Name: Even Though I Knew the End
Rating: 3.767857142857143 (28 reviews)

C.L. Polk

Even Though I Knew the End

Sabrina D. 

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.

C. L. Polk

“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.

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

Amelia

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~ 

it gave sapphic constantine and i was HERE for it

Francesca Starecheski

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.

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. 

Apiecalypse Jen

Fast paced, good plot, easy/quick read. The dialogue came off as cheesy quite a bit, there was some redundancy in the prose, and I never got emotionally connected to any of the characters or their plights. But, the plot and turning points were interesting and kept me intrigued to give it a 3.5. 

Floofyflower

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.

Riley

Helena sold her soul to save her brother's life. Now she damned and exiled from the society of magicians. She scrapes by working as a Private Investigator, but it is not so bad because she has the love of her life, Edith. Then she gets the opportunity to get back her soul and to live a full lifetime with Edith. Find the White City Vampire, a greusome serial killer. Before her brother and the other magicians do, of course.

A saphic, supernatural, noir detective story set in 1930's Chicago. The atmophere is impecable and the world-weary tone is just right. The mystery is compelling. Yes, it follows the tropes. Yes, it is an homage. But it is done well. The ending landed where it needed to. The commentary on misogyny and homophobia is spot on. Nice to do it in a genre rife with all of that. I think that novella was just the right length for this story.

Cheryl Hedlund

Helena sold her soul to save her brother's life. Now she damned and exiled from the society of magicians. She scrapes by working as a Private Investigator, but it is not so bad because she has the love of her life, Edith. Then she gets the opportunity to get back her soul and to live a full lifetime with Edith. Find the White City Vampire, a greusome serial killer. Before her brother and the other magicians do, of course.

A saphic, supernatural, noir detective story set in 1930's Chicago. The atmophere is impecable and the world-weary tone is just right. The mystery is compelling. Yes, it follows the tropes. Yes, it is an homage. But it is done well. The ending landed where it needed to. The commentary on misogyny and homophobia is spot on. Nice to do it in a genre rife with all of that. I think that novella was just the right length for this story.

dija

I liked the concept but the execution could have been better

Ana Paula

my "supernatural" heart is so happy right now

Emily Perkovich

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.

Even Though I Knew the End

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