Reviews tagging 'Death'

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

97 reviews

shottel's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A short little lesbian supernatural noir book I finished in a single sitting, Even Though I Knew the End managed to fit a lot of story into less than 150 pages. Set in 1941 Chicago, a mystic detective ends up being hired for a murder case that ends up being a lot more than a murder case. I'm not normally a noir person, but I found this perfectly enjoyable. Well-paced and well-written, I would recommend this to anyone who finds the premise interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent

abnormal_shadow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Its a really good book. Its queer its short and its NOT explicit which I really like. I really like when period pieces add magic or fantasy its really fun and I think its nice. The way that the world is established and drawn out is really interesting and the way that the period interacts with the lesbian main characters

they wear rings, so people think they are married, the way that they have to pretend to have husbands to shop at more masculine stores and buy cigs

. Its 1950s its fun its playfully. I fully recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Death

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

val_theburrowofstories's review

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I actually liked this book, not as much as I hoped but it was entertaining at least. It’s a shame all my latest sapphic romance readings are 3 ⭐ (which is not bad, just not what I expected from them) 

It’s such a short story and yet the pace of the story was a little bit slow, but I listened to this as an audiobook so it helped because the narrator does such a good job. 

I did not read the synopsis of this book before starting it (I added it to my TBR a year ago so I didn’t remember) and I did not expect to find fantasy and magic with demons and angels, but I liked that aspect of the book! 

This actually reminded me of Supernatural with the whole demon deal thing and an angel controlling a human lol it made me miss the show so much. 

This book is divided in 5 acts, and I was invested in the first 3, but by the last 2 I was falling sleep (I was very tired) and I wasn’t paying that much attention, I just know I was mad at the MC’s brother lol men have to ruin everything I swear, honestly I thought this went from being about a warlock woman with her girlfriend trying to solve a crime, to it being about him and what he wanted and he was annoying as fuck and ungrateful. Maybe I missed the point because I was falling sleep, but that’s how it felt. 

And that ending… well I’m going to accept it just because I wasn’t that invested in these characters,

I’d like to think that after ten years Edith also makes a deal with the demon so they can have 10 more years together and then they all go to Hell lmaooo

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and Grief

I don’t think these are spoilers because they’re mentioned in the first couple of chapters:

- Blood / Murder / Death: There’s a serial killer out there killing people and leaving the crime scene full of blood.

- Car accident / Death of parent / Grief: Helen’s parents die in a car accident.

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Grief, and Misogyny

Minor: Lesbophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcohol, Car accident, Vomit, Homophobia, and Death of parent

blondieabrams's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Car accident and Death of parent

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Even Though I Knew the End” by C.L. Polk was a well paced, intriguing, and entertaining sapphic novella! I didn’t know too much going in, but I often find that adds to my reading experience. I enjoyed the setting—1940s Chicago, which combined perfectly with a magical romance. The unique atmosphere and a magical main character detective. 
 I would’ve liked more character development with the side characters, and maybe more backstory too. 

Overall, I enjoyed this one as I wrapped up my reading goals for the year.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Car accident, Death, and Gore

csmoke85's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Murder

lumidouce's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

For those looking for a quick sapphic tale of angels, demons, and the things we'd do for love.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Homophobia

3martini's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gun violence

natlren's review

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was such an unexpected delight, especially because I’m not the world’s biggest historical fiction fan. 

In my opinion, the audiobook was the perfect way to consume this story. I loved how tender it was, how vulnerable, and how central Edith and Helen were to one another. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Death

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Car accident