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Conform #0
Beneath
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26Win a free print copy of this book!
28 days and 22:29:03
50 copies available
U.S. only
Hundreds of years before the Illum ruled supreme, humanity risked everything to rebuild after a devastating war in this explosive dystopian romance and prequel to Conform.
Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell knows time is running out in the underground city, filled with survivors of the nuclear fallout six years ago. She works in the Expansion Sector, trying to escape the memories of those she lost. Her bleak existence is upended when Tristian Hayes, a stunningly handsome, frustratingly determined commander of the Force, recruits her to join him and his elite team of soldiers as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of the remaining humankind depends on their success—or failure. As she confronts her own demons, Sasha finds both allies and foes in the training program, as well as a sizzling attraction between her and Tristian that threatens the walls she’s built around her heart.
But under the surface, secrets and deception run as rampant as illnesses. And not everyone will survive the rise of a power more terrifying than anything they’ve ever known.
Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell knows time is running out in the underground city, filled with survivors of the nuclear fallout six years ago. She works in the Expansion Sector, trying to escape the memories of those she lost. Her bleak existence is upended when Tristian Hayes, a stunningly handsome, frustratingly determined commander of the Force, recruits her to join him and his elite team of soldiers as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of the remaining humankind depends on their success—or failure. As she confronts her own demons, Sasha finds both allies and foes in the training program, as well as a sizzling attraction between her and Tristian that threatens the walls she’s built around her heart.
But under the surface, secrets and deception run as rampant as illnesses. And not everyone will survive the rise of a power more terrifying than anything they’ve ever known.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 24, 2026
31496 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Sullivan
4 books1,064 followersAriel Sullivan lives in Connecticut with her husband and two sons, as well as their two French bulldogs. Growing up a military brat, Ariel moved every two years and was a perpetual new kid; she often observed from the outskirts, where a deep love of reading was born.
When she isn’t writing, Ariel loves to read everything from poetry to psychology, bake with her sons, listen to live music and travel.
When she isn’t writing, Ariel loves to read everything from poetry to psychology, bake with her sons, listen to live music and travel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am so impressed with the world that has been created in both this spinoff prequel series and the Conform series!
Release Day: March 24th, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️.5
Ariel writes some of the most emotionally rich characters I have read! The connection you feel toward them is unreal. The trauma had me in tears 25% in! I loved our FMC in this. A woman who can handle her own with amazing strength, but has such a good heart. And our badass MMC, who thrives on truth, kindness, and justice. These two made such a good pair.
The plot is very addictive! High stakes filled with tension and hidden secrets. Pacing that will keep you on your toes. A romance filled with yearning and genuine chemistry. A heartbreaking betrayal with a great plot twist. A villain to spite! A Justice system to fight, and side characters to fall in love with. ❤️A lot of amazing people to root for in these books, which adds so much more to the story.
I wish we had our MMC perspective in this one. I feel like it would have added a lot to the story and helped the plot come more full circle, since many of the big moments were about his history and the connections he had. It did get a little repetitive towards the end, but man, did we get hit with a plot twist that left me foaming at the mouth for book 2!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC read opportunity. I am so excited to see how this author grows with two fabulous book debuts! 😍
Release Day: March 24th, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️.5
Ariel writes some of the most emotionally rich characters I have read! The connection you feel toward them is unreal. The trauma had me in tears 25% in! I loved our FMC in this. A woman who can handle her own with amazing strength, but has such a good heart. And our badass MMC, who thrives on truth, kindness, and justice. These two made such a good pair.
The plot is very addictive! High stakes filled with tension and hidden secrets. Pacing that will keep you on your toes. A romance filled with yearning and genuine chemistry. A heartbreaking betrayal with a great plot twist. A villain to spite! A Justice system to fight, and side characters to fall in love with. ❤️A lot of amazing people to root for in these books, which adds so much more to the story.
I wish we had our MMC perspective in this one. I feel like it would have added a lot to the story and helped the plot come more full circle, since many of the big moments were about his history and the connections he had. It did get a little repetitive towards the end, but man, did we get hit with a plot twist that left me foaming at the mouth for book 2!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC read opportunity. I am so excited to see how this author grows with two fabulous book debuts! 😍
October 9, 2025
4⭐️
After reading Conform and really enjoying it I was very excited to read Beneath. I loved hearing more about the history of the environment in Conform, as it was such a cool and unique setup. Its so nice to finally have a good dystopian romance, as so many books say that they are dystopian but aren’t. Beneath/Conform definitely are true dystopian books, and the world is so fleshed out and you can really tell the author spent a lot of time putting history and background into where the world is now.
I loved Sasha and was rooting for her the whole time, even when she had a hard time doing so herself. This book definitely kept me intrigued and reading the whole time and I would love to hear more of Sasha’s story in future books. Though this is a prequel, I personally think to understand what’s happening and where it’s going it makes a lot of sense to read Conform first, but that’s definitely my biased opinion since I read the Conform eARC before Beneath. I do really love Ariel Sullivan’s writing though, and for her first debut books she has done a phenomenal job. I’ll be looking forward to reading more in this world, and anything else Ariel Sullivan writes.
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
After reading Conform and really enjoying it I was very excited to read Beneath. I loved hearing more about the history of the environment in Conform, as it was such a cool and unique setup. Its so nice to finally have a good dystopian romance, as so many books say that they are dystopian but aren’t. Beneath/Conform definitely are true dystopian books, and the world is so fleshed out and you can really tell the author spent a lot of time putting history and background into where the world is now.
I loved Sasha and was rooting for her the whole time, even when she had a hard time doing so herself. This book definitely kept me intrigued and reading the whole time and I would love to hear more of Sasha’s story in future books. Though this is a prequel, I personally think to understand what’s happening and where it’s going it makes a lot of sense to read Conform first, but that’s definitely my biased opinion since I read the Conform eARC before Beneath. I do really love Ariel Sullivan’s writing though, and for her first debut books she has done a phenomenal job. I’ll be looking forward to reading more in this world, and anything else Ariel Sullivan writes.
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 11, 2026
3 stars! As someone who LOVED Conform, this prequel was so highly anticipated for me.
There is a great story in here but I found it to be lost underneath clunky world building and sometimes convoluted writing. There are a lot of side characters that were hard to keep track of and also a LOT of dialogue in this book. And while I enjoyed the found family and camaraderie this brought, I believe it ultimately took away from world building, individual character development, and plot clarity.
This has the potential to be a great prequel series if refined and focused some more. I need more lore, a deeper understanding of the society, and definitely more character depth.
I will be continuing the Conform series but unsure if I’ll be continuing the prequel trilogy at this time.
There is a great story in here but I found it to be lost underneath clunky world building and sometimes convoluted writing. There are a lot of side characters that were hard to keep track of and also a LOT of dialogue in this book. And while I enjoyed the found family and camaraderie this brought, I believe it ultimately took away from world building, individual character development, and plot clarity.
This has the potential to be a great prequel series if refined and focused some more. I need more lore, a deeper understanding of the society, and definitely more character depth.
I will be continuing the Conform series but unsure if I’ll be continuing the prequel trilogy at this time.
October 22, 2025
Beneath is just as special as Conform! Ariel Sullivan does a beautiful job of world building, and creates characters that are dynamic and emotional. You are sucked in to their grief and inspired by the hope they somehow maintain. It started a little slow, with Sasha’s constant indecision, but ultimately it felt plausible when the stakes were high and her history was so heavy. I was constantly looking for threads to see how this ties into the future where it meets Conform and that cast of characters. Cannot wait for more from this series, and for more people to read and chat about it!
February 16, 2026
I honestly didn’t know how I’d feel going into a prequel after reading Conform first, however Ariel KNEW what she was doing here and I loved it! It takes us back hundreds of years before Conform takes place and does give us some insight here and there into the story as a whole. It did not take me long to fall in love with this new set of characters, they are incredible. Sasha is such a strong FMC for many, many reasons and I relate to her heavily with her emotional side. Her romance with Tristian may be a slow burn but their story is worth the wait! I absolutely adored the found family in this one, THAT is how it’s done. The only reason I couldn’t rate it five was because the pacing felt a bit off in the last 25%. I wish the ending wouldn’t have felt as rushed as it did because it led me to feel somewhat confused. There were a lot of names and call signs to follow, so that made things a little chaotic. But, nonetheless I still super enjoyed this one and need the next book asap!!
Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine Books and the author for this gifted arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine Books and the author for this gifted arc!
November 11, 2025
I’m lost in a radioactive wasteland, and my heart is in pieces, but I’ll risk exposure to stay in this world for as long as I live. 🥺
“𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”
𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖𝕤: Fallout meets Divergent meets the 100
𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑 - The world was nuked and a broken girl with nothing left to live for, lives in a bunker full of shady individuals with sketchy motivations and nonexistent empathy, but she’s a badass called deaths angel who gives zero shits about the rules, so the fiercely protective commander hijacks her, forcing her to join his team to venture into the nuclear fallout above. 😮💨
☢️ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿/𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁
🐦🔥 𝗛𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁
☢️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆
🐦🔥 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
☢️ 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲
🐦🔥 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲
☢️ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
🐦🔥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰
☢️ 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀
🐦🔥 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
☢️ 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭
Ariel managed to fit an entire world underground, but she didn’t stop there. It spreads outwards like roots, growing into something massive, magnificent. I could vividly envision the closed off spaces, the winding tunnels, the large training rooms, the living quarters. It felt small, but large at the same time. It set the mood perfectly. The dynamics between the factions were wonderfully done, and the health score was such an interesting way to sort people. It was the perfect nod to Conform and really helps build the overall world. The motives, the why; all of the pieces are falling into place.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚,”
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
Tristian is the perfect man. 🥹 No notes. He’s fiercely loyal, protective, haunted, sexy, perfection. He falls first, and hard. And my girl Sasha does 𝘯𝘰𝘵 make it easy. But she has her reasons. She’s flawed in the way most MC’s aren’t brave enough to be. Strong, broken, and real. And them together? 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. They’re the strength each other needed, the safe place to call home. I wouldn’t call it a slow burn, but man if it doesn’t seem like it takes 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 for them to get there.
“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙨. 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚.”
^ I mean COME ON. 🥹
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
Once again Ariel writes an entire cast of unique individuals that wrap you around their little fingers with ease. She’s the only author I write a side characters category for. Every single one of them is complex, with history and emotions unique to them. They are multifaceted and feel incredibly real. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗺𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. Regardless of how they got there… 👀 I loved them with every beat of my heart. The found family in this, is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The camaraderie between them, the love… 😮💨 𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣. 🤌🏼
“𝙒𝙚 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
“𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
While this is the first of a prequel trilogy before Conform (please read btw, it’s EXCELLENT) it holds its own and could easily be read without ever moving past this trilogy. Although, that’s a horrible decision and I will judge you for it. 💁🏼♀️🫶🏼
𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗜’𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁… 𝗜’𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 😆
The cliffhanger is a doozy, so grab your PPE and wait for the end of the world with me, because we’ll be fighting for our lives until the next one releases.
🧗🏻♀️
𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙩.
Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
“𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.”
𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖𝕤: Fallout meets Divergent meets the 100
𝐓𝐋;𝐃𝐑 - The world was nuked and a broken girl with nothing left to live for, lives in a bunker full of shady individuals with sketchy motivations and nonexistent empathy, but she’s a badass called deaths angel who gives zero shits about the rules, so the fiercely protective commander hijacks her, forcing her to join his team to venture into the nuclear fallout above. 😮💨
☢️ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿/𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁
🐦🔥 𝗛𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁
☢️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘆
🐦🔥 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
☢️ 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲
🐦🔥 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲
☢️ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
🐦🔥 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰
☢️ 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀
🐦🔥 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
☢️ 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭
Ariel managed to fit an entire world underground, but she didn’t stop there. It spreads outwards like roots, growing into something massive, magnificent. I could vividly envision the closed off spaces, the winding tunnels, the large training rooms, the living quarters. It felt small, but large at the same time. It set the mood perfectly. The dynamics between the factions were wonderfully done, and the health score was such an interesting way to sort people. It was the perfect nod to Conform and really helps build the overall world. The motives, the why; all of the pieces are falling into place.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚,”
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
Tristian is the perfect man. 🥹 No notes. He’s fiercely loyal, protective, haunted, sexy, perfection. He falls first, and hard. And my girl Sasha does 𝘯𝘰𝘵 make it easy. But she has her reasons. She’s flawed in the way most MC’s aren’t brave enough to be. Strong, broken, and real. And them together? 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. They’re the strength each other needed, the safe place to call home. I wouldn’t call it a slow burn, but man if it doesn’t seem like it takes 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 for them to get there.
“𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙨. 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚.”
^ I mean COME ON. 🥹
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼
Once again Ariel writes an entire cast of unique individuals that wrap you around their little fingers with ease. She’s the only author I write a side characters category for. Every single one of them is complex, with history and emotions unique to them. They are multifaceted and feel incredibly real. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗺𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴. Regardless of how they got there… 👀 I loved them with every beat of my heart. The found family in this, is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The camaraderie between them, the love… 😮💨 𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣. 🤌🏼
“𝙒𝙚 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
“𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚.”
While this is the first of a prequel trilogy before Conform (please read btw, it’s EXCELLENT) it holds its own and could easily be read without ever moving past this trilogy. Although, that’s a horrible decision and I will judge you for it. 💁🏼♀️🫶🏼
𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗜’𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁, 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁… 𝗜’𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 😆
The cliffhanger is a doozy, so grab your PPE and wait for the end of the world with me, because we’ll be fighting for our lives until the next one releases.
🧗🏻♀️
𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙩.
Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley & Ballentine Books for the Arc for my honest review.
This book is a prequel to "Conform", a whole different story and all new characters. I ate this book up, i did not want to put it down. I dont know what Ariel does with her writing but it completly sucks you in. I just loved Sasha and all the barriers she was trying to overcome with her past. There is romance and a Found Family and every side character was perfect (although i have a soft spot for levi)
If Ariel Sullivan writes it, Im going to devour it. I cannot wait for more to both series.
synopsis: Hundreds of years before the Illum ruled supreme, humanity risked everything to rebuild after a devastating war in this explosive dystopian romance and prequel to Conform.
Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell knows time is running out in the underground city, filled with survivors of the nuclear fallout six years ago. She works in the Expansion Sector, trying to escape the memories of those she lost. Her bleak existence is upended when Tristian Hayes, a stunningly handsome, frustratingly determined commander of the Force, recruits her to join him and his elite team of soldiers as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of the remaining humankind depends on their success—or failure. As she confronts her own demons, Sasha finds both allies and foes in the training program, as well as a sizzling attraction between her and Tristian that threatens the walls she’s built around her heart.
But under the surface, secrets and deception run as rampant as illnesses. And not everyone will survive the rise of a power more terrifying than anything they’ve ever known.
This book is a prequel to "Conform", a whole different story and all new characters. I ate this book up, i did not want to put it down. I dont know what Ariel does with her writing but it completly sucks you in. I just loved Sasha and all the barriers she was trying to overcome with her past. There is romance and a Found Family and every side character was perfect (although i have a soft spot for levi)
If Ariel Sullivan writes it, Im going to devour it. I cannot wait for more to both series.
synopsis: Hundreds of years before the Illum ruled supreme, humanity risked everything to rebuild after a devastating war in this explosive dystopian romance and prequel to Conform.
Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell knows time is running out in the underground city, filled with survivors of the nuclear fallout six years ago. She works in the Expansion Sector, trying to escape the memories of those she lost. Her bleak existence is upended when Tristian Hayes, a stunningly handsome, frustratingly determined commander of the Force, recruits her to join him and his elite team of soldiers as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of the remaining humankind depends on their success—or failure. As she confronts her own demons, Sasha finds both allies and foes in the training program, as well as a sizzling attraction between her and Tristian that threatens the walls she’s built around her heart.
But under the surface, secrets and deception run as rampant as illnesses. And not everyone will survive the rise of a power more terrifying than anything they’ve ever known.
January 11, 2026
4.5 STARS!! So freaking good. Love the world of Conform/Beneath and although this is a prequel, it’s just as good as Conform. It gives a good context to how the world is in Conform and how it came to be. And TABITHA!? Omg this makes so much sense. I need the next book after Conform now. I was rooting for Sasha the entire time and loved the found family aspect. I felt like we really got to know all of the squad and all of the side characters. Obsessed with Tristian and overall really enjoyed the book, it kept me captivated and wanting more. The author does a great job at the world building and really immersing us & painting a picture of the dystopian world. I still have some questions on the end and hope there’s another prequel book to give us a little more context/information?! The end was kind of confusing for me. So was it all a set up, part of the bigger plan, what’s gonna happen next?!
Thank you for the ARC, Thousand Voices!
Thank you for the ARC, Thousand Voices!
December 29, 2025
I was so excited to dive into this one because Conform was hands down one of my favorite reads of 2025—and Ariel Sullivan’s writing once again did not disappoint. Her storytelling completely pulls you in; I instantly feel part of the world and deeply connected to the characters.
It was really special to explore the world before Illum, though I’d still recommend reading Conform first for the full impact of the world-building and perspective. Beneath does start a bit slower, but it unfolds into such a powerful reminder of holding onto hope and the people you love—even in the depths of grief.
I felt the sadness. I felt the loss. But what stayed with me most was the friendship, love, and quiet resilience woven throughout the story. The main character is such a compelling mix of strength, grit, and relentlessness—and I fell for the male main character immediately. And yes… I always appreciate a little spice 🌶️
A beautiful, emotional read that lingers long after the final page.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
It was really special to explore the world before Illum, though I’d still recommend reading Conform first for the full impact of the world-building and perspective. Beneath does start a bit slower, but it unfolds into such a powerful reminder of holding onto hope and the people you love—even in the depths of grief.
I felt the sadness. I felt the loss. But what stayed with me most was the friendship, love, and quiet resilience woven throughout the story. The main character is such a compelling mix of strength, grit, and relentlessness—and I fell for the male main character immediately. And yes… I always appreciate a little spice 🌶️
A beautiful, emotional read that lingers long after the final page.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 28, 2025
I’m still thinking about this one.
Okay, can we talk about Beneath by Ariel Sullivan? Because I am officially obsessed.
If you loved the "tough-as-nails" heroines from Divergent but you want a romance that actually has some heat and emotional depth, you need to add this to your TBR immediately.
The Premise: We’re underground. Like, "nuclear-fallout-everyone-is-cramped-in-tunnels" underground. Sasha is a total badass who works in the expansion sector (basically digging tunnels and being grumpy), and she’s just trying to survive her own grief. Then enters Commander Tristian Hayes with a "secret mission" and… well, things get complicated. Fast.
Why I loved it:
The Grumpy x Grumpy dynamic: Sasha and Tristian are both so guarded, and watching their walls slowly crumble while they’re stuck in forced proximity? Chef’s kiss.
The Vibes: It’s super atmospheric. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it feels a little claustrophobic in the best way possible.
Sasha: She isn’t some perfect, polished MC. She’s messy, she’s grieving, and she’s relatable. I just wanted to give her a hug (and then watch her kick some serious butt).
Final Thoughts: It starts a little slow because there’s a lot of world-building to do, but once it picks up, I couldn't put it down. It’s the perfect prequel—it makes me want to go back and re-read Conform immediately.
Read this if you like: ✅ Dystopian "Underground" worlds ✅ Slow-burn romance (with actual chemistry!) ✅ Secrets, lies, and high-stakes training ✅ Strong, "take-no-crap" female leads
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review
Okay, can we talk about Beneath by Ariel Sullivan? Because I am officially obsessed.
If you loved the "tough-as-nails" heroines from Divergent but you want a romance that actually has some heat and emotional depth, you need to add this to your TBR immediately.
The Premise: We’re underground. Like, "nuclear-fallout-everyone-is-cramped-in-tunnels" underground. Sasha is a total badass who works in the expansion sector (basically digging tunnels and being grumpy), and she’s just trying to survive her own grief. Then enters Commander Tristian Hayes with a "secret mission" and… well, things get complicated. Fast.
Why I loved it:
The Grumpy x Grumpy dynamic: Sasha and Tristian are both so guarded, and watching their walls slowly crumble while they’re stuck in forced proximity? Chef’s kiss.
The Vibes: It’s super atmospheric. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it feels a little claustrophobic in the best way possible.
Sasha: She isn’t some perfect, polished MC. She’s messy, she’s grieving, and she’s relatable. I just wanted to give her a hug (and then watch her kick some serious butt).
Final Thoughts: It starts a little slow because there’s a lot of world-building to do, but once it picks up, I couldn't put it down. It’s the perfect prequel—it makes me want to go back and re-read Conform immediately.
Read this if you like: ✅ Dystopian "Underground" worlds ✅ Slow-burn romance (with actual chemistry!) ✅ Secrets, lies, and high-stakes training ✅ Strong, "take-no-crap" female leads
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review
November 11, 2025
When I first started this book or “prequel” to Conform I was under the impression that this was a standalone prequel an would have all these answers to how we got to the world in Conform… however through reading the book I was getting confused how the world in Beneath was getting us to Conform. I saw a few Easter Eggs but nothing really solid. When I got to the authors note - I had NO clue that this was going to be its own trilogy. That makes a lot more sense… but I’m not sure exactly how I feel about the two dueling trilogies thing. But I’m interested to see how Sullivan pulls it off.
I did enjoy this book and give it a 3.5, however the final act of the book felt a bit clunky - especially with all of the betraying, backstabbing and multiple names and call signs for everyone. It was becoming difficult to keep things straight in those final 4-5 chapters. But I will definitely keep reading this series!
I did enjoy this book and give it a 3.5, however the final act of the book felt a bit clunky - especially with all of the betraying, backstabbing and multiple names and call signs for everyone. It was becoming difficult to keep things straight in those final 4-5 chapters. But I will definitely keep reading this series!
February 1, 2026
So grateful for NetGalley & being able to get an e-arc of this… but now dying for the sequel to conform again :((
This book/series is curing my craving for a dystopian series at the same intrigue level hunger games hit me with & I just love it so much. This book wasn’t as good as Conform from my POV & what intrigues me book content wise, but it was still well written and such a unique world to enter into. If you’re wanting a HEA ending… you will not find this here, nor does conform heal that LOL. But so so worth it.
Quotes that hit while reading -
“ I didn’t think humans were capable of getting it right. Had we not proved we were only good at fucking it up?”
“‘flowers die, dad. Above the surface, the part everyone can see, they do. But beneath, they remain strong. They come back.’”
“‘I’m sorry’ - Levi spoke quietly as he stared straight ahead- ‘that someone in your life made you think you weren’t good. That you weren’t worthy of good things.’ … ‘you are worthy of good things, Sasha.’”
“I had finally found something, someone, and people being fucking people took it from me.”
This book/series is curing my craving for a dystopian series at the same intrigue level hunger games hit me with & I just love it so much. This book wasn’t as good as Conform from my POV & what intrigues me book content wise, but it was still well written and such a unique world to enter into. If you’re wanting a HEA ending… you will not find this here, nor does conform heal that LOL. But so so worth it.
Quotes that hit while reading -
“ I didn’t think humans were capable of getting it right. Had we not proved we were only good at fucking it up?”
“‘flowers die, dad. Above the surface, the part everyone can see, they do. But beneath, they remain strong. They come back.’”
“‘I’m sorry’ - Levi spoke quietly as he stared straight ahead- ‘that someone in your life made you think you weren’t good. That you weren’t worthy of good things.’ … ‘you are worthy of good things, Sasha.’”
“I had finally found something, someone, and people being fucking people took it from me.”
February 13, 2026
This was really good and simultaneously underwhelming. I think it’s because I’m OBSESSED with Conform and read it twice within 3 months.
So my understanding is that Beneath is a prequel to Conform. I went in with the expectation that this would build the world more for us and explain to us how we got to that breeding, dystopian world and I really didn’t see any of that here.
I also felt like the pacing was sort of slow and the FMC was slightly insufferable. I would’ve personally liked for her development to move along a little more. I did enjoy the MMC although he was moderately basic. There were a lot of aspects of his personality I appreciated, but nothing OUTSTANDING.
And just a random thing, there are A LOT of names/characters and on top of meeting like 8 characters at once, they all have nicknames (call signs for missions) so you’re trying to keep like 20 names and their very complicated relationships straight it took away from the story a little bit for me.
Overall, as a prequel I felt underwhelmed but if it were a standalone it would’ve been 3.5-4 stars easily!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So my understanding is that Beneath is a prequel to Conform. I went in with the expectation that this would build the world more for us and explain to us how we got to that breeding, dystopian world and I really didn’t see any of that here.
I also felt like the pacing was sort of slow and the FMC was slightly insufferable. I would’ve personally liked for her development to move along a little more. I did enjoy the MMC although he was moderately basic. There were a lot of aspects of his personality I appreciated, but nothing OUTSTANDING.
And just a random thing, there are A LOT of names/characters and on top of meeting like 8 characters at once, they all have nicknames (call signs for missions) so you’re trying to keep like 20 names and their very complicated relationships straight it took away from the story a little bit for me.
Overall, as a prequel I felt underwhelmed but if it were a standalone it would’ve been 3.5-4 stars easily!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2025
I was so very excited to have been approved for this ARC right after I finished Conform. I had so much fun with Conform, it felt like it hit that perfect blend of nostalgia and breath-of-fresh-air. Sadly, Beneath just… really didn’t hit the mark for me.
The first 15% or so had me really interested and engaged. The last 15% was also super interesting and engaging. The entire middle? Complete useless filler. There’s barely anything that happens that actually has any effect on the story. All the story happens in that first and last 15%, the rest is just pointless drivel thrown in to pad out the book. Which I honestly found really upsetting, considering how much fun I had with Conform and how much I actually really enjoyed that first and last bit.
I think this likely just suffers from what a lot of books are suffering from at the moment, and that’s a lack of sufficient editing. The plot and pacing issues aside, this was also fairly poorly written compared to Conform. It was full of inconsistencies and errors and repetition, as well as typos and grammar issues galore. It truly felt like reading a rough draft, and I find that so frustrating.
In the middle, the main character gets so extraordinarily insufferable. She does nothing but whine and throw tantrums and treat everyone around her like actual garbage and refuses to communicate or act like an adult. Straight up, she (and others) act like they’re 14-16 the entire book and it’s completely unbelievable that they’re supposed to be late 20’s early 30’s.
There’s also so many problems I had with the actual writing that I didn’t find I had in Conform. For some reason, the author decided to give each character a minimum of 3 names they’re referred to, some with 5. Which could work if it was 1-2 characters, but nope. Every character and side character is randomly called by their first name, last name, call sign, and often nickname. And you’re often not given any context so you have to try and piece it together. Even when you do have context, it’s hard to remember 3-5 names for each character when there’s 10+ characters. That’s 30-50 names to remember. There was also a lot of silly stuff. Like bad science to fit the story. And the cringey over-use of the word “beast” which was written no less than 58 times. And some really, really strange sentence structures that threw me out of the story. Also tons of inconsistencies like incorrect character names during conversations, sentences that just stop in the middle, and info that doesn’t match the info we’ve been given - but not in a mystery way, in a “author forgot who did what and when” kinda way. Also a lot of generalised stuff that just doesn’t make any sense.
In the end, so much of this book had absolutely no bearing on the actual plot and it didn’t really achieve what it set out to achieve. It’s supposed to be a prequel to Conform, supposed to show us how the world ended up the way we see it there. But the only connection it has to the main series is a handful of pages at the very end. This really should’ve had the bulk of the middle removed (where literally nothing happens but Sasha sulking and being an ass), and the ending should’ve been the climax, with a comedown of what I imagine will be the start of book 2.
So yeah, interesting enough. But a lot of issues that made this a much less enjoyable read than Conform.
The first 15% or so had me really interested and engaged. The last 15% was also super interesting and engaging. The entire middle? Complete useless filler. There’s barely anything that happens that actually has any effect on the story. All the story happens in that first and last 15%, the rest is just pointless drivel thrown in to pad out the book. Which I honestly found really upsetting, considering how much fun I had with Conform and how much I actually really enjoyed that first and last bit.
I think this likely just suffers from what a lot of books are suffering from at the moment, and that’s a lack of sufficient editing. The plot and pacing issues aside, this was also fairly poorly written compared to Conform. It was full of inconsistencies and errors and repetition, as well as typos and grammar issues galore. It truly felt like reading a rough draft, and I find that so frustrating.
In the middle, the main character gets so extraordinarily insufferable. She does nothing but whine and throw tantrums and treat everyone around her like actual garbage and refuses to communicate or act like an adult. Straight up, she (and others) act like they’re 14-16 the entire book and it’s completely unbelievable that they’re supposed to be late 20’s early 30’s.
There’s also so many problems I had with the actual writing that I didn’t find I had in Conform. For some reason, the author decided to give each character a minimum of 3 names they’re referred to, some with 5. Which could work if it was 1-2 characters, but nope. Every character and side character is randomly called by their first name, last name, call sign, and often nickname. And you’re often not given any context so you have to try and piece it together. Even when you do have context, it’s hard to remember 3-5 names for each character when there’s 10+ characters. That’s 30-50 names to remember. There was also a lot of silly stuff. Like bad science to fit the story. And the cringey over-use of the word “beast” which was written no less than 58 times. And some really, really strange sentence structures that threw me out of the story. Also tons of inconsistencies like incorrect character names during conversations, sentences that just stop in the middle, and info that doesn’t match the info we’ve been given - but not in a mystery way, in a “author forgot who did what and when” kinda way. Also a lot of generalised stuff that just doesn’t make any sense.
In the end, so much of this book had absolutely no bearing on the actual plot and it didn’t really achieve what it set out to achieve. It’s supposed to be a prequel to Conform, supposed to show us how the world ended up the way we see it there. But the only connection it has to the main series is a handful of pages at the very end. This really should’ve had the bulk of the middle removed (where literally nothing happens but Sasha sulking and being an ass), and the ending should’ve been the climax, with a comedown of what I imagine will be the start of book 2.
So yeah, interesting enough. But a lot of issues that made this a much less enjoyable read than Conform.
November 4, 2025
I was lucky enough to be an early reader of the first book in this series (Conform), and I was equally as lucky to get my hands on an early copy of Beneath! I wasn’t sure what to expect from a prequel, but I think this was even better than Conform!
This was a fast-paced dystopian adventure with so many heart-pounding moments. I stayed up late reading several nights in a row because I just couldn’t put it down! The world of Beneath is so intense and visceral and emotional. I loved the found family and the love story that develop against all odds. I can tell that there is so much ground work being laid for a truly epic series—I can’t wait for whatever book we get next in this universe!
5 ⭐️
1st person, single POV
Medium 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ballantine for gifting me a digital advance reader copy of this amazing book!
This was a fast-paced dystopian adventure with so many heart-pounding moments. I stayed up late reading several nights in a row because I just couldn’t put it down! The world of Beneath is so intense and visceral and emotional. I loved the found family and the love story that develop against all odds. I can tell that there is so much ground work being laid for a truly epic series—I can’t wait for whatever book we get next in this universe!
5 ⭐️
1st person, single POV
Medium 🌶️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ballantine for gifting me a digital advance reader copy of this amazing book!
December 13, 2025
Beneath is dark, immersive, and emotionally heavy in the best way. Ariel Sullivan creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that pulls you in and doesn’t let go, with morally gray characters who feel deeply flawed and real. The story isn’t afraid to sit in discomfort, which adds depth and weight to the emotional stakes.
The pacing drags slightly in the beginning, but the payoff is strong and satisfying. Overall, Beneath is a compelling, character-driven read that lingers after the final page. I absolutely love this series and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
The pacing drags slightly in the beginning, but the payoff is strong and satisfying. Overall, Beneath is a compelling, character-driven read that lingers after the final page. I absolutely love this series and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review
December 6, 2025
So very thankful getting accepted for an ARC from Net gallery! The book made my sick days go so much better as I read this book!
All I can say is AMAZING without giving any spoilers! Trust me I am very picky about the books I read and read in less than one day! I couldn’t put it down and when I did all I could think of is what happens next and needed to keep reading it asap! Promise it won’t disappoint!
All I can say is AMAZING without giving any spoilers! Trust me I am very picky about the books I read and read in less than one day! I couldn’t put it down and when I did all I could think of is what happens next and needed to keep reading it asap! Promise it won’t disappoint!
November 19, 2025
Loved this even more than Conform!! I had no idea the prequel would be its own trilogy and I kept waiting for answers on how the world came to be in Conform. But instead we got a huge cliffhanger 😅
Six years after the world had a nuclear war everyone surviving is living underground in Haven. They are divided into 5 different units depending on their jobs, medical, sanitation, expansion, kitchens, or the force (like a military). We follow Sasha and her world of grief after losing her entire family to the war, she is alone at Haven like many others. The plot was plotting and I saw some Easter eggs for conform and there was thankfully not a love triangle lol.
Can’t recommend this book enough but definitely would read after Conform, not before!
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book, pub date expected 3/24/26!
Six years after the world had a nuclear war everyone surviving is living underground in Haven. They are divided into 5 different units depending on their jobs, medical, sanitation, expansion, kitchens, or the force (like a military). We follow Sasha and her world of grief after losing her entire family to the war, she is alone at Haven like many others. The plot was plotting and I saw some Easter eggs for conform and there was thankfully not a love triangle lol.
Can’t recommend this book enough but definitely would read after Conform, not before!
Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book, pub date expected 3/24/26!
February 13, 2026
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the Arc!! This has been one of my most anticipated reads for this year, aside from the sequel to Conform which I am absolutely obsessed with.
Unlike the previously mentioned conform, Beneath is a story of survival in the aftermath of the apocalypse, the action taking place just a few years after the war, in one of the last known bastions of humanity. I went into this book completely blind so I will absolutely not use any tropes to describe the plot, if you enjoy the world Ariel Sullivan is creating I really recommend doing the same.
The FMC is reminding me a lot of Nesta from Acotar with a similar story of not giving up and living on while dealing with absolute grief and losing everything and everyone she’s ever loved. The growth arc progresses at a very believable pace and i expect it will be so much more obvious in the sequel (imagine my surprise when I finished on an absolute insane ending only to find out after frantically searching that this is a trilogy eeeeeek!!!). The MMC is your standard walking green flag that I think compliments her story so well and honestly sometimes you just want to read about a genuinely good man.
All that out of the way, my favorite favorite part was the found family. Each character is so different and brings something else to the table. Their entire story is so intertwined which what I believe to be even more to discover. No one fell flat for me, no one felt like they were just there for filler or to fulfill a purpose, I care about every single one of them and I am overjoyed that there will be more books to spend more time with them.
All in all, this was a fantastic first post apocalyptic romance for me and l am excited to read more. The book was very action packed and it set the background for the villains, the good guys and all the intrigue that I expect in the sequel. I can’t wait to see how it ties into the main series and explain how we ended up in the dystopian future of Conform.
Unlike the previously mentioned conform, Beneath is a story of survival in the aftermath of the apocalypse, the action taking place just a few years after the war, in one of the last known bastions of humanity. I went into this book completely blind so I will absolutely not use any tropes to describe the plot, if you enjoy the world Ariel Sullivan is creating I really recommend doing the same.
The FMC is reminding me a lot of Nesta from Acotar with a similar story of not giving up and living on while dealing with absolute grief and losing everything and everyone she’s ever loved. The growth arc progresses at a very believable pace and i expect it will be so much more obvious in the sequel (imagine my surprise when I finished on an absolute insane ending only to find out after frantically searching that this is a trilogy eeeeeek!!!). The MMC is your standard walking green flag that I think compliments her story so well and honestly sometimes you just want to read about a genuinely good man.
All that out of the way, my favorite favorite part was the found family. Each character is so different and brings something else to the table. Their entire story is so intertwined which what I believe to be even more to discover. No one fell flat for me, no one felt like they were just there for filler or to fulfill a purpose, I care about every single one of them and I am overjoyed that there will be more books to spend more time with them.
All in all, this was a fantastic first post apocalyptic romance for me and l am excited to read more. The book was very action packed and it set the background for the villains, the good guys and all the intrigue that I expect in the sequel. I can’t wait to see how it ties into the main series and explain how we ended up in the dystopian future of Conform.
January 24, 2026
4.5-5 ⭐️ I was so excited to get an early copy of Beneath after loving Conform. This was thrilling, fast paced and I may have liked it a tad more than Conform! I felt that her writing took a step up in this book. You can feel how much torment Sasha is putting on herself for the family she has lost and all that she experienced as Death’s Angel.
There are a lot of characters being thrown at you in the beginning and still not sure if I can differentiate between the partners and couples. It would be helpful if there was a chart of the original Unit Seven names, call signs and partners. Despite this, the side characters build such a great found family! Very much looking forward to the next books of hers and how the events in Beneath lead into the world of Conform
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
There are a lot of characters being thrown at you in the beginning and still not sure if I can differentiate between the partners and couples. It would be helpful if there was a chart of the original Unit Seven names, call signs and partners. Despite this, the side characters build such a great found family! Very much looking forward to the next books of hers and how the events in Beneath lead into the world of Conform
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
January 6, 2026
This book is Dystopian Romance and is the prequel to Conform. It take place years before the story of Conform where the nuclear war has decimated all above ground life and everyone is forced to live below ground.
The FMC is named Sasha, she starts out working in the hospital ward, but when the constant death she sees working there becomes to much she moves to the expansion team (digging) so she can disconnect and not have to care. She meets Tristian and he pushes her to realize her value and to try. He 'recruits' her to join the force as his medic and the story takes off from there. This story is about survival and overcoming past trauma. My favorite part of the story is the found family. I love that we learned more about each person on her team in the force as the book continues. I really loved that the story was the main focus with the romance as a side story. I thought this piece of it was really well done and made it even more believe-able.
If I could give this book 6 stars I would! I absolutely loved it! I thought I enjoyed Conform, but I liked this story even better. It was beautifully written. I could easily relate to Sasha's emotions and how she was feeling so well in this book that it made everything that happened feel even more impactful and powerful. Plus I loved that while she struggled she was actually strong and she was not a soft FMC. Reading Conform and Beneath back to back was such a cool dynamic to see the after and then the before. It was so fun to start to piece together how the world of Conform was formed. The ending made my jaw drop at what is to come in future books in this series! This world is going to be my new obsession!
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this ARC and share my review!
The FMC is named Sasha, she starts out working in the hospital ward, but when the constant death she sees working there becomes to much she moves to the expansion team (digging) so she can disconnect and not have to care. She meets Tristian and he pushes her to realize her value and to try. He 'recruits' her to join the force as his medic and the story takes off from there. This story is about survival and overcoming past trauma. My favorite part of the story is the found family. I love that we learned more about each person on her team in the force as the book continues. I really loved that the story was the main focus with the romance as a side story. I thought this piece of it was really well done and made it even more believe-able.
If I could give this book 6 stars I would! I absolutely loved it! I thought I enjoyed Conform, but I liked this story even better. It was beautifully written. I could easily relate to Sasha's emotions and how she was feeling so well in this book that it made everything that happened feel even more impactful and powerful. Plus I loved that while she struggled she was actually strong and she was not a soft FMC. Reading Conform and Beneath back to back was such a cool dynamic to see the after and then the before. It was so fun to start to piece together how the world of Conform was formed. The ending made my jaw drop at what is to come in future books in this series! This world is going to be my new obsession!
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this ARC and share my review!
February 16, 2026
Wowww. This prequel to Conform was a ride!
The pace was relentless and I couldn’t put it down. I read until I fell asleep, page turner in hand, then proceeded to finish the book the next day.
The topics were heavy, the stakes high, and the dystopian hellscape a little too fathomable. Ariel Sullivan offers up some powerful commentary on society and it deserves the same kind of attention The Hunger Games and Divergent received in their heydays.
And that epilogue? I cannot wait for the next installment of this series!
Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
The pace was relentless and I couldn’t put it down. I read until I fell asleep, page turner in hand, then proceeded to finish the book the next day.
The topics were heavy, the stakes high, and the dystopian hellscape a little too fathomable. Ariel Sullivan offers up some powerful commentary on society and it deserves the same kind of attention The Hunger Games and Divergent received in their heydays.
And that epilogue? I cannot wait for the next installment of this series!
Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2026
Heavens. This book is so good. Confirm was my favorite book of 2025 and this book will probably be my favorite of 2026. This world that Ariel Sullivan has created is layered, tangible, and emotional. Beneath is less shiny than conform, less glitz, but just as much of a punch. I love so many of the characters so much. Not just Sasha and Tristian-but all of unit 7.
Every character feels real, and reachable.
Bravo. I CANNOT wait to devour every single book inside the world Ariel has created.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Every character feels real, and reachable.
Bravo. I CANNOT wait to devour every single book inside the world Ariel has created.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
January 13, 2026
this book was EVERYTHING😩❤️ it had me feeling alllllll of the emotions… the end left me feeling both hopeless and energized if that’s possible???? the found family in this book was BEAUTIFUL and I’m gonna go cry now🥹
thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book! I’m so excited for the rest of Ariel Sullivan’s work (like now pls)
also I could’ve read this in 2-3 days EASILY if this wasn’t the busiest last two weeks of my life!!
I was slightly annoyed with her Sasha’s nonstop doubt and back-and-forth though. it went on too long!
thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book! I’m so excited for the rest of Ariel Sullivan’s work (like now pls)
also I could’ve read this in 2-3 days EASILY if this wasn’t the busiest last two weeks of my life!!
I was slightly annoyed with her Sasha’s nonstop doubt and back-and-forth though. it went on too long!
January 16, 2026
This was so good! I loved the characters (much more than in Conform). Just mad that I have to wait forever to figure out how all the pieces fit together.
February 6, 2026
5 ⭐️ Ariel Sullivan has done it again. As someone who never considered myself a dystopian lover, these books are making me a believer in the entire genre.
After reading Conform, I was admittedly disappointed knowing we were getting a prequel before the sequel. But wow, was I proven wrong. Seeing a glimpse of how post-war life evolved will only enhance every book to come.
Sullivan has a gift for writing perfectly flawed heroines that make you care so deeply about the characters on the page. Beneath combines the best of all worlds—romance, dystopian and even mystery—all wrapped into an unputdownable story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Conform, I was admittedly disappointed knowing we were getting a prequel before the sequel. But wow, was I proven wrong. Seeing a glimpse of how post-war life evolved will only enhance every book to come.
Sullivan has a gift for writing perfectly flawed heroines that make you care so deeply about the characters on the page. Beneath combines the best of all worlds—romance, dystopian and even mystery—all wrapped into an unputdownable story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Ariel Sullivan has delivered another beautifully written story. That cliffhanger?? I need the next book immediately!
I really liked how Sasha’s flashbacks were used to slowly provide context without ever feeling confusing or out of place. Sasha is a very complex main character, but at times she’s extremely hard on herself, and the constant self blame started to feel a bit repetitive for me. On the other hand, I absolutely loved Tristen as a character and found myself drawn to him whenever he was on the page. I’m obsessed with how protective and unwaveringly loyal he is to Sasha and the rest of Unit Seven. Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the found family we see within the unit. It added so much heart and balance to an otherwise dark story.
I did notice a few minor typos throughout, but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this was a darker, character driven read that really stuck with me, and that ending alone has me counting down until the next book in the trilogy.
💌 Thank you to NetGalley for (my first!!) ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ariel Sullivan has delivered another beautifully written story. That cliffhanger?? I need the next book immediately!
I really liked how Sasha’s flashbacks were used to slowly provide context without ever feeling confusing or out of place. Sasha is a very complex main character, but at times she’s extremely hard on herself, and the constant self blame started to feel a bit repetitive for me. On the other hand, I absolutely loved Tristen as a character and found myself drawn to him whenever he was on the page. I’m obsessed with how protective and unwaveringly loyal he is to Sasha and the rest of Unit Seven. Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the found family we see within the unit. It added so much heart and balance to an otherwise dark story.
I did notice a few minor typos throughout, but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this was a darker, character driven read that really stuck with me, and that ending alone has me counting down until the next book in the trilogy.
💌 Thank you to NetGalley for (my first!!) ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
Beneath is the gripping next installment in Ariel Sullivan’s breakout series, Conform. Set before the rise of the Elites, this prequel plunges us into the Below—a fractured world clawing its way back after nuclear fallout.
At the heart of the story is Sasha, a survivor who’s lost everything and is barely hanging on. When she meets the indomitable Hayes, her life takes a sharp turn as she becomes a medic for a daring above-ground task force. The stakes are high, the world-building is intense, and Sullivan’s storytelling keeps you on edge.
While the unconventional structure might frustrate readers craving a linear plot or tidy resolutions, it also adds to the tension and urgency. Every chapter leaves you wanting more. I didn’t want to put this down. Early ARC from NetGalley.
At the heart of the story is Sasha, a survivor who’s lost everything and is barely hanging on. When she meets the indomitable Hayes, her life takes a sharp turn as she becomes a medic for a daring above-ground task force. The stakes are high, the world-building is intense, and Sullivan’s storytelling keeps you on edge.
While the unconventional structure might frustrate readers craving a linear plot or tidy resolutions, it also adds to the tension and urgency. Every chapter leaves you wanting more. I didn’t want to put this down. Early ARC from NetGalley.
December 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. What a ride! I loved Conform and was so bummed to find out the second book was going to be a prequel. That being said, this book did not disappoint!! I could not put it down and thoroughly enjoyed being immersed into the underground world and how it all began. I felt every emotion while reading this.. some characters made me laugh, some chapters made me tear up, and some scenes just had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the depth to all of the characters and their development throughout the story. That being said, death, grief, and depression are some heavy topics covered in this book, so check your triggers. I also love a good slow burn.. and this one burns. Ariel truly knows how to leave you wanting more and I can’t wait for the next!
October 11, 2025
5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Obsessed. This is a prequel to a book I haven’t read but will definitely be picking up. I loved everything about this. It reminds me of Six of Crows and Fallout (the game/show) mixed together. I leftover the writing style to the character relationships I was hooked. When I wasn’t reading this book I was busy thinking about it. It’s got everything from romance to found family to post-apocalyptic rebuilding and mutiny. Everything about this was just so good.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Obsessed. This is a prequel to a book I haven’t read but will definitely be picking up. I loved everything about this. It reminds me of Six of Crows and Fallout (the game/show) mixed together. I leftover the writing style to the character relationships I was hooked. When I wasn’t reading this book I was busy thinking about it. It’s got everything from romance to found family to post-apocalyptic rebuilding and mutiny. Everything about this was just so good.
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