Even Though I Knew the End

I've only read The Midnight Bargain by the author before and I've always wanted to read her Kingston cycle trilogy but haven't managed that yet. However, when I saw this sapphic novella announcement from Tor and then looked at the gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read it. I also managed to get an audiobook of it early, and I had a very enjoyable couple of hours listening to it.

I adored January Levoy's narration and couldn't stop once I started. This is a very intense story right from the get go and because of the short nature of the book as well as the deadline in the plot for our main character, it moves pretty fast without much breathing room. We get enough world building context to make sense of what's happening and nothing more. But I did think it made for a fun little story which had a lot of elements and author does a seamless job integrating them all - serial murder investigation, deals with the devil, fallen angels and their desire to go back to heaven, and all of this set in a world where queer couples are ostracized and sapphic women can find themselves forced in an asylum for conversion therapy.

Ultimately though, this is a story of love. Yes, our protagonist's love for her sibling might have kicked off her journey on this path, but the bond she shares with the love of her life is beautiful and full of yearning and even though we never see them fall in love in the book, every word is full of the love that Helena and Edith feel for each other and what they will do to be together. This is a story of fierce woman and their courage in loving each other when the world doesn't let them; and carve out a corner of the world where they can be happy. Definitely pick this book up if you wanna indulge in some sapphic goodness for a few hours.