Reviews with content warning for Gore - Even Though I Knew the End

Reviews tagging 'Gore'

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

27 reviews

cleot's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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datgirllani's review against another edition

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mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

“We turned in each other’s arms, all the universe right there.”

If you’re in to mystery solving, old timey, sapphic reads then this book is for you. I am very good at guessing plots but I will admit that I did not expect the turn of events that took place in this book. That is what kept my attention while reading. While the book is a nice light read, I would not read it again as the generes are not my typical preference. That being said, if you’re not specifically interested in the genres this book has, I would not recommend it.

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talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

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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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gabbishy's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

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aprilyvonne's review against another edition

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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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wardenred's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

“Even if you succeed, you’re still going to Hell.”
“But not yet.”

I picked up this novella intending to read maybe 1/3 of it before bed. I ended up inhaling it all in one go, then feeling too emotional to go to sleep for over an hour. Absolutely no regrets.

Honestly, I adored pretty much everything about this tiny book. The impeccable noir vibes. The cold, alienating allure of the setting. The complexity of it, with all the magical orders and wars between heaven and hell, painted in the lightest strokes due to the format constraints and yet so vivid. The bittersweetness of it all, and the reminder that sometimes you pay a high price and don't get everything you want/need, but what you do get is still worth it. And, of course, the characters. My, the characters.

Helen is definitely going to stick with me for a long while. She has all the trappings of the noir detective, but underneath the cynicism you'd expect from one, she has so much love in her. Love that pushes her, over and over, to sacrifice so much for the sake of her loved ones, no matter the consequences—and no matter their opinion. Is it selfish or altruistic? Both. Love like that tends to be both.

I absolutely loved the romantic storyline. Edith is just as compelling and complex as Helen, and the bond between them is so strong. Honestly, as much as I love regular romance novels focused on characters coming together, I'm a sucker for established relationships in fiction. Love stories, after all, don't end when the first set of obstacles is defeated and the couple settles on the decision to tackle the rest of their lives together. That's only ever, I believe, where the real story starts. I love seeing couples (or for that matter policules, but that's irrelevant to this particular book, of course) actually working together as an established unit. The stakes always feel so much higher when it's a long-standing love/relationship being tested; if something goes wrong, the characters wouldn't just lose a chance at a happy ever after, they'll lose everything they've already built. And so when they get to keep it, the triumph is so much sweeter.

This book does precisely this kind of thing so well. The bond and the feelings between Helen and Esther shine in every scene. They're so close, and yet they both keep such big secrets from each other, for really valid reasons—and when those secrets come to light, they accept it and move on together with this new information. I don't know, there's just something so special about it, and how perfectly it's interwoven with the overall mystery plot, all the demonic/angelic fantasy trappings, and the subplot about Helen's past and her relationship with her brother. So much good stuff packed into such a small book.

Also: that one morning scene with Esther and the sparrows? And the one where Helen was reading The Great Gatsby? And absolutely every time Marlowe showed up on the page? Perfection. All of it. The kind of scenes that are going to live rent-free at the back of my mind for months or years to come.

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_lovedelirium's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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n0elle's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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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yourbookishbff's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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elderwoodreads's review

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

This was a great little novella! I loved the characters and the story. I did feel like the beginning was a little confusing because you are dropped right in and sort of have to make connections along the way. I also feel like the ending was a little over foreshadowed especially

with the reference to his eyes doing the same thing as her girlfriend's in the photo

. Overall I enjoyed it and think it's a fun and fast read, especially if you're looking for a unique sapphic story.

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