Faeries lie.
That’s what the Consilium told Jude when they recruited her into a supernatural cold war against the Court. It’s what her friend Aubrie said too, convincing her to search for illicit magic under their noses.
But he’s half-Faerie like her. And since honesty’s never exactly been Jude’s strong suit either, she probably should have listened. Might have saved her the pain of his betrayal, not to mention a trip to the ICU.
When a shady group of Faeries co-opts her to help them stop Aubrie from taking control of both the human and Faerie worlds, Jude’s tentatively game. Ruining the man who double-crossed her sounds good in theory. Problem is, joining up with these alleged otherworldly allies could condemn humanity to life under a curly-toed boot instead.
Everybody wants to rule the world. Jude just wants some premium tequila shots on a warm, sandy beach in the vicinity of “The Hell Away from This Mess.”
That’s a lie—she’d settle for the cheap stuff.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Caye’s plot is ambitious and brimming with magical characters of every kind, all with a singular focus on a powerful book that can merge the human and Faerie worlds. The sheer scale of the story is immense, and even the most loyal fantasy fans may find their heads spinning with the level of creativity in the novel, but it moves along at a quick pace and boasts plenty of action, all the way to its chaotic ending.
Prose: Caye’s prose is well-suited to the story and effectively builds a fantastical world hiding just outside of reality. The dialogue is contemporary without frivolity, and several action scenes are elevated through the dynamic writing style.
Originality: Although the plot can become overwhelming at times, The Flaws of Gravity meets the genre expectations and elevates them into a mind-bending, extraordinary story that rushes along at breakneck speed from the first pages.
Character Development/Execution: Caye sacrifices character depth in the name of immense fantasy worldbuilding, creating a slight disconnect between readers and the main players. Though the plot’s pace will keep fans intrigued, this detachment serves as an obstacle to the story’s cohesion.
Date Submitted: May 14, 2022
