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Conform #0
Beneath
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26Hundreds 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 tunnel expansion, 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 fighters as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into a brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of 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 tunnel expansion, 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 fighters as they embark on a secret mission to the surface.
Sasha is thrust into a brutal training with stakes far beyond mere survival. The fate of 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.
743 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 24, 2026
14905 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Sullivan
2 books432 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
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!
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!
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 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!
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!
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.
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.
October 28, 2025
The way that Conform and Beneath need to be on everyone’s TBR immediately. I loved Conform and immediately went to Ariel’s website to see what was coming next. Long behold a prequel of the events made Beneath! I immediately signed up for the e-arc. Both these books were such an easy 5 star read for me. Beneath follow a woman named Sasha who lives beneath the ground with survivors of a nuclear event that leave the above unlivable. Sasha is a such a strong character with a hard exterior but also such a caring and loyal person and I adored her character so much. She is recruited by Tristin a commander in the force to be apart of a mission to explore the surface. Tristin is my new top book boyfriend and if you liked tris/four or xaden/violet then you will absolutely love them. Wait until you meet unit 7 because if you were a fan of the squad from Forth Wing you are going to absolutely be obsessed with these side characters. I was engrossed with everyone’s side stories as well. Obviously this book had twist and turns that my jaw dropped at one point. The ending has me wanting more .The Beneath was so fast paced that I was instantly picking up my kindle to continue wherever I could. Beneath is what I’ve wanted in a dystopian read with a face paced plot, amazing characters and jaw dropping twists. I absolutely cannot wait to continue with both these series and Ariel has become one my new favorite authors. Fans of fallout, the 100, divergent this one is for you! Thank you so much Ballentine for an e-arc for my 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!
October 20, 2025
HOW IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK AFTER BENEATH AND THE NEXT BOOK AFTER CONFORM? Gosh, I couldn't put this book down. This is a perfect mix of dystopian, found family, and so much more. I highly recommend reading this book when it comes out.
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 15, 2025
I'm not sure if I'm at a loss for words, or if I just need to catch my breath. I dove into Ariel Sullivan's Beneath—the highly anticipated next installment in this searing dystopian romance trilogy—and it did not just meet the hype; it obliterated it. If you loved the debut, Conform, clear your schedule now. If you haven't read Conform, you'll be one-clicking it before you finish this review.
The dedication alone—"To anyone who has ever been at war with themselves or lost in the abyss of grief"—should serve as a warning: this book is going to hurt. In the best possible way.
Sullivan writes with the skill of a seasoned veteran, weaving a non-linear narrative that doesn't just build a world, but submerges you in it, one agonizing secret at a time. The world-building is sharp, but the true brilliance lies in the character creation, particularly with Sasha.
Sasha is the kind of heroine who feels relatable on a cellular level. She's a woman who grew up starved for her mother's love, trained by her father to see the world's ugliness, and equipped with only one defense mechanism: pushing everyone away. She built walls so thick she became a master of emotional survival, convincing herself she needed no one. This is the core of Beneath: a deeply moving, agonizingly slow-burn dystopian romance about a woman who continually self-sabotages the very love she craves.
This book is emotionally deep, exploring intense themes of grief, trauma, and the process of tearing down your own walls. I found myself crying more than once as Sasha navigates the painful journey from isolation to acceptance. Her victory isn't about being saved by someone else, but realizing she is worthy of being loved and accepted for who she is while she saves herself.
This journey brings her to a fiercely loyal chosen family, a realization that family is defined by trust, not blood, and a romance that unfolds with devastatingly high stakes.
The message is powerful, the romance is earned, and the finale... the ending is a shocking cliffhanger that will leave your head spinning. This is one of those trilogies that will live rent-free in my head forever.
Your Assignment:
1. READ CONFORM NOW. Seriously. Stop what you’re doing.
2. ADD BENEATH TO YOUR TBR. The wait for the next book is going to be brutal, but every emotional blow is worth it.
Beneath releases on March 24, 2026, and copies are available for pre-order. Don't miss out on this absolute masterpiece of human resilience wrapped in a dystopian world.
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @arielhsullivan @netgalley and @bellantinebooks for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
The dedication alone—"To anyone who has ever been at war with themselves or lost in the abyss of grief"—should serve as a warning: this book is going to hurt. In the best possible way.
Sullivan writes with the skill of a seasoned veteran, weaving a non-linear narrative that doesn't just build a world, but submerges you in it, one agonizing secret at a time. The world-building is sharp, but the true brilliance lies in the character creation, particularly with Sasha.
Sasha is the kind of heroine who feels relatable on a cellular level. She's a woman who grew up starved for her mother's love, trained by her father to see the world's ugliness, and equipped with only one defense mechanism: pushing everyone away. She built walls so thick she became a master of emotional survival, convincing herself she needed no one. This is the core of Beneath: a deeply moving, agonizingly slow-burn dystopian romance about a woman who continually self-sabotages the very love she craves.
