Fire and Ice. Night and Day. One Life: the competition that unites them. . . . After a catastrophic event that caused the sun and the moon to remain stagnant on each side of the world, the human race was nearly eradicated, with nations wartorn and millions lost to wars and natural disasters. The Anchoring, as it's called, had very few survivors. However, those who did rose up to the challenge. The Republic of Atla, once known as North America, managed to survive the Anchoring, with new generations being born with side effects from the disaster and further establishing its power. Upon defeating the other nations for domination, its two coasts were separated into sectors: the powerful Onasa on one side, ruled by the sun, and the weakened Vale on the other, ruled by the moon. In the centre of Atla lies a land where light meets dark; a paradise for the affluent and powerful. Stories of the paradise are a beacon of hope for the less fortunate sector citizens. Everyone hopes they will get a chance to move there, but there is only one way: by competing in the One Life Competition-a yearly contest created by Atla's elites to grant two lucky sector teens the opportunity to find paradise-and winning. Valerie Arderis of the Onasa intends to do just that. So does Kane Hinata of the Vale. . . .