SHIFTING GROUND: A Short Story Collection

by Alice Rachel

*The author pledges to donate 100% of sales revenue from SHIFTING GROUND to The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT+ youth in need).

SHIFTING GROUND is a collection of 12 Dystopian ROMANCE short stories from the UNDER GROUND series.
The collection comprises MF, FF, and MM stories.

CHI:
Chi never asked to be born second in a family only allowed to have one child. He never wanted to be a burden on his parents. But when his parents and twin brother are taken away, Chi is forced to run for his life. Run and hide like he has always done. But Chi is tired of hiding. Now has come the time to fight back.​​

AKIO:
When the Deviance Act is passed, Akio's life changes for the worst. Forced to hide his orientation in order to survive, and betrayed by the one person he truly cared about, Akio finds himself running for his life. But sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways. This time, maybe fate meant to open the door to a greater destiny.

NARUMI:
Many are those who broke Narumi's heart.
Between those rejecting her over her orientation and those trying to use her bisexuality for their own profit, Narumi is left shattered, reluctant to commit to anyone.
But all that was before she met Chase Martinez, a man with a heart of gold, so broken by fate that Narumi takes it upon herself to piece him back together.  
Quickly, their relationship triggers issues for the  Underground, as jealousy arises, threatening to ruin everything the rebels have ever worked for. 

CRAIG:
When the police come to Craig's apartment to let him know his parents died in a car accident, Craig is confused and furious. Lower-class members don't own cars. How could his parents be caught in an accident? Was it pure bad luck or some sort of orchestrated murder?

MORGAN:
Having to kiss a boy was bad enough, but forcing Morgan to marry him was too much to ask. All that was before the girl of her dreams even showed up in her life. Now Morgan has to choose between her obligations to her family and the call of her heart. But when the law is against you and the choice implies death, is there truly an option at all?

JACKSON:
Seventeen-year old Jackson Miller is anything but conventional. Viewed as weird by all his peers, Jackson doesn't let other people's opinion of him define who he is.
When Jackson has to team up with a guy two years older for a science project, feelings grow fast, and following the rules is simply out of the question.
Not only does Jackson not care what people think, but he refuses to conform to a society trying to stifle him.

Other stories included: WILLOW, WILLIAM, CECILIA AND TYREESE, and TERRENCE.

760 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2018

About the author

UNDER GROUND Series Recommended Reading Order:

1 - UNDER GROUND - BOOK 1
2 - LOSING GROUND: A Stephen Richards Novella
3- STANDING GROUND - BOOK 2
4 - HOLDING GROUND: A Stephen Richards Novella 2
5 - COMMON GROUND: Kayla and Taylor's Story
6 - SHIFTING GROUND: A Short Story Collection
7 - DANGEROUS GROUND: Tina and Chase's Story (Out in October 2018)
8- BREAKING GROUND - BOOK 3 (Out in 2019)

Social Media Links:
Website
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Facebook Author Profile

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Shifting Ground is a collection of short stories by Alice Rachel and are all part of the Under Ground series. This collection was put together as a charity anthology- with 100% of the sales being pledged to ‘The Ally coalition’.
This book contains 12 short stories that have a diverse mix of characters, and situations- but all set within the dystopian world that Ms. Rachel has Masterfully created. There is drama, emotion, interesting characters, engrossing stories and so much more We also discover a variety of complex characters who are lovingly crafted, each fully realised and unique individuals with their own tale to tell. We meet characters who are straight, gay, Bi, or even Pan-sexual- and follow as Ms. Rachel tells their stories. I have read all the books in this series now and loved revisiting the ones contained in this anthology.
The 12 books found in the Shifting Ground collection are:
- Chi #1
- William
- Willow #1
- Cecilia and Tyrese
- Akio
- Chi #2
- Willow #2
- Craig
- Terrence
- Morgan
- Narumi
- Jackson

Here are my thoughts on a few of my favourites:


CHI #1

Chi (#1) is A Short Story in the Underground series by Alice Rachel.
Chi’s story begins a couple of years before he meets Thia. He was seventeen years old and the government authorities had stormed his home and arrested his family. He has escaped and is on the run. Tired of always running and being in hiding, Chi decides it’s now time to put up a fight.
As we discovered in Underground, the society that he lives in deems it illegal to have more than one child. And as Chi is the second born he really shouldn’t exist and has been forced to hide from the government authorities for his entire life.
This story fills in a lot of missing information from Chi’s perspective. Again, Ms. Rachel is giving us an insight into Chi- a little more in depth look at how and why he is the way he is and the reasons behind his actions throughout the series. We also get a look at the first time he encounters William Fox.
A great read.



William

William is A Short Story in the Underground Series. This story is a quick easy read. It has a fast pace and contains a lot of information for such a small package.
William Fox a cruel, self-serving and heartless young man. He’s the villain of the Underground series and this book is from his perspective. It is an insight into his character and sheds a light on his inner workings.
This story starts on the day he meets Thia for the first time, at age fourteen. As we discover in Underground- arrangements had been made with Thia’s parents, where Thia is basically ‘sold’/promised to a marriage with William. When things don’t go the way William had wanted, he becomes obsessed. This book sheds a light on why that happens.
Ms. Rachel has a great writing style that is dynamic, detail oriented, descriptive and a little gritty.
I despise William, but I love to hate him. Any scene he was in completely captivated my attention. So I really enjoyed learning more about him. The fact that Ms. Rachel can evoke such a passionate response from me is testament to her consummate writing skills.
I really recommend all the Underground series, especially the novellas- as they will give you an extra insight to the characters and backstories.



Cecilia & Tyreese

Cecilia & Tyreese is A Short Story (novella) in the beautiful, sad and a slightly dark, but always thought provoking, Underground series- by the supremely talented Alice Rachel
This story is about Cecilia, who is Thia’s mother. It takes us back to when Cecilia was a teenager, and gives us an idea of how and why Cecilia became the woman we meet in Underground.
Cecilia is determined, independent and strong. She has no intention of following the rules or giving up on a life of her own design, for any man. That is until she meets Tyreese at the library. He is quite intrigued by her and is determined that they should get to know one another. No matter what Cecilia’s head told her, her heart had other ideas. Eventually Cecilia’s defences crumble and she falls very hard.
We are privy to their forbidden love and the lengths the two go to for their love. This is a beautiful, but very dramatic and heartbreaking story. I hated that their fates turned out the way they did. But I guess we wouldn’t have had Thia if their fates had been different. I now understand how Cecilia’s own experience factored into the way she was and influenced how she was with Thia. Cecilia and Tyreese’s story has some definite parallels with Chi and Thia’s story.
Another really well written instalment added to a captivating series..


Akio

Akio is A Short Story (novella) in the Underground series by Alice Rachel.
This story gives us a great look into one of the nicer, but more easily overlooked characters in the Underground story. It also gives some backstory to the whole underground rebellion.
Akio Sakamoto is a middle class citizen and an active member of the underground. He has been forced to keep his orientation secret, due to the Deviance Act that was put into force by the government. After a gut wrenching betrayal forces him to run for his life, fate introduces him to a his destiny.
Akio is quite a sassy character; he is also very kind and sweet. My heart hurt for him and everything he had been through.
The author was up front, honest and unabashed about Akio’s sexuality. But, she was sensitive and considerate with how she portrayed this and the circumstances he was in.
This is another great story in the Underground series- I love how these short stories really expanded and enriched my reading and understanding of the series as a whole, by giving a lot of valuable and interesting character and backstory information. I really recommend all the short stories as a way of really enhancing your reading experience.
Out of all the novella’s, this is definitely one of my favourites!

Terrence

Terrence is a short story in the Underground series by Alice Rachel. It is a YA dystopian/ forbidden romance. As with the other books in this series, I really felt for the character and what he had been through. I also appreciate how the story added some more depth to the whole series- by expanding on Terrence and his experiences; we also learn other important facts that helps mesh the whole saga together.
Terrence lives in a society that is very regulated, and structured into classes- from elite at the top; to lower class citizens who are forbidden from procreating or marrying. They are deemed so lowly that they are forced into sterilization at 18 years old. There are also laws against being gay, where the government has the right to execute all gay, or suspected gay people.
Because of “The Deviance Act” Terrence has had to hide his sexual orientation just to survive. His family aren’t supportive of him at all and even went so far as to blame him for ‘choosing’ to be gay just to complicate their lives.

“I got my first crush on the guy when I was nine years old. And as I grew much older, most dudes started talking about girls and how they enjoyed feeling them up. I had no idea what the big deal was with them drooling over female breasts, but I pretended I was into that too. Yep, sure, I was totally straight. Girls really did it for me.”
“My family wasn't super open-minded when it came to that kinda stuff, and I didn't need no trouble with my dad. He'd opened his mouth a few times about the Deviance Act, making it clear he supported a new law ridding our state of all "deviant scum," as he liked to call us gay men. Little did he know his own son was one of them.”

When Terrence is attacked while at a bar, a gorgeous guy comes to his aide. Chase Martinez is a stunning specimen of manhood, he’s also kind and considerate and a member of the underground rebel group. Chase has had a lot to contend with in his life also. They really are perfect together and a great match. Terrence is captivated and falls hard for this charming man. This may be dangerous, but Terrence can’t help feeling the way he does and he is so tired of living his life in fear of what might happen, forced to live a lie.
This is another great story in a really compelling series. There were really heartbreaking moments in the story, but other parts that were uplifting and heart-warming. This is definitely a TRR (tissue required reading).
I really like Terrence and was cheering him on right from the beginning. This beautiful story is told from Terrence’s point of view and we really get to see how much of a sweetheart he truly is.
The story is a very quick, easy read with a fast pace and a smooth flow.
I can’t wait to see what this talented author does next.



This series is well worth the read, it is a surprisingly refreshing and unique YA Dystopian story that is a superb showcase of Ms. Rachel’s wonderful writing, and intricately detailed and descriptive style. Plus, in purchasing it you will also be giving to charity, a win-win situation!

Bellissimo, and thank you Ms. Rachel!

[Kandis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standing Ground by Alice Rachel is amazing. Now all of the short stories we love so much are all together in this convenient book! Alice Rachel even added a few more shorts stories to this collection! I love getting to meet each character and diving fully into the world that she created!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anomaly, an aberration…

Shifting Ground is the collection of novellas that were originally written separately and released before. They were never meant to be read alone and now they are all organized into one book to be read together as they were meant to be understood from the final vision of the author, Alice Rachel. They are not to be read alone! I highly recommend reading the preface to this anthology to fully understand what is going on and the vision that the author is trying to get across. It is a bit confusing but she does lay it out for you and I promise once you read it you won’t be disappointed.

The concept of these stories is really awesome too because although they are set in a dystopian type era each novel touch on several societal issues that are very much relevant in our society currently. Alice Rachel writes each character with so much passion and it they draw you in from the very first page to the last, often leaving you wishing you had more. I can’t say enough really about how well these characters are developed, because for me it was them that drew me in. I don’t normally choose this category of dystopian to read, more often skipping over it because I thought, just can’t get attached to the characters. They tend to bore me. This is not at all the case here and that is something I am really glad I decided to overlook because the blurb really caught my eye on some of these short novellas that I originally read separately and now have enjoyed as a full anthology.

There are 12 different books in this anthology, below I have summed up five of my favorite to give you a feel of what I love most about this series. And, on an even better note, Alice Rachel has to donate 100% of sales revenue from SHIFTING GROUND to The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT+ youth in need). What could be better than this going to profit a good cause? Go one click today!

A brief summary of what is happening first;
“After climate change led to a civil war that almost destroyed the United States, New York State seceded from the rest of the country. Society is now separated into three distinct classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class, all of which allowed a certain amount of resources based on their status, all of which are submitted to different rules based on their status.”

William: A Short Story by; Alice Rachel
“Breaking her into obedience will be a fun game and I’m all play.”

This is William’s short story from the Underground series by Alice Rachel. A lot is packed into this short novella and promises to be a great read from the first few pages. His story starts when he meets Thia for the first time and is fourteen years old. “She’s only thirteen though. Maybe she’ll fill out a bit by the time we wed. No matter what, by the time I’m done with her makeover, she’ll fit my standards. I was told she was mine, which means I can mold her into being exactly what I like.” It is hard to be angry with William because you know his thoughts and opinions about women and life are a product of the society that he has been raised in and the laws that he has always lived by. This follows from the first time they meet till right before they are to be wed. Thia is not going to go without a fight as her heart belongs to someone else. Regardless William has a different ideal. “Does she have no sense of decency at all? I will break her into compliance if it’s the last thing I do. She’s mine. Mine to mold. Mine to touch. Mine only!”

Chi: A Short Story 1 by; Alice Rachel
An anomaly, an aberration…

This is a small novella that is part of the Underground series by Alice Rachel. It definitely has strong overtones of dystopian, romance, and drama. It is short and sweet but do not let that be the determining factor in this book. It packs a lot into each word and the story is super well developed that you feel as if you have just read 100 pages not 10.
This one is from Chi’s point of view two years before he meets Thia. He is seventeen years old and the authorities have just raided his home and have taken his family away. “I’ve just killed my whole family. They will all die because of me. Because I never should have been born. Because I’m an anomaly, an aberration. And a coward!”

Chi: A Short Story 2 by; Alice Rachel
“Because we promised. You and me together forever.”

Another short but jam-packed novella from the underground series by Alice Rachel. This one picks up around the time that Chi is in his younger childhood years in part one. There is definitely something not right in Chi’s household. There is a strong undertone of abuse happening between his father and Chi’s twin brother Stephen. “I know Daddy doesn’t love me as much as he loves Stephen.” Then in part two the teenage years are revealed to the reader. We see Stephen lashing out but Chi not fully understanding why. We also get a glimpse of Willow and Chi’s arranged relationship. “Stephen has been in pain for a very long time. I can feel his emotions as if they were my own. His pain flows through my skin as if we shared the same body. And I just hurt from looking at him. But he won’t talk to me. He’s making our lives so difficult. I’ve asked him if there’s anything bad going on at school, or if there was anything I could do to help, but all he ever does is push me away. But he is my brother. And I won’t let go.”

Willow: A Short Story 1 by; Alice Rachel
“We only get one life…”

Willows first short story that is from the Underground series by Alice Rachel, begins when Willow meets Chi for the first time. It follows the struggle she has with her feelings for Chi’s brother Stephen, and her difficulty with accepting that she is only good enough for Chi because she is an Unwanted like him. “That’s why I’ve agreed to be with Chi. I don’t want Stephen to die because of me. Because I’m an illegal and I’m not supposed to exist. Stephen deserves better than someone like me dragging him down… He’s just beautiful, but I can never have him. He can never be mine again, though I will always be his.” I did like what Willow’s sister says to her about living her life. “We only get one life, little sis. Make sure to live yours to the fullest. Always remember, surviving isn’t living.” She says this even though she is set to be with Stephen. Another impressive amount of storytelling packed in a short and sweet novella.

Willow: A Short Story 2 by; Alice Rachel
“Why did you give birth to me mom? Why am I here if I can’t have a life?

This is part two of Willow’s tragic short story. It picks up when she is just seven years old. It is apparent that she is loved and wanted by her parents, despite what society is trying to tell them. “You are our miracle and our secret sweetie. When I was pregnant with you, we moved here so I could give birth at home and hide you.” Willow struggles with wondering why she was even born just to be an unwanted. “But people from the middle class are only allowed to have one child.” “Why did you give birth to me mom? Why am I here if I can’t have a life? Then why live at all?” Willow’s story really struck a chord with me. Especially as a mother myself. I can’t imagine having to live in the situations they are in and hiding my flesh and blood, the things I am the proudest of. Kudos to Alice Rachel for writing such a big story in a small perfect novella.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground by Alice Rachel is a collection of short stories surrounding her Underground Series, and what a phenomenal piece of work. First off I want to say how great Rachel is because all of her proceeds of this book go to The Ally Coalition. Shifting Ground follows the stories of several smaller characters in the Underground series, each of their stories fit in with the other books of this series. Each character facing issues with the Deviate Act, being ostracized or on the run because of rules of the land that took their family away from them. My one favorite book out of this collection is the story of Cecilia and Tyreese. Cecilia is the mother of Thia, a character whose story is featured in this same book as well as others in this series. Cecilia is a strong independent woman who is determined to live her life by her own terms; or at least that is until she meets Tyreese. The forbidden love between these two was fascinating to see unfold, especially when you get to see their daughter Thia later on, and how the two of them created such an amazing character in times when they should have never been allowed together. The love story between Cecilia and Tyreese was amazing to watch unfold, her boundaries crumbling and his love unwavering. It was obvious that fate had a different path for these two compared to what their government would have deemed okay.
Each of the other stories in this book deal with controversial issues such as FF, MM and pansexual style relationships. Rach made sure that for each issue she presented to her characters that they handled it with grace and strength. Each time the character fell or felt like giving up there was always someone there to help pick them up. This book being in the YA category is the perfect place for it as the situations that it deals with are so great for our younger generation to see how there is someone there to help you when you need it. And that being strong and determined in your convictions is not a bad thing.
Rachel is an old favorite of mine, as far as authors go, and I am so happy that I not only started this series but that I picked this book up in particular. While this book is a compilation of short stories, I highly recommend reading them in the order of the series as each story builds on the one before it. If you are looking for a great series about standing with your convictions and not giving up in the face of adversity than this is the series for you.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

a compilation of emotive stories where love has to be sacrificed to keep yourself safe from society. Alice Rachel shines once again in a compilation of short stories about how your own desires dont match the desires of society. Alice Rachel wonderfully adds to the dystopian genre in a future with rules and constrictions and obligations. in a stark future, love is forbidden by the law, but the protagonists experience it in secret and learn the consequences.
a great read. well developed plots. well developed characters of strong women like Thia or Cecilia willing to refuse their husbands for love or chi or Tyreeses kind natures. the villain of bad fiances
were just right as men of that society going for what they want and didn't feel over the top. excellent use of prequels in other peoples perspectives such as the William one or the first chi story to show their experiences and how it affected them.
in particular, I loved Annabelle Reaction, which shows the grief of a mother perfectly. and also her standing up to her husband in an act of defiance which was beautifully written. I also loved the caring nature of willow and her love of art in her first short story hich added a sense of passion to the character.. I also thoroughly enjoyed the visual detail fo the forest and the colourful fruits and berries which were stunning. this contrasted brilliantly with the desolate settings of the cities of dust and brick with a sense of hope. Alice Rachel wonderfully wove the suspense in these story arcs, using your knowledge of the series to foreshadow troubles for chi and willow. overall, a wonderful read and I would give it five stars.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give SHIFTING GROUND: A Short Story Collection by Alice Rachel, 4 stars.

As a short story collection, this is a great one. It is quite a big book and well worth the price. If you are not familiar with the series, these are young adult romances set in a dystopian setting. Most of them are very dark, or have dark parts in them, and they have many alternative lifestyle relationship within these stories. If that is not your thing, this may not be the book for you.

That being said, the fact that this book does cover so many different kinds of relationships is absolutely wonderful and refreshing to see. They are all well written and show you so much of the characters. It is a perfect edition to the series. If you have not read the series yet, you may be a little lost however I still think each story would be enjoyable by itself.

I applaud the author for writing something so different and for doing such a great job in it. I recommend this book, especially for those who like their stories a little darker and different than the fairy tales you grew up with.

[Misty Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

****4 stars****
Shifting Ground: A Short Story Collection by Alice Rachel

Each time I finish another story in this series I think there just can’t be anything more, but then the next thing comes out and I’m so glad I read it. Shifting Ground is a 4 Star collection of short stories by Alice Rachel, some I had previously read, but some new ones. The author does a very good job exploring each different characters identity and and dealing with social issues that are relevant today in this dystopian collection of novellas. The stories suck you in and don’t disappoint. I’d recommend this collection even if you’ve read some of the stories that were previously released because there is something new. It may be intimidating and confusing when getting started and reading the preface where the author briefly gives information about who all the people are and the laws in place, but when you get down to actually reading the story that confusion definitely disappears. These are really cool stories and having this collection all pulled together is great.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground
By Alice Rachel
4 stars

This is a great collection of stories from Alice Rachel. Even though the stories are relatively short they are superbly written. They each focus on different issues and the author really does have so much passion that she has poured into each one. I think I would definitely recommend that they stories are read in order, some of the characters overlap and it will definitely enhance your reading experience.
There really are so many lovely stories in this anthology which has been created for charity. One of my favourites was Willow. I really enjoyed this story! Poor Willow! I really felt for her and what an awful world to have to grow up in – being told you can’t love and be with somebody because you were unfortunate to be born second and they were born first! My heart really broke for her! This was quite an emotional read!
The more I read about these characters the more I want to go and read the full length novels about them! I’m really enjoying these short snippets into their lives!
A really good selection of stories which I highly recommend!

[Katie Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground is the fourth book in the Under Ground series by Alice Rachel. This is a collection of short stories set within her dystopian future. Each story follows a separate set of characters. Each set of characters has their own issues to deal with from being a twin in a world that only allows one child, to being a member of the LGBT+ community in a world where falling in love is practically unheard of and falling in love with the same gender is banned by the law. These characters are written so well that I found myself pulled deeper and deeper into their world and honestly hope that each of their stories is expanded into their own full length novels. The pacing and character growth in each story is fantastic and I am looking forward to reading the next full length novel in this series. These short stories are all well worth the read by themselves and are definitely worth a four star rating together.

[Krystal gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground written by Alice Rachel is another fabulous addition to the Under Ground Series. Shifting ground is a short story collection and should be read in order so you don’t get confused or wonder who people are. This story collection has about 12 short stories that are about characters in the Underground Series. In the beginning there is a reading order, character list and other information to help you if you get confused along the way however if you have easy the stories in the recommended order you should be fine. This is a great series, the characters are well written I love reading about their experiences, troubles and the places they travel. There is a small description of each story before you start reading it along with when it should be read to make the most sense.
Reading Order: Underground, Losing Ground (novella) standing ground, Holding ground (novella #2), Common ground, Shifting ground, Dangerous grounds and Breaking ground.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground by Alice Rachel
Four Stars

Shifting Ground is the fourth book in the Under Ground Series by Alice Rachel. I love the detail Ms Rachel gives to the characters and the descriptions of the society are crucial to understanding the story. This series should be read in order for better back story. This book is full of wonderful short stories featuring Chi, Akio, Narumi, Craig, Morgan and Jackson plus five more. I love how Ms. Rachel gives each character their voice with the short stories. The trial that the children go through in this world are terrifying. I enjoyed the ups and downs of the story. This book shows how diverse Ms. Rachel makes all of her books. I love that Ms. Rachel will be donating 100% of the sales to ‘The Ally Coalition’. This book is full of action and suspense just like the other books in this series. I think this is my favorite book so far in this series. I highly recommend this book, series and author. Excellent Read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground: A short story Collection (Underground Book 4)
By Alice Rachel

First let me start saying I absolutely loved the cover of this book, and once again the writing style Alice has is just as good as her other books. Ok so what we have here is a collection of stories, twelve in total. So, you have twelve different stories to enjoy. Alice writes in such a way that you feel you know her characters and believe me Shifting Ground is no different. There are a multitude of emotions in these stories. Some of which will have you laughing, while others will make you want to cry. You certainly won’t be disappointed by reading Shifting Ground, each story as its own value. So, grab the book and a cuppa and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Thank you, Alice, for this collection of wonderful stories.

[Angela Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground is a collection of novellas which capture the world of dystopian, each novel is unique and adds a great insight in this genre.

These 12 short stories entwine within each other I would not recommend reading them out of this sequence, theses stories open up the characters which are rich and well written which will engage you into the story.

I loved that the beginning of the book lays out the families and informs you of the stories to read in sequence. As this is not my usual genre I read, I had already read one of these stories by Alice Rachel and enjoyed it immensely so I could not resist this anthology. This book would not be ideal to read as a stand alone as this gives major spoilers.

If you are looking for a well written, well developed characters and subjects which could be straight out of this era you will love this set of books and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground is the collection of short stories by Alice Rachel from her Under Ground series. The concept allows us a look at the characters from the series and the lives they lead. Alice writes with so much passion as we see the everyday struggles and horrible times.

There are twelve different stories that make up this anthology and the journey is not always happy. Some will pull on your heartstrings and others will make you angry and want to smack someone but there are those that will put smile on your face.

I love the fact that the proceeds of this book go to such a good cause, The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT+ youth in need)

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground : A Short Story Collection ( Under Ground Book Book 4 )
By Alice Rachel
5/5 Stars

Shifting Ground is book four in the Under Ground Series by Alice Rachel. This book is a must read if you have enjoyed the series so far! This book tells some short stories of a few of the the characters we have met throughout the entire series. Trust me… some is so incredibly gut wrenching and heartbreaking, others will make you laugh and smile, and even some will make you so angry, you’ll want to throw your book! I love books ( and series ) that make you feel! And this one is one for sure! I highly recommend this book… go out and read this as soon as possible! You will not regret it! These characters are amazing in every way! Great job, Alice, I can’t wait to see what’s next! Oh and I love how Alice is donating 100% of sales from this book to LGBT group!!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground: A Short Story Collection by Alice Rachel is a book of twelve romance stories that fit into the Under Ground series. I recommend reading the series in order and the author has listed how each of these short stories fit into the series of novels. The stories are great additions to the series and include the main and secondary characters. Everything is well written and even though the setting is dystopian there is hope in the stories. I will be looking for more from Alice Rachel in the future since I enjoy her storytelling and writing.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, donating 100% of sales to the LGBT group is amazing! Even though there is individual people and different stories you must read all the books! I mean, who wouldn't want to read them all, they are great! I like that we get all the back stories for each character. The stories themselves flow well. I like that the author makes the characters so realistic. Their problems and romance are believable. I’m glad I got a chance to read this book!

[Natalie Hanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of mini “backstories” about the characters in the main books in the Under Ground series. I really enjoyed getting more of an insight into what had happened before the action started or after a big event, as I had thoroughly enjoyed the books. I thought it was great that the index tells you which order to read them in, and if there are spoilers for any of the stories you hadn’t read.
Alice Rachel weaves interesting stories and complicated characters that we can’t help but invest in. I love the fact that they all come from different walks of life and gel together for a common cause. I like that the sexuality of the characters is diverse too. If someone is gay this is mentioned as matter of fact rather than a point made of it, so it feels as normal as being straight which is exactly how it should be!
As a francophone, I particularly loved Chi talking to himself in French in his story. I thought it added a new dimension to the book. I liked seeing that William Fox was definitely the evil person we thought he was but understanding a little of why he was like that.
Fab addition to the Under Ground series, recommended for fans of the series.

[Heather Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story collection is the perfect companion to the Alice Rachel series. Truly it completes the storylines in a way that only enhance the reading experience of the whole. You better appreciate each character after having read each of these short novellas. Well written. Appreciate the addition to the series.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fact that...*The author pledges to donate 100% of sales revenue from SHIFTING GROUND to The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT+ youth in need).*

When you "open" this book, there is a "Recommended Reading Order" page, I've read each of the books and short stories now and I absolutely 100% recommend that you do exactly that - read the series in order. TRUST ME, it will be so worth it.

These short stories feature characters that are introduced in other books in the series. Some broke my heart, some made me smile, some made me so angry as to what the world could/might (please don't let it happen) be. Each and every one of these short stories is written in such a way that it carries the series along. The way Alice Rachel weaves a tale is an art form. She keeps me interested in each character as the entire series unfolds.

The artwork on the covers of each book in the series also evokes emotion.

This is book that is about 800 pages but because you are reading this book in between the longer stories. Don't panic because the journey you will find yourself on will be so worth it.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground: A Short Story Collection by Alice Rachel is the collection of the short stories in her Under Ground universe! It is such a treat! Thank you Alice for putting them together into one volume so we can just gorge on them!
The collection has 12 stories and they offer us such deep insight into the lives of important characters in the series, or that of the people who have a great influence on their lives … The writer has used the opportunity to go deeper into some of the characters and fill in gaps and by doing it, she is giving us a gift … a gift of human struggle in devastating times … in some ways a lot of what we are living and experiencing now, is reflected in these stories (and in these characters) … they show us the division between the poor and the rich and they show how far the rich are willing to go to keep the superiority …
I strongly recommend reading THE WHOLE SERIES and follow the reading order and these stories are like pieces of chocolate that you can treat yourself in between the main books!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground: A Short Story Collection by Alice Rachel is a collection of short stories about the characters in her Underground series. Each of the stories are connected in one way or another. I love this because we get to see each character on their own and then they pop back up later in one of the other books. Each of the characters have a struggle of some type that makes them unacceptable to the public. The setting with these characters are such that there is a division of poor and rich. They are all connectable and take me on an emotional roller coaster ride that make me laugh and sometimes make me feel compassion for them. This is a must read book and I would suggest reading the previous books in this series. I highly recommend this book. Find out what happens to each of these 12 characters.

[Vera Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection to care about

Add Craig, Terrence, Narumi, Akio. Jackson, Lance and Morgan to the list of Alice Rachel's characters to truly care about. It's obvious in reading that she loves them and has a message to convert through them. With our concern for them all, we get the message and want them to be safe and happy and she makes us want that for everyone IRL. A collection for readers to care about and for the author to be proud of.

[Kat Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read some of these stories before but there were a lot of new ones. I love the Underground characters and never tire of hearing the back stories. My favorite new ones were Jackson and Narumi but they're all very special.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and very diverse caleidoscope of characters and stories, some only little peaks, some way more than that, all giving more insight into the world of Alice Rachel's Under Ground series which depicts a world in which women are next to nothing and if you are not straight (or someone says you are) you can get shot down in the streets without asking. Still those characters live their lifes proudly, bravely, full of hope and loyality, they fight for their rights and show their true colors - I fell hard for Stephen, he is my favorite, and from the new stories I enjoyed Narumi's the most, I wish I could know her for real. Prepare for tears, nailbiting, to be spitting mad and riling at the book, to sigh dreamily and to get scorching hot - there's nothing missing in this stories. Nothing.

[Candida Furbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground: A Short Story Collection, by Alice Rachel.
I am so happy that the author decided to donate 100% of sales revenue from Shifting Ground to The Ally Coalition (an LGBT association helping LGBT + youth in need).
This book isn't one I would have normally picked to read, but the cover and the synopsis intrigued me so much I took a chance. I am glad I took that chance. I was a bit confused when I first started reading this book because of the unique way it starts out but as I read further it made complete sense. This was a good emotional read for me. Even though these were twelve different stories they flowed nicely from one to another. I felt connected and invested in all of the diverse characters in these stories. I haven't read any of these books before they were brought together for this anthology, but I am going to now. Even though I already this anthology, this is definitely one of those that I can read over again. A couple of my favorite are William and Narumi, I say a couple because I have more but it is hard to choose a favorite because I truly enjoyed every story. The author did an amazing job creating such real characters that are so different and yet they felt connected in certain ways. This is an extraordinary read and one I highly recommend.

[Erica Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shifting Ground is a collection of twelve short stories that Alice Rachel has written in her Underground Series. These stories take a deeper look into her characters. Ms. Rachel does an amazing job with her characters. She builds each character up and does an amazing job putting them together. What I found fascinating was that she put these short stories together so that we the readers can look into our favorite characters lives as well as what is going on with them. There should be a warning as these stories may contain dark content, but if you have read the other stories in the collection this should not be new news to you.

My favorite character in the series is Akio. He is a character that you find easily to fall in love with. His struggle is real because he is not able to share his orientation. He has been through hell but yet so gentle. Ms. Rachel was very wise with how she took Akio character throughout his stories. She did not bring out the negative clichés about his orientation but really uplifted his character. To me this was a message to the readers that everyone has a right to their own character and you should not be ashamed of yourself.

[Nica · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy in exchange of an honest review.*

After a few months I finally finished reading Shifting Ground. But way before SG was published, I have already read some of the stories included here because they were additional parts of the previous books in the series.

What I like most about the stories is that it gives readers a wider perspective and in depth description about the characters’ lives. It allows us to know them much better.

Since the book also features stories of MM and FF, it shows us how these characters are affected by the Deviance Act. Readers will learn about their struggles too.

I was always amazed whenever a scene from another story pops into another story. I was able to view these scenes in a different POV. I also like how intertwined the stories are. I always get excited whenever I read a particular scene and I’m like, “OH, is this *insert character’s name*?” or “I know this scene!!!”. One time, I even flipped through another character’s story just so I could read the scene through the two stories simultaneously.

I commend the author for being able to keep up with the timeline of the series!!!

[Kerry Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifting Ground by Alice Rachel is a collection of short stories set in the world of her Under Ground series.

With 12 short stories we get to delve a bit deeper into the lives of Chi, Akio, Narumi, Craig, Morgan, Jackson, Willow, William, Cecelia, Tyreese and Terrence.
Although they are shorter works each book shows the same dynamic writing style that initially drew me to this author. For me some stories helped to fill in gaps while other stories expanded this world every further.
All the stories were as good as the others, keeping up interested throughout the whole collection.
If you haven’t read any of this series then you need to do yourself a favour and start them straight away. I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not going to lie, I was a bit overwhelmed when I saw the page count, I didn't pay attention until after it was downloaded.

But....

I have never read a collection of short stories quite like this! I read through it much faster than I anticipated. I suggest reading it in the suggested order given, it really helps.

What makes this book so different is the showcase of all of these characters, each short story really gives the reader an inside of that charecter completely. If only all authors gave the reader that much depth to their characters.

I love the adversity in Alice Rachel's books and short stories, I feel like even those that claim adversity, they don't showcase it as Rachel does.

I give Alice Rachel's Shifting Ground 5 out of 5 stars.