The only thing I knew about this book while going into it was that this was a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in 1920s. Although, I think this line describes the book in a very basic manner. It is so much more than just a Romeo and Juliet retelling.

We follow Juliette Cai, the heir of the Scarlet gang and Roma Montagov, the heir of White Flower gang. These two gangs control the entire city of Shanghai and are bitter rivals. Just like in Romeo and Juliet, Roma and Juliette meet when they are 15, and fall in love. But due to gang wars, they fall apart. Juliette is shipped off to America for safety reasons.

Our main story starts 4 years after this. Juliette is 19, hardened by the world around her, and back in Shanghai. But things have changed while she was away.
Shanghai is plagued with more and more White foreigners trying to colonize Chinese land. Juliette sees signs on shops and places saying "No Chinese allowed inside" on Chinese land. In her own family, people are favouring her first cousin Tyler to take over gang duties, just because he is male.

In the White Flowers territory, Roma has been disfavoured by his father due to certain events that happened 4 years ago during the fallout with the Scarlet gang. He is delegated to do the lowest and most unwanted tasks in the gang.

Both Roma and Juliette are struggling to regain their place in their respective gangs.

And in the midst of all this, there is a spread of a new kind of sickness in the city. People are dying by self inflicted wounds; they are literally ripping out their own throat. Some people say that this is a madness. But there are rumours about sightings of a monster, a monster so terrible that one look at it incites this madness in people. But monster or no, the sickness is spreading and claiming lives of both Scarlets and White Flowers and anyone and everyone in between. The general public is losing faith their gangs to provide protection and turning away from them as the sickness becomes contagious and uncontrollable; leading to the rise of a new threat to the gangs - the Communists. People are joining the communist propaganda in the wake on the threat of sickness.

Juliette and Roma and scrambling to find the source of this sickness and to save their people.

I absolutely absolutely loved this premise of a new 'sickness'. The author has very cleverly woven the fiction of this madness with what I assume to be the actual political situation in Shanghai during that time. I loved how the author has highlighted the rise of communist agenda and the fall of the drug gangs while showing the cause of this to be the madness and the subsequent death of common folk due to it. I am very interested to know if something similar happened during that time in Shanghai.

Also, I absolutely loved Juliette as a protagonist. She is so fiercely protective about her people, not just the members of the Scarlet gang, but even the common people of the city. She does not bend down in front of the countless people who are trying to devalue her just because of her sex. She knows how to command respect and even fear!

I also loved the side characters of the story, which were Juliette's cousins Kathleen and Rosalind, especially Kathleen! She was such an unexpected surprise, I want more of her. I also loved Roma's two sidekicks, Benedictk and Marshall. In comparison to all of them, Roma felt very average to me. He did not do much for me to be honest and his contribution to the plot was also very average. Roma is not a bad character. But he is not excellent either. He just felt average to me. Juliette came out to be super strong, This tipped the balance between the main pair for me and affected my enjoyment of the book a little bit.

Another thing that took away my enjoyment of this book, was the lack of chemistry between Roma and Juliette. I could not connect to the love between the protagonists. Yes, there were feelings of young love lost, but that for me did not translate too well to the angst or rekindling of love between these two.

I solidly loved the main plot of the story and the way it was executed. The author has very impactfully highlighted the blatant racism and culture shaming done by the whites towards Asians. I loved the brutal honesty used to convey this. There is a part where Juliette talks about Americans teasing her about her chinese name, and that resonated so much with me. I am dead sure this still happens in the world. Juliette also talks about foreigners disallowing Chinese to inhibit their own land. Again, I related to it so strongly! As an Indian, my history lessons were filled with atrocities done to my countrymen by colonizers. I was used to see pictures saying "Dogs and Indians not allowed" in my textbooks. I loved the fact that the author has taken so much pains to raise such an important topic. Its about time someone brings this topic to focus in mainstream western YA literature.

I loved the way in which the author has perfectly portrayed the political tensions at that time. I absolutely loved the execution of the story. The pace falls slow somewhere in the middle of the book. I felt that the author was giving us the same information dressed in different ways. But pacing picked up again towards the end. Infact the entire climax at the end was so perfectly executed! There's a cliffhanger at the end, and I am not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but this one was so well done, I cannot wait for the next book!

I screamed for full 5 minutes whenI got this arc. I loved the idea of Romeo and Juliet of 1920s.
This book is so beutifully writen. This really was a good read.

For 4 for me.

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don't even know where to even start about this book. Think, "a plague on both your houses," but it's not a metaphor. A Romeo and Juliet reimagining set in 1920s Shanghai with some supernatural stuff thrown sounds like a strange mix but it works so well! Chloe Gong offers a unique retelling that is captivating and heartwrenching at the same time.

Like the original tale, Juliette and Roma are heirs to their respective families who have a lifelong feud between them; but, instead of this being an enemies to lovers story, it's more of an enemies to lovers back to enemies to reluctant allies. Their dynamic as past lovers with such a complicated history makes their encounters so interesting to read, and so sad because you can see how much they love each other despite everything that's happened between them and their families. They're both such morally grey characters, wanting to remain as heirs to their family, knowing the bloodshed that goes along with it, for the sake of their family honour or for the safety of their loved ones. They both know this means staying away from each other, and having to hate each other, but throw a monster plaguing the city they live in into the mix and you have more reluctant encounters and terse conversations, which really shows how severe this monster problem is if they're willing to put their past aside to try to solve the madness ensuing.

I enjoyed the fact that Roma and Juliette weren't the main focus, and other characters such as Kathleen and Marshall got their own POV chapters. It was a diverse cast of characters, all of whom were interesting and I look forward to learning more about them in the future novels. Through them we gain an insight into the Cais and Montagovs, seeing it from the inside circle rather than just the heirs. It also means we as the reader get different bits of information from different sources, so it's up to us to try to piece things together alongside the protagonists.

Alongside the two families, other characters related to political parties are also important in this story. "These days Juliette, the most dangerous people are the powerful white men who feel as if they have been slighted." & "They believe themselves the rulers of the world- on stolen land in America, on stolen land in Shanghai." These were such good lines and so relevant even in today. They way the higher ups cared little for the madness, tittering about it and how it effected the dock workers etc, it was so telling about the bigger picture of this book, about how Juliette feels in her identity and having to choose between her Western and Eastern side. Also, can we talk about how this line is basically foreshadowing? wow

It's hard to say what my favourite part of this book was, but perhaps it was the ending chapters. It was so intense, I just had to keep reading. I eagerly await the next novel.

There are so many wonderful things to love about this book.
For starters the cover is exceptional, and the description really drew me in - a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, a love lost between rival gangs, and a supernatural element.

The stunning language however took me completely by surprise - it wasnt what I was expecting from a book promosing mobster violence, however the liquid practically pours from the pages.
This story has grit and violence all throughout and yet still it is soft and beautiful, and full of incredible imagery.

The characters themselves are as stunning as the setting.
Juliette is a vivid entity entirely her own, and the softness of Roma made me want to reach out and shake him, but also hug him. .
There is so much more to this book then meets the eyes and I was wholly obsessed with it as I flew through the pages.

The pacing helps the thriller elements and the romance between our main characters feels natural, even as the stakes gets higher.

The only point which seemed to drag this rating down was the rushed ending - however this is something I feel like I run in to surprisingly often in YA/NA.

But I honestly cannot wait to see what comes next.

"These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume..."
*
Despite being a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet, this book felt so fresh. I was gripped from the beginning and enthralled with the complexities of Juliette and Roma's characters. It was easy to match each character to their counterpart in the original play, but that's where the similarities end as Chloe completely reinvented them. In this book, we see a city at war with itself threatened by an unknown monster and a madness sweeping through the streets that seems to be contagious.
*
"Astra inclinant, sed non obligant - the stars incline us, they do not bind us... "
*
As a History teacher I loved the setting of 1920s Shanghai, a time when new political ideas where seeping through the city and gang warfare was high. The book is entrenched with the history of the city, including colonisation and the Opium Wars, leading to republican China. I was fascinated and found myself finishing the book only to go and carry out some additional research on the city.
*
"But she never had a choice. This was her life, this was her city, these were her people..."
*
The themes remain true to the story - family, loyalty and love. As fitting with the story, the course of true love never did run smooth. However, we see a different kind of romance. I'm hoping to see this develop further in the next book.
*
"There was a scratch at the side of her wrist. She had no idea how it got there... " Me reading these two sentences like 👀
*
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A retelling of Romeo and Juliet , sign me up, fantasy too oooooh, set in 20s Shanghai squeeeeee. is basically my reaction when I heard about this book, won’t even tell you my reaction when I got approved for an ARC. I was not disappointed in any way at all, this book was everything!! Gangsters, monsters, bloody , glamorous, I could go on but importantly the story is just wonderful , if you pick this book up you will not regret it. The writing is absolutely beautiful, the social and political commentary mixed in with the storyline is just brilliant and eye opening. The characterisation just so three dimensional , I loved our leads Roma and Juliette but it’s the side characters that I loved even more, Benedikt particularly and then Marshall, overall a simply fantastic and stunning read one of my top reads of 2020


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

🚨Romeo and Juliet in 1920's Shanghai, with a fantasy twist! 🚨 Like, what more could you want? When These Violent Delights begins, it is 1926 Juliette Cai has recently returned to Shanghai after her education in the United States and is ready to take up her position as heir to one of the most dangerous gangs in the city. The infamous Scarlet Gang are only matched by their Russian rivals, The White Flowers. You may have guessed that Roma Montagov, is the heir to the family, but you would be incorrect in thinking you know how this story will go just because you've read Romeo and Juliet. This is not the story of how the children of two warring families fall in love: it is four years since Roma betrayed Juliette and she fled to New York, living the flapper lifestyle, partying to hide how traumatised she was. When she returns she is cold and ruthless, and has changed completely by the time Roma comes back into her life. Something dangerous is sweeping the city, a kind of contagious madness that causes people to suddenly start tearing at their throats. Both families have to work together to fight this rumoured "monster in the shadows" before the city they fight over is wiped out. I loved that Chloe Gong made the story completely her own, and allowed the characters to grow in interesting ways, instead of just putting familiar characters into an updated setting. I knew nothing about 1920'a Shanghai but as a city constantly in conflict it made for an intense and unique setting for a familiar story.

Set in the year 1926, Shanghai is being hunted by a monster in the shadows. And in the heart of the city, it is being embroiled in a blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and White Flowers. Juliette has returned to the city, ready to be by her father’s side as the heir to the Scarlets. But the gangsters find themselves in trouble when a sickness forces the infected to claw out their throats. Before it destroys her people, Juliette must partner with the Flower’s heir, setting aside their personal grudges to save the city before the madness burns it all down.

The Violent Delights is one of my most anticipated reads of this year. The second I laid my eyes on that cover; I immediately ran to GoodReads to make sure I don’t forget this book exists. I won’t lie, but this book was both brilliant but still somewhat disappointing at the same time. The story follows the Juliette, recently returned from New York, and during a business meeting she is interrupted by rival heir Roma Montagov. Roma informs her of an incident where the casualties have appeared to die by their own hands. Both changed by an accident of their past, Juliette and Roma have to put aside their differences and feelings to discover the truth.

I liked the story for most parts, but the start of the novel is rather disappointing. It kicks off relatively strong, the death of gang members with no real cause, Roma making the brave move to enter the Scarlet territory to find Juliette and the both of them trying to figure out what’s happening. There are so many components to this story that appear so exciting and unique, but I found its execution rather clumsy, to say the least. The story hooks you in really well within this 1920s Shanghai as it faces trouble from its citizens and foreigners alike. The impact of colonialism takes centre stage in the setting, and Gong builds up a formidable background. The stakes are high as Juliette as to figure out what the monster is and how it’s linked to the death of her people. With foreigners like the British, French and Russians crawling in the background, Juliette almost feels like a stranger in her own city, and you feel it too as a reader.

As you settle into the story, it quickly beings to falter and drag on its own feet. Juliette can’t seem to get her parent’s approval, while Roma’s father ignores most of his findings, which leads to them working together and then the story doesn’t know what to do. There’s a lot of starting and stopping, and it breaks the momentum and pacing a lot. There’s a specific moment when you realised the story gains its drive again, but before that happens, it feels like it’s just kicking rocks, waiting for that push to continue. Juliette and Roma had met years prior, but an accident separates them, leaving Roma in Shanghai and Juliette returning to New York. I just didn’t feel any chemistry whatsoever. All of their feelings are buried in the past, and for plot’s sake, it was all withheld so in the last second, it makes for a theatrical scene. It just didn’t work out as well because the everything before that scene was so lacklustre.

The characters that aren’t Juliette and Roma are the saving grace of this entire book for me, personally, and why I’ll patiently be counting down the days for its sequel. Roma’s side includes Benedikt, his cousin, and Marshall, who form his closest circle. He also has his sister, Alyssa. Juliette’s team includes her twin cousins, Kathleen and Rosalind, and another cousin, Tyler. The characterisation of these secondary characters was so much better than anything that happened between Juliette and Roma, and I feel bad for saying that I was more interested in their lives than what was happening between the leads. The moments when they appear, the story becomes alive and engaging, and when we return to the main story, it feels like a giant step back. Towards the end of the story, as I mentioned, it gains its momentum well. And while it took me days to get to the 50% mark, I found myself speed reading to reach the end, and it was so much more entertaining.

Overall, These Violent Delights wasn’t precisely what I had anticipated, but I’m very excited to see what happens in the sequel. Despite my dispositions, Gong does a great job here in her debut. I did love how she had taken the story of Romeo & Juliet and adapted it to her cultural background and history. While the story wasn’t for me at the start, the ending redeems itself 100% over. It’s a story of identity and family and with the fantastic imagery and political backdrop, I’m still very interested in seeing what happens next for the Scarlet Gang and White Flowers.

**I was provided with an ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

A second chance romance Romeo & Juliet retelling with a backdrop of 1920’s Shanghai and an added monster wreaking havoc citywide? I’ve been itching for this book since I first heard about it and let me just say it was even better than I expected it to be!

Now it has been a fair few years since I read and studied the original Romeo & Juliet play and reading this book threw me right back, but dare I say Shakespeare has nothing on this retelling! The central feud in These Violent Delights has more bite, the romance is spicier and the characters are given a wider purpose than just those two things. Gong has introduced various other elements to the story that embellish it beautifully.

For starters the entrancing world building and action around ‘the madness’ and ‘the monster’ hooks you in from the get go. Gong’s poetic writing immerses you right in to the glitz and glamour of the time period and setting, as well as the hostility and tension of the blood feud. Additionally the mystery and apprehension surrounding the pandemic, though maybe a little too close to home in 2020, makes this book such a page turner.

However, I feel it is the social and political commentary which has been so intricately woven throughout the narrative that was a cut above the rest. The portrayal and discussions around the Westernisation and political tensions in Shanghai not only informed the storyline and added to the atmosphere but also presented a slice of history without feeling like a massive info dump. The time and research that went into this book jumps right off the pages. I love the opportunity to learn new things and my history nerd side was just eating it all up.

With regards to the characters, I think Gong has crafted the two protagonists brilliantly, adding nuanced layers to their Shakespearean equivalents.

As a loyal member of the White Flowers I fell in love with Roma immediately. (And okay I fell in love with Juliette straight away too but shhh.) It was fascinating to experience the two sides of the blood feud through their perspectives, each of them providing us with an insight on the differing morals and dynamics of the individual gangs. Though their clashing loyalties and backgrounds aside, what was just as absorbing was how strikingly Juliette and Roma mirrored one another. How they were both fervently trying to secure their place in a world where you have no option but to keep your knives sharp and your guns blazing.

And their relationship? Gosh the angst was DRIPPING off the page from their first interaction.
The romance is definitely more of a subplot but as their past was slowly uncovered, as their masks started slipping I couldn’t help but get swallowed up by their emotions and longing. Honestly the idea to transform an enemies to lovers, insta-love pairing into a second chance romance with lots of pent up history and betrayal was just *chef’s kiss*

Although I will mention that when reading I did feel like there was an imbalance when it came to the points of view. We definitely get more of Juliette’s perspective than Roma’s which wasn’t a negative aspect, I just expected this to be a bit more equal going in.

That being said I absolutely loved that we got additional points of view from some of the side characters too – Kathleen and Rosalind, two of Juliette’s cousins and Benedikt and Marshall, Roma’s best friends/wingmen. They each had their own personalities and experiences which helped to direct the story. I particularly loved the scenes involving the second duo as anytime Marshall appeared, as with his Romeo & Juliet counterpart, his witty demeanour never failed to make me smile or laugh.

Speaking of which, the parallels to the initial story were equally a delight to stumble across and a panic stricken anticipation. I’m not going to give away any spoilers but whether you’re familiar with the original or not, the twists and how everything goes down will blow you away.

I am now impatiently awaiting the sequel!
Final Rating - 4.5/5 Stars

3.5 stars

Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai are the heirs to rival gangs in 1920s Shanghai.
The gangs struggle to keep their hold on the city as foreigners and Communism rise in power.
Then a monster appears, threatening the lives of everyone in the city.
Can Roma and Juliette put their pasts and the blood feud behind them in order to work together to save their families and Shanghai?

I'm not a big Romeo and Juliet fan, but when I heard that there was a retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with a monster in it, I immediately wanted to read it.
Roma and Juliette were both relatable and likeable protagonists. I enjoyed finding out more about them as well as their families and the gangs. Both of them were under huge pressure as heirs to gangs and had people wanting to usurp them, so it was interesting reading how they dealt with that.
I really liked Roma's friends - Marshall (who was the comic relief), and Bendikt - as well as Juliette's cousin, Kathleen. They all did what they could to to help the heir of their gang and I would be proud to call them my friends.
The setting was interesting, especially as I don't know much about the history of Shanghai. The book was written so that it felt like I was running through Shanghai alongside Roma and Juliette.
I really liked the diversity and representation in the novel.
While the characters were probably my favourite part of the book, the plot was enjoyable and held my attention. I did guess a couple of twists, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment.
The writing style was easy to follow and understand, but it did take me a little while to really get into the storyline and it wasn't until the last few chapters where I was on the edge of my seat.
I am very intrigued to see what happens in the sequel, which I definitely intend to read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Review ✨✨✨✨✨🥀

I was very kindly sent an ARC of These Violent Delights through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Chloe Gong and Hodder & Stoughton and a very happy publication day!

These Violent Delights is a unique and imaginative retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, Romeo and Juliet. Taking place in 1920’s Shanghai, amidst a power struggle between the Communists and foreign occupiers and a looming civil war. In addition, a sinister monster has awakened in the depths of the Huangