Review of Beneath the Surface by Miranda Rae Carter

[Barbara Ann RS]

Carter has written a young adult fantasy that I’m sure will appeal to many teenage readers because of the storytelling, the action and adventure, and book’s romantic angle. Teens are the primary targeted audience as the author takes her readers “beneath the surface” into the world of the Malions, a species of paranormal beings who are known for their miraculous healing abilities. Hunted for years by the Vykhars, who seek to destroy their race, the Malions live in secret, underground, and away from humans.  When the protagonist Melissa inadvertently gets brought into their world after being rescued by the young Malion, Rion, she becomes enmeshed in the ongoing battle between the Malions and the Vykhars and discovers that her life has become irrevocably changed.

Carter incorporates many of the conventions often found in young adult literature into her novel. The story is narrated in first person by Melissa so readers can connect and relate to her struggles, insecurities, and the trauma she has experienced. Although the story starts off slowly at the beginning, the pace picks up after Melissa’s life-threatening car accident and doesn’t lose momentum as the action and danger escalate.  Like many other YA novels, Melissa’s parents do not play a prominent role in the book. While their concern for Melissa’s well-being is evident, they aren’t heavily involved in her life, and their influence is limited. Melissa is often left on her own to make critical decisions that affect her safety, the security of those around her, and the future direction of her life. Furthermore, the story is filled with plenty of emotional angst as Melissa and Rion struggle with their growing feelings for each other, knowing their relationship puts those they care about in harm’s way.

What I most enjoyed and appreciated about the Beneath the Surface are its themes. At the heart of this book is Melissa and Rion’s struggle to be together despite their racial and cultural differences. For much of the book Melissa and Rion have a volatile relationship which in part stems from miscommunication and misunderstandings because of their different backgrounds.

From the beginning, the obstacles they face seem insurmountable, but Carter shows that love can, indeed, transcend differences.

Another reason I liked the book is because Carter delves into the dark subjects of sexual assault and physical abuse. By doing so, she creates an opening for a conversation about these sensitive topics and the reality that teens aren’t immune to this kind of violence. Both Melissa and Rion have undergone horrific, degrading experiences in their past which are summed up rather than graphically described in flashbacks, and the plot focuses more on the aftermath and how both characters have chosen to deal with their trauma. While Melissa chooses to keep this a secret and suffer silently, Rion withdraws from his family and friends. I think their common struggle to reclaim their lives plays a significant role in the bond that forms between them because they each know what is needed to help the other emotionally heal.

On the other hand, there are some aspects of the novel I didn’t enjoy, and this may very well be because I brought an adult perspective into the reading experience. I acknowledge that I am not the intended audience and this may be why some parts of the book weren’t as appealing as they may be to teen readers. Although I enjoyed the book’s plot and themes, I did not connect very well with the main characters. Both Melissa and Rion are quick-tempered, stubborn, and easily offended, all of which contribute to the volatile nature of their relationship. At times their behavior is immature, impulsive, and causes unnecessary complications. I didn’t really feel the attraction between them early on. Melissa does everything she can to get away from Rion after he saves her, but once she returns home, she misses him and feels empty that he is no longer a part of her life. I was surprised that she felt this strongly since I didn’t pick up on any real chemistry between them. She’s more focused on her anger, pain, and frustration to escape back to her family. As the story, progresses, I do begin to understand why Melissa develops strong feelings for Rion. He is kind, gentle, and patient with her, which is exactly what she needs at this point. In Rion’s culture, females are revered, and I can see how Melissa would be drawn to this young Malion. However, I never fully understood why Rion falls in love with Melissa so quickly and is willing to jeopardize the safety of his people for a girl he claims to love but barely knows.

Although I didn’t connect to Melissa, I definitely appreciated the character arc she undergoes. Through her involvement with the Malions and their Vykhar enemies, she becomes less egocentric and self-involved, learning to take responsibility for the choices she makes and realizing that her actions have repercussions beyond herself.  Melissa becomes softer, more understanding, and more forgiving of others, especially her sister, Katherine who antagonizes her in the first half of the book. Katherine’s behavior toward Melissa doesn’t change until after her own break-up, which I thought would become significant to the plot, but doesn’t. I was so sure that the ex-boyfriend was somehow connected to this supernatural world and was using Katherine for some sinister purpose, so I’m not sure why Katherine’s boyfriend problems were significant to the overall story.

Readers who dislike cliff-hanger endings will be pleased to know that Beneath the Surface has a resolution that wraps up the book nicely without leaving them in angsty suspense waiting for the next installment. If you like YA urban fantasy, you should check out this new series.

I received an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review.