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carriepond's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Helen is an augur (magic-user) and a detective who, after being thrown out of her magic fraternity for selling her soul, is taking contract jobs to make enough money to make sure her love, Edith, is taken care of after the devil comes to claim her. Not long before her time is up, Helen is offered a job tracking down the White City Vampire, whose gruesome murders seem part of a brutal ritual. Despite its danger, Helen is offered terms that she can't refuse-- a boatload of money and her soul.
I knew this book would be super fun-- I was all in for a noir with a queer, female detective and a dark magic twist-- but I didn't know how tender and hopeful it would be. Also, I am in awe of how much Polk was able to weave into this story in so few pages. We're thinking about patriarchy and bullshit gender roles, we're thinking about homophobia, we're thinking about forced institutionalization, we're wondering how everything is going to turn out for our dear Helen, we're loving her love with Edith, we wondering how baby brother is doing, we want to know how this mystery ends, and then we sigh, teary, and shut the book.
I loved this, and if anything about the premise of this book interests you in the slightest, I just know you will too.
Graphic: Blood and Gun violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Homophobia
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
modernmatilda's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
However, there is a giant plot point and a scene at an "asylum". The book is set in the 1930s and there is pushback conversations from the characters on topics of queer people and conversion therapy and wives not needing permission from husbands to do things. BUT it still doesn't sit right with me that it was a plot point at all. I don't know.
Overall, I had fun riding the ride of this book and could recommend it, but I'd like to hear more about the topic above from the author.
Graphic: Murder, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Grief, Death, Blood, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Sexism, Murder, Death of parent, Blood, Gun violence, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Sexual assault and Car accident
thetainaship's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Blood, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Confinement, Biphobia, Violence, Sexism, Car accident, and Homophobia
tulilipz's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Gun violence
jakegray's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Car accident
Minor: Forced institutionalization
motaki's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gore, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, and Domestic abuse
grimdark_dad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Death, Car accident, Violence, and Gun violence
kharlan3's review
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Outing, Alcohol, Car accident, and Vomit
mentions of institutionalization for lesbian identity and a lot of Christian mythos demons and angels, heaven and hell, and selling of soulspiratenami's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence and Death
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Car accident