Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

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

21 reviews

moond4ncer's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Homophobia

jessicadoom's review

adventurous dark mysterious 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

5.0

This reminded me of playing a Call of Cthulhu game in the absolute best way. The novella progressed really nicely with just the right amount of mystery and romance. The relationship between Helen and Edith? *chef's kiss* Just beautiful and a wonderful little palate cleanser before I move on to something longer.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Homophobia, Murder, and Sexual content

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

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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

shottel's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

4.0

A short little lesbian supernatural noir book I finished in a single sitting, Even Though I Knew the End managed to fit a lot of story into less than 150 pages. Set in 1941 Chicago, a mystic detective ends up being hired for a murder case that ends up being a lot more than a murder case. I'm not normally a noir person, but I found this perfectly enjoyable. Well-paced and well-written, I would recommend this to anyone who finds the premise interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Sexism, Death, and Death of parent

abnormal_shadow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Its a really good book. Its queer its short and its NOT explicit which I really like. I really like when period pieces add magic or fantasy its really fun and I think its nice. The way that the world is established and drawn out is really interesting and the way that the period interacts with the lesbian main characters

they wear rings, so people think they are married, the way that they have to pretend to have husbands to shop at more masculine stores and buy cigs

. Its 1950s its fun its playfully. I fully recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Death

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

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

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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

gabbishy's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Gore

Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Homophobia, Car accident, Alcohol, and Forced institutionalization

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

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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. 

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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

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, and Forced institutionalization

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

Minor: Homophobia and Car accident