My Take on Conform by Ariel Sullivan – Intense, Addictive, and Utterly Compelling

Secrets, forbidden love, and high-stakes choices in a world where freedom comes at a price.

Synopsis

In the far future, one young woman finds herself torn between two loves—and two sides of a rebellion boiling under the surface—in the first novel of a sweeping dystopian romance trilogy.

Centuries after a catastrophic world war nearly decimated the human population, a city arose from the ashes, ruled by an elusive and technologically advanced group called the Illum.

At twenty-seven, Emeline lives in limbo, wasting away her days in a job sorting ancient human art for destruction and waiting to be selected as a Mate for a procreation contract. Where others look forward to being chosen, Emeline has never felt like she fit into a society where a person’s worth is determined by constantly monitored genes, health, and the ability to procreate. She’s struggled to keep her discomfort secret, but when she is finally chosen, her Mate is revealed to be a member of the Illum named Collin, a man who seems to be harboring secrets of his own.

It is the first time an Illum has taken a Mate in decades, leaving Emeline—and others—baffled as to why she was chosen. Soon, she is swept into the dangerous game of Courting, filled with ballgowns, lavish dinners, and watchful eyes, where one wrong move can mean elimination. While parts of this elite lifestyle are unexpectedly appealing, the more embroiled she becomes, the more she sees its dark underbelly—and a rebellion rising in secret. Collin is confusing, both cold and protective, and worse, she finds herself drawn to the very last person she should be falling for: Hal, one of the resistance leaders.

As she draws closer to both Collin and Hal, the Illum exercise their power in increasingly brutal ways, forcing Emeline to question everything—most of all whether she’ll have to give up her heart and even her life to stop them.

Review

5 stars

Wow! Talk about starting with a bang!

This is Ariel Sullivan’s first published work, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a debut. No editing issues, no inconsistencies, no two-dimensional characters, no pacing lulls—just intense writing and a gripping story set in a post-apocalyptic world following The Last Great War, where nuclear power decimated most of humanity, forcing survivors underground.

Hundreds or thousands of years later, humans build cities so tall they reach the clouds. Society is ruled by the Illium—an elite few controlling everything. On the ground and underground, the “defects,” called Minors and Majors, play roles in the so-called Greater Good. Friendship and love are forbidden, and women are treated as vessels to repopulate the world.

If that sounds a bit like The Handmaid’s Tale, you’re not wrong—but it also evokes Matched while feeling completely unique.

Minors dream of entering mating contracts with elite men, which allows them four years in the clouds, wearing gorgeous gowns and eating delicacies. Once their children reach age four, the kids are sent to the Academy and the mother returns to the ground.

Our main character, Emmeline, is the daughter of two elites but marked by heterochromia—one brown eye, one blue. She enters a contract with a stunning mate, but soon another handsome stranger crosses her path, leaving her torn between belonging to the elite or joining a revolution.

The tension escalates steadily. Emmeline’s journey—from proving her worth to her family to glimpsing unimaginable freedom—is intense and full of conflict. She makes so many bad decisions, and yet I couldn’t stay angry at her—she’s been manipulated by everyone around her. I felt for her, for the defects, and even for some of the forbidden-to-love elite.

My only regret? She didn’t trust one of her love interests more. He has incredible potential, but she didn’t open up to him, and now with the finale, I worry he might take a dark turn. I don’t want that!

And yes, the love triangle. I usually hate this trope and want to scream, “Just choose one!” But here, it was slightly different—one relationship was more of an obligation than a choice and yet…. Still, the indecision had me so anxious!

To sum it up: I was completely immersed in this story. Hundred percent certain, I will read the sequel.

Thanks for reading.

Sophie