Synopsis
Born to an Elite family, Emeline has been marked as different from birth and by a society that judges all its citizens on their ability to conform.
Emeline only has one role open to her: to become a mother. Offered a pro-creation contract with Collin, a member of the Illum – the governing body of the Elite – Emeline finds herself increasingly torn between her growing complicated feelings for her proposed mate, and another man who lives on the margins of their society who challenges her ideals.
When the marginalized rise up in rebellion, Emeline begins to question everything she has ever believed in.
It’s time to choose a side . . .
Review
A modern take on The Handmaid’s Tale. Think Uglies by Scott Westerfield and the Capital from The Hunger Games meets classic.
Emeline is one of the many women in gray – someone with a Minor defect that ruins the flawless facade of the upper city – scorned from her Elite family due to her heterochromia. Like the other women in grey, she has trained for the day her fertility is deemed optimal and matched to an Elite male to fulfil her role for the Greater Good. For the all-seeing and controlling Illum.
The women’s future depends on their ability to comply with their Mate’s wishes and this extends to the elite women too.
No, Mate does not mean the spicy fae kind.
“Horrible things happen to those who can’t conform. Did you fly too high?”
We have two love interests: her Illum mate who doesn’t follow the rules and a Major defect who shares her appreciation for art.
Whilst this is treading on familiar ground, it felt more accessible for the current Booktok audience. It is a mix of balls (not an innuendo), tense dinners, and forbidden romance.
I enjoyed the female friendships present and the glittering descriptions of the dresses Emeline is draped in. Especially interesting was the contrast between the city in the clouds and the minor and major cities.
Per usual, this dystopia uses control of information and visuals to frame a narrative that everyone is desperate to fit into.
We all want to be accepted.
“When everyone above the surface believes everyone below is uncivilized and defective and you all believe everyone above is immoral and self-serving, who wins? How can anyone win when you all hate one another?” I asked. Hal said nothing. “How are you any different from them?”
Whilst I did find the plot reveals and betrayals predictable, I am interested to see how the rebellion unfolds. That’s not a spoiler. This is a dystopia, of course there’s going to be an underground uprising.
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