c.l. polk – Cannonball Read 17

You can have magical power or love, not both.

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

December 30, 2024 by teresaelectro Leave a Comment

The Midnight Bargain is a magic-fueled fantasy romance exploring what it means for a woman to conform to societal norms. Beatrice and her family have traveled far to a capital city in search of a husband. Her father has left the finances in a tight spot, which puts intense pressure on her to marry. But Beatrice would much rather become a sorceress and forget this whole marriage thing. But that’s against this society’s rules where women are given a painful binding collar on their wedding […]

“If I can only use my magic when you deem it safe, does that magic belong to me, or you?”

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

October 23, 2023 by narfna Leave a Comment

30 Books in 30 Days, Vol. 3 Book 2/30 Whoops, I slept on this one. Should have read it sooner! Because it was a delight. You know, if you’re defining “delight” as something that purposefully stokes your anger and your sense of righteousness by making you feel protective of the civil rights and bodily autonomy of fictional characters. With magic! So I guess that is how I define “delight.” I’m not going to go too deep into the world here because part of the fun […]

“We’ll drag this country into fairness and justice”

Witchmark by C.L. Polk

Stormsong by C.L. Polk

Soulstar by C.L. Polk

May 7, 2023 by LittlePlat 2 Comments

Long time, no reviews. Time to tackle the backlog! I came about this series in a very arse backwards manner. I was given a copy of the book Soulstar sometime last year and I got about a quarter of the way through before I gave into the feeling that something wasn’t right… The funny thing about ebooks is that looking for the blurb is not as simple as with a hardback. So I had missed it—and because of that, also missed the fact that […]

The Title is Slightly Too Accurate

Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk

February 5, 2023 by CoffeeShopReader Leave a Comment

I’m in two minds about this one; on the one hand the characters and the mystery are good, but on the other the ending feels rushed and certain important parts of the world feel a little underdeveloped. That said, in general Even Though I Knew the End was a fun, fast read. In a world that resembles Dashiell Hamnet if he wrote vaguely Christian supernatural detectives, Helen is a former rising start in the magic world, cast out when she tried to summon a demon […]

It was too short and also I don’t want any more

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

December 30, 2022 by wicherwill Leave a Comment

I feel like I might have gotten around to putting this on hold eventuallly, but credit for being first on the hold list goes to emmalita! My biggest issue with this novel was how short it was! Given how much happened, and how rich the world felt, I’m frankly shocked to find out that it’s the equivalent of 144 pages. Reading on an e-reader really messes with your sense of length… My biggest issue with Polk’s prior trilogy (The Kingston Trilogy) was that her political message […]

Paradise Lost

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk

November 2, 2022 by Emmalita 2 Comments

Even Though I Knew the End is a gorgeous, intense, tight rope 3 1/2 hour listen. Set in a slightly alternate, puritanical 1930s or 40s Chicago, C.L. Polk weaves together magic, gritty noir, Heaven, Hell, love, and grief. It’s both spare and lush with just enough detail to give the world texture and context. Women are second class citizens and being queer is dangerous. Helen Brandt sold her soul ten years ago and her payment is about to come due. She has worked as a […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

Help Our Mission