This book is emotionally deep, exploring intense themes of grief, trauma, and the process of tearing down your own walls. I found myself crying more than once as Sasha navigates the painful journey from isolation to acceptance. Her victory isn't about being saved by someone else, but realizing she is worthy of being loved and accepted for who she is while she saves herself.
This journey brings her to a fiercely loyal chosen family, a realization that family is defined by trust, not blood, and a romance that unfolds with devastatingly high stakes.
The message is powerful, the romance is earned, and the finale... the ending is a shocking cliffhanger that will leave your head spinning. This is one of those trilogies that will live rent-free in my head forever.
Your Assignment:
1. READ CONFORM NOW. Seriously. Stop what you’re doing.
2. ADD BENEATH TO YOUR TBR. The wait for the next book is going to be brutal, but every emotional blow is worth it.
Beneath releases on March 24, 2026, and copies are available for pre-order. Don't miss out on this absolute masterpiece of human resilience wrapped in a dystopian world.
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @arielhsullivan @netgalley and @bellantinebooks for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
November 12, 2025
What have you done to me, Ariel Sullivan!?! I have now read two of your books in this dystopian world you’ve created, I gobbled both of them up, and inhaled them in less than 24 hours because they were so gripping. And now I have not one but two cliffhangers that I need resolved!
This story is a prequel to the book Conform, and the setting is about six years after humanity, basically nukes themselves to the point where everyone is living underground in a community called Haven. Sasha as the FMC is so heartbreaking to me. I loved her, I hated her decisions, I love that she finally broke through some of the grief that she’s been experiencing losing all of her family.
I started this book, only knowing the plot of conform and eager to find out what set everything in motion. And I would say for the first third of the book I was super engaged because I wanted to know what happens, yet at the same time I was yanked in to this setting and story that got me invested right away. Spoiler alert, we still wanna know what happened! But that doesn’t matter to me at this point, I am so eager to continue the journey of Sasha and Tristan and unit seven and see what happens in the next book!
Ariel Sullivan, we need these stories finished! Keep on keeping on! And thank you to Ballantine books for the ARC.
This story is a prequel to the book Conform, and the setting is about six years after humanity, basically nukes themselves to the point where everyone is living underground in a community called Haven. Sasha as the FMC is so heartbreaking to me. I loved her, I hated her decisions, I love that she finally broke through some of the grief that she’s been experiencing losing all of her family.
I started this book, only knowing the plot of conform and eager to find out what set everything in motion. And I would say for the first third of the book I was super engaged because I wanted to know what happens, yet at the same time I was yanked in to this setting and story that got me invested right away. Spoiler alert, we still wanna know what happened! But that doesn’t matter to me at this point, I am so eager to continue the journey of Sasha and Tristan and unit seven and see what happens in the next book!
Ariel Sullivan, we need these stories finished! Keep on keeping on! And thank you to Ballantine books for the ARC.
November 22, 2025
3.75⭐️ When I first heard that the next book after Conform was a prequel I was a little disappointed. The cliffhanger that Conform left off on, I really wanted more of that story. Despite that, I was very excited to dive into this book! Then going into it I thought this would be a standalone prequel giving us all the background and info on how the Illum came to be and getting to see the building blocks that formed Conform was really exciting. That also wasn't the case, after realizing that this prequel is book 1 in a trilogy? (which wasn't well explained)
Asside from that, the story was still very engaging and sucked me right in! I really wanted to see these characters succeeded and see them recover from all they endured. I think there were parts of the story that felt a little repetitive or slow. The parts filled with emotion, action, desperation or mystery were what really propelled the story and kept me on my toes wondering how it was all connected!
The only other thing was at times it was hard to keep track of characters with the use of their call sign, last name, and first names all being used simultaneously in certain conversations.
Overall I think I am becoming a serious Sullivan fan and I cant wait to read what comes next!
Asside from that, the story was still very engaging and sucked me right in! I really wanted to see these characters succeeded and see them recover from all they endured. I think there were parts of the story that felt a little repetitive or slow. The parts filled with emotion, action, desperation or mystery were what really propelled the story and kept me on my toes wondering how it was all connected!
The only other thing was at times it was hard to keep track of characters with the use of their call sign, last name, and first names all being used simultaneously in certain conversations.
Overall I think I am becoming a serious Sullivan fan and I cant wait to read what comes next!
November 15, 2025
Beneath is a prequel to Conform (a story I haven't read yet) but after finishing I'm really compelled to start it.
