I’d read this book a dozen times, two dozen. I always held my breath, waiting for Daisy to come to him. Jay hoped every single time, and I hoped right along with him, even though I knew the end.

The spell worked by pairing the principles of contagion and sympathy. My blood activated the luminescent properties of the radium and the living glow of the fungus, connecting it to the blood that had been spilled— Powerful, emotional, stylish and smart, Polk proves themself yet again to be a talent not to be ignored.” — Locus In terms of what didn’t work for me, I’m havering on my standard “I wish this was longer” complaint that I apparently serve to absolutely single short story or novella I read. To be honest, I think there was just enough detail in terms of the setting, and Helen and Edith’s relationship, that the length mostly contributed to the intensity of the narrative. I could personally have taken more of Helen and Edith—as in, six or seven books more—but I think that’s more about how much I loved them, not that their relationship didn’t feel fully served by the story. If anyone needs a bit more convincing to read this wonderful book, think noir, sapphic, magic, sexy badass women left and right. Oh, and flirting. Loads of that. Had me blushin and shit. Even Though I Knew the End follows the story of Helen Brandt in 1940's Chicago. Helen is a magical private eye hired by her (damn sexy) client, Marlowe, to find a serial killer known as the White City Vampire. Despite her initial hesitance, Helen takes the job for the enticing compensation she was promised by Marlowe. This job, doomed from the start, brings Helen more trouble than initially anticipated, and along the way, she uncovers many life-changing truths. With the deadline ending in 3 days, Helen hastily attempts to catch this cold-blooded murderer, all so she can keep those she loves safe. Does she find this White City Vampire? Is the reward enough for what she goes through? Will she be able to keep her family safe?

fernandan on Reading The Wheel of Time: Taim Tells Lies and Rand Shares His Plan in Winter’s Heart (Part 3) 5 hours ago trigger + content warnings: a lot of mentions of homophobia, mention of conversion therapy, institutionalization, talk of loss of a loved one, mention of a car accident involving death, abduction, murder, gore, ritual killings, human sacrifice, a lot of blood depictions, self harm for blood for magic, possession, misogyny, brief mention of throwing up, gun violence involving cops, a lot of smoking + alcohol consumption. A magical detective dives into the affairs of Chicago's divine monsters to secure a future with the love of her life. This sapphic period piece will dazzle anyone looking for mystery, intrigue, romance, magic or all of the above. Plus, the worldbuilding was rather wonderful so I can see me reading more stories taking place in this world's Chicago if the author chooses to write more. I love it so much. The writing is absolutely phenomenal and it fits the 1940s so perfectly. I was giggling at times with the funny nonchalant descriptions, cue “The space behind Mathilda’s eyes was for rent”. It was descriptive just the right amount, the action was so fluid, and the setting was nicely atmospheric. I love the way C.L. Polk expresses feelings and emotions with such directness. The characters were lovable, and I am desperately hoping and wishing for more Helen and Edith content. And Marlowe side story, I beg.

The Rebel Accountant Taxtopia: How I Discovered the Injustices, Scams and Guilty Secrets of the Tax Evasion Game it's such an odd fusion of ideas, but oh my god, everything in this little gem of a novel works together beautifully. the noir setting is effortlessly woven into the language of the book, so we are unmistakably here in this early 1940s world of detectives and femme fatales. polk creates immersion yet subverts sexist tropes of the era, focusing on helen and edith, a sapphic couple whose long term relationship appears to be a friendship to the outside world. Even Though I Knew the End is a 2022 fantasy novella by C. L. Polk. It was first published by Tor Books.Helen sold her soul to a demon to save Ted's life ten years ago, knowing that she would be damned to Hell for it but she decided it was worth it. Geloy Concepcion Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did: A Photographic Journal to Process Your Feelings

But this is also a book about sacrifice and love and hope and how those three things can take so many different shapes, yet sometimes they look the very same. I highly recommend this one and pray it will be the first book in a series. What’s your business here?” a man demanded, and then he made a disbelieving noise. “Christ, it’s a dame.” Angels are also capable of possessing people as well, though they usually use Willing Channelers instead, living with their host and only taking control when their hosts allows it. The angel Zashiel however deliberately possesses women that are too weak to handle channeling an angel to commit the murders necessary for their ritual. The beginning, however, is a bit of a mystery. Readers meet Helen Brandt in an alley, taking magical photos (despite an uncooperative moon) of a murder scene. Ritual markings fill the walls. Helen wants nothing to do with this case and the other murders related to it. She’d much rather spend time with her sweetheart, Edith because she knows her own time is running out. It turns out that it’s been ten years since she made a bargain with a devil, and her soul’s up for collection very, very soon. But when her client makes her an offer she can’t refuse, dangling her soul like bait on a hook, Helen starts digging into the murders and finds out that she’s in far deeper than she realized.Broken glass crunched under a boot sole. A new shadow fell over my path, shaped like square shoulders and a fedora. The shorter man took the lead, gun in hand. But then I got a look at the bigger one, and even with his figure shrouded in shadow, my heart gave a little leap, because I knew him. The light shifted to shine on half his face and I forgot how to breathe. His chin, his mouth … even ten years older and a full foot taller, I knew. Marlowe had been right after all. This was one hell of a job, and I didn’t have time to take it past this consultation. I wished I could have, even though the whole thing screamed peril! Danger! Mortal threat! Awful as it was, it woke my sense of curiosity right up. I loved that there was a little bit of everything in here: a noir sort of urban fantasy, a sweet because not overdrawn romance, many magical elements and some nice commentary on what has been done to homosexual people, such as conversion therapy (which, in some places, still is done, unfortunately). C. L. Polk is the author of the World Fantasy Award winning novel Witchmark, the first novel of the Kingston Cycle. After leaving high school early, they have worked as a film extra, sold... Read more