath Us checks all the boxes for me. It's whimsical and mysterious, with a lovable cast of characters, a romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet, and a plot twist that had me staring into the void for an hour after I was done reading. It was the best time!
Lyria's is an elf with chaotic magic, hiding from the human kingdom, but through a chain of events she ends up working in the very palace she avoided her whole life. This story was so much fun. It gave me the same feeling that Throne of Glass did, but with an apothecary rather than an assassin. Each character felt intentional and memorable. I love Lyria's tenacity and fierce determination, while she also remained soft. One of my favorite details is that she wears a kerchief in her hair to help conceal her pointed ears which reminds me of the “Cinderella doing her house chores” look. It's a small thing that packs a huge punch to the whimsy vibes.
I thought I could guess where the story was going, but at every turn I was surprised by something. Whether it was a reveal or a twist, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Overall, The Ruins Beneath Us was a truly fun and compelling read. I had the best time!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
• YA romantasy — first in duology
• hidden, forbidden elf magic
• healing magic
• love triangle
• forbidden romance
• slow burn
• trust no one
• hidden identity
• forced proximity
• court intrigue
• spice: 🌶️ (somewhere between fade to black and on page, but absolutely non descriptive)
🎧 The audiobook was also fabulous and the narrator truly sold the emotional experience through her performance. I did not *love* that she pronounced the word "familiar" like "FERmiliar," but that was a minor, personal preference thing and did not take away from my enjoyment overall.
March 17, 2026
First and foremost, I want to thank NetGalley and Sasha E. Sloan for allowing me an ARC of this book!
This book was so much fun, and it felt refreshing to read, because it was just a very different kind of romantacy than I’ve been reading recently! I‘ve gotten really accustomed to the classic broody MMC type, and Finn was a nice departure from that with his golden retriever energy!
I also found Lydia very interesting to read. I wasn’t sure I’d end up relating to her, but was surprised to find a number of traits that were similar to my own.
I also appreciated the book being a bit less outright spicy. I don’t mind spice, but the fade to black was a nice break from other books I’ve been reading. It made the story flow better for me personally.
The world itself is also pretty interesting! I love the dynamics between fae and humans in books like these. Everyone always has such interesting takes. I feel like the worldbuilding we got in this book is such a strong start, and left me interested in learning more about it!
Admittedly, it took a while for the story to catch me, but I’ve chalked that up to having read a book alongside it that starts similarly. Once it grabbed me it REALLY grabbed me, and I was so locked in! I’m extremely invested in where this story is going to go in the future, especially with how wild things got at the end.
Lastly, I want to praise the characters! I thought that almost all of them were interesting, and I ended up liking some of them more than I thought I would! This is definitely a book where I was surprised by the supporting cast at certain points. My preconceived notions, alongside Lyria’s, really evolved as we learned more about each other no one felt flat or unnecessary to me. Everyone had a part to play. I think honestly, Odessa is the only character I didn’t really care about.
All and all, this was such a fun read, especially when I locked in. I am really glad I was able to give it a go, and I’m super excited for the next book whenever that may be!
This book was so much fun, and it felt refreshing to read, because it was just a very different kind of romantacy than I’ve been reading recently! I‘ve gotten really accustomed to the classic broody MMC type, and Finn was a nice departure from that with his golden retriever energy!
I also found Lydia very interesting to read. I wasn’t sure I’d end up relating to her, but was surprised to find a number of traits that were similar to my own.
I also appreciated the book being a bit less outright spicy. I don’t mind spice, but the fade to black was a nice break from other books I’ve been reading. It made the story flow better for me personally.
The world itself is also pretty interesting! I love the dynamics between fae and humans in books like these. Everyone always has such interesting takes. I feel like the worldbuilding we got in this book is such a strong start, and left me interested in learning more about it!
Admittedly, it took a while for the story to catch me, but I’ve chalked that up to having read a book alongside it that starts similarly. Once it grabbed me it REALLY grabbed me, and I was so locked in! I’m extremely invested in where this story is going to go in the future, especially with how wild things got at the end.
Lastly, I want to praise the characters! I thought that almost all of them were interesting, and I ended up liking some of them more than I thought I would! This is definitely a book where I was surprised by the supporting cast at certain points. My preconceived notions, alongside Lyria’s, really evolved as we learned more about each other no one felt flat or unnecessary to me. Everyone had a part to play. I think honestly, Odessa is the only character I didn’t really care about.
All and all, this was such a fun read, especially when I locked in. I am really glad I was able to give it a go, and I’m super excited for the next book whenever that may be!
February 14, 2026
I’m not a big Fantasy reader but Sasha Sloan is an Utah Author and known for her TikTok series House of Black where they do skits of the Harry Potter Black Family while they were in school. I do like that TikTok series so I needed to give her debut novel a try.
I really enjoyed it. Instead of Fae like most romantasy novel are written about Sasha went to the way of Elves instead and I liked that a lot better since I am so tired of Fae 😅.
The storyline was a fun one. We have Lyria who has lived in the woods with her mother her whole life since Elves are basically fugitives in this new world.
There were times I was rooting for Lyria and times I wanted to reach through the book and strangle her because she was being dumb but she was a sheltered 18 year old.
This was a book where no part felt boring. It was past faced through out the entire storyline and we even got a twist.
I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
I do have to state. On Amazon this book age states 14+ but there so two scenes in the book that insinuate a sex scene with a shower and bed scene but nothing is explicitly written.
Genre: Romantasy
APK: Ebook
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book #1
I really enjoyed it. Instead of Fae like most romantasy novel are written about Sasha went to the way of Elves instead and I liked that a lot better since I am so tired of Fae 😅.
The storyline was a fun one. We have Lyria who has lived in the woods with her mother her whole life since Elves are basically fugitives in this new world.
There were times I was rooting for Lyria and times I wanted to reach through the book and strangle her because she was being dumb but she was a sheltered 18 year old.
This was a book where no part felt boring. It was past faced through out the entire storyline and we even got a twist.
I will definitely be continuing on with this series.
I do have to state. On Amazon this book age states 14+ but there so two scenes in the book that insinuate a sex scene with a shower and bed scene but nothing is explicitly written.
Genre: Romantasy
APK: Ebook
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Standalone: Book #1
March 4, 2026
Thank you to Disney Hyperion, NetGalley, and Ms. Sloan for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
I'm not familiar with Ms. Sloan, from TikTok or any other social media, so I can honestly say I was not "influenced" (pun intended, ha ha) to read this or to feel any kind of way about it due to my feelings about its author.
It's a solid YA romantasy, I'll say that. It might skew upper YA or even NA due to a few scenes but, if you think teens aren't aware of that sort of thing, think again. I don't own any pearls and I wouldn't clutch them if I did, I'm just saying, the characters here are definitely younger. Lyria in particular I know is supposed to be a teenager (elf or human, teenagers of any kind apparently have some commonalities) and her behavior definitely did read younger. I found myself rolling my eyes at her at points. I guess her behavior is in line with her age and maturity level but I had to keep reminding myself of that. I do think the author focuses more on the main characters, especially Lyria's encounters with Cygnus and Finn, at the expense of (A) the secondary characters and (B) the worldbuilding. The backstory was SO good and I would have liked more. There were actually several aspects that I would have liked to learn more about but I never really found that the author circled back.
Like I said, the author focused more on the three main characters, and it definitely showed. Even though Lyria made some really dumb decisions, she was easy to relate to and care about. However, love triangles are my actual nemesis, and I'm really worried that this book is going to dive down deep into one. If that happens I might have to cut and run. Ms. Sloan: please don't!!!
I'm not familiar with Ms. Sloan, from TikTok or any other social media, so I can honestly say I was not "influenced" (pun intended, ha ha) to read this or to feel any kind of way about it due to my feelings about its author.
It's a solid YA romantasy, I'll say that. It might skew upper YA or even NA due to a few scenes but, if you think teens aren't aware of that sort of thing, think again. I don't own any pearls and I wouldn't clutch them if I did, I'm just saying, the characters here are definitely younger. Lyria in particular I know is supposed to be a teenager (elf or human, teenagers of any kind apparently have some commonalities) and her behavior definitely did read younger. I found myself rolling my eyes at her at points. I guess her behavior is in line with her age and maturity level but I had to keep reminding myself of that. I do think the author focuses more on the main characters, especially Lyria's encounters with Cygnus and Finn, at the expense of (A) the secondary characters and (B) the worldbuilding. The backstory was SO good and I would have liked more. There were actually several aspects that I would have liked to learn more about but I never really found that the author circled back.
Like I said, the author focused more on the three main characters, and it definitely showed. Even though Lyria made some really dumb decisions, she was easy to relate to and care about. However, love triangles are my actual nemesis, and I'm really worried that this book is going to dive down deep into one. If that happens I might have to cut and run. Ms. Sloan: please don't!!!
March 27, 2026
this book blew my minddd 🤯
i thought it would just be a fun fantasy read because i heard it was a ya disney book but nopeee this book was a rollercoaster (in a good way)
lyria is an elf who has been living in the ironwoods with her mother who refuses to let her explore the world, since elves like her with a Talent are hunted by the verdinae. she saves a prince, finn from a beast in the woods who discovers she is a healer. he brings her to his palace to become the royal apothecary to help with rumors of a plague overtaking the kingdom. she works with cygnus, a broody royal healer who she discovers secrets lurking within the palace with.
i loved both finn and cygnus and did not know who lyria was going to end up with—and i still don’t know 🤣
the twist was insane! i couldn’t stop reading at that point and i’m so excited for book 2!
this book had some mature themes, content, and language including sexual content so i’d say it was for upper ya-new adults.
the magic system was captivating, the world-building was immersive, and the story was amazing!
i thought it would just be a fun fantasy read because i heard it was a ya disney book but nopeee this book was a rollercoaster (in a good way)
lyria is an elf who has been living in the ironwoods with her mother who refuses to let her explore the world, since elves like her with a Talent are hunted by the verdinae. she saves a prince, finn from a beast in the woods who discovers she is a healer. he brings her to his palace to become the royal apothecary to help with rumors of a plague overtaking the kingdom. she works with cygnus, a broody royal healer who she discovers secrets lurking within the palace with.
i loved both finn and cygnus and did not know who lyria was going to end up with—and i still don’t know 🤣
the twist was insane! i couldn’t stop reading at that point and i’m so excited for book 2!
this book had some mature themes, content, and language including sexual content so i’d say it was for upper ya-new adults.
the magic system was captivating, the world-building was immersive, and the story was amazing!
March 27, 2026
Ruins Beneath Us is a gripping, atmospheric fantasy that pulls you in with its worldbuilding, tension, and emotional weight. Sasha Sloan does a great job creating a story that feels immersive without losing sight of the characters at its center.
One of the things I especially appreciated was how strong the side characters were, particularly Roburn. Even though he isn’t the focus of the story, he leaves a real impression. He’s written with a lot of depth and presence, and every time he appears, he adds something meaningful to the scene. He feels layered, memorable, and distinct in a way that a lot of side characters don’t.
What makes Roburn work so well is that he never feels overdone. He’s compelling without stealing the story, and that balance is part of what makes the book so strong overall. Sasha Sloan clearly knows how to make even supporting characters feel important and fully realized.
Overall, Ruins Beneath Us is a really strong read for anyone who enjoys fantasy with emotional depth, vivid atmosphere, and characters who stay with you after the final page.
One of the things I especially appreciated was how strong the side characters were, particularly Roburn. Even though he isn’t the focus of the story, he leaves a real impression. He’s written with a lot of depth and presence, and every time he appears, he adds something meaningful to the scene. He feels layered, memorable, and distinct in a way that a lot of side characters don’t.
What makes Roburn work so well is that he never feels overdone. He’s compelling without stealing the story, and that balance is part of what makes the book so strong overall. Sasha Sloan clearly knows how to make even supporting characters feel important and fully realized.
Overall, Ruins Beneath Us is a really strong read for anyone who enjoys fantasy with emotional depth, vivid atmosphere, and characters who stay with you after the final page.
March 13, 2026
This book was very okay. It wasn't bad, it wasn't great, it was fine. There were parts of it I enjoyed, but I was never really into it.
There was definitely an interesting idea, and I liked most of the worldbuilding. My main issue was with the characters. The FMC Lyria was just so freaking annoying. I flat-out hated her for at least half the book. She would just make these stupid decisions, refuse to look deeper at anything, and was so naive. Part of that was explained by her background, but I still did not enjoy her. The romance was very bland, the side characters were archetypal, and the whole thing was very cliché.
That said, I did give it 3 stars. I enjoyed the underlying plot of the elves vs the humans, the magic, and the adventure. Unfortunately, these took a backseat to the ridiculousness of whatever Lyria was doing at the moment.
There was definitely an interesting idea, and I liked most of the worldbuilding. My main issue was with the characters. The FMC Lyria was just so freaking annoying. I flat-out hated her for at least half the book. She would just make these stupid decisions, refuse to look deeper at anything, and was so naive. Part of that was explained by her background, but I still did not enjoy her. The romance was very bland, the side characters were archetypal, and the whole thing was very cliché.
That said, I did give it 3 stars. I enjoyed the underlying plot of the elves vs the humans, the magic, and the adventure. Unfortunately, these took a backseat to the ridiculousness of whatever Lyria was doing at the moment.
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