Sasha is such a complex character drowning in her own grief after losing her family to the war. You get to experience her grief and self hatred first hand, even though she had her heart in the right place, being Deaths Angel and show such empathy for the people who would have otherwise died alone. She runs away from that name like it burns her to join Expansion before roughly getting pulled to join the Force.
She meets Tristan while working in the Ward and he stops at nothing until he gets what he wants. Both a medic to join his team, and eventually Sashas heart, along with all her broken pieces.
This story absolutely broke me until it slowly starting putting me back together, following Sasha's acceptance of a found Family among her unit and eventually accepting their love and support for her. The one thing she wouldn't allow herself to have.
The plot twists kept me hooked and wanting this story to never end. I really hope there's another book to accompany this one at a later date.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Sasha is such a complex character drowning in her own grief after losing her family to the war. You get to experience her grief and self hatred first hand, even though she had her heart in the right place, being Deaths Angel and show such empathy for the people who would have otherwise died alone. She runs away from that name like it burns her to join Expansion before roughly getting pulled to join the Force.
She meets Tristan while working in the Ward and he stops at nothing until he gets what he wants. Both a medic to join his team, and eventually Sashas heart, along with all her broken pieces.
This story absolutely broke me until it slowly starting putting me back together, following Sasha's acceptance of a found Family among her unit and eventually accepting their love and support for her. The one thing she wouldn't allow herself to have.
The plot twists kept me hooked and wanting this story to never end. I really hope there's another book to accompany this one at a later date.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
November 18, 2025
R: I really enjoyed this! It was so intense and excited, it was hard to want to put down.
I found Sasha really well written. Her struggle with loss and grief was touching. I loved how every single character had their own inner “beast” they were fighting. It felt like what the end of a world truly would feel like for all those closely involved. I personally got a little over Sasha’s constant internal dialogue by about 3/4 in. I understand that her pain would never go away, but I wanted her to fight it a little sooner?
I loved the love interest and the build up/suspense was killing me!! Also the spicey scenes were so well written! I could picture it all perfectly😂🥵🌶️
I loved all the side characters. There were even some moments that made me nearly cry, the feelings of trying so hard or loss etc etc was deeply felt (again well written).
I did get a little confused with all the names. I tried so hard, but we have first names, then mixed in last names, then call signs. I usually got the main ones, but at the end with more added, I had no clue who was who.
Can’t wait to read more!!
Thankyou to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC copy.
I found Sasha really well written. Her struggle with loss and grief was touching. I loved how every single character had their own inner “beast” they were fighting. It felt like what the end of a world truly would feel like for all those closely involved. I personally got a little over Sasha’s constant internal dialogue by about 3/4 in. I understand that her pain would never go away, but I wanted her to fight it a little sooner?
I loved the love interest and the build up/suspense was killing me!! Also the spicey scenes were so well written! I could picture it all perfectly😂🥵🌶️
I loved all the side characters. There were even some moments that made me nearly cry, the feelings of trying so hard or loss etc etc was deeply felt (again well written).
I did get a little confused with all the names. I tried so hard, but we have first names, then mixed in last names, then call signs. I usually got the main ones, but at the end with more added, I had no clue who was who.
Can’t wait to read more!!
Thankyou to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC copy.
November 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ariel Sullivan has written another 5 STAR book!
This dystopian romance is a prequel to Conform, set hundreds of years prior, in a world of nuclear fallout. Haunted by her past, Sasha Cadell is guarded and solitary. She is constantly trying to quiet the rage of anger inside her.
When Sasha is recruited into the Force by Tristian Hayes, Unit Commander, she is faced with fitting into a tight knit team. Continuously questioning her worth, I found this story tugging at my heartstrings more than I expected. I was rooting for Sasha, especially when she didn’t believe in herself.
As a side note, I believe in reading books as they are released. Trust in Ariel Sullivan and her order of publication. Although this is a prequel, read Conform first, then Beneath. I cannot wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Thousand Voices for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Ariel Sullivan has written another 5 STAR book!
This dystopian romance is a prequel to Conform, set hundreds of years prior, in a world of nuclear fallout. Haunted by her past, Sasha Cadell is guarded and solitary. She is constantly trying to quiet the rage of anger inside her.
When Sasha is recruited into the Force by Tristian Hayes, Unit Commander, she is faced with fitting into a tight knit team. Continuously questioning her worth, I found this story tugging at my heartstrings more than I expected. I was rooting for Sasha, especially when she didn’t believe in herself.
