Once again, so impressed with Ariel Sullivan. Love the extra world building we get in Beneath, to expand on the Conform universe. The character development was engaging and well paced.

A gritty, character-driven dystopian romance with bite.

Beneath delivers a gripping blend of military-style action and slow-burn romance, set against a brutal dystopian backdrop where survival hinges on your usefulness. Even medical care is a privilege reserved for the strong. The story dives deep into ethically murky territory, testing the limits of loyalty, teamwork, and what it means to be human when sickness makes you expendable.

The romance simmers quietly beneath the surface, unfolding with patience and emotional weight. When the spice finally arrives, it feels both earned and tender. While the worldbuilding is more functional than expansive, the plot thrives on its intricate character dynamics and moral complexity.

This is marketed as romantasy, but in my opinion, there isn’t quite enough fantasy to fit that label. Still, it’s a great fit for fans of Leave Me Behind or The Hunger Games who enjoy high-stakes tension with emotional payoff.

This book had me deeply emotionally invested from very early on. I loved the core cast of characters, whose grief, hope, and determination felt so vivid and genuine. The found-family dynamic was especially well done. Watching the group take Sasha under their wing and gently help her learn to trust, care, and open up again was really moving, and I teared up at a few points.

Tristian and Sasha's relationship was another highlight. Their romance developed at a believable, satisfying pace, built on shaky foundations that they had to actively work to strengthen. Watching them build trust and learn emotional honesty with each other made their connection feel earned.

The story tackles some heavy themes - grief, trauma, and betrayal in particular - and I thought these were handled with real care and sensitivity, adding emotional weight without feeling manipulative.

I did struggle to follow the story at times, particularly in more dialogue-heavy sections, but this didn't overshadow my overall experience. Several characters are referred to by multiple names (first name, surname, and call sign), which occasionally pulled me out of the story while I puzzled out who was who. I also found the timeline a little hard to follow in places as scenes jumped around a fair bit.

Overall, the emotional core of this book is strong, and the character work really stood out to me - I ended up loving it even more than Conform because of this in particular. If you enjoy character-driven dystopian stories with found family, slow-building relationships, and thoughtful exploration of difficult themes, this one is well worth picking up.

Getting this as an advanced review read was a surprise that I took with both hands and inhaled.

I couldn't put this down. Honestly, a prequel as the next book in a series was brilliant. Conform started a story and Beneath gives it the filling to expand the whole world.

I loved the small moments that we have in this book that we saw in Conform (familiar living quarters), and the suspense that is laid out in its story. I really wasn't sure if we'd get a completed story here or if we're going to have to invest in the long term to find everything out - we're absolutely in a long game here!

I really felt some of the topics covered here. This author isn't afraid of big subjects and covers big things like grief and depression in this book, as well as self-sabotage (anyone else get annoyed with the 'I can't be happy in case I get sad again' characters? Yeah... That!) throughout the book.

Overall, this was hugely enjoyable and I cannot thank NetGally and PanMacmillan for the chance to read this.

So it’s official. Ariel Sullivan is now an auto buy author for me. I LOVED conform so I was genuinely thrilled to get the eARC of Beneath. I wasn’t sure what a prequel would look like but I was so pleasantly surprised. Dare I say, I think I’m even more excited to continue with this world than the conform one? Okay, no. I want both. I need both. I genuinely can’t wait to see where both series go!

I’ve seen discourse saying that romance in dystopian novels just doesn’t work. Ariel proves that wrong in spades. What else is there to fight for if not love when all hope for yourself is lost?

I’m all in for dystopian books right now for reasons…. *looks around and gestures vaguely at everything* And Ariel is right at the top of the pack for me. Both Conform and Beneath will absolutely be my most gifted books for friends and family next year, I think.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Ariel Sullivan for gifting me this eARC. My opinions are wholly my own.

Thank-you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Ariel Sullivan for this ARC!

Romantasy & Dystopian are two genres I love, making Beneath the perfect first read of 2026. This is a high stakes post-Nuclear war tale that kept me hooked until the end. Focusing on the impacts of grief, dysfunctional relationships, and corruption.

Sasha's character grabbed me immediately. I was pleased to see a strong female lead, willing to stand her ground and defend herself. Her banter with characters throughout made me laugh, and I loved her dynamic with others.

