Even Though I Knew the End – C. L. Polk
Expectation: A horror-tinged murder mystery that celebrates queer love.
Reality: Fantasy-heavy and a bit convoluted, as a non-genre fan it became too much, but the fantastic audiobook kept me enthralled.
My Take:
Outside the book series that will not be named, I have largely avoided the fantasy genre, but the historical fiction/murder mystery/sapphic love story aspects of “Even Though I Knew the End” proved too intriguing to pass up.
In hindsight, I probably should’ve kept it shelved.
If nothing else it reaffirmed that when a plot focuses on demon turf wars, fallen angels, shadow magic organizations, soul snatching and possession no amount of queer love and Chicago nostalgia will change the fact I was utterly confused.
Stripping away my lack of appreciation for the subject matter, I can admit the novella is creative, well-paced and entertaining (to a point). For a non-genre fan, I found the first half more accessible whereas the second half felt like C. L. Polk was setting up a broader series.
Still, the love story between Helen and Edith, and the Telegraph Club vibes from The Wink, made this an unexpectedly lighter Valentine’s Day read.
The only aspect of the book I can objectively review is the audiobook, and simply put, it was phenomenal. January LaVoy SOLD it. Presenting the story almost as a radio serial (perfect for the 1941 setting), she gave each character — major and minor — a distinct voice and charm.
It was the most revelatory performance I’ve heard in a long time. More voice actors should take note of her commitment to the material, because she kept me engaged even when I had lost interest in the story. LaVoy has earned her place on my narration all-star list.
Thanks to Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio and the author for an advanced listener copy. This exchange of goods has not influenced my review.
Rating (story): 2.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 5/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (personal library)
Dates read: February 11 – February 14, 2023
Multi-tasking: Good to go, but you’ll likely be confused by all the world-building if you aren’t paying close attention.
