“I cannot fathom how I can be here. I can’t be Flawed. I am perfect.”
In Celestine North’s world, perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished. So Celestine lives a perfect life, as a model daughter, student and girlfriend.
But then Celestine breaks a rule and faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. Branded. Found FLAWED.
Pre-reading: This originally came out in 2016, part of the post-Hunger Games wave where one teenage girl is suddenly the key to toppling a dystopian government - just as soon as she chooses between two boys. I'm not sure I finished reading it, and I'm certain I didn't read the second one. I think she gets in trouble for helping an old man who'd fallen over? Maybe?
Post reading: Ok, it's an interesting read, though I feel the world building could be a little better. The basic idea is that, along with criminals, there are now also Flawed, people who have committed moral crimes and are branded in various spots to show it. Flawed people live under strict restrictions and no one associates with them - aiding a Flawed is a sign of being Flawed yourself. Celestine, our heroine, believes completely in the system - until the day she sees a Flawed man about to die, and the people around him do nothing. Helping him is enough to put her in the crosshairs of some very dangerous people, as every side of the conflict attempts to use her to their own ends.
Celestine is battling her way to the truth, carving away lies to try and find not only the truth, but what feels right to her. The Ace of Swords is the card of clarity, honesty and truth, which makes it a great match here!
So. I enjoyed the story - I thought it was clever - but I did wish for a bit more world-building detail. The Flawed system only operates in this one country, but it might be going global - which is partly why Celestine's under so much pressure. Parts of it are explained well, but not others, although it's possible I missed something.
Things seemed to happen very quickly and sweep Celestine along. There's a rebellion, whose members happily identify themselves to her, and a reporter who was completely on the government's side until one conversation with Celestine sways her. There's a mysterious boy who exchanges half a dozen words with her during the book, but she's completely smitten with. Her relationship with her sister goes back and forth several times during the book.
It's not terrible, I enjoyed it and I'll definitely read the second one, but it's not my favourite of this genre either.
TV Recommendation: The 1980s Twilight Zone had an episode entitled "To See the Invisible Man." In that episode, the main character was sentenced to a year of social invisibility and given a visible implant so others could avoid him. While at first he was elated, the loneliness and isolation eventually drove him to near madness.
Book Recommendation: Matched by Ally Condle. Another in the post-Hunger Games wave, this book features a society where everything is decided for citizens, right down to who they'll marry. Like Celestine, Cassia trusts the Society utterly, until she doesn't.
Tarot Card: Ace of Swords
Flawed publishes on the 8th of May, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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