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Conform #2
Beneath
Centuries before the Illum's reign, humanity braved everything to rebuild after a catastrophic war in this thrilling dystopian romance, a prequel to Conform. Twenty-three-year-old Sasha Cadell, living in an underground city filled with nuclear fallout survivors, works in tunnel expansion to escape her haunting memories. Her grim life takes a turn when Tristian Hayes, a captivating, tenacious Force commander, recruits her to join his elite team on a covert mission to the surface.
Unknown Binding
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
Ariel Sullivan
9 books2,520 followersAriel Sullivan is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author who 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 4,759 reviews
March 24, 2026
4.5 rounded up…. Oofffffff loved this !!!! Thoughts to come
April 1, 2026
It’s the 20 different names & call signs that pushed me into picking up an axe & staying in Expansion…
March 27, 2026
(4/5, dystopian romance)
Ariel Sullivan brings us another dystopian novel filled with high stakes, high stress, & a high amount of sexy guys!
This is the prequel to Conform, and it's book one of its own trilogy. If you've read Conform, this is about everyone who lived Beneath and how the world of Conform came to be.
This is a totally different cast of characters, and if you're looking for your post-apocalyptic world to be filled with found family and a babe named Tristian, look no further.
This book follows Sasha, whose life, just like everyone who lives beneath the ground in Haven, has been rocked by the devastation and war above. She's filled with rage and distrust, but despite her best efforts, she's a really good person at her core. When she gets drafted to join a tight knit group of warriors going above, it's the last thing she wants, but the thing she most needs.
Found family, training montages, if you love Nesta and all the sparring in Fourth Wing, I think you're going to really enjoy this.
In my Cake with Katie interview with Ariel Sullivan, I asked her for a drink pairing for the book, and she went above and beyond with a pairing for each member of Unit 7 ... Swipe for inspo when you host your own Beneath bookclub!
Ariel Sullivan brings us another dystopian novel filled with high stakes, high stress, & a high amount of sexy guys!
This is the prequel to Conform, and it's book one of its own trilogy. If you've read Conform, this is about everyone who lived Beneath and how the world of Conform came to be.
This is a totally different cast of characters, and if you're looking for your post-apocalyptic world to be filled with found family and a babe named Tristian, look no further.
This book follows Sasha, whose life, just like everyone who lives beneath the ground in Haven, has been rocked by the devastation and war above. She's filled with rage and distrust, but despite her best efforts, she's a really good person at her core. When she gets drafted to join a tight knit group of warriors going above, it's the last thing she wants, but the thing she most needs.
Found family, training montages, if you love Nesta and all the sparring in Fourth Wing, I think you're going to really enjoy this.
In my Cake with Katie interview with Ariel Sullivan, I asked her for a drink pairing for the book, and she went above and beyond with a pairing for each member of Unit 7 ... Swipe for inspo when you host your own Beneath bookclub!
March 27, 2026
I had SUCH high hopes for this book after loving Conform, but was incredibly disappointed. I have no idea why this has so many positive reviews. The main character was awful and unlikable and the writing was clunky and cringey. Too many extra characters that were hard to keep track of and a lot of forced dialogue that I didn’t buy. Definitely my biggest let down of the year so far.
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.
March 31, 2026
5☆ 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 (ᴄᴏɴғᴏʀᴍ #𝟶)
🔫 🐦🔥 🩹 ☕️ 🪽🐍
➵ 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘨𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦? ➴
𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 takes place some hundred of years before 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶
we follow a medic 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 in this as she navigates life in an underground city, Haven, after a nuclear war wipes the world out aka the “above” 6 years prior
this immediately gave me fallout vibes and i ate it right the hell up! the world Ariel Sullivan built was sooo good 👏🏻
this book had me very emotional. i was not expecting to be crying 20% into this book and get so attached to these character.
“𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕. 𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝”
𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 𖤍𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑, i fucking love her 🖤 she is so strong. the character development she goes through in this book healed a part of me. quite literally one of my new fav fmcs. and those flashbacks ❤️🩹 ripped my heart out every time
𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 everything about this man 🙂↕️🙂↕️ his love for his unit. how far he will go to protect them >>>
i love the build up between the two of them 💙 their lore is perfection.
