Synopsis

It started with a law to punish those who had babies outside of wedlock. It was just supposed to be an orphanage, and yet it became a divide. It became The Beneath.

Eve and her brother Adam have lived in The Beneath as long as they can remember; life isn’t bad, but there’s still divide between the Orphans and the Founding Families.

When Eve falls in love with Noah, part of one of the Families, their secret relationship threatens everything.

Review

This book was not at all what I was expecting! A dark romance set in a dystopian world isn’t my usual genre, but this gripped me almost immediately.

Revell’s storytelling is exceptional and her words are so well-chosen and descriptive that I could visualise every part of The Beneath, from the clubs and warehouses to the dormitories and church.

But it was the characterisation that I really admired. Each of them is highly believable and compelling and I was strongly invested in their lives. I cared deeply about what happened to Adam, Eve and her sisters and even felt pity for Jane.

Eve’s fierce love and protection of her brother is powerful and I really admired her spirit throughout. Despite her youth, her innocence is understated and she was instantly likeable. I’m not usually one for a bad boy, but I found myself strongly attracted to Noah. The scenes between him and Eve were extremely sexy, but not overdone or unbelievable. His contrasting moods made him interesting and Eve more admirable.

The side characters of Sister Theresa, Rose and Adam were equally as well-written and relatable and I joined them in their lust, tears and anger, rooting for Eve and despising Noah’s family in turn.

Revell has produced a book that I couldn’t put down and I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

I was kindly given an ARC by the author in return for an honest review.

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