Even Though I Knew the End

Product Information

Despite the patriarchal structure, women do dance and love and live; they hold good jobs and work magic, both figurative and literal. There are hints at what the world could be, were they all free to grow and shine beyond their world’s limitations, if they could claim their power—even though they know the end. Set in a magical version of Chicago in the 1940s, this audiobook, beautifully narrated by January LaVoy, has romance, mystery, demons and angels, sapphic love, family trouble, and so much more. It’s gritty and dark and gloriously heart-wrenching. The cover first caught my eye and now that I know what the story is about, I couldn’t imagine a better one for it. Honestly, everything about this novella is outstanding. Intuition still had its lips to my ear. I depressed the shutter button with the lens pointed in their direction before I grabbed air and gave a grin. “The scene’s clean, but a second look never hurt—Aw, hell.”

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. This is a must-read for those who like their queer fantasy with a little grit and a lot of soul (pun intended).” — Booklist, starred review Delaney didn’t matter. I was smiling so hard, I could feel the cold on my molars. Ted was here, this week of all weeks. Here, when I thought I’d never see him again. “Teddy. It is you. You transferred out of Ohio? Are you here in Chicago to stay? You’ve got to be an initiate by now; have you earned your third degree?”

New in Series

Though I wouldn’t necessarily say there should be triggers warnings on this Even Though I Knew the End book review or the novel itself, I want to note that Polk keeps the story historically accurate. Helen and Edith meet in a queer speakeasy; they do not show affection in public and keep their relationship private for fear of harassment and retribution; religion and the Catholic Church plays a large role throughout the story, in part due to guilt and fear of going to Hell for leading a queer life. Lastly, if you’re an audiobook person, I highly recommend it. Narrator January LaVoy was a delight. She hit every voice, every accent, every kernel of subtext perfectly. Usually I listen to audiobooks while doing other activities, but she made it hard to concentrate on anything else.

Tordotcom Publishing is thrilled to announce Even Though I Knew the End, a new novella from C.L. Polk! The deal was brokered by Caitlin McDonald at Donald Maass Literary Agency, and is scheduled to publish in Fall 2022. Serial Killer: Chicago is being stalked by the "White City Vampire", a killer that has murdered four people by the beginning of the story and literally painted the nearby walls with their victims blood. The killer is the angel Zashiel, who is using their souls to power a ritual in an attempt to return to Heaven. re-read: I liked this even more the second time. There's so much richness to this novella and when you know the end (lol), you can see how Polk lays the foundation for all the revelations to come. This is an excellent novella.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. An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother’s life is offered one last job before eternity in hell… 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?

At the end of the day, I'm a simple reader. Give me a story that feels like Passing Strange had a baby with Supernatural, make it just the right amount of noir and write it well - and I am one happy little clam. It's 1941, Elena "Helen" Brandt is a magical PI in Chicago with only a few days left to live. Ten years ago she sold her soul to a demon to save her brother's life with the condition that in exactly ten years the demon will come to collect her soul and due date is only three days away now.

‘Even Though I Knew the End’ published on November 8, 2022

The flare of pride at my successful spell design dampened as I saw what the enchantment revealed. The crime scene was straight out of a nightmare. Blood painted the walls—not in obscene, frenzied splashes but in the cruel and deliberate lines of magical sigils. They covered the north and south walls, sprawling onto the asphalt to the east and west, and I comprehended some. But the rest? C.L. Polk is a fantasy writer from Calgary. Their other books include Witchmark , Stormsong and The Midnight Bargain . Witchmark, their debut novel, won the 2019 World Fantasy Award for best novel. It was also nominated for a Nebula Award, Locus Award, Aurora Award and a Lambda Literary Award. The Midnight Bargain will be defended by Olympian and broadcaster Rosey Edeh on Canada Reads 2021. Blood Magic: The reason why the White City Vampire is called such is because all of their murders have painted the nearby walls in blood to perform a magic ritual to steal the victim's soul.

So of course she accepts. Only to discover that there is way more to it than a simple whodunnit and that many forces are involved in the struggle.Powerful, emotional, stylish and smart, Polk proves themself yet again to be a talent not to be ignored.” — Locus 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 In an era of pandemic and uncertainty, that sense of infused hope hits home. Because even as readers think they know what’s coming next, there are surprises and twists in the narrative. Even looking out into a scary world, where certain endings seem all but inevitable, there is room for hope. More, there is a necessity to hope, to live like there are greater possibilities, like every day is worth what it took to bring you there.