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝟽 🥺🫶🏻 elite found family incoming!! i love how in depth we get with these characters. learning all of their backstories and seeing them all grow throughout this book absolutely yes. i love every single one of them, they each touched my soul!!
i really enjoyed plot. it had me hooooked 😋 the last 20% and that ending was so dang good! i am so excited for book 2 after all the reveals 🤭
that last line??!! TEAAAAA
“𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑”
🔫 🐦🔥 🩹 ☕️ 🪽🐍
➵ 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘨𝘰𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦? ➴
𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 takes place some hundred of years before 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶
we follow a medic 𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 in this as she navigates life in an underground city, Haven, after a nuclear war wipes the world out aka the “above” 6 years prior
this immediately gave me fallout vibes and i ate it right the hell up! the world Ariel Sullivan built was sooo good 👏🏻
this book had me very emotional. i was not expecting to be crying 20% into this book and get so attached to these character.
“𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙸 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕. 𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝”
𝘚𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢 𖤍𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑, i fucking love her 🖤 she is so strong. the character development she goes through in this book healed a part of me. quite literally one of my new fav fmcs. and those flashbacks ❤️🩹 ripped my heart out every time
𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 everything about this man 🙂↕️🙂↕️ his love for his unit. how far he will go to protect them >>>
i love the build up between the two of them 💙 their lore is perfection.
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝟽 🥺🫶🏻 elite found family incoming!! i love how in depth we get with these characters. learning all of their backstories and seeing them all grow throughout this book absolutely yes. i love every single one of them, they each touched my soul!!
i really enjoyed plot. it had me hooooked 😋 the last 20% and that ending was so dang good! i am so excited for book 2 after all the reveals 🤭
that last line??!! TEAAAAA
“𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖘 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑”
March 8, 2026
5 STARS. ABSOLUTELY SPEECHLESS. Need more ✨immediately✨ this will be haunting my every thought
July 17, 2026
OMG GIVE ME MORE!!! Unit 7 forever 🤍
Listen, I loved Conform but Beneath blew me away! This is my first 5⭐️ read in months. I fell in love with so many of these characters and the entire book was a movie in my mind. I saw it all.
The found family in this? IMMACULATE. I will literally read anything Ariel Sullivan writes. I know this universe will be a ton of books and I cannot wait for every single one!
Listen, I loved Conform but Beneath blew me away! This is my first 5⭐️ read in months. I fell in love with so many of these characters and the entire book was a movie in my mind. I saw it all.
The found family in this? IMMACULATE. I will literally read anything Ariel Sullivan writes. I know this universe will be a ton of books and I cannot wait for every single one!
Did Not Finish
July 3, 2026DNF 70%
This was BORING, such a disappointment after enjoying Conform but wow no plot at all, romance was non existent and the fmc was annoying
This was BORING, such a disappointment after enjoying Conform but wow no plot at all, romance was non existent and the fmc was annoying
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Release Day!!!
I am so impressed with the world that has been created in both this spinoff prequel series and the Conform series!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️.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! 😍
I am so impressed with the world that has been created in both this spinoff prequel series and the Conform series!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️.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! 😍
April 14, 2026
I’m saying this with love for Ariel Sullivan, and with even more love for dystopian fiction, but I truly do not understand the 4.3 average rating here.
Conform was a five-star read for me because it was compulsively readable. My main issue with it was the immature voice, though even that had a narrative purpose. So when Beneath opened with an Orwell quote, a dedication to people who have lived with grief, and an FMC whose voice was immediately blunt, capable, and wounded, I was READY. And Beneath had me SEATED for about 10%.
By 25%, though, I could not tell you what the plot was. There’s a line about the FMC along the lines of, “If she fails, we all fail,” and I remember thinking: fails at what? What is the goal? What are the stakes? What is the thing this book is asking me to care about?
After that, I think the biggest issue was lack of focus. There were too many side characters, many with multiple names, and the book was so dialogue-heavy that I spent more time trying to remember which character was speaking than caring about what they were saying.
The FMC’s voice also lost me quickly. What started as blunt and wounded became weirdly juvenile. A lot of this read like YA dystopian with adult spice pasted over it. And the prose was equally uneven. Some lines felt designed for 2014 Tumblr posts, while other chapters read like stage directions: he moved, she nodded, dialogue, he leaned, dialogue, muscles happened. Maybe the emotional distance was intentional? But it kept me outside the story. Like when the sensory detail is “I could smell his coffee,” I’m not immersed.
I will say the writing improved towards the end. The last 10% was entertaining, but by then I was reading out of obligation.
There is a strong book buried in Beneath, but this version needed clearer stakes, fewer characters, and a much firmer edit. And I really hope the rest of the series gets the same clarity, momentum, and polish edits that made Conform so compelling.
Conform was a five-star read for me because it was compulsively readable. My main issue with it was the immature voice, though even that had a narrative purpose. So when Beneath opened with an Orwell quote, a dedication to people who have lived with grief, and an FMC whose voice was immediately blunt, capable, and wounded, I was READY. And Beneath had me SEATED for about 10%.
By 25%, though, I could not tell you what the plot was. There’s a line about the FMC along the lines of, “If she fails, we all fail,” and I remember thinking: fails at what? What is the goal? What are the stakes? What is the thing this book is asking me to care about?
After that, I think the biggest issue was lack of focus. There were too many side characters, many with multiple names, and the book was so dialogue-heavy that I spent more time trying to remember which character was speaking than caring about what they were saying.
The FMC’s voice also lost me quickly. What started as blunt and wounded became weirdly juvenile. A lot of this read like YA dystopian with adult spice pasted over it. And the prose was equally uneven. Some lines felt designed for 2014 Tumblr posts, while other chapters read like stage directions: he moved, she nodded, dialogue, he leaned, dialogue, muscles happened. Maybe the emotional distance was intentional? But it kept me outside the story. Like when the sensory detail is “I could smell his coffee,” I’m not immersed.
I will say the writing improved towards the end. The last 10% was entertaining, but by then I was reading out of obligation.
There is a strong book buried in Beneath, but this version needed clearer stakes, fewer characters, and a much firmer edit. And I really hope the rest of the series gets the same clarity, momentum, and polish edits that made Conform so compelling.
April 25, 2026
This is not at all what I was expecting with this book. I enjoyed it but I liked Conform so much more. Where were the main characters from that book? Am I losing it?! 😂🫣
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.
March 31, 2026
i wish the characters weren’t so annoying so i could’ve at least somewhat enjoyed the 15 hours of audiobook but i guess we can’t have everything in life
March 29, 2026
This is easily my favorite Dystopian novel I’ve ever read. From the characters, to the post-apocalyptic world building and overall plot, I absolutely loved it and could not put it down.
Sasha may be one of my favorite FMC’s - definitely top 3. I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character more, and I cried several times as we learned about her family history and the burdens laid on her, both past and present. She’s definitely written for the eldest daughters of the world.
One of the strongest aspects of this book was the found family. They were all given enough backstory and character traits that made them unique and easy to care for, without taking away from the two main characters and overall momentum of the plot. Additionally, the romance was beautifully done. Sasha and Tristian have a naturally chemistry and their connection felt authentic.
The dystopian world felt fresh, and the health-score system was especially interesting and really raised the stakes. The concept of a nuclear apocalypse is not unique, but it was executed well.
Do you need to read Conform before reading this? No. I didn’t, and I strongly believe this book can stand on its own. Will I read Conform though? Absolutely.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Sasha may be one of my favorite FMC’s - definitely top 3. I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character more, and I cried several times as we learned about her family history and the burdens laid on her, both past and present. She’s definitely written for the eldest daughters of the world.
One of the strongest aspects of this book was the found family. They were all given enough backstory and character traits that made them unique and easy to care for, without taking away from the two main characters and overall momentum of the plot. Additionally, the romance was beautifully done. Sasha and Tristian have a naturally chemistry and their connection felt authentic.
The dystopian world felt fresh, and the health-score system was especially interesting and really raised the stakes. The concept of a nuclear apocalypse is not unique, but it was executed well.
Do you need to read Conform before reading this? No. I didn’t, and I strongly believe this book can stand on its own. Will I read Conform though? Absolutely.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2026
“Someone always has to sacrifice. The others aren’t like you. You are strong, Sasha. You cannot hesitate.”
I LOVED this! I picked it up and did not put it back down until I was done. Beneath is a prequel to Conform (around 200 years earlier). So it follows an entirely different set of characters and world-building. This story takes place after the war; the remaining civilization lives in underground tunnels and have different roles and sectors as a part of society. Sasha is trained to work in the Ward, as a medical care provider, but everything changes as she is reassigned as a medic for the Force (soldiers) and must help them with their latest mission…
This book reminds me a lot of Hunger Games Mockingjay and, despite being dystopian and not fantasy, it has a very strong Fourth Wing vibe to it as well. Truthfully, I felt pretty neutral starting this because I wasn’t blown away by Conform, but boy was I in for a treat with this one. Manage your expectations, because this book has an entirely different feel than Conform. I loved everything about this. It’s dark & gritty. I loved the female main character, Sasha. What a lovely, stubborn, complex character. Her flashbacks ripped my heart out and really helped me build a connection to her and feel her grief. If you have an avoidant personality in any way, you will deeply understand her. The pain, the rage, the fear, the grief. The fight. The joy. I was rooting for her so deeply. Same goes for most of the characters really! I was extremely invested in them. Tristian…. Incredible. The entire Unit Seven is a friend group you want to be a part of. The slow burn and tension in here works perfectly. There’s moments of pain, moments of joy, and high stakes the entire time. I simply cannot wait to see what happens next.