As a side note, I believe in reading books as they are released. Trust in Ariel Sullivan and her order of publication. Although this is a prequel, read Conform first, then Beneath. I cannot wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Thousand Voices for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2025
Absolutely riveting novel — I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. What an amazing world Ariel Sullivan is building! I am left wanting to know so much more about these resilient and rich characters she’s created. Sasha Cadell is our main character trying to find her place in this post war world after she’s lost everything she’s ever known. She is strong and secretly fighting the good fight holding on to a semblance of humanity that eventually blossoms. The themes of hope and resilience, found family, and sacrifice for the greater good parallel our current reality and its a story that is written so beautifully that I am aching for more. I believe this may be part of a prequel trilogy to her first novel, Conform, that is also genius and clearly one of the best reads of 2025 . Beneath may very well blow the socks off of that one and become an absolute MUST READ for 2026. Forever applauding and now an all time fan of Ariel Sullivan. Give us more!
November 22, 2025
4.5⭐️Do not start this book at bed time else like me, you’ll keep telling yourself just one more chapter and suddenly it’s 3AM and you have to work in a few hours. Needless to say, this book was so fucking good I could not put this book down.
Beneath is a dystopian romance (a prequel to Conform, which I have not read yet and is currently out now) that takes place after a nuclear war has forced everyone to live underground. The story follows Sasha, a hardened survivor grappling with grief, guilt, and loads of trauma. It could be very easy to be frustrated with Sasha’s tendency to sabotage every relationship she makes within the story, but as her past unfolds throughout- she starts to grow on you. This is the slowest of burns with a top tier MMC, and fiercely loyal found family.
Beneath will hit the shelves March 2026. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballentine for the ARC!
Beneath is a dystopian romance (a prequel to Conform, which I have not read yet and is currently out now) that takes place after a nuclear war has forced everyone to live underground. The story follows Sasha, a hardened survivor grappling with grief, guilt, and loads of trauma. It could be very easy to be frustrated with Sasha’s tendency to sabotage every relationship she makes within the story, but as her past unfolds throughout- she starts to grow on you. This is the slowest of burns with a top tier MMC, and fiercely loyal found family.
Beneath will hit the shelves March 2026. Thank you to Net Galley and Ballentine for the ARC!
October 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the early release!! After finishing Conform, I was so incredibly thankful to be able to read the prequel, Beneath.
I truly am at a loss for words. I don’t know where to start or end my thoughts. This book was phenomenal, dare I say out of this world? I have so many questions and theories swirling around in my head and I know I’ll be mulling it over for days. I would say this book is much more fast paced and intense than Conform, which I wasn’t expecting out of a prequel to a dystopian series.
A few things —
Tristian is the golden retriever of golden retrievers. What a guy. He was so refreshing and different than any MMC I have read about, down to his looks. Finally we have someone different than our textbook ‘tall dark and brooding.’ Chocolate brown curls, emerald eyes, and chest/arm tattoos — swoon. He was perfect for our dear Sasha and the best leader to their unit. He was admired by all for so many reasons. I loved his character so so much.
Sasha, our phoenix. She reminds me a lot of Nesta so saddle up. She’s hard to love but at the same time all I wanted to do was squeeze her. Thankfully we have her POV so we can understand the WHY behind her words and actions. Her flashbacks made this book deeply emotional and heavy. I loved them. She was incredibly well written and I think she was the perfect female lead in this book. As a nurse, I really appreciated her dedication to saving others and being a medic.
The found family was utterly fantastic. I loved every single character for different reasons. I wouldn’t know where to start. Just read this book, okay?! (Few of my faves — Levi, Dr. Kumar, Sasha’s dad [even though we only get him in the past tense])
The politics, intrigue, suspense, betrayal, twists and turns — all of it — made this book an easy 5 stars. I could not set this down. I look forward to a re-read once another book in the series comes out. I beg you Ariel don’t make us wait 7 years for the next 7 books. I won’t survive, lol
Time after time — Lennon Stella’s version 🩶
I truly am at a loss for words. I don’t know where to start or end my thoughts. This book was phenomenal, dare I say out of this world? I have so many questions and theories swirling around in my head and I know I’ll be mulling it over for days. I would say this book is much more fast paced and intense than Conform, which I wasn’t expecting out of a prequel to a dystopian series.
A few things —
Tristian is the golden retriever of golden retrievers. What a guy. He was so refreshing and different than any MMC I have read about, down to his looks. Finally we have someone different than our textbook ‘tall dark and brooding.’ Chocolate brown curls, emerald eyes, and chest/arm tattoos — swoon. He was perfect for our dear Sasha and the best leader to their unit. He was admired by all for so many reasons. I loved his character so so much.
Sasha, our phoenix. She reminds me a lot of Nesta so saddle up. She’s hard to love but at the same time all I wanted to do was squeeze her. Thankfully we have her POV so we can understand the WHY behind her words and actions. Her flashbacks made this book deeply emotional and heavy. I loved them. She was incredibly well written and I think she was the perfect female lead in this book. As a nurse, I really appreciated her dedication to saving others and being a medic.