One thing I found really impactful was the portrayal of grief and high expectations seen not only through Sasha's POV, but other characters too. I'm glad to see that Ariel did not shy away from showing the harder aspects of grieving, making for realistic and relatable characters. Plenty of thought and detail went into really fleshing out each character, to show what molded them into who they had become.

The payoff with relationships felt earnt, watching Sasha bond with those around her was rewarding and I was rooting for her success throughout.

Beneath had me feeling so many emotions, and I cannot wait to read what's to come.

As someone who hasn't read Conform, I was worried I would miss some important details or feel confused, but I feel that Ariel managed to create a prequel that still stood well on its own. I added Conform to my TBR upon finishing, and can't wait to explore this author more.

A prequel to Conform? I was already sold but after roasting this, it has built my investment in these characters so much that I almost want to read Conform again to appreciate the story from a whole new perspective.

i have fallen in love with everything ariel sullivan writes. last autumn i read the first book in her dystopian series, and i still think about it! i mean conform was everything I want from a dystopian book. We had rebellion, cool new tech, main character who slowly realises that everything is not quite what it seems, and action. It was a very fast paced dystopian book, with a delicious romance plot and amazing side characters.

and now beneath brings us back to the start, where we slowly get to see how the world turned out the way it is in conform. and we do this by following Sasha - the death's angel, who is forced to become a medic to a team that ventures out of the bunker where the last of the human kind is sheltered against the nuclear winter.

i didnt want to put this book down. there's just something in the way ariel sullivan writes that makes you want to devour every last word, makes you fall in love with every side character, and makes you love the main character, even with their flaws - and makes you want yo be right there with her when she finally opens up.

this book had action, steamy moments, found family, and so much more, and i cannot recommend it enough!! please give ariel sullivan a chance, and read both conform and beneath! they are worth it.

Wow, just wow - loved it all, not too much spice that it takes away from the storyline, twists and turns, great premise

My favourite quotes were:

“Just because someone’s demons look different from yours, or they’ve found a way to hide them better, doesn’t mean they don’t have them.”

Hiding behind the lives of innocents to rationalize their brutality. Destruction disguised as beliefs, annihilating their humanity until the bloodbath was vindicated.

“I needed you. My whole life, I needed you. I wasn’t capable. I became capable because you weren’t there. I need you, Mom.”

Chaos is as destructive as any warfare.

Now going to read Conform

This book was absolutely incredible, I don’t have a single complaint!

Beneath has a completely different feel to Conform, it felt more like a combination of Fourth Wing and Silver Elite. There was a perfect balance between plot and romance and the build up between the characters was so well done. Tristian was the perfect MMC and the yearning between him and Sasha was conveyed so well.

I absolutely loved the plot. I was so invested all the way through and could hardly put my kindle down for two days. The ending was really well done, it gave just enough resolution to feel complete but the last sentence has me so excited for the sequel!

Beneath was a perfect book to me and the easiest five stars I’ve given in a while! I cannot recommend it enough.

Beneath by Ariel Sullivan is a dark, emotional story about buried secrets, trauma, and the things people try to keep hidden. The plot centers on a main character who’s dealing with a heavy past, and as the story unfolds, you slowly learn what’s really going on beneath the surface (yes, the title fits 👀).

It’s very character-driven, with a moody, slow-burn vibe. The tension builds as relationships develop and past events start coming to light. Nothing feels rushed, but it keeps you locked in because you need to know what happened and how it’s going to affect everyone.

The writing is clear and flows well, making it an easy but meaningful read. Really enjoyed this book, can’t wait for the next!

I am officially obsessed with this series.
Beneath is everything I hoped it would be—and so much more. Ariel Sullivan delivers an explosive, emotional, and completely addictive prequel that deepened my love for this world from the very first chapter. The world‑building is detailed, atmospheric, and expands the lore that feeds directly into Conform, creating an even richer understanding of this universe.
The female lead is a phenomenal protagonist—fierce, vulnerable, and so incredibly easy to root for. Watching her navigate brutal training, internal battles, and shifting alliances had me completely glued to the pages. And the chemistry between the main characters, Absolutely electric. Their slow‑burn connection adds the perfect emotional layer to the relentless tension and danger surrounding them.
What I love most is how Sullivan balances heart‑pounding action with emotional depth. Every scene feels meaningful, every twist lands, and the stakes just keep climbing. This world is harsh, secretive, and full of shadows—and I loved every second spent in it.

