Reviews tagging 'Grief'

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

21 reviews

abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Murder, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit

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

---

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

---

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

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

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gun violence

lycheejelly's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Death of parent

emily_mh's review against another edition

dark 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? No

4.25

Usually I’m not a fan of paranormal stories (e.g., urban fantasy, angels and demons type stuff) but I really liked it here. Polk fit in some nice depth to the world which is always a challenge in a novella. I especially appreciated the history we were given of the angels as this fleshed out the angel characters well. I also liked how the politics between the various supernatural factions had such direct influence over the plot and characters. I will say I was a little confused whether the supernatural/magical world was hidden or the norm for all humans everywhere. 

The story was so easy to fly through. The plot was fast-paced and investigation-driven, the latter essential in a murder-mystery for me. It was also clever, the resolution satisfying. 

I got a good sense of the MC Helen and was fully rooting for her. She’s a puzzler and a thinker, she’s driven, but most important she loves HARD. My heart was in my throat seeing the lengths she would go to to save and protect her loved ones. 

Unfortunately I didn’t totally get the romance between Helen and Edith. I didn’t feel the depth of their connection like most other readers have seemed to. But it wasn’t a biggie for me overall. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Drug use, Gun violence, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Car accident

Minor: Addiction, Sexual content, Homophobia, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Cursing, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Moderate: conversion therapy, eye trauma Minor: gambling, loss of a loved one, self-injury

leanne_miron's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Violence

Minor: Medical content and Homophobia

n0elle's review against another edition

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Grief, Misogyny, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Gore, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Grief, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, and Child death

elderwoodreads's review

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia and Car accident