The found family was utterly fantastic. I loved every single character for different reasons. I wouldn’t know where to start. Just read this book, okay?! (Few of my faves — Levi, Dr. Kumar, Sasha’s dad [even though we only get him in the past tense])
The politics, intrigue, suspense, betrayal, twists and turns — all of it — made this book an easy 5 stars. I could not set this down. I look forward to a re-read once another book in the series comes out. I beg you Ariel don’t make us wait 7 years for the next 7 books. I won’t survive, lol
Time after time — Lennon Stella’s version 🩶
November 19, 2025
I’m going to keep this short and sweet: add this entire series to your TBR! Wow! Conform was SO GOOD and then I somehow got lucky and received an ARC of Beneath (out 3/2026) from @netgalley and it was just as good! Holy smokes!
The setting, the characters, the storyline, the…..everything! But @arielhsullivan I have so many questions! How many books will be in this series? There’s clearly at least 1 more that follows the timeline after Beneath and at least 1 after Conform 🤔 But when is the next one coming? And will it follow Beneath or Conform? Lol I can’t wait!
Seriously…..read Conform now and then grab Beneath in March. I can’t tell you enough how great these books are!
Many many many thanks to @netgalley @thousandvoicesmedia @arielhsullivan @jennabhager @ballantinebooks for this early copy! No pressure 🫣 but when can I expect the next???
The setting, the characters, the storyline, the…..everything! But @arielhsullivan I have so many questions! How many books will be in this series? There’s clearly at least 1 more that follows the timeline after Beneath and at least 1 after Conform 🤔 But when is the next one coming? And will it follow Beneath or Conform? Lol I can’t wait!
Seriously…..read Conform now and then grab Beneath in March. I can’t tell you enough how great these books are!
Many many many thanks to @netgalley @thousandvoicesmedia @arielhsullivan @jennabhager @ballantinebooks for this early copy! No pressure 🫣 but when can I expect the next???
November 12, 2025
This book definitely recommend it. I honestly loved this book more then Conform. I really liked Conform, but this one was more in base line I guess. I felt more of the end of the world vibe in here and post-apocalyptic vibes here. Maybe if I had read this book first I would have liked Conform more. But I didn't and I would recommend reading this one first! This book immediately grabbed my attention to were conform didn't. That book took me a bit longer to get into to but they are both a great read at the end of the day!
ARC REVIEW
ARC REVIEW
November 16, 2025
Ariel Sullivan, you did it again! I tore through Beneath.
The characters in Beneath existed long before those in Conform, and the book adds important context about the nuclear fallout from the world war. I noticed several connections back to Conform, and I’m curious to see how many of those threads will be answered in the next book.
The characters in Beneath were easy to care about, and their loyalty to each other and sense of chosen family helped them hold on to their humanity through crises and tragedies.
Just like Conform, Beneath ends with several cliffhangers, and I have a feeling Ariel Sullivan has a master plan to bring clarity to some of these unknowns in future books.
I’m looking forward to spending more time in this world.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my first ever ARC!
The characters in Beneath existed long before those in Conform, and the book adds important context about the nuclear fallout from the world war. I noticed several connections back to Conform, and I’m curious to see how many of those threads will be answered in the next book.
The characters in Beneath were easy to care about, and their loyalty to each other and sense of chosen family helped them hold on to their humanity through crises and tragedies.
Just like Conform, Beneath ends with several cliffhangers, and I have a feeling Ariel Sullivan has a master plan to bring clarity to some of these unknowns in future books.
I’m looking forward to spending more time in this world.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my first ever ARC!
November 17, 2025
When I learned this was a prequel I was PISSED! She left us on a cliffhanger in Conform and then we aren't even back in that world?!
I am pleasantly surprised to say, I get it. I get why she did this and I am HOOKED into this entire world.
This was very different from Conform - this was bleak, dark and at times incredibly uncomfortable. This was true dystopian fiction, but told so well. Around the 67% mark, everything that came before in this book really started to mesh and fire on all cylinders and I could not put it down. Things became incredibly intense (in more ways than one) and kept my attention to the last page. The reveals that only make sense if you read Conform first were TOP TIER!
I love Sullivan's writing - now I will be sad until the next installment drops!
I am pleasantly surprised to say, I get it. I get why she did this and I am HOOKED into this entire world.
This was very different from Conform - this was bleak, dark and at times incredibly uncomfortable. This was true dystopian fiction, but told so well. Around the 67% mark, everything that came before in this book really started to mesh and fire on all cylinders and I could not put it down. Things became incredibly intense (in more ways than one) and kept my attention to the last page. The reveals that only make sense if you read Conform first were TOP TIER!
I love Sullivan's writing - now I will be sad until the next installment drops!
