After the events of where Jude discovered The Flaws of Gravity (paper ), which I didn’t read, she moved to Montreal. Jude is Half-Faerie with the ability to manipulate gravity. Unfortunately that doesn’t get her a job. Then bodies of men she knew start popping up minus their hearts. There’s also a government organization hunting former members of the Consilium which had been destroyed in the first book. Her aunt, Mab of the fairies wants her protected as she is the only heir, and the father who had deserted her has shown up claiming to have been imprisoned in the land of fairy spirits. But the real monster is a A Trick of the Shade (paper from‎ SC Smith) of an ancient Mab and the fairies who want to resurrect her. Lots of fun and I may eventually buy the first one.

The second entry in Caye’s Gravity’s Daughter series continues to deliver the action-packed Urban Fantasy goods, as half-faerie lone wolf Jude Waldron battles her inner demons as well as the ones visible in front of her—or above or below her, depending on when she decides to ‘shift’ into her gravity-defying superpower to even up any pesky odds against her.

Whether or not you’ve already read The Flaws of Gravity, the series’ debut, I found this second book’s characters, plotting and action even more addictive, and it promises even more unique mystery, dry humor, battles, and faerie world-building.

The synopsis of this one caught me right away. It's funny in a dark, cynical kind of way that caught my attention and demanded I read this book.

I liked the first half a lot. I've got a soft spot for both urban fantasy and characters who have everything go wrong for them in the most annoying little ways.

And fantasy weapons on public transportation. Of course.

Jude's "I will punch my way out of this one and you can't stop me" personality was fun to read, especially when paired with Daniel's "the answer is in the books. If it isn't in a book, then there isn't an answer."

But I couldn't help feeling the second half of the book lost some of the initial charm. As the action picked up the pace, there was less room for the quieter moments I really enjoyed. Jude's sassy, ironic monologues fade into uninspired swearing as she faces up to what a pathetic limp noodle she really is in the face of every other power in the world. There's an intentional destruction of books that's a little hard to stomach. And the book ends much the way it starts, without any real change in any of the characters.

I really enjoyed the author's voice and writing style in the first half, so I hope she'll continue to develop her skills in that regard. "A Trick of the Shade," despite its flaws, will likely find an eager audience among adult fantasy enthusiasts--even if it wasn't the perfect fit for me.

A longer (and much more rambling) review can be found here: https://bookmarkedone.home.blog/2023/10/10/a-trick-of-the-shade-arc-book-review/.

I had forgotten I’d read the first book in this series when I wanted to read the second one. So, I went ahead and dived in. This book reminded me a lot of the first book in a good way. I still felt like I was missing some information, but again I just went with the flow. I feel so very sorry for Jude; it seems her life is imploding all around her. She meets up with Daniel again to try and find out who is killing the men she’s interacted with. I really enjoyed this book. It’s urban fantasy as I’ve come to appreciate and wish I would see more of it. Unique, well-written, engaging. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.