Even Though I Knew the End

by C.L. Polk

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Helen is an exiled augur – she traded her soul and her career to save her little brother and has spent the last ten years paying that price. Yet she's made a decent life for herself. She runs a little magical detective gig and has found the love of her life, even if society would never approve.

So when a case dropped on her lap, Helen had full intentions of turning it down. She knows danger when she sees it. Yet there are other forces at play, which means it is officially her problem, forcing her to find the killer in her city before her time runs out.

“I never told her how she had saved me. I never told her how she became the dearest friend I’d ever had. I told her I loved her, but never enough. My Edith of the sparrows. My heart. My world.”

My Review:

Wow. I knew that C.L. Polk could write a fantastic novella, but Even Though I Knew the End blew me away. I could read this novella a million times and never risk getting sick. It's so complex and beautiful. I'm certain I would find new details with each reading. (Now I want to go back and do exactly that).

It's easy to root for Helen, even though she tries so hard to come off as stoic and abrasive. Her personality lent to the noir detective vibes, and I'm here for it. It didn't take long for her whole story to unfold, making me want to bundle Helen up and protect her with all of my heart.

Unfortunately, protecting her is easier said than done with a killer on the loose. On that note, so many little surprises spring up over the course of her investigation. Each twist fits in perfectly with what we know of the world while further fleshing out other details. It's masterfully done.

All things said and done, Even Though I Knew the End is a brilliant novella. I would love nothing more than to see a dozen more stories from this world. Please?

Highlights:
Sapphic
LGBT
Romance
Historical Fiction
Angels & Demons
Noir Detective + magical murders

Trigger Warnings:
Family Death
Homophobia

Thanks to Tor.com and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy