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A review by elwirax
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fast paced, bittersweet and atmospheric novella set in an alternative 1930/40s magical Chicago.
This novella very much gave me Supernatural vibes where a character would risk anything and everything for their loved ones, and well, I loved it. The yearning and love that Helen and Edith shared was beautiful and heartwarming and I couldn't help but root for them despite predicting how the novella would end. The noir setting, speakeasys, hidden lesbian clubs and subtle use of '40s slang really did it for me and created a substantial world given the book's short page count. I also appreciated the exploration of darker themes in this novella such as prejudice, homophobia and forced institutionalisation present in the time period which provided a stark contrast between the beauty of Helen and Edith's love and the lesbian speakeasys.
That being said, I thinks the concept would have been better served in a longer novel, though it's a wee bit unfair of me to say this for almost every novella I read. The mystery was good but the reveals were rather heavy handed and lacked certain suspense, though this didn't really hinder my enjoyment of the story as a whole. The sibling reconciliation between Teddy and Helen was a bit rushed given the 10 years they had not seen each other. I would've like to see their bond more developed (this could also be said for Helen and Edith, to an extent but I still loved their romance). While the world was immersive enough, I also think the magic systems and ideas could've been explored more. Admittedly, the whole Angels vs Demons battle isn't really my thing but that's also not fair of me to complain that the book fault delivered what it promised 🤷🏼♀️.
Overall, a good start to my 2023 reading year, I really don't have major complaints for this book. For what it was, it definitely managed to create an interesting atmosphere/ world and developed most aspects well. All plotpoints managed to be tied up and I
enjoyed it.
This novella very much gave me Supernatural vibes where a character would risk anything and everything for their loved ones, and well, I loved it. The yearning and love that Helen and Edith shared was beautiful and heartwarming and I couldn't help but root for them despite predicting how the novella would end. The noir setting, speakeasys, hidden lesbian clubs and subtle use of '40s slang really did it for me and created a substantial world given the book's short page count. I also appreciated the exploration of darker themes in this novella such as prejudice, homophobia and forced institutionalisation present in the time period which provided a stark contrast between the beauty of Helen and Edith's love and the lesbian speakeasys.
That being said, I thinks the concept would have been better served in a longer novel, though it's a wee bit unfair of me to say this for almost every novella I read. The mystery was good but the reveals were rather heavy handed and lacked certain suspense, though this didn't really hinder my enjoyment of the story as a whole. The sibling reconciliation between Teddy and Helen was a bit rushed given the 10 years they had not seen each other. I would've like to see their bond more developed (this could also be said for Helen and Edith, to an extent but I still loved their romance). While the world was immersive enough, I also think the magic systems and ideas could've been explored more. Admittedly, the whole Angels vs Demons battle isn't really my thing but that's also not fair of me to complain that the book fault delivered what it promised 🤷🏼♀️.
Overall, a good start to my 2023 reading year, I really don't have major complaints for this book. For what it was, it definitely managed to create an interesting atmosphere/ world and developed most aspects well. All plotpoints managed to be tied up and I
enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent