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

This is one of those books that I’m conflicted on how to rate, because objectively it’s a very unique story, well written, and I can absolutely see why people love it, but for me it was just mildly entertaining.

It took a few chapters to grow on me, you’re kind of dumped into the story without any world building, which is a pet peeve of mine. I was unsure about the writing style at first but I got used to it. I liked the humor. I usually struggle to connect with pre-established relationships but Helen and Edith’s love for each other was very sweet and very believable. I’m still left feeling like the world and magic system wasn’t fully explained, but I think that was intentional. That stuff isn’t really the focus, and with a novella there’s only so much time you can spend on that. I understood what I needed for the plot to make sense. So I have nothing to critique, it was just okay for me.

Though I will admit the ending made me a bit teary.

Content Warnings

danielles_reads's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I really enjoyed this! This is one of those novellas that feels like it truly fits within the short amount of pages. There wasn’t too much stuffed into it, or too little either, and the story flowed nicely. I was pretty invested the entire time.

I liked Helen as a main character, and her relationship with Edith. Even though we only had a short amount of time with them, I really felt for them and their relationship. I do wish we had gotten a little more info about Helen’s brother, as he seemed more like a plot device than anything, but I liked their relationship too.

I’m not a huge mystery reader, but I enjoyed the mystery in this one. There were quite a few twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I would have loved to have had a liiittle more background on this world (but I’m a nerd for world building lol), but it was really interesting as presented. I didn’t realize going into this that it had angels and demons lol, and I like what Polk did with the concept. It was a little more religious than I’d usually prefer, but here it was beautifully spiritual. My only critique is that the portion

with the women victims at the asylum

didn’t really go anywhere. We didn’t get any follow up with those characters. But I respect Polk for including the effect of the plot on random bystanders, with some commentary on how mental illness was dealt with in our recent history.

Also, the ending was

so bittersweet, with Helen giving up her soul for ten years again to bring Edith back to life! 🥺 I love how it incorporated the title. I’d be grateful, even though I knew the end.

Content Warnings

daffodilcherry's review

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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.

Content Warnings