Beneath the Surface

Surface, Book 1

By: Alainna MacPherson

Narrated by: Shelby Parks

Annabeth had no idea her life was about to change forever. As a slave of the aliens who were in power, she had headed down into the tunnels to mine the valuable mantatite, as demanded. But an encounter with the new senai during which she was knocked unconscious set off a chain of events that drew her into the orbit of the hated M’Nai. The senai in question was Kane who had reported for his first day on duty in the tunnels. Subconscious instincts emerged as he laid eyes on the unconscious human he had inadvertently knocked out. His long-held beliefs, values, and expectations were about to be turned upside down.

This chance crossing of two lives leads to an intense relationship that they both find difficult to apprehend. Kane has an overwhelming urge to protect Annabeth, despite her status as a human - deemed to be inferior in every respect by the M’Nai race - and risks everything to do so. Annabeth needs his protection as there are those who intend harming her.

This is the story of two young people - one human, one alien: One superior, one inferior - navigating the chasm presented by their different contexts as well as the prejudice, animosity, and lack of acceptance from their friends, family, and the wider community in their developing relationship. Can Kane withstand the opprobrium from his people? Can Annabeth withstand the prejudice and disdain of Kane’s people?

Who are the M’Nai? How did they come to dominate the Earth? Why is Kane so strongly protective of Annabeth? Why is he so aggressively possessive of Annabeth? As the story unfolds Kane and Annabeth find some answers and begin to make sense of their feelings for each other, but will they be able to withstand the powerful forces trying to destroy their relationship?

©2020 Alainna MacPherson (P)2023 Alainna MacPherson

Critic reviews

Silver Award Winner from Literary Titan

It's a unique and capitvating story.

While I've previously enjoyed reading this book, I welcomed the chance to revisit the story via audiobook. The narrator was new to me, and I felt she did a decent job at carrying the various voices of the story.

Once again, I found myself caught up in the action - and the injustices - that the book told. An alien race - under the guise of protection for Earth against a more dangerous species - have taken over the planet, landing all humans (as the "inferior" race) into a form of servitude. Luxuries stripped, camps formed and respected deference is expected towards those that aim to save them from this unknown threat.

Enter our main characters. Kane is every bit the fierce, protective warrior you'd expect in a paranormal romance, and Annabeth's self-awareness and growth beside him becomes more evident as the novel goes on. It doesn't hurt that the M'Nai's (aliens) are similarly built as humans, though told to be far more beautiful and god-like in appearance. The romance between the two is forbidden, for more reasons than one, and stripping away those layers becomes an interesting story of hidden truths, politics and buried memories.

I very much look forward to where this series is headed next.