Read this if you like:
🖤 found family
🪽black cat / golden retriever, specifically if you like Nesta & Cassian
⛓️ military dystopian, teams training for missions
I’m a personal fan of reading books in publishing order, but you could read this before Conform and it would make perfect sense. The entire series will be made up of three trilogies released out of chronological order and to my understanding Beneath is the first book in a different trilogy (the prequel trilogy) but the world is all interconnected.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ariel Sullivan, and Ballantine Books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“As long as there’s life-
We defend it with our own.
We go out as one-
We come back as one.”
Content warnings: grief, sexual content, death, violence, injury/injury detail, medical content, death of a parent, sexual harassment, panic attacks, depression/self loathing, vomit, war
I LOVED this! I picked it up and did not put it back down until I was done. Beneath is a prequel to Conform (around 200 years earlier). So it follows an entirely different set of characters and world-building. This story takes place after the war; the remaining civilization lives in underground tunnels and have different roles and sectors as a part of society. Sasha is trained to work in the Ward, as a medical care provider, but everything changes as she is reassigned as a medic for the Force (soldiers) and must help them with their latest mission…
This book reminds me a lot of Hunger Games Mockingjay and, despite being dystopian and not fantasy, it has a very strong Fourth Wing vibe to it as well. Truthfully, I felt pretty neutral starting this because I wasn’t blown away by Conform, but boy was I in for a treat with this one. Manage your expectations, because this book has an entirely different feel than Conform. I loved everything about this. It’s dark & gritty. I loved the female main character, Sasha. What a lovely, stubborn, complex character. Her flashbacks ripped my heart out and really helped me build a connection to her and feel her grief. If you have an avoidant personality in any way, you will deeply understand her. The pain, the rage, the fear, the grief. The fight. The joy. I was rooting for her so deeply. Same goes for most of the characters really! I was extremely invested in them. Tristian…. Incredible. The entire Unit Seven is a friend group you want to be a part of. The slow burn and tension in here works perfectly. There’s moments of pain, moments of joy, and high stakes the entire time. I simply cannot wait to see what happens next.
Read this if you like:
🖤 found family
🪽black cat / golden retriever, specifically if you like Nesta & Cassian
⛓️ military dystopian, teams training for missions
I’m a personal fan of reading books in publishing order, but you could read this before Conform and it would make perfect sense. The entire series will be made up of three trilogies released out of chronological order and to my understanding Beneath is the first book in a different trilogy (the prequel trilogy) but the world is all interconnected.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ariel Sullivan, and Ballantine Books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“As long as there’s life-
We defend it with our own.
We go out as one-
We come back as one.”
Content warnings: grief, sexual content, death, violence, injury/injury detail, medical content, death of a parent, sexual harassment, panic attacks, depression/self loathing, vomit, war
May 19, 2026
SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP!!
WOW WOW WOW this was incredible amazing I don’t have words I am obsessed! Probably the best dystopian romance books I’ve ever read! Note that this is a prequel trilogy series to conform. However, you must read conform first.! the Romance & tension was absolute perfection. Probably one of the best first kisses I’ve ever read!! I feel like I’ve been set up for heartbreak though! And I’m sorry my thoughts are just all over the place with this one because there was just so much to absolutely love about it!
The found family was one of the best that I’ve ever read the platonic female and male relationship relationships were spectacularly done! The plot was awesome! Just everything about this book was just perfection. I have nothing bad to say except that it is going to break my heart.
WOW WOW WOW this was incredible amazing I don’t have words I am obsessed! Probably the best dystopian romance books I’ve ever read! Note that this is a prequel trilogy series to conform. However, you must read conform first.! the Romance & tension was absolute perfection. Probably one of the best first kisses I’ve ever read!! I feel like I’ve been set up for heartbreak though! And I’m sorry my thoughts are just all over the place with this one because there was just so much to absolutely love about it!
The found family was one of the best that I’ve ever read the platonic female and male relationship relationships were spectacularly done! The plot was awesome! Just everything about this book was just perfection. I have nothing bad to say except that it is going to break my heart.
April 15, 2026
I LOVED this! I could rave for days about it. The atmosphere, world, plot, all of it was amazing. It sucked me in from the first page. The writing was so emotive, I felt everything the characters were going through on page (which drove me to tears more than once).
The characters were truly where this book shined for me. The found-family in this was impeccably done and for quite a large cast, and in a book written in single pov, each one felt fully fleshed-out, distinct, and lived-in. Their presence on page mattered.
Sasha, our traumatised, heart-broken, prickly girl had my heart from the beginning. Her pain felt so real and understandable, and though she's her own worst enemy at times, the growth she had in this book was so well-earned. I'm behind her the whole way.
Tristian. TRISTIAN. what an elite fictional man. A new top book boyfriend. The way he saw Sasha, gave her safe space, but also challenged her? Swoon. I ate up every second of the romance between the two of them. The wait for the next book feels impossible; I need it immediately! In the meantime i'll be screaming for everyone to pick this up and read it.
“What if I want to understand every horrible thing that happened to you and every horrible thing you had to do? What if I want to see the sides of you that you think you have to hide? I’m not scared of what you did or who you had to become to survive.”
Thank you so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the earc!
The characters were truly where this book shined for me. The found-family in this was impeccably done and for quite a large cast, and in a book written in single pov, each one felt fully fleshed-out, distinct, and lived-in. Their presence on page mattered.
Sasha, our traumatised, heart-broken, prickly girl had my heart from the beginning. Her pain felt so real and understandable, and though she's her own worst enemy at times, the growth she had in this book was so well-earned. I'm behind her the whole way.
Tristian. TRISTIAN. what an elite fictional man. A new top book boyfriend. The way he saw Sasha, gave her safe space, but also challenged her? Swoon. I ate up every second of the romance between the two of them. The wait for the next book feels impossible; I need it immediately! In the meantime i'll be screaming for everyone to pick this up and read it.
“What if I want to understand every horrible thing that happened to you and every horrible thing you had to do? What if I want to see the sides of you that you think you have to hide? I’m not scared of what you did or who you had to become to survive.”
Thank you so much Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the earc!
March 8, 2026
I am absolutely blown away by this book. I was 100% invested from page one. The pacing, character development and world building were all perfect. I genuinely did not want to put this book down!
This story was heartbreaking. I did not expect to already be crying at 19%—but I was. At the same time, there’s also so much more than just heartbreak. There is healing and love from an incredible found family that will make your heart swell.
&The slow burn between our MMC and FMC!! My heart was racing during every interaction between these two. The tension was so intense I wanted to scream.
This was everything I could want to read in a romance and more! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release Date: March 24, 2026
Tropes ✨:
Dystopian world
Forced proximity
Found family
Slow burn
Commander & Cadet
He falls first
Grief/trauma
🖤: “It’s never too late to burn it all down and rise.”
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This story was heartbreaking. I did not expect to already be crying at 19%—but I was. At the same time, there’s also so much more than just heartbreak. There is healing and love from an incredible found family that will make your heart swell.
&The slow burn between our MMC and FMC!! My heart was racing during every interaction between these two. The tension was so intense I wanted to scream.
This was everything I could want to read in a romance and more! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Release Date: March 24, 2026
Tropes ✨:
Dystopian world
Forced proximity
Found family
Slow burn
Commander & Cadet
He falls first
Grief/trauma
🖤: “It’s never too late to burn it all down and rise.”
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. Beneath completely pulled me in with its dark, emotional atmosphere and kept me hooked the whole way through.
Sasha felt so real and raw, and watching her grow was one of my favourite parts. The slow-burn romance was done beautifully—natural, emotional, and not rushed at all.
Such a powerful, gripping read—I didn’t want it to end.
Sasha felt so real and raw, and watching her grow was one of my favourite parts. The slow-burn romance was done beautifully—natural, emotional, and not rushed at all.
Such a powerful, gripping read—I didn’t want it to end.
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!
April 18, 2026
Wow, what an amazing book. I cannot wait for the next novel. This post apocalyptic novel occurs several hundred years before "Conform." These are to be 2 intertwined trilogies and I cannot wait to see how they will be connected. I want to see Unit Seven rise again.
June 4, 2026
I loved this one! The emotion is so deep and raw. The characters so vivid and the longing insane. I really loved that I never knew how something was going to go or who would survive. I related a lot to our FMC being a healer and thought that was done in such a unique way.
Did Not Finish
March 6, 2026📚 DNF at 30%
I absolutely loved Confirm, so I went into this one expecting at least some connection between the worlds. I know this story takes place long before Confirm, but I was still hoping for a few familiar threads, but received absolute none!
This book leaned towards the military romance, and by the 30% mark I still wasn’t invested in any of the characters. One thing that really frustrated me was how everyone seemed to blame the healer as if its her fault every time someone died. I wanted to learn more about reasons of how the world Confirm was built, maybe if I continued I would have learned, but I read other reviews and unfortunately it does not, I know this will be a trilogy, and I am not invested enough to read the whole series to get answers for Confirm.. I will continue Confirm series! Also you never know I may come back to this~
~Pre-read~ So happy to have received an ARC copy! I’m currently reading Conform first, and I’ll be back with an update soon, I promise.
I absolutely loved Confirm, so I went into this one expecting at least some connection between the worlds. I know this story takes place long before Confirm, but I was still hoping for a few familiar threads, but received absolute none!
This book leaned towards the military romance, and by the 30% mark I still wasn’t invested in any of the characters. One thing that really frustrated me was how everyone seemed to blame the healer as if its her fault every time someone died. I wanted to learn more about reasons of how the world Confirm was built, maybe if I continued I would have learned, but I read other reviews and unfortunately it does not, I know this will be a trilogy, and I am not invested enough to read the whole series to get answers for Confirm.. I will continue Confirm series! Also you never know I may come back to this~
~Pre-read~ So happy to have received an ARC copy! I’m currently reading Conform first, and I’ll be back with an update soon, I promise.
April 13, 2026
****Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House and Ballantine for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****
If it takes 80% of this book to peak my interest it is a solid 1 star.
Look I read Conform. I get why Emeline would garner hate because she is a "soft" character and very naïve. I get the distinct feeling that the author read all those reviews hating on Emeline and decided to swing the COMPLETE opposite way for Sasha.
Ahhh yes Sasha, who describes herself as grossly skinny with long auburn hair who is a great shot with her fathers pistol and who never eats her portion of rations.. It is never clear to me how old Sasha truly is, she walks.. I mean stalks around the tunnels in a fit of rage almost every single scene in this book. Angry at the world and somehow more broken than other people in Haven? That is something I don't understand about her, how is her trauma more than anyone else's? Of course it's sad, of course it has left a negative impact on her life but the way she is snagged on this just does not make sense to me. She is incredibly guilty about all the people who have died on her watch in the ward, even guilty about the people she has saved like Isla all because a scar shows up on her fair skin... The inner monologue of her thoughts bored to me tears. I really was only interested in her in regards to being a medic, I thought if more scenes had her doing her actual job instead of whining and bitching about an obstacle course we could have become friends.
Ahh yes Unit 7.
Don't get me wrong, I love a well written found family like the next person but every person in this unit felt one dimensional. Everyone has their trope and does not stray to far from it. Damien (the class clown), Levi (the quiet listener), Isla (the sunshine), Rumi (the quiet listener #2), Patrick (one of the bros), Ingrid (the one with the grudge) and Tristian (Can handle any burden especially because he has a glorious body...) Truly the characters all fit in the slots nice and neat, conversations rely heavily on said tropes and the amount of times I rolled my eyes at their conversations is ungodly.
Some of my favorite lines:
"Lets Lewis and Clark this Shit" - Damien
"You should watch your back, angels tend to lose their wings around here" - Kaleo who I think got that line from Demi Moore in Charlie Angels 2.
Other things that did not make sense to me about Unit 7 is call signs. What's the point? Truly and honestly? Do first or last names not suffice? Talk about corny too. Hades, Eagle, Buddy, Medusa, McFumbles, Raven and Beast? This screams cringe to me, author maybe trying to hard? It also makes trying to figure out who tf is who harder than necessary.
World building... yes that is a thing that books should have to immerse the reader into the story. Does this have it? I would say 1 out 10 on a scale of caring about the world the author created.. All I know is the world ends in nuclear chaos, when you may ask? I don't know... I get vague modern vibes from the language usage and technology available. Where is Haven located? Do we get a modern city detailing where it is? Nope. I would expect somewhere major like New York, Los Angeles or Washington D.C. because the radiation is apparently 378sv's?!??!
Look it can labeled fantasy all it wants but if you are basing this book off of modern times the least the author can do is look up realistic radiation levels. Since Ariel didn't I did. 1 SV causes radiation sickness while 8 SV is fatal even with proper gear. So you mean to tell me Unit 7 was able to walk calmly through 378SVs?? Taking bathroom and snack breaks?
The amount of times I read snarling, spit, spat, venomously, muttering viciously, stalk, rage, drawl, smirk, auburn hair, emerald eyes and curls it's going to take me some time to recover.
I will continue to read Conform series but taking 80% to finally get some interest generating in your book is WAY to long.
If it takes 80% of this book to peak my interest it is a solid 1 star.
Look I read Conform. I get why Emeline would garner hate because she is a "soft" character and very naïve. I get the distinct feeling that the author read all those reviews hating on Emeline and decided to swing the COMPLETE opposite way for Sasha.
Ahhh yes Sasha, who describes herself as grossly skinny with long auburn hair who is a great shot with her fathers pistol and who never eats her portion of rations.. It is never clear to me how old Sasha truly is, she walks.. I mean stalks around the tunnels in a fit of rage almost every single scene in this book. Angry at the world and somehow more broken than other people in Haven? That is something I don't understand about her, how is her trauma more than anyone else's? Of course it's sad, of course it has left a negative impact on her life but the way she is snagged on this just does not make sense to me. She is incredibly guilty about all the people who have died on her watch in the ward, even guilty about the people she has saved like Isla all because a scar shows up on her fair skin... The inner monologue of her thoughts bored to me tears. I really was only interested in her in regards to being a medic, I thought if more scenes had her doing her actual job instead of whining and bitching about an obstacle course we could have become friends.
Ahh yes Unit 7.
Don't get me wrong, I love a well written found family like the next person but every person in this unit felt one dimensional. Everyone has their trope and does not stray to far from it. Damien (the class clown), Levi (the quiet listener), Isla (the sunshine), Rumi (the quiet listener #2), Patrick (one of the bros), Ingrid (the one with the grudge) and Tristian (Can handle any burden especially because he has a glorious body...) Truly the characters all fit in the slots nice and neat, conversations rely heavily on said tropes and the amount of times I rolled my eyes at their conversations is ungodly.
Some of my favorite lines:
"Lets Lewis and Clark this Shit" - Damien
"You should watch your back, angels tend to lose their wings around here" - Kaleo who I think got that line from Demi Moore in Charlie Angels 2.
Other things that did not make sense to me about Unit 7 is call signs. What's the point? Truly and honestly? Do first or last names not suffice? Talk about corny too. Hades, Eagle, Buddy, Medusa, McFumbles, Raven and Beast? This screams cringe to me, author maybe trying to hard? It also makes trying to figure out who tf is who harder than necessary.
World building... yes that is a thing that books should have to immerse the reader into the story. Does this have it? I would say 1 out 10 on a scale of caring about the world the author created.. All I know is the world ends in nuclear chaos, when you may ask? I don't know... I get vague modern vibes from the language usage and technology available. Where is Haven located? Do we get a modern city detailing where it is? Nope. I would expect somewhere major like New York, Los Angeles or Washington D.C. because the radiation is apparently 378sv's?!??!
Look it can labeled fantasy all it wants but if you are basing this book off of modern times the least the author can do is look up realistic radiation levels. Since Ariel didn't I did. 1 SV causes radiation sickness while 8 SV is fatal even with proper gear. So you mean to tell me Unit 7 was able to walk calmly through 378SVs?? Taking bathroom and snack breaks?
The amount of times I read snarling, spit, spat, venomously, muttering viciously, stalk, rage, drawl, smirk, auburn hair, emerald eyes and curls it's going to take me some time to recover.
I will continue to read Conform series but taking 80% to finally get some interest generating in your book is WAY to long.
May 7, 2026
I’m afraid I don’t understand the hype around this one… I grew up when dystopian fiction was having its mf MOMENT and the recent resurgence of that genre has me all kinds of giddy but this just fell flat in so many ways for me. The MMC does tall dark n broody very well, touch her & die trope is alive and well if that’s your thing, but that’s about all the praise I can offer. His character has the depth of a piece of cardboard. The FMC was insufferable and living in her head felt, at times, like a form of self harm. Like yeah, everyone you know and love has died and the world has gone to shit- but sister at some point you gotta stop feeling sorry for yourself. OR DON’T but at least quit using your pain as an excuse to lash out at everyone around you (who have also been through hell and are just trying to help, on record). Her narrative tone also felt weirdly juvenile, which became increasingly grating. I don’t usually mind a first person POV- except when you’re a POS.
Somehow this managed to be more romance than plot and yet the romance barely ever got off the ground and left a whole lot to be desired?? Too many extraneous side characters who were never fully fleshed out and between last names, nicknames, and call signs, I rarely knew who was even talking. The premise has great potential but unfortunately the execution just wasn’t there and the writing felt clunky af, almost like I was reading a first draft? The prose was uneven and awkward, with far too much dialogue and no clear direction or stakes. So unless you’re wanting to cosplay as an editor for a bit maybe skip this one😗
THAT SAID!!! This is slated to be a trilogy prequel to Conform (also a trilogy I believe?) so maybeeee it will all come together in a grand masterpiece and everything will make sense in the end?? It feels like there’s a story begging to be told here somewhere, so for now I shall remain cautiously optimistic.
Somehow this managed to be more romance than plot and yet the romance barely ever got off the ground and left a whole lot to be desired?? Too many extraneous side characters who were never fully fleshed out and between last names, nicknames, and call signs, I rarely knew who was even talking. The premise has great potential but unfortunately the execution just wasn’t there and the writing felt clunky af, almost like I was reading a first draft? The prose was uneven and awkward, with far too much dialogue and no clear direction or stakes. So unless you’re wanting to cosplay as an editor for a bit maybe skip this one😗
THAT SAID!!! This is slated to be a trilogy prequel to Conform (also a trilogy I believe?) so maybeeee it will all come together in a grand masterpiece and everything will make sense in the end?? It feels like there’s a story begging to be told here somewhere, so for now I shall remain cautiously optimistic.
March 19, 2026
GUYS…I have officially found my favorite book of the year (so far). DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE IS SO BACK!! I read an early copy of Beneath a month ago and genuinely have not stopped thinking about it since. I was a big fan of Conform when it released last year but Beneath exceeded EVERY expectation!! Thank you so much to @thousandvoicesmedia @ballantinebooks for the free early copy 🤍 Beneath is going to be THE dystopian romance of the year and I’m begging everyone to run to get a copy when it releases on March 24th!!
Beneath is a prequel to Conform, set in the same world, but before the characters and time of Conform. It kicks off a prequel trilogy that explains what happened thousands of years before the Illum took over in Conform, when the humans risked everything to try and rebuild after a devastating war. Sasha lives in the underground city, working as a medic when Tristian, the commander of the Force recruits her to his Unit. Suddenly, Sasha’s life is flipped upside down as she is thrown into training and missions that could be humankinds last chance for survival.
Everything about this book I’m OBSESSED with. The worldbuilding is lush, working through the history of this world and explaining what happened with the war and the human politics. My favorite part is Sasha’s character!! Sasha is a woman suffering from intense grief and trauma. She greatly struggles with her mental health, feeling worthless and all alone in the world. I could relate so much to Sasha’s character and the way Ariel wrote her made me feel so seen.
AND THE ROMANCE!?! Tristian and Sasha are EVERYTHING!! Literally my favorite scenes were them aboveground on missions, cuddling together 🥺 The tension, the angst, the pull between them, I could not stop reading!! I am so scared and so excited for the next book 😭😭 THE ENDING DEVASTATED ME (why Ariel)!!!
I already am so excited to reread this book (gonna listen to the audio) and can’t wait to see everyone reading it and their reactions!! 🤍
Beneath is a prequel to Conform, set in the same world, but before the characters and time of Conform. It kicks off a prequel trilogy that explains what happened thousands of years before the Illum took over in Conform, when the humans risked everything to try and rebuild after a devastating war. Sasha lives in the underground city, working as a medic when Tristian, the commander of the Force recruits her to his Unit. Suddenly, Sasha’s life is flipped upside down as she is thrown into training and missions that could be humankinds last chance for survival.
Everything about this book I’m OBSESSED with. The worldbuilding is lush, working through the history of this world and explaining what happened with the war and the human politics. My favorite part is Sasha’s character!! Sasha is a woman suffering from intense grief and trauma. She greatly struggles with her mental health, feeling worthless and all alone in the world. I could relate so much to Sasha’s character and the way Ariel wrote her made me feel so seen.
AND THE ROMANCE!?! Tristian and Sasha are EVERYTHING!! Literally my favorite scenes were them aboveground on missions, cuddling together 🥺 The tension, the angst, the pull between them, I could not stop reading!! I am so scared and so excited for the next book 😭😭 THE ENDING DEVASTATED ME (why Ariel)!!!
I already am so excited to reread this book (gonna listen to the audio) and can’t wait to see everyone reading it and their reactions!! 🤍
October 6, 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!
April 6, 2026
I really enjoyed Conform by the same author, so I went into this with high expectations. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. The world-building felt incredibly thin, offering only broad strokes of a post-nuclear bunker life without any further depth. Instead of expanding the setting, the 400+ pages were dominated by heavy, repetitive internal monologue centered on self-hatred. While I understood the characters' motivations, reading the same thoughts reiterated for the entire book was an exercise in frustration. I don't think I have it in me to continue this series.
June 14, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
Not a bad book. Just wasn't for me.
Not a bad book. Just wasn't for me.
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