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

Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

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

39 reviews

daffodilcherry's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

A very enjoyable novella set in a magical alternative universe of the 1940s-1950s. I loved the worldbuilding centered in reality, though I would have loved more details about the magic system and more magic shown. The main character was a delight. The narrator was pleasant to listen to, and did wonderful voices for different characters.
Wheelhouse items: hardboiled detective, abrahamic mythology, historical setting but there's magic, lesbian love story, murder mystery.
Content warning explanations:

time period typical lesbophobia is apparent in the way that the main characters hide their relationship, there's a moment where they travel to a sanitarium and the main character sees an old lesbian friend who's been committed against her will.

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tahsintries's review against another edition

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3.5

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seyfert's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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emfass's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.0

This little novella is one that was an ALC (thanks Libro.fm) that I got a few months ago, and I put myself on hold for the physical book at the library (I am really getting into having access to both reading options these days) after seeing a glowing review from @booksnblazers.

Helen is a (magical) private investigator in 1940s Chicago, working within the darker side of the city. Almost exactly 10 years ago, she made a deal with a demon, trading her soul to save her brother's (Teddy) life. The end date on her deal, when her life is forfeit, is looming...and Helen is dreading leaving behind the women she's fallen in love with, Edith, and their dreams of a future together in San Francisco. When she is offered one final job, to find the White City Vampire (a notorious serial killer), with the payout of winning her soul back if she succeeds, she takes it. But things are more than what they seem, including Edith, and a number of divine powers have a vested interest in the outcome of her investigation.

My goodness, the noir vibes in this book were great. Between the time period and writing, it was like reading in sepia toned melancholy. The seedy, underbelly descriptions of the settings (including the underground gay bar, since that was the only option for them), and the grisly aspects of the murders, and the short time we spent in a women's asylum institution (for mental health "treatment," but with a horrifying glimpse at conversion therapy realities of the time as well), contributed to this vibe as well. Otherwise, do find reading this time period hard, and so I do it sparingly, because the misogyny and patronization of women is something I find infuriating and difficult to read too much of. Anyways, I am always a fan of a "sell your soul" and "deal with the devil" storyline, it's a favorite supernatural trope of mine. And while I do not always love the personification of angels and demons in paranormal stories, I thought it was well done here. I actually specifically thought the importance, in faith, of continuing to believe without evidence (and how hard that actually is) was explored in a way that I don't see often and I commend the author for.

The theme of not accepting fate is also always a classic, and is explored with deep personal emotion here. Polk explores what people will sacrifice/exchange in order to change fate, to save someone they love. But they also do a nice job introducing the complicating factor of, even if it hurts you (cause love does hurt), is it not worth considering that a person may not want or make the same choice as you about their fate? And what is selfish, or not, and how do you know, and is that just part of the weakness of humanity? However, in the end, I LOVED the message that love is love, it’s about a generous and open heart, and anything past that is irrelevant.

Speaking of love, let me talk about the relationships between Helen and Edith. For such a short novella, and being introduced to them already comfortably together, I was quickly deeply emotionally invested in them; they really warmed by soul and I was cheering hard for their *happy* ending right from the start. And as I read, their relationship got better and better. The understanding of secrets and separate lives and communicating through and accepting that is a level of emotional maturity that is usually skipped in favor of drama-by-miscommunication in romance situations, and I’m thrilled by the way it’s done here; so refreshing. On the other hand, the other major relationship (between Helen and Teddy), felt nowhere near as well done to me. It seemed shallow and the choices that each made, as well as their emotional reactions and connections, just felt too easy and just plot-device-y, after so many years apart.

I love the way the title works, the recognizable feeling of the building of hope for the ending every time you hear/see/read a familiar story, even though you already know what it will be. And the ending, oh it hit the heartstrings, that choice for at least some time, because some time is better than no time. It's a knowledge we all have, in choosing love, that there will be an ending, and it will hurt, but we choose love in the time we have anyways, because that pain is worth it.

This was a great, quick read. Emotional and entertaining and full of time period, magical, noir-ish vibes. Anyone who enjoyed Addie LaRue and/or fans of Supernatural, would like this book a lot.

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laurareads87's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

A well written novella with a cool noir atmosphere. Overall, I would say that I liked this novella and would definitely read more by Polk (this was my first experience with their work). That said, I did find this novella had a few too many ideas squished into it given its length. I also found myself more interested in background aspects of the setting – such as the types of magic that exist in this alternate history, where magical capabilities seem to be a blend of both inherited and learned– than I was in the central plot. The ending fell flat for me.

Content warnings: homophobia, sexism, misogyny, violence, blood, death, gun violence, forcible confinement / institutionalization

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micheala's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

This was an interesting alternative history paranormal mystery.

It's very short (only 135 pages) so I can't really say much without spoiling things. I will say that overall the mystery was interesting, however there was one key piece that Helen should have noticed much sooner, and her not realizing it felt like a blatant plot convenience.

Content warnings for time period (1940s-ish) homophobia, misogyny, mental institution (characters commited against their will), electroshock therapy, adversion therapy, death, possession,blood and gore - most of these are not described in great detail, but they are present and discussed on page

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foiblesandfiction's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy!

The amount of world building that was developed in this short novel was incredible. I didn't expect the depth or believability that the author created, but it's there. I also really enjoyed the vulnerable and intense themes that the author explored - queer love in a time and place that found it immoral and illegal; misogyny and the imbalanced power dynamics from which women suffer; the institutionalization of women in asylums and their horrific suffering of conversion therapies.

Where this book fell short for me was the ending. To be blunt, I don't like it. Both the plot choices that the author made as well as the technicalities of how it was written. The culmination of the noir-like murder mystery was cleanly wrapped up yet the plot twist was predictable. And while Helen and Edith's relationship gave me all the feels, I was disappointed by the lack of resolution for Helen's fractured relationship with her brother.

However, please don't let these criticisms hold you back from being able to enjoy the beautiful love of this sapphic couple. They were sweet enough to make my molars ache, and I recommend this book to anyone needing a quick read to break a reading slump.

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chanterello's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad 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

I loved this whole thing. It's paced excellently, tells a great story, and is in a world conveyed succinctly. If you like queer fantasy/mystery novellas with life and death stakes, try this.

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