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

Thanks to Libro FM for sending me a copy.

I honestly can't emphasise how much I loved this. It's well-written, clever, and completely compelling. The author manages to pack so much action, drama, and brilliant world-building into the book that I was enrapt from beginning to end. It's a skill to make readers connect with characters so deeply in such a short space of time, but it's a skill that C.L. Polk has most definitely mastered. We feel all of Helen's anguish, yearning, and desperate determination and we get to see how far she'll go for Edith. I loved Helen as a character and adored the sapphic romance in this.

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clarabooksit's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

For such a short book, this packs in a lot. There are angels, demons, murder, magic and a swoon-worthy love story.

The stakes are high, and the way the story developed and unravelled made it very hard to put down. While I would’ve loved more information about the magic and how it works, this story is well contained and moves the reader right along. The murders are gruesome, religion is a fascinating element, and the motivations are compelling. I was invested.

My favorite parts were the relationship between Helen and Edith and the way Polk wove in history, especially the high price of being a queer at the time. The hidden lesbian club and the brief visit to the asylum were great touches.

For all you historical fantasy fans out there, definitely check this one out. It’s a tense, quick read that builds very nicely and has a swoony romance at its heart. Also, how gorgeous is that cover?

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kharlan3's review

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