judging books by their covers

#1. All of This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews · ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧ ✧
Review by: Keke Genre(s): Historical fiction/Fantasy I've previously stated that I like historical fiction and fantasy, to the point where I specifically mention the two on my biography page. I assumed that a combination of the two would then be roughly as enjoyable; I instead learned that there can be too much of a good thing. Carl Engle-Laird has found his niche. The only thing I knew about this book prior to starting it was that it was a time traveling story about a magical lesbian whose life had a shot clock close to 0, and she had to figure out the identity of a serial killer before they killed her. What I didn't know was that Christianity was also involved, heavily. This mismatch in terms of expectations led me on the most bewildering short reads I've done in a while (the book is short; I finished it in maybe 2 hours..?). The book opens on Helen, as we learn she's a private eye for magical cases after committing magic's highest sin and being "excommunicated" for it so that she can't practice it in the open (magic and religion are tied, but also not in the way that you think). Ten years ago, in a near fatal car crash that reminded me of 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison (deep cut. this fantasy shit serious), she traded her soul to the devil (!?????) to save her younger brother, Ted, as her parents were for sure dead. Ted hates her for this, as her being soulless means she's damned to Hell. He at this point does not know she's a lesbian. Also, it's period typical, which means homosexuality is frowned upon. Helen mostly freelances/does private eye work for Marlowe, a woman who Helen realizes soon after the events of the book start is a demon who has coincidentally come upon the contract terms she made during that car crash. Her boss makes her an offer she can't resist – as a demon, she cashes in on the lives of people who made deals just like her, but the White City Vampire – a notorious Chicagoan serial killer – has been getting to them before she can, so in exchange for her soul (and thus a full lifetime with her girlfriend) as well as $1000 cash and expenses, Helen has to find the killer. The only problem with this, as she learns, is that they've been hunting for soulless people to kill, and she is at one point next on the list. It is at this point that things started going haywire for me. Edith, Helen's girlfriend, is deeply religious. Religious enough that she is mentioned to be either going to or coming from church more often than not, and has a favorite religious true-crime radio drama. (Does Carl Engle-Laird just like magic Christian lesbians or something..?? Unclear.) She is difficult to photograph (I promise this makes sense in context) and has an affinity for birds. [HOVER FOR SPOILERS] The reason for this? Edith is a host for a fallen angel named Helen who wants to return to Heaven. Angels being hosted by people to the point where they are driven insane is a plot point. It really felt like I lost the plot personally once they gave that explanation, in part because I didn't realize religion was going to be that involved, but mostly because it felt a bit out of nowhere. I couldn't take the book seriously after that, especially after it had practically dashed all expectations I had of the book. To write out everything that happens at the climax and ending of the book would both be too wordy the way I would write it but also sound like a joke, but in short, Helen mostly ends up back at square one but $1k richer. I left thinking that my time could have been better spent reading literally anything else. I can't even say "if you liked The Locked Tomb you may like this," because just because Tor published it and Carl was the agent it doesn't make them the same. I guess if you liked Arcane or if Laura Lee is your favorite Yellowjacket..? I don't know. Don't ask me. It was okay at best. I'm sorry, Mx. Polk. ⏎

#1. All of This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews · ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧ ✧

Review by: Keke
Genre(s): Historical fiction/Fantasy

I've previously stated that I like historical fiction and fantasy, to the point where I specifically mention the two on my biography page. I assumed that a combination of the two would then be roughly as enjoyable; I instead learned that there can be too much of a good thing. Carl Engle-Laird has found his niche.

The only thing I knew about this book prior to starting it was that it was

a time traveling story
about a magical lesbian whose life had a shot clock close to 0, and
she had to figure out the identity of a serial killer before they killed her.

What I didn't know was that

Christianity was also involved,
heavily.

This mismatch in terms of expectations led me on the most bewildering short reads I've done in a while (the book is short; I finished it in maybe 2 hours..?). The book opens on Helen, as we learn she's a private eye for magical cases after committing magic's highest sin and being "excommunicated" for it so that she can't practice it in the open (magic and religion are tied, but also not in the way that you think). Ten years ago, in a near fatal car crash that reminded me of 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison (deep cut. this fantasy shit serious), she traded her soul to the devil (!?????) to save her younger brother, Ted, as her parents were for sure dead. Ted hates her for this, as her being soulless means she's damned to Hell. He at this point does not know she's a lesbian. Also, it's period typical, which means homosexuality is frowned upon.

Helen mostly freelances/does private eye work for Marlowe, a woman who Helen realizes soon after the events of the book start is a demon who has coincidentally come upon the contract terms she made during that car crash. Her boss makes her an offer she can't resist – as a demon, she cashes in on the lives of people who made deals just like her, but the White City Vampire – a notorious Chicagoan serial killer – has been getting to them before she can, so in exchange for her soul (and thus a full lifetime with her girlfriend) as well as $1000 cash and expenses, Helen has to find the killer. The only problem with this, as she learns, is that they've been hunting for soulless people to kill, and she is at one point next on the list.

It is at this point that things started going haywire for me.

Edith, Helen's girlfriend, is deeply religious. Religious enough that she is mentioned to be either going to or coming from church more often than not, and has a favorite religious true-crime radio drama. (Does Carl Engle-Laird just like magic Christian lesbians or something..?? Unclear.) She is difficult to photograph (I promise this makes sense in context) and has an affinity for birds.

[HOVER FOR SPOILERS] The reason for this? Edith is a host for a fallen angel named Helen who wants to return to Heaven. Angels being hosted by people to the point where they are driven insane is a plot point.

It really felt like I lost the plot personally once they gave that explanation, in part because I didn't realize religion was going to be that involved, but mostly because it felt a bit out of nowhere. I couldn't take the book seriously after that, especially after it had practically dashed all expectations I had of the book. To write out everything that happens at the climax and ending of the book would both be too wordy the way I would write it but also sound like a joke, but in short, Helen mostly ends up back at square one but $1k richer. I left thinking that my time could have been better spent reading literally anything else.

I can't even say "if you liked The Locked Tomb you may like this," because just because Tor published it and Carl was the agent it doesn't make them the same. I guess if you liked Arcane or if Laura Lee is your favorite Yellowjacket..? I don't know. Don't ask me. It was okay at best. I'm sorry, Mx. Polk.

⏎

wip!