Want to read
September 30, 2025Thank you Ballantine for the e-arc! I'm veryyyy intrigued to see the backstory for Conform
November 16, 2025
This book consumed me after the moment I started. When I wasn’t reading it, I was wishing I was. Every character was so well done and I felt attached to everyone. The twists were twisty, the heartbreak broke me, the romance was superb, the plot was incredible. My only thing I struggled with is was the last 4ish chapters. So much was happening and switching between names/call names and it was hard to keep straight. Still, I’m so excited to continue this series.
November 23, 2025
📖 ARC REVIEW 📖
Thank you @ballantinebooks for an early copy of Beneath by @arielhsullivan. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: March 4th, 2026
Blurb: Set hundreds of years before Conform, Beneath follows Sasha Cadell, a survivor in an underground city who is recruited by commander Tristian Hayes to join a secret mission to the dangerous surface after years of nuclear fallout. As she endures brutal training, confronts hidden threats, and navigates a growing attraction to Tristian, Sasha discovers that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance amid rising secrets and a terrifying new power.
🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑
Beneath by Ariel Sullivan is a compelling and emotional prequel to Conform, one that dives into the earliest, most chaotic years of the war and environmental collapse. Because it’s set so far before the events of Conform, many of the story elements don’t fully align with what we already know from the main book but in a way, that distance works in its favor. Beneath stands on its own as a tense, character-driven survival story that shows Haven in its rawest, most desperate state: radiation levels above ground are lethal, supplies are tightly rationed, and the people deemed most “useful” are prioritized. It’s a bleak world where hope feels nearly impossible, and that’s exactly where Sasha’s story shines.
Sasha is easily the heart of this book. Having lost her entire family before and shortly after arriving in Haven, she starts the story believing she has nothing left to live for. Yet she still works tirelessly in the Ward, caring for patients the way her father taught her. Her immunity to disease earns her the name “Death’s Angel,” but her quiet determination to ensure no one dies alone is what makes her unforgettable. Her compassion is both her strength and her burden.
The turning point arrives when she treats Tristian, a dying soldier who sees her worth long before she can see it in herself. His decision to recruit her into his unit as a medic throws Sasha into a dangerous mission aboveground, and into the found family dynamic that becomes the beating heart of this story. The camaraderie among the team is beautifully done; they soften Sasha’s walls, give her something to care about again, and make the bleakness feel bearable. I rooted for them, and especially for Sasha and Tristian’s slow-growing bond, the entire way through.
As for the romance, it’s definitely there, and while Sasha and Tristian have genuine chemistry, I found that the spicy moments often happened at the worst possible times. When you’re fighting to survive, immediate passion doesn’t always feel believable, so those scenes occasionally pulled me out of the story.
Still, Beneath delivered far more emotional depth and higher stakes than I expected. I actually enjoyed it more than Conform, largely because the sense of danger felt so real and the supporting characters added so much warmth to the bleak world they were fighting through.
A gripping prequel with strong characters, a found-family dynamic I adored, and a heroine who earns every bit of your empathy. Despite a few tonal mismatches with the romance, Beneath is a powerful addition to the series.
Thank you @ballantinebooks for an early copy of Beneath by @arielhsullivan. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: March 4th, 2026
Blurb: Set hundreds of years before Conform, Beneath follows Sasha Cadell, a survivor in an underground city who is recruited by commander Tristian Hayes to join a secret mission to the dangerous surface after years of nuclear fallout. As she endures brutal training, confronts hidden threats, and navigates a growing attraction to Tristian, Sasha discovers that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance amid rising secrets and a terrifying new power.
🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑
Beneath by Ariel Sullivan is a compelling and emotional prequel to Conform, one that dives into the earliest, most chaotic years of the war and environmental collapse. Because it’s set so far before the events of Conform, many of the story elements don’t fully align with what we already know from the main book but in a way, that distance works in its favor. Beneath stands on its own as a tense, character-driven survival story that shows Haven in its rawest, most desperate state: radiation levels above ground are lethal, supplies are tightly rationed, and the people deemed most “useful” are prioritized. It’s a bleak world where hope feels nearly impossible, and that’s exactly where Sasha’s story shines.
Sasha is easily the heart of this book. Having lost her entire family before and shortly after arriving in Haven, she starts the story believing she has nothing left to live for. Yet she still works tirelessly in the Ward, caring for patients the way her father taught her. Her immunity to disease earns her the name “Death’s Angel,” but her quiet determination to ensure no one dies alone is what makes her unforgettable. Her compassion is both her strength and her burden.
The turning point arrives when she treats Tristian, a dying soldier who sees her worth long before she can see it in herself. His decision to recruit her into his unit as a medic throws Sasha into a dangerous mission aboveground, and into the found family dynamic that becomes the beating heart of this story. The camaraderie among the team is beautifully done; they soften Sasha’s walls, give her something to care about again, and make the bleakness feel bearable. I rooted for them, and especially for Sasha and Tristian’s slow-growing bond, the entire way through.
As for the romance, it’s definitely there, and while Sasha and Tristian have genuine chemistry, I found that the spicy moments often happened at the worst possible times. When you’re fighting to survive, immediate passion doesn’t always feel believable, so those scenes occasionally pulled me out of the story.
Still, Beneath delivered far more emotional depth and higher stakes than I expected. I actually enjoyed it more than Conform, largely because the sense of danger felt so real and the supporting characters added so much warmth to the bleak world they were fighting through.
A gripping prequel with strong characters, a found-family dynamic I adored, and a heroine who earns every bit of your empathy. Despite a few tonal mismatches with the romance, Beneath is a powerful addition to the series.
November 5, 2025
𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘯𝘶𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳 ☢️
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴/𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦
𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦𝘴 😤
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 🌍
I couldn’t put this book down! It’s one of those stories that pulls you in so deeply that when you finally look up, you have to remind yourself where you are. The writing is so immersive that you feel like part of the world, and every emotion hits raw and real. Ariel Sullivan has officially become an auto-read author for me. 🙌
𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 is the prequel to 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚, set hundreds of years before the Illum ruled. In this dystopian world, radiation storms have forced the population underground, where illness, food shortages, corruption, and deceit threaten what’s left of civilization.
Sasha lives underground working tirelessly to escape the pain of her past. Her bleak routine is shattered when Tristian, commander of the Force, recruits her for a secret mission to the surface.
Thrust into grueling training and dangerous truths, she discovers that the survival of humankind may depend on their mission’s success and she must confront her own demons along the way.
The 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 romance between Sasha and Tristian was perfectly paced and felt authentic to the brutal world. Their chemistry sizzles, and their character growth is so satisfying to watch unfold.
The 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 dynamic within the unit was another highlight for me—the camaraderie and loyalty between them added so much heart. I loved every minute of it.
The ending is packed with twists, secrets, and betrayal and it leaves off on a major cliffhanger. Waiting for the next book is going to be 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ!
✦ Thank you @arielhsullivan + @ballantinebooks and @netgalley for an early e-copy! ✦
Rating: 4.75/5
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴/𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦
𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦𝘴 😤
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 🌍
I couldn’t put this book down! It’s one of those stories that pulls you in so deeply that when you finally look up, you have to remind yourself where you are. The writing is so immersive that you feel like part of the world, and every emotion hits raw and real. Ariel Sullivan has officially become an auto-read author for me. 🙌
𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 is the prequel to 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚, set hundreds of years before the Illum ruled. In this dystopian world, radiation storms have forced the population underground, where illness, food shortages, corruption, and deceit threaten what’s left of civilization.
Sasha lives underground working tirelessly to escape the pain of her past. Her bleak routine is shattered when Tristian, commander of the Force, recruits her for a secret mission to the surface.
Thrust into grueling training and dangerous truths, she discovers that the survival of humankind may depend on their mission’s success and she must confront her own demons along the way.
The 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 romance between Sasha and Tristian was perfectly paced and felt authentic to the brutal world. Their chemistry sizzles, and their character growth is so satisfying to watch unfold.
The 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 dynamic within the unit was another highlight for me—the camaraderie and loyalty between them added so much heart. I loved every minute of it.
The ending is packed with twists, secrets, and betrayal and it leaves off on a major cliffhanger. Waiting for the next book is going to be 𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ!
✦ Thank you @arielhsullivan + @ballantinebooks and @netgalley for an early e-copy! ✦
Rating: 4.75/5
November 12, 2025
I started this book at 11 p.m. and would’ve stayed up all night reading if I didn’t have to be a responsible adult. Instead, I read until 3 a.m. two nights in a row because I had to know what was going to happen next.
Beneath is a dystopian novel set just six years after a nuclear war—not some far-off future, but one that feels unsettlingly possible. It’s packed with thought-provoking moments that made me reflect on humanity—how easily we can repeat the same mistakes, our capacity for greed and cruelty, but also our ability to hope and sacrifice for others. It asks big questions: Who gets to play God? Who deserves to live when resources run out? And even in the darkest times, what makes life worth fighting for?
Sasha, known as Death’s Angel, is so beautifully complex—broken yet selfless, willing to face death again and again so others don’t have to die alone. The dynamic between Sasha and Tristian was perfectly angsty—he falls first, he’s patient, and she keeps pushing him away as she wrestles with her own fears and beliefs. Their longing and tension were chef’s kiss.
Every character is layered and full of surprises. Just when you think you understand someone, the story flips your perception. The emotional depth here made me feel—love, anger, heartbreak, hope.
As a prequel to Conform, Beneath adds so much richness to the world and answers questions that lingered after reading the first book. The world-building feels fuller, the stakes higher. And now I desperately need to know what happens next to Sasha, Tristian, and Unit Seven—especially after the fallout from Sasha’s choices.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Beneath is a dystopian novel set just six years after a nuclear war—not some far-off future, but one that feels unsettlingly possible. It’s packed with thought-provoking moments that made me reflect on humanity—how easily we can repeat the same mistakes, our capacity for greed and cruelty, but also our ability to hope and sacrifice for others. It asks big questions: Who gets to play God? Who deserves to live when resources run out? And even in the darkest times, what makes life worth fighting for?
Sasha, known as Death’s Angel, is so beautifully complex—broken yet selfless, willing to face death again and again so others don’t have to die alone. The dynamic between Sasha and Tristian was perfectly angsty—he falls first, he’s patient, and she keeps pushing him away as she wrestles with her own fears and beliefs. Their longing and tension were chef’s kiss.
Every character is layered and full of surprises. Just when you think you understand someone, the story flips your perception. The emotional depth here made me feel—love, anger, heartbreak, hope.
As a prequel to Conform, Beneath adds so much richness to the world and answers questions that lingered after reading the first book. The world-building feels fuller, the stakes higher. And now I desperately need to know what happens next to Sasha, Tristian, and Unit Seven—especially after the fallout from Sasha’s choices.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 11, 2025
I read Sullivan's Conform just last month and thought it had a really fun love triangle and interesting dystopian setting, so I was excited to request/receive the prequel, Beneath! Unfortunately, Beneath felt like an entirely different world/story, and I found myself way less invested in the main relationship. The main female lead was just a little too angsty for my taste, and I kept mixing up side characters since they were referred to interchangeably by their first names, last names, and code names! I think if you really liked Silver Elite, this has similar vibes (they even have similar covers).
I also didn't expect this to end unresolved - I figured as this was #0 in the series, it would have a completed resolution or deliver the reader directly to the beginning of Conform. Instead, it seems like they are both series set within the same world, but at different points in history? If Beneath is #0 in the series, and Conform is #1, will book #2 follow Beneath or Conform? If it's the latter, I'll read on. If it's the former, I will skip.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy!
I also didn't expect this to end unresolved - I figured as this was #0 in the series, it would have a completed resolution or deliver the reader directly to the beginning of Conform. Instead, it seems like they are both series set within the same world, but at different points in history? If Beneath is #0 in the series, and Conform is #1, will book #2 follow Beneath or Conform? If it's the latter, I'll read on. If it's the former, I will skip.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy!
November 14, 2025
3.5✨
Beneath was a highly anticipated read for me, especially after Conform which I am obsessed with. I enjoyed this world and appreciated discovering the Easter eggs connecting to Conform.
As a major fan of Dystopian, I was immediately drawn into the atmosphere and unique setting of this book.
Regarding the plot, I found myself wishing for a clearer foundation. The secrecy and structure of the main conflict felt underdeveloped, leaving me with questions about the motivation and logic behind certain high-stake events.
This book is very heavy, as mental health is a big part of the storline. The FMC Sasha, reminds me of Nesta (a character I personally struggled with). While I found Sasha more tolerable, her persistent "I'm not good enough", particularly in pushing Tristian away, became frustrating. Despite these few frustrations, I genuinely enjoyed this book and grew to love the side characters. I am, of course, completely obsessed with Damien! I did struggle with the characters having three different names, and it took me nearly the first half of the book to keep up.
Beneath features some of my favorite tropes:
• Dystopian World
• Found Family
• Secrets
• Betrayal
• Slow Burn Romance
I am excited to see where the story continues and to learn more about the creation of Conform.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Beneath was a highly anticipated read for me, especially after Conform which I am obsessed with. I enjoyed this world and appreciated discovering the Easter eggs connecting to Conform.
As a major fan of Dystopian, I was immediately drawn into the atmosphere and unique setting of this book.
Regarding the plot, I found myself wishing for a clearer foundation. The secrecy and structure of the main conflict felt underdeveloped, leaving me with questions about the motivation and logic behind certain high-stake events.
This book is very heavy, as mental health is a big part of the storline. The FMC Sasha, reminds me of Nesta (a character I personally struggled with). While I found Sasha more tolerable, her persistent "I'm not good enough", particularly in pushing Tristian away, became frustrating. Despite these few frustrations, I genuinely enjoyed this book and grew to love the side characters. I am, of course, completely obsessed with Damien! I did struggle with the characters having three different names, and it took me nearly the first half of the book to keep up.
Beneath features some of my favorite tropes:
• Dystopian World
• Found Family
• Secrets
• Betrayal
• Slow Burn Romance
I am excited to see where the story continues and to learn more about the creation of Conform.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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