Even Though I Knew the End
Page turning
Delightful
Clever

Even Though I Knew the End

C. L. Polk2022
“Stylish supernatural noir with a heart and a thrumming pulse. I devoured it.” —Laini Taylor C. L. Polk turns their considerable powers to a fantastical noir. A magical detective dives into the affairs of Chicago's divine monsters to secure a future with the love of her life. This sapphic period piece will dazzle anyone looking for mystery, intrigue, romance, magic, or all of the above. An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist — the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves. To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await.
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Reviews

Photo of Amelia Hruby
Amelia Hruby@ameliajo
5 stars
Jan 15, 2025

Ok wow I wasn’t sure at the beginning but this really won me over! Sapphic, noir, demon, murder mystery novella?!

+3
Photo of Sabrina D.
Sabrina D. @readingsofaslinky
5 stars
Sep 21, 2024

I loved this story! Such an interesting take on fantasy and noir and hard-boiled detective story—the first book I’ve read like it. The story was fast paced and thrilling and finished nice and neat~

+5
Photo of Francesca Starecheski
Francesca Starecheski@cescastar
4 stars
Jan 22, 2024

The end will always reside behind the eyes, in the back of our minds, and a devil and angel upon each shoulder. To live is not to ignore the end, it is to love in spite of it, and to learn that demons and angels are one and the same.

Photo of Apiecalypse Jen
Apiecalypse Jen@chippedfang
4 stars
Dec 1, 2023

If you had asked me before I read this if I needed a super natural hunting 1920's butch and femme speakeasy lesbian story I would have said "maybe?" but, now that I've had it, I would like to propose this be a niche. and unsurprisingly, I intentionally immediately tried to find moore like this because this was not enough.

+3
Photo of Riley
Riley@coldeurydice
3.5 stars
Mar 14, 2023

I came for the film noir lesbians and found myself in a very familiar world. I wish a few more details had been changed to distinguish the story/world from what I'm presuming was its original form, but overall it was a delightful romp, rather exquisitely written and grounded in the set period.

+4
Photo of dija
dija@dija
3 stars
Jan 23, 2023

I liked the concept but the execution could have been better

Photo of Ana Paula
Ana Paula@ana_leyendo
4 stars
Jan 2, 2023

my "supernatural" heart is so happy right now

Photo of Emily Perkovich
Emily Perkovich@undermeyou
5 stars
Dec 10, 2022

I don’t know why, but I have the hardest time reviewing books that I loved. I wished this was longer, but not because it felt rushed or like things were missed. I just wanted more story. I loved the characters (please let me date Helen?). Reimaginings of religious story lines are one of my favorite types of fiction when done right. This was fast paced, plot driven, with not much world building. Thank you to Net Galley & Tor for the ARC.

Photo of Ayne
Ayne@lunylit
2 stars
May 9, 2025
Photo of r.
r.@rottingcorpse
4 stars
Feb 25, 2025
+3
Photo of Gigi Wood
Gigi Wood@gigixwood
3.5 stars
Dec 16, 2024
+3
Photo of Peyton
Peyton@districtreader
4 stars
Sep 30, 2024
+4
Photo of Emiley Jones
Emiley Jones@emileyjones
4 stars
Oct 13, 2023
+2
Photo of Stark Koenig
Stark Koenig@stark
4.5 stars
Aug 30, 2023
Photo of Joycelyn Ghansah
Joycelyn Ghansah@jghansah
3 stars
Aug 26, 2023
Photo of ash (smokedshelves)
ash (smokedshelves)@smokedshelves
3 stars
Jun 7, 2023
Photo of Christy Faun
Christy Faun @christyfaun
2 stars
May 22, 2023
Photo of Riley Rose
Riley Rose@rileyrose
3.5 stars
Dec 15, 2022
+4
Photo of Jennifer
Jennifer@mrslibrarian
4 stars
Nov 9, 2022
Photo of aleksandra
aleksandra@aleksandrareading
2 stars
Apr 2, 2024
Photo of Melissa Railey
Melissa Railey@melrailey
5 stars
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of Wisteria pages
Wisteria pages@wisteriapages
4 stars
Jul 12, 2023
Photo of Bi
Bi@mytileneve
3 stars
Jun 28, 2023
Photo of ~Anna~
~Anna~@miraclesnow
4 stars
May 26, 2023

Highlights

Photo of Sabrina D.
Sabrina D. @readingsofaslinky

The shadows took on weird shapes ahead of us. Birds flew past me and lighted on the skeletal branches of trees—gray-blue jays, little sparrows, pigeons and grackles all focked together, feathers be damned.

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