I genuinely didn’t want this book to end. Sullivan’s storytelling is captivating, immersive, and brimming with the kind of character‑driven tension that keeps you thinking about the book long after you close it. I am absolutely in love with this series, and Beneath has cemented Ariel Sullivan as a must‑read author for me.
I cannot wait—truly cannot wait—for the next instalment. If this is the prequel, then we are in for an incredible ride.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the Arc!! This has been one of my most anticipated reads for this year, aside from the sequel to Conform which I am absolutely obsessed with.

Unlike the previously mentioned conform, Beneath is a story of survival in the aftermath of the apocalypse, the action taking place just a few years after the war, in one of the last known bastions of humanity. I went into this book completely blind so I will absolutely not use any tropes to describe the plot, if you enjoy the world Ariel Sullivan is creating I really recommend doing the same.

The FMC is reminding me a lot of Nesta from Acotar with a similar story of not giving up and living on while dealing with absolute grief and losing everything and everyone she’s ever loved. The growth arc progresses at a very believable pace and i expect it will be so much more obvious in the sequel (imagine my surprise when I finished on an absolute insane ending only to find out after frantically searching that this is a trilogy eeeeeek!!!). The MMC is your standard walking green flag that I think compliments her story so well and honestly sometimes you just want to read about a genuinely good man.

All that out of the way, my favorite favorite part was the found family. Each character is so different and brings something else to the table. Their entire story is so intertwined which what I believe to be even more to discover. No one fell flat for me, no one felt like they were just there for filler or to fulfill a purpose, I care about every single one of them and I am overjoyed that there will be more books to spend more time with them.

All in all, this was a fantastic first post apocalyptic romance for me and l am excited to read more. The book was very action packed and it set the background for the villains, the good guys and all the intrigue that I expect in the sequel. I can’t wait to see how it ties into the main series and explain how we ended up in the dystopian future of Conform.

Ariel Sullivan has done it again!! 🤩

What a MAGNIFICENT world she has created! I was so unbelievably happy to get an ARC of this book because I am obsessed with Conform and just could NOT wait to get my hands on the prequel and my head back into this world! And it did NOT disappoint 😍 I LOVED IT!!

Sullivan’s writing is WONDERFUL, the way she writes her characters is just perfect! The tension and attraction of the relationships, the comfort and connection of the friendships 🥰 it is all so HUMAN—believable and delightful to read. The romance was FIRE, the build up was exceptional and perfectly paced 🔥 I loved each and every character, all of them being developed beautifully with back stories interwoven throughout the book. The emotional moments HIT, you don’t just follow their journey: you feel it. This is what made the search for humanity’s hope COMPELLING, pushing you through the pages, and ultimately, leads to the shock, HORROR, and heart break of the final few chapters! 🤯🫠

So yet again Sullivan has left me WANTING MORE! What a CLIFFHANGER. I am super INVESTED and already superrrrr EXCITED to read the next book!! I now believe I will truly devour anything written by Sullivan and this full series will become an all time favourite 🙌🏼

There was a slightly different vibe compared to the first book; more MOODY and darker, it was deeply ATMOSPHERIC. This reflected the time period of the world very well as it is set years before Conform just a couple of years after the major war that had ended the world as we know it. Therefore, the atmosphere highlights the DESPAIR, desperation and waning hope of humanity. 🥺 The world connects well with the one built in the first book and is very easy to picture.

A STUNNING read with excellent characters, an exciting plot and thriller-esque TWISTS!! Add it to your TBR right now, you won’t regret it.

Absolute five star read for me. And again no notes. 🖤💙

I was so excited to read this after reading Conform and absolutely loving it. Beneath did not disappoint! Although I was ready for a Conform sequel, I love diving into the world before that. I fell in love with the characters and their personalities and their stories. This is such a beautiful found family dynamic and it was really well written, Ariel has a great voice and she does know how to write a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat!!

OH I ATE THIS UP!!!!!!!

First of all: THE FOUND FAMILY. I cannot stress this enough — this book understands found family on a cellular level. The bonds between these characters feel earned and messy, but so protective, and achingly real. The “I would burn the world for you but also sit with you in silence when you need it” energy. I loved watching these relationships grow and intertwine, and by the end I was so attached I was in tears on and off for the last 20%.

The atmosphere is chef’s kiss. Dark, tense, and immersive without being overwhelming. There’s this constant sense of unease simmering under the surface, like something is waiting to snap — and when it does??? HELLO??? I truly did NOT see that plot twist coming. I thought I knew where things were going. I did not. I was wrong. Completely blindsided. In the best way.

The characters are what really make this shine. Flawed, layered, and emotionally grounded — everyone feels like they has a purpose in the story, and no one is just there to fill space. The emotional beats HIT, and the stakes feel personal as well as world-altering, which is my absolute favourite combination.
This was one of those reads where I kept thinking “okay, just one more chapter” and suddenly it was much later than I planned and I was emotionally attached beyond reason.

In short: gripping, heartfelt, devastating in places, and deeply satisfying. If you love found family, dark dystopian vibes, and twists that knock the breath out of you — READ THIS. Five stars, no hesitation, no notes!!!!

Thank you so much to Ariel Sullivan, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley for allowing me to return to this world with this eARC!!!

If you love dystopian world you will love this book. It is set in a post nuclear underground society where survival means everything!

The story is about Sasha, she has spent all her time coping with grief, loss and how to survive in the tunnels. Her whole life does a 360 when she meets Tristan where she has to prove herself both physically and also mentally!

Throughout the book Sasha then discovers secrets about the world above more dangerous than she could have ever anticipated. The mysterious grow with the more missions she is sent on, and makes Sasha question her own beliefs.

I will always love a dystopian read! This was 5/5 for me!!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this e-ARC. I almost screamed when I got accepted.

So, I read Conform first, then heard about this prequel and I just knew I needed it. Conform was an easy 5 star read for me, and this prequel did not disappoint.

Let’s get straight into it. World building? Incredible. Character building? Stunning. Ariel has yet again given us an addictive world to get lost in. She has become one of my auto buy authors, and I just find her writing impeccable. I will sell my first born child for another book from her.

Brown curly haired strong heart throb? Yes please. A witty gay/bi best friend? Yes. A protective hunky man best friend? Absolutely. This little team of unconventional yet loyal family has my whole heart and I long for the kinship they have. The feeling of lasting guilt, never being good enough, and the self-sabotage of good things resonates so deeply with me and I feel so incredibly seen. Throughout the book, Sasha tries to prove her own worth to herself, she struggles with guilt and self-hatred, and I just want to protect her from the world. I adore how multi-dimensional the characters are, and the fact they have so much love between them fills my heart with joy.

The scene setting is beyond amazing. The book is set in a kind of bunker/shelter/tunnel system that is very reminiscent of Fallout but is also unique to itself. I really enjoy the way Ariel writes as I find her descriptions really thorough and easy to picture. I lose myself completely when I’m in her books. She offers a perfect amount of description; enough for you to create a picture, but not too much that makes it hard to read or connect with. Ariel is a dystopia queen if you ask me! The training/mat sequences felt like a nice nod to the Fourth Wing saga too.

This novel was immersive, addictive, and incredibly hard to put down! Perfect for fans of morally grey men, plot twists, and women with weapons 😌
Ariel has once again given us a masterpiece. 5 stars do not feel like a high enough rating.
I can’t wait to see where the next story takes us but also release the next book soon cause I’m desperate thank u xox

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

I loved conform and this was no different.
beneath was a fantastic prequel into seeing how things were before conform and that ending !! I need more !!
I love when a book is centred beneath the earth because of whatever above is unsafe and this was no different. the characters, the found family, the hard topics this book centralises on. the romance. dear god, I would read anything ariel sullivan writes.


thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

I found Beneath by Aerial Sullivan to be a gritty, character driven dystopian romance that balanced high stakes survival with emotional depth. Set in a brutal world where usefulness determines worth and even medical care is a privilege, the story explored loyalty, morality, and what it means to remain human when society decides who is expendable.
The slow burn romance unfolded with patience and real emotional weight, making the eventual payoff feel earned and genuinely tender. While the worldbuilding stayed grounded and functional rather than expansive, the strength of the book lay firmly in its complex characters and tense interpersonal dynamics.
Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Shatter Me will appreciate the blend of dystopian danger, moral complexity, and simmering romance woven throughout the story. Dark, thoughtful, and emotionally engaging, this was a compelling read that kept me invested from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

