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kelly04's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Great premise, flawed execution
Despite the length, I struggled to get through this one, probably due to a couple factors. Top of mind are format and writing style.
The writing is very stylized and the POV main character is a tough-talking, streetwise sort of voice. I infer this is what the blurbs interpret as "noir," but it didn't really work for me. It's atmospheric but I found the wild analogies distracting and it felt like the style was getting in the way of really connecting with characters.
If it matters, it's also not particularly representative of classic noir writing. Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett - these writers were direct and descriptive to the point of crudity. The heavily grounded aspect of noir is part of why it works: the mundane and the everyday, rendered in gritty detail. I don't feel that's seen here.
I think the plotting of the story also contributed. There are religious/fantastical elements and we're tossed immediately into the deep end with these and sort of working out the rules as we go along. This is common in fantasy writing and generally a good thing imo, but here I found disorienting.
Characters and story elements were introduced rather abruptly, and I felt I was still coming to grips with them by the time the story seemed to expect emotional buy-in or payoff. The rapid pacing made for some good reveals, but the impact would have been a lot greater if I'd had time to really get to know the world and characters. Teddy, for instance. Turns out he's super important, vital. But we get maybe two pages with him, collectively. Even having finished, I still don't think I could describe his personality, or his relationship with Helen all that well. Or verify their parents even existed.
This brings me to the format. A few more chapters, a couple sub-plots, just more pages in general could have allowed these characters and ideas more room to breathe. The fantasy elements in particular seem like they could have been fleshed out. <Spoiler> The Brotherhood, for instance: chauvinist magic dudes, got it. But are they like magic cops, gangsters, businessmen? Is this a regional thing, a nationwide thing? What does the "partnership" between male and female members look like? Is there a headquarters somewhere? Who exactly is Teddy reporting to?
Likewise, the angels. Is the Grigori a term I should know? Is this Catholic canon or something? Why is humility a hang up for the angels, as inherently subservient beings? What sort of beings are they? Emotional, soulless, judgmental, not? What does it mean to fall? Why is Teddy automatically damned for killing an angel? Especially one that was blatantly falling? How does the "death" of an angel even work?
As is natural, the story coalesced about two thirds of the way in but it was pretty choppy up to that point. This is definitely a personal quibble but the endingis poignant, or could be, but it seems like there should be more to it. Perhaps I'm just looking for a redemption arc where the author didn't want one, but why is Hell so very chatty while Heaven does nothing at all? There was a cosmic battle of good and evil with devils and souls be tossed asunder and the very gates of Heaven assailed - no one wanted to pop down to take stock?
Is there a reason besides "faith" that past angels didn't communicate with the earthbound angels? Did Haraniel? Why was Heaven "closed" in the first place? How does that even work? A cameo from Michael would've been a nice touch to tie up some loose ends. The story is toying with the ideas of mercy and damnation but I don't feel we explore them very fully, or get a satisfying payoff.
Despite the length, I struggled to get through this one, probably due to a couple factors. Top of mind are format and writing style.
The writing is very stylized and the POV main character is a tough-talking, streetwise sort of voice. I infer this is what the blurbs interpret as "noir," but it didn't really work for me. It's atmospheric but I found the wild analogies distracting and it felt like the style was getting in the way of really connecting with characters.
If it matters, it's also not particularly representative of classic noir writing. Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett - these writers were direct and descriptive to the point of crudity. The heavily grounded aspect of noir is part of why it works: the mundane and the everyday, rendered in gritty detail. I don't feel that's seen here.
I think the plotting of the story also contributed. There are religious/fantastical elements and we're tossed immediately into the deep end with these and sort of working out the rules as we go along. This is common in fantasy writing and generally a good thing imo, but here I found disorienting.
Characters and story elements were introduced rather abruptly, and I felt I was still coming to grips with them by the time the story seemed to expect emotional buy-in or payoff. The rapid pacing made for some good reveals, but the impact would have been a lot greater if I'd had time to really get to know the world and characters.
This brings me to the format. A few more chapters, a couple sub-plots, just more pages in general could have allowed these characters and ideas more room to breathe. The fantasy elements in particular seem like they could have been fleshed out. <Spoiler> The Brotherhood, for instance: chauvinist magic dudes, got it. But are they like magic cops, gangsters, businessmen? Is this a regional thing, a nationwide thing? What does the "partnership" between male and female members look like? Is there a headquarters somewhere? Who exactly is Teddy reporting to?
Likewise, the angels. Is the Grigori a term I should know? Is this Catholic canon or something? Why is humility a hang up for the angels, as inherently subservient beings? What sort of beings are they? Emotional, soulless, judgmental, not? What does it mean to fall? Why is Teddy automatically damned for killing an angel? Especially one that was blatantly falling? How does the "death" of an angel even work?
As is natural, the story coalesced about two thirds of the way in but it was pretty choppy up to that point. This is definitely a personal quibble but the ending
Is there a reason besides "faith" that past angels didn't communicate with the earthbound angels? Did Haraniel? Why was Heaven "closed" in the first place? How does that even work? A cameo from Michael would've been a nice touch to tie up some loose ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment
annabelle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
A very enjoyable mystery novella! I liked the noir Chicago vibe with dark magic and demons and angels. plus the sapphic relationship! It was very sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Violence
bookish_hollyx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Blood
rosalind's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Misogyny and Gun violence
saphfics's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
sabsboutin's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first C.L. Polk book but definitely not my last. It’s only 130 pages but it takes you through a rollercoaster with a couple surprising twists and a heartwarming / heart wrenching ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
professor_jango's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Medical content, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
_lovedelirium's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, and Blood
jayisreading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
I don't read novellas very often, in part because I always find myself wanting more than what's allowed for something to be called a novella. Even Though I Knew the End was one of those instances. I was really drawn to the characters and the tender relationship between the main character and her partner. I was also impressed by the amount of worldbuilding Polk squeezed into this novella, which, again, makes me wish more could have been done.
All things considered though, this was a tightly written novella, with some good old-fashioned noir vibes with a hint of the supernatural. It was much more fast-paced than I expected, but Polk got their story across well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny
Minor: Car accident
rhi_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Homophobia, Blood, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Car accident