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.