What an amazing start to a prequel series! Beneath was everything I was hoping for and more.If you’ve read Conform, you absolutely need to read Beneath. It’s an action packed start to the prequel series. I loved discovering how the dystopian world of Conform came to exist. In Beneath, we’re six years post apocalyptic war, and survivors are living underground in a segregated society based on health scores, which will definitely sound familiar to readers of Conform.
One of my favorite elements of this book was the found family dynamic. Sasha is determined not to let anyone get close to her. She feels undeserving of love and is consumed by self hatred, haunted by past traumas that she relives every day. Her emotional struggle is really the heart of the book.Watching her slowly find a place where she belongs and begin to see her team as her family was incredibly heartwarming. I especially loved the banter and camaraderie between the team ,it added so much warmth to the story and was very fun to read .
The relationship between Sasha and Trystan is very much a slowburn romance , two souls who very much try to deny them selves love as they feel too broken and unable to risk love .The payoff is worth it though .The heat between these two is absoutley sizzling .
This book explores grief, depression, trauma, and what it means to be human and what remains of us after trauma has stripped everything away. It feels like a completely new story while still tying perfectly into Conform. And the ending? A total cliffhanger that leaves you with so many questions and eager to get your hands on book two.

5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Ariel Sullivan for the free ARC in advance of publication, in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Conform and when I heard about this prequel, I knew I had to read it. Let me be clear from the outset: this is very different from Conform. While Conform was clinical, calculated, and built on the architecture of a controlled technological dystopia, Beneath is darker, grittier, and far more visceral, violent, and gory. It reminded me of Snowpiercer, in terms of the grime, the desperation, and the brutal intimacy of survival. It is a story of post-war survival at its core.

Our FMC: Sasha
Sasha’s tragic story makes you want to root for her. She is a medic that also has combat skills. I love her for her intelligence, resourcefulness, and her capacity to give relentlessly despite having nothing left. She is underestimated at every single turn, encountering misogyny over and over. You will want to throw your book across the room. Her restraint is not weakness, it is extraordinary. She embodies feminine rage.

Watching rebuild herself whilst simultaneously being dismantled was heartbreaking. There is so much self-sabotage in this book. So much trauma that sits just beneath the surface (pun very much intended). She is trying - genuinely trying - to love again after losing everything, and Sullivan makes you feel every single step of that process.

The Found Family
Sullivan has done it again. I fell completely in love with the found family and the supporting cast. Every character had so much substance, humour (despite the apocalyptic circumstances), and they are undyingly loyal to one another. That is what makes the plot twists so absolutely devastating - you care. You care deeply and then you suffer the consequences of that caring. When the betrayals hit, they cut deeper.

World-Building
Reading this as a prequel to Conform is such a rich experience. If you have not read Conform yet, there are some easter eggs towards the end of the novel. However, I do not personally think that the reading order matters too much so far. They are completely different stories thus far, and there are no character crossovers yet.I am so curious to see how the this world and Conform's world continues to develop.

"In war, you have to make these decisions, Sasha. You won't have time for hesitation. You must silence that part of you tied to your moral compass."


This quote encapsulates everything this book is about. It is about the cost of survival, and what you have to sacrifice of yourself just to keep breathing.

🩷 Tropes:
Reluctant allies to lovers.
Found family.
Badass FMC, Feminine Rage.

🌶️ Spice:
Open door - 2.5/5

Ariel Sullivan has cementing herself as an insta-buy author for me.

I absolutely devoured this book. Set in a harsh dystopian world where survival depends on how useful you are, Beneath delivers plenty of tension and action.

I was hooked by Sasha almost immediately. Watching her navigate grief, trust and survival was so well done. I loved that the timeline shifted throughout the book to build your awareness of the state of the new world.

I adored the found family dynamic (my favourite trope). The unit surrounding Sasha feel was so sweet and messy and supportive and made it so real. Seeing them slowly open up to each other and build trust to protect one another was done so well.

I’m always apprehensive with romance in dystopian books as sometimes it seems gratuitous but Sasha and Tristian’s relationship develops so gradually and naturally so by the time things really start to shift between them, it feels completely earned.

The story fully covers themes of grief, trauma, betrayal and even self-sabotage are all explored in thoughtful ways and adds to the world created.

Having read Conform, Beneath expands the world in such an interesting way. I’m even more excited for the next instalment in each series to make links between before and now!

Needless to say I loved this one and it has everything I love from a dystopian romance.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Beneath by Ariel Sullivan is a brilliant and captivating prequel to Conform — yet it tells a completely fresh story with new characters and a different storyline. It expands the world in such an exciting way while still keeping the gripping atmosphere that made me fall in love with Ariel’s writing in the first place.

