Even though I knew the end

Title:

Author:

Summary:

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. An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist—the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves. To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await. -- Amazon.

General Note:

"A Tom Doherty Associates book."

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

136 pages ; 22 cm

Genre:

Historical fiction.

Noir fiction.

Detective and mystery fiction.

Romance fiction.

Paranormal fiction.

Subject Term:

Women detectives -- Fiction.

Magic -- Fiction.

Serial murderers -- Fiction.

Vampires -- Fiction.

Lesbians -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Chicago (Ill.) -- Fiction.

Publisher:

A Tordotcom Book, published by Tom Doherty Associates,

Publication Date:

2022

ISBN:

9781250849458

Publication Information:

New York, NY : A Tordotcom Book, published by Tom Doherty Associates, 2022.

Call Number:

POLK

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003642256	Adult Fiction	POLK C.L.	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Winner of the Nebula Award!

Finalist for the Hugo Award!

Finalist for the World Fantasy Award!

A New York Times Best Romance of 2022!

C. L. Polk turns their considerable powers to a fantastical noir with Even Though I Knew the End .

"Eerie, sharp and fiercely bittersweet." -- The New York Times

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.

An exiled augur who sold her soul to save her brother's life is offered one last job before serving an eternity in hell. When she turns it down, her client sweetens the pot by offering up the one payment she can't resist--the chance to have a future where she grows old with the woman she loves.

To succeed, she is given three days to track down the White City Vampire, Chicago's most notorious serial killer. If she fails, only hell and heartbreak await.

Author Notes

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 vegetables on the street, and identified exotic insect species for a vast collection of lepidoptera before settling down to write silver fork fantasy novels. Polk lives near the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, in a tiny apartment with too many books and a yarn stash that could last a decade. They ride a green bicycle with a basket on the front. They spend too much time on Twitter.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

World Fantasy Award winner Polk (The Midnight Bargain) does what they do best with this genre-bending fantasy noir novella that brings lofty magic to a grimy 1940s city and showcases queer love along the way. Ten years earlier, warlock and private investigator Elena Brandt made a deal with the devil, bargaining away her soul to save the most precious thing in the world to her. Now she has only three days left before her deal is up and she goes to Hell. She should be spending that precious time with Edith Jarosky, the love of her life, or Teddy, her estranged brother. Instead, her best client reveals herself to be a demon and makes Elena an offer she can't refuse: if Elena can track down a serial killer, she can have her soul back and live out her days in comfort with Edith. Simple enough--except the murders are gruesome human sacrifices used to invoke an ancient, evil, and terribly powerful magic. Though readers will wish they had more time to explore this shadowy world, Polk's focus on character development makes every interaction matter as they craft a layered exploration of love and power with genuine emotional stakes and a soaring, perfectly bittersweet payoff. It's another winner. Agent: Caitlin McDonald, Donald Maass Literary. (Nov.)

Library Journal Review

Award-winning voice actor January LaVoy narrates Polk's (The Midnight Bargain) poignant novella with a jaded but yearning tone--a perfect fit for this romantic noir set in Jazz-Age Chicago. Detective and exiled wizard Helen is used to sacrificing everything for those she loves. She's already sold her soul to save her brother, but then she's given an offer she can't refuse--if she finds the White City Vampire, she can get her soul back and spend the rest of her life with her lover, Edith. The hope and longing that run throughout this classically styled mystery stretch the short listen satisfyingly and create an emotional, edge-of-the-seat listening experience. Listeners may want more time in Polk's world, but they won't feel the journey ended too abruptly. Though the presence of angels and demons complicates the mystery of the novel, the clues and worldbuilding are carefully revealed, inviting listeners to join in the search for an otherworldly serial killer. While all of LaVoy's characterizations are astonishingly well done, Helen stands out in particular, convincing listeners of the strength and purity of her love. VERDICT An essential buy for modern-fantasy collections. Share with fans of Emily Tesh's Silver in the Wood or Ellen Klages's Passing Strange.--Matthew Galloway