Project Underworld: A paranormal spy thriller series

by Serena J. Bishop

Learning about Henry’s schemes and secrets was only the beginning . . .

Now that Henry's murdered his right hand, Kari has to take their place. Sure, she gets to travel to the world’s most hidden corners and highest mountains, but in the process, she’ll learn more about the secret society running the world than she ever thought possible. While acting as an amateur spy gives her some satisfaction, it’s not enough to make her want to stay with Henry. Kari knows the future she wants, and it’s not on the ship or with him. The only question is will Henry let her leave?

Henry’s fascination with her powers and origins grows into obsession and not only puts Kari under a watchful eye, but also those she loves. Every move is tracked and questioned. Every lie more dangerous. Every loved one a target. How far will Henry go to ensure Kari stays by his side?


“I’m Henry Wibawa. I can do anything I want.”

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2026

About the author

Serena J. Bishop writes speculative fiction, thriller and romance stories with humor, heart, and (sapphic) heroines. She is a daydreamer who comes from a long line of storytellers. When she’s not writing fiction she enjoys being a nerd, surprising others with her pop culture knowledge, dining out, or finding a recipe to try. She currently resides in Maryland with her lovely wife and chihuahua. She's also an active member in the Sapphic Lit Pop-Up Bookstore.

You can follow her by signing up for her newsletter on her website or by finding her on Facebook, Threads, Instagram, or BlueSky @SerenaJBishop

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Project Underworld is Book 3 in Serena J. Bishop's Kari Chronicles, and what a wild ride it is! This series must be read in order. Book 3 picks up where the last one ended.
I was excited to see Belle and Kari together again, although they were not free from a bit of angst. They are my favorite!
Kari learns just how deeply the web of depravity and corruption extends within In Virtute and discovers that Henry is a special kind of psychopath. Some of those revelations are quite disturbing to her and lead her to make choices that I can't mention because they are spoilers. Unfortunately, aside from the paranormal aspects, this story feels all too real given the world we live in. And those paranormal elements are not over-the-top, so they are easy to believe and seamlessly integrated into the larger, more complex plot. I am a huge fan of this series, its multilayered storyline, and the on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense. There are good guys and bad guys (who are sometimes one and the same), as well as those who are caught in between them. The world is massive and involves many characters, but I never felt lost along the way. The level of excess and the number of God complexes present in one book are astounding. The use of technology for nefarious deeds is not surprising but frightening, nonetheless.
Kudos to Serena J. Bishop for knocking it out of the park with this intelligent, engaging, and convincing sci-fi novel. The books in the series seem to keep getting better, more intense, and more stressful! I am anxiously awaiting the final book to see how it resolves the cliffhanger in this one.
I highly recommend this author and series.
#sapphic #queer #panrep #nonbinaryrep #paranormal #scifi #worldbuilding #series #ultrawealthy #technology #spy #doubleagent #murder #crimes #secretsociety #deathofalovedone #grief #mentalhealth #positivecopingmethods #thriller #surprisetwists #cliffhanger #genderfluid #pansexualrep #telepathy
I received a review copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cliffhanger on end of this book. Full of wonder and inside info for the coninuing story. There was a lot of nasty situations, with one of the main characters. I don't spoil them. Read the story for it. Looking forward to book 4, next year.

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next installment in Kari's journey, and just wow. I loved it! I can say with certainty that things did not go as I had expected them to do so, and honestly, that's a good thing. It kept me on my toes, kept me eagerly reading, what to know what was going to happen next, and how Kari was going to get out of the mess that she'd inadvertently gotten herself into. The rich and powerful who control the world are not people that you want to get involved with, and as Kari has already learned, they have little qualms about striving for what they want. Now that she's in the middle of it all, the risks are only getting higher, and Serena's writing portrays that perfectly. The story does jump between events a bit, but it is the format that she's used for the series thus far, and it works perfectly for it.

There are plenty of stressful moments in the story (it is a thriller, after all), but there are also some sweet moments as well, and I absolutely adored them, and I may have certain opinions on what I hope will happen there. And of course, we get to see more of Kari's moms as well, snippets of their life through Kari's story.

Very much looking forward to the final installment of the series!

I received an ARC of the book; opinions are, of course, my own.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Project Underworld is a banger! Serena J. Bishop takes the Kari chronicles to the next level with a wonderful cast of new and known characters, fabulous locations, and an ending that’s going to leave readers both satisfied and craving more. I really appreciated Bishop’s ability to advance the action-packed narrative while still taking the time to show us who Kari’s really is with various heartfelt exchanges between her and the people she loves the most. I absolutely love this world that Bishop has created and can’t wait for the next book (even though it’s supposedly the last one in the series, which makes me sad.)

[Ash Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has sucked me in! The setting a cruise ship turned into a science lab and college. The main character is witty and had me underlining her comments and internal dialogue every other page. End of the civilization bunkers, more page time for Mom A and Mom L, and a love interest. Highly recommend. I ARC read this book for an honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are going to want to read this one! From the first page, you will be hooked. Serena J. Bishop may have written my favorite in the Kari Chronicles thus far. It is very hard to put it down and do other things. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoilers. Go. Get it. Read it. You'll be happy you did!

[Christine Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an intriguing carry on, i thought i knew where this story was going but i was wrong in the best possible way, im so hooked up on this series i can't get enough a must-read congratulations