Ariel Sullivan is truly the queen of dystopian romance. Her writing style is so immersive that you’re pulled straight into the story. As someone who loves both books and films, I always know I’ve found a great book when I can picture it as a movie while I’m reading. Beneath absolutely does that — it feels like watching a film play out in your head, which is a sign of a beautifully described and well-written story.

I also absolutely loved Tristan and Sasha. Their story adds so much heart and emotion, and I found myself really invested in their journey throughout the book.

Even though it’s a prequel to Conform, Beneath stands perfectly on its own and keeps you hooked from start to finish. If you already love Ariel Sullivan’s books, you’re going to adore this one too.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book — it was an absolute pleasure.

With the release in March 2026, I’m already excited to see what Ariel Sullivan writes next. I’ll definitely be looking forward to many more stories from her!

Ariel Sullivan is now an automatic buy author. This was amazing. I loved the whole plot of a post Nuclear war world and the survival of humanity, while people fight their own wars of their past.

I loved that the Character growth of Sasha was so realistic. It wasn’t a sudden epiphany and suddenly she changed. It was a 2 steps forward 1 step back. It was a slow growth that at times was frustrating as hell, but I loved every second. I loved Unit 7 and I need to know where there story goes.

I have been left hanging and even though I know I have read an early copy of this book, imma need the next book ASAP. Please and thank you.

Beneath by Ariel Sullivan is an electrifying, emotionally rich prequel that completely exceeded my expectations. Set in an underground city still reeling from nuclear fallout, the novel follows Sasha Cadell, a 23‑year‑old survivor whose quiet, grief‑shadowed life in the Expansion Sector is upended when she’s recruited for a mission that could determine the fate of what remains of humanity.

Sullivan’s portrayal of Sasha is one of the book’s greatest strengths. She’s resilient yet vulnerable, carrying the weight of loss while still daring to hope for something more. Her dynamic with Tristian Hayes, the determined and maddeningly charismatic commander of the Force, crackles with tension from the moment they meet. Tristian’s mix of discipline, mystery, and reluctant tenderness makes him an instantly compelling counterpart to Sasha. Their chemistry is slow‑burn and I loved this!

The worldbuilding is equally impressive. Sullivan paints the underground city with tactile detail — the claustrophobic corridors, the hum of machinery, the constant awareness of dwindling time. When Sasha joins Tristian’s elite team for a secret mission to the surface, the stakes rise sharply. The brutal training sequences, the political undercurrents, and the looming threat of the unknown. Sullivan explores grief, duty, and the fragile hope of rebuilding with nuance and heart. The writing is cinematic yet intimate, balancing action with character‑driven depth.

By the final pages I was fully invested — in Sasha, in Tristian, in the mission, and in the haunting, dangerous world above. Beneath is a stunning, propulsive read that sets the stage beautifully for the Conform series. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Dystopian books are absolutely thriving right now and if you’re looking for your next obsession, let me introduce you to Beneath by Ariel Sullivan (the first book in the Beneath trilogy).

Yes. This is the one. And honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it in that I-can’t-stop-staring-at-the-wall kind of way.

Set hundreds of years before Conform, Beneath takes us back to the beginning, to a world post nuclear fallout, underground bunkers, and a society barely clinging to survival. Health scores determine your worth. Your sector defines your future. Resources are scarce. Hope is scarcer.

It’s giving Divergent meets Fallout, but with Ariel Sullivan’s signature emotional devastation.

If Conform shows us a perfected machine of control under the Illum, Beneath shows us the desperation that built it. And honestly? Watching the bones of that future system form in real time is chilling.

Our FMC, Sasha, is just trying to survive in a bunker where numbers decide everything… well, that’s until Commander Tristian Hayes recruits her, and her world fractures open.

And listen.

• Commander/cadet dynamic
• Slow burn, he falls first
• Forced proximity
• Elite training
• Found family

It has ALL the tropes, but none of it feels superficial. Every relationship is layered with tension, trauma, and impossible choices.

What I think makes Beneath hit so hard is its thematic weight. It explores survivor’s guilt, leadership under crisis, fear-driven hierarchy, scarcity, and the moral cost of “saving” humanity. You feel the pressure of every decision. You understand how control systems aren’t born from cruelty alone, but from panic, loss, and the need to survive. Reading this after Conform makes both stories sharper. Heavier. More devastating.

If you loved the rage, politics, tension, and romance of Conform, you absolutely need to read Beneath. Trust me, this is how empires begin.