REVIEW >> Beneath False Stars [NEW RELEASE!!!]

Happy weekend, y'all!

Wow-ee, do I have a great one for you today.

Read on!!!

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Beneath False Stars
Project Integration: 01
S.D. Grimm

Enclave Publishing | September 9, 2025

Sci-Fi, Fiction, Young Adult, Clean Fiction, No-Spice Romance, Young Adult Dystopian

What they don’t see will hurt them.

The day to open the centuries-old Dome gates and reintegrate genetically engineered people back into normal society has arrived. There's one caveat—their powers must remain suppressed.

Amidst this Project Integration Initiative, hacker Ryleigh Stevens has her whole life planned out. The plan? Prevent a second Universal Tech War in two simple steps. First, help Project Integration Phase One succeed—but not for the reason she pretends. Next, infiltrate the rebellion and sabotage Phase Two—the part that would grant people unbridled access to their superhuman abilities.

Too bad the one person who can make her plan reality is her sworn enemy. He’s dangerous. He’s Powered. And he’s the reason her brother is dead. Faced with an impossible choice, Ryleigh must decide how to do what’s right for the good of all humanity, even if it means sacrificing everything she holds dear—again.

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I was provided with a complimentary copy for my honest review.

WARNING: Possible Spoilers!

THE BASICS

Wow. I love me a good sci-fi---and this IS A GOOD SCI-FI!!

For starters, I was a little uncertain as to what I was getting into, but the initial synopsis drew me in from the beginning. Aaaaaannnd S.D. Grimm is one of my top authors, and I feel like I've been with her since her debut trilogy, so when she announced a brand new, SCIENCE-FICTION series as well as the opportunity to be a part of the street team---I JUMPED!!!

That said, you are not simply getting a full-content review from me today, BUT ALSO a bit of marketing hype AND preorder links (at the end of this post)---because I am a part of the street team, and it's my job as a volunteer to share such things. :]

Moving on!

I so enjoyed this book!!! The characters, the world-building, the setting, the incredible (not-to-distant-future) technology---it was all amazing. I highly admire authors who can create these excellent stories with awesome, flawed (totally relateable) characters, beautiful slow-burn romance, and incredible imaginations regarding the world-building and technology. And all without the so-unnecessary SPICE.

Ryleigh is a beautifully imperfect young girl who lost so much five years ago and is now moving through life with some sort of plan and a goal to see her father's life's work succeed---though, perhaps, for slightly different reasons than her father originally plans.

Knox is the definition of the bad boy with the dangerous, brooding reputation. But as they are constantly thrown into one another's company, that reputation begins to seem more and more surface level.

And another thing: THEY USE SIGN LANGUAGE!!!!!

Side note: You wouldn't know this about me, but it is a language I have always been fascinated with, and one I use regularly each day with my own children (though none have any issues requiring its use, and I am, by no way, perfectly fluent). I have dreamed of adding its use to my own stories, and was pleasantly surprised to find it is this novel!!!

VIOLENCE

An explosion takes the life of someone close to Ryleigh---she sees his body bloodied & unmoving.

A woman is caught by police-in-training recruits, but turns on one of them and is shot by another trainee. Blood comes from her nose, ears, eyes---and then we realize the whole thing was a simulation as the woman's body disappears in vanishing pixels.

A couple characters sport scars from serious burns, with one in particular's injuries being far more severe---but having healed in the years following.

Acid, disguised in paint cans is sprayed into a crowd---at least two students are seriously injured, with one girl taking severe injuries to her eyes. A student shields another from the acid, but his exposed back takes the brunt.

A young person attempts to exit the wall, but is shot down in cold blood. We witness blood spattering the wall as a result.

A story of a character's past is shared where child abuse is mentioned: a big brother comes home one day to find his father sitting on the couch with a bottle of rum and his younger sister bleeding at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious for who knew how long.

War simulations that seem & feel like reality; injuries, explosions, bullets, laserfire, blood, bodies, etc. People are sent to what is called the warzone, or another place called plantations, as punishment for crimes or correction.

{SPOILER!} On stage before a large crowd, a girl points & shoot a gun at another girl before turning it on herself. The audience erupts in chaotic cheers & protests.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT

None to speak of.

LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS

Slang words are used, including things like "droids, I was dumb," "cyborg parts!" "droids alive," "cyborg's heart." Other words that are considered intolerable at the school include, "simulacrum, or simul (a foul word referring to those who are Powered)," "android," "cyborg," and "trackside."

Someone insults another person calling them "simul trash."

A strange turquoise liquid is quite prevalent throughout the story. It is given to patients, perhaps to administer relief from pain? Or to shut them up with they've said too much. One particular patient makes a comment about the government. She's hooked up to a drip bag & IV of the stuff, but after the comment, she says, "Uh-oh. I said too much. Good night," before slumping into unconsciousness.

ROMANTIC CONTENT

A girl is insulted as a "little tramp," which is entirely untrue; and a slur is directed toward a girl's father, accusing him of sleeping with a simul.

Some school girls find one of their friend's acquaintance's rather attractive. She teased, but insists they were only ever friends. An attraction between Ryleigh & Knox develops incredibly slowly but in a sweet way that is quite natural. Never any kissing, but some embraces. And Knox bravely jumps in front of danger many times, protecting Ryleigh---definitely a white knight kind of guy. :]

CONCLUSION

I need the sequel.

Yes, yes, yes!! This story was a fantastic ride. There were times I found myself a little confused with many questions, but this is the beginning of a trilogy, and one I am more than willing to be patient with as it progresses. Ryleigh was never given all the cards up front, which so resembles Life in the real world, so why should we as the readers know everything also? We're experiencing Ryleigh's story with her. I dunno about you, but I'm all in!

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5 OUT OF 5 STARS