Ariel Sullivan’s debut, Conform (2025), is a dystopian novel that blends science fiction elements with the popular romantasy subgenre. It is the first installment in Sullivan’s planned Thousand Voices series and was selected as a book club pick for Read with Jenna. The story introduces a society built on a rigid and discriminatory caste system enforced by a totalitarian and technologically advanced ruling class known as the Illum. The story follows Emeline, a young woman designated as a Minor Defect, whose solitary life transforms when she is approved for a state-mandated Procreation Agreement with a member of the elite. As she navigates her new life in the opulent world above the clouds, she finds herself caught between a powerful member of the Illum and a rebellious Major Defect, forcing her to question the foundations of their society. The novel explores themes such as  Governmental Oppression of Reproductive Rights,  The Erasure of History as a Form of Totalitarianism, and The Policing of Identity Within a Rigid Caste System.

Sullivan is an American author of dystopian fiction. Her childhood experiences in a military family inform her literary work. As a kid who frequently changed homes and experienced diverse social environments, she developed a love of reading that shaped her worldview. Her writing explores post-apocalyptic settings that intertwine romantic stories with societal issues.

This guide refers to the 2025 Ballantine Books first edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide feature depictions of graphic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, gender discrimination, death, sexual content, and cursing.

Plot Summary

Emeline, a 27-year-old woman designated as a Minor Defect due to her heterochromia, works in the underground Archives destroying ancient art. Her life is bleak and solitary until she learns that her Procreation Status is “Approved,” sparking hope of escaping to the luxurious world of the Elite in the clouds. During a shift, she is unexpectedly visited by Hal, a handsome Major Defect dressed in blue. Hal shares her interest in art and hints at secrets about his community, which he calls “Beneath.” Soon after, Emeline receives a message from the Illum for her initial meeting with her proposed Mate.

After scanning her MIND, a monitoring device on her wrist, a public announcement on the transportation Pod orders her friend Lo and the other Minors to exit, as Emeline flies to the higher place of society: the clouds. Upon arriving in the clouds, Emeline experiences a degrading preparation process by two women called the Starlings, Rose and Violet. They reveal that the Illum sent a special lens to cover her blue eye, an unprecedented gift. During the prep, Emeline recalls her education in the Academy regarding her Procreation Program, while the Starlings engage her in a harsh beautifying protocol.  When a gold band appears on Emeline’s wrist, the Starlings realize her Mate is a member of the Illum.

Emeline meets her proposed Mate, Collin, in a beautiful garden in the Elite city. He is unexpectedly kind and reveals he is the youngest member of the Illum. Emeline remembers her Elite birth family, who rejected her as a kid due to her heterochromia. Collin offers her a four-year Cohabitation Agreement, bypassing the usual trials, but warns that the Press and the Elite will be watching. He defends Emeline against Elite criticism, and their Courting Phase officially begins.

The next day, Emeline discusses the dinner with Lo. Hal revisits Emeline’s office, and they argue after he criticizes her for signing the Procreation Contract without reading it. He leaves after telling her the lens covers what makes her beautiful. Four days later, Hal returns and convinces her to remove the irritating lens, and they bond over discussing art. On her way to her next meeting with Collin, Emeline encounters her birth brother, Phillip, who is cold and dismissive. The Starlings prepare her again but discuss attacks against the Capitol and the Elite that unsettle the Illum. Violet hints at a rebellion and sees a kindred spirit in Emeline, who constantly asks questions. Emeline learns that the Illum arbitrarily downgrades offspring’s statuses.

Emeline’s second meeting with Collin takes place at the Sphere, a restaurant suspended in the sky. Collin reveals that he knows about Phillip and tells her about her other brothers, Gregory and Richard. He responds to Emeline’s questions about the Elite and the Illum. After dinner, they encounter her entire birth family, including her hostile father, Vincent. Collin is protective, and after they leave, he kisses Emeline passionately in full view of the watching Elite, an image later published by the Press. Hal revisits Emeline and addresses her with the nickname Moonlight. He questions her about her meeting with Collin as they ponder art. Hal criticizes her again, saying she must visit the Underworld to learn more.

Emeline is called for a dinner with her birth family, but Collin cancels. During her preparation appointment, Violet is missing, and Rose claims she is unwell. Emeline is forced to wear a Major Defect blue gown, sent as an anonymous gift. At the dinner, Vincent is cruel to her; Emeline explodes and storms out.  Upset, she triggers the emergency drop on her Pod and runs barefoot through the city. Hal finds her and carries her to her living quarters, where he becomes trapped by the usual curfew. He reveals part of his backstory: He was born an Elite to Major Defect parents who were killed by the Elite Force. Emeline and Hal end up sleeping in the same bed.

The next morning, Gregory fetches Emeline and reveals Collin is the Illum’s “Enforcer.” Emeline meets Nora, Collin’s twin sister, and the two bond. Collin arrives and confronts Emeline about her unauthorized run to the river.  He discusses the Majors’ uprising and their leader, the Reaper.

Emeline continues meeting with Hal, who reveals more. After he left the Academy, he cut out his MIND chip to become undetectable, faked his death, and joined the Majors. Emeline suspects Hal is the Reaper.

During her next meeting with the Starlings, Emeline sees that Violet is injured, a punishment for sharing information about the rebellion. Violet asks Emeline to inform on the Illum. Meanwhile, Lo is approved for mating with Gregory, but Emeline learns that he and Nora are in love.

One day, Emeline witnesses “the Parting,” where the Elite Force forcibly takes young offspring from their mothers in the Sanctuary, sending them to the Academy. During a High Council dinner, a rebel sympathizer is publicly executed via his MIND chip on the orders of Tabitha, the head of the Illum.

Exasperated by what she has witnessed, Emeline travels to the Underworld through a secret river entrance to warn the rebels about an impending ambush. Hal’s comrades arrest her, but he intervenes. He helps Emeline return through the tunnels, and they kiss. Back home, Emeline realizes that the Minors are being sedated into submission via their supplements; she stops taking hers and warns Lo. During a meeting at Collin’s living quarters, he confronts Emeline about her journey to the Underworld. To protect her from repercussions, he tells her he has informed the Illum that she is now a spy for them.

Following the routine with the Starlings, Emeline attends the grand ball. She dances with Collin and still feels attracted to him. Later, Hal suddenly appears when Emeline is alone, and they have a secret, passionate encounter. They are nearly discovered by Phillip and Gregory, who are arguing about Nora. Gregory finds Emeline and helps her sneak out of the ball.

During a rebel-led city-wide power outage, Hal takes Emeline to the Underworld for safety. Emeline worries about Nora and Gregory’s safety, arguing with Hal. Later, the two make love for the first time. Afterward, Emeline discovers a file Hal compiled on her before they met, detailing plans to manipulate her into helping the rebellion. Devastated by the betrayal, she confronts him. Hal confesses he fell in love with her. Hal’s comrade interrupts their argument, and Emeline volunteers to help plant a device to prolong the power outage. She succeeds and returns to the Archives. Soon, Phillip arrives to escort her out. She sees the surface is on fire from the Reaper’s attack on a supplement building. At Collin’s quarters, Gregory and Nora decide to end their secret relationship.

Emeline must attend a mandatory ball where all the Illum will be present. During her preparation, Violet reveals that Hal had sent the blue dress to Emeline. At the ball, Collin is hostile and warns Emeline that her role as a spy is the only thing keeping her alive. During a dance, chaos erupts. The Elite Force storms the ballroom, having captured the Reaper. It is Hal.

Tabitha appears in person. She publicly praises Emeline for her spying, grants her full Elite status, and declares that Hal’s capture is her work. Tabitha discusses with Emeline in private, revealing that the entire series of events has been her own personal “trial” for Emeline. She explains her theories on power, saying she used Emeline’s rise to give Defects hope and Elites fear, ensuring compliance. She reveals that Lo began informing on Emeline the moment Emeline’s contract was approved, trading secrets for her own advancement. Tabitha planted a false story of Emeline’s impending elimination to lure the rebels into a trap at the ball. Simultaneously, the Elite Force raided the Underworld to capture all the Majors’ offspring. Tabitha notes that Emeline and Hal are now pawns in a game of who loves the other more, using each as leverage against the other. Emeline collapses after drinking Tabitha’s tea. She hears a voice saying that things will be fine.

In the epilogue, the perspective shifts to Hal, now imprisoned. He reflects on his love for Emeline and his capture. He reveals the rebellion is not over and that a bomb has been set within the Illum’s grid. A woman enters his cell and taunts him, “I always wondered what would break you.”