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A review by bizarrebrunette
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars
Helen Brandt sold her soul to a demon and it changed her life forever. Her brother cuts her off and the magical organization she was training under banishes her. Helen pushes through and has established her own PI business. Helen is called to a crime scene of the latest "White City Vampire" victim, a serial killer taunting Chicago. Helen's deal comes back to haunt her and to get her soul back, she must reveal the identity of the killer.
I loved this! Helen is the Sapphic Harry Dresden. I liked reading about this magical society, how Helen became a part of it, and all the magical abilities and skills she has access to. I liked her relationship with Edith and how Helen would do anything to be with her. Including re-selling her soul to a demon to bring Edith back to life even though she just got her soul back. I wish this book was the first in a series because I felt there was so much lore that it's a shame to see that this is a standalone book.
I will say, this is not the book I thought it would be. I thought it would be focused on vampires (hence The White City Vampire) and Helen using magical rituals to catch a serial killer. Halfway through the book, this book took a different direction. The killer was an angel (not a demon or a human) who was putting powers in humans and was caught. God kicked him out of heaven and the angel longed to go back. To go back to heaven, a rift would have to be opened, so the angel was using other human beings to kill people who sold their souls to demons to open this rift. This is very much an "angels vs. demons" story which is fine, but not why I had wanted to read this It's not that it was bad, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It kept me on my toes as Helen unraveled everything piece by piece. There was one other thing that bothered me, but I will hide with spoiler tags Helen seeing her friend at the asylum and realizing she's there for her homosexuality and DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I thought it was so odd. Helen recognizes her and then is like "Well off to the next thing". I would have loved an epilogue where Helen goes back and poses as her family member and gets her out. It was odd to mention it in the book and never go back to it again.
This was an interesting read, too bad it's only a standalone. I think this could have easily worked as a series.
Helen Brandt sold her soul to a demon and it changed her life forever. Her brother cuts her off and the magical organization she was training under banishes her. Helen pushes through and has established her own PI business. Helen is called to a crime scene of the latest "White City Vampire" victim, a serial killer taunting Chicago. Helen's deal comes back to haunt her and to get her soul back, she must reveal the identity of the killer.
I loved this! Helen is the Sapphic Harry Dresden. I liked reading about this magical society, how Helen became a part of it, and all the magical abilities and skills she has access to. I liked her relationship with Edith and how Helen would do anything to be with her.
I will say, this is not the book I thought it would be. I thought it would be focused on vampires (hence The White City Vampire) and Helen using magical rituals to catch a serial killer. Halfway through the book, this book took a different direction.
This was an interesting read, too bad it's only a standalone. I think this could have easily worked as a series.