Eden, the main character of this novel, has a woefully low mate option-only 15%. She desperately wants her mate option to be picked up by a Coal, a very dark-skinned, well- adapted man. In this novel, the overheated environment can kill the lilywhite Pearls, only Coals have adapted to suit the environment.

Eden as a character is fairly likable. She can be whiny at times, but she lives in a harsh world. She does have extreme perseverance and intelligence. She can be a tad obtuse when it comes to romance. Bramford, one of the best rated Coals and very wealthy, might be the man to change Eden's world. With her father possibly dying, her supposed Coal boyfriend hiding something from her, and the work she does under inspection, Eden is not having the easiest time.

This book is a wonderful young adult dystopian, tinged with romance. Eden and Bramford must learn to get along, Eden discovers several of Bramford's secrets, and the reader will love seeing their relationship hit its ups and down and grow. The secondary characters will stand out, the events are fast-paced, and the plot contains the perfect blend of romance, dystopian, and action. This book is highly recommended to young adult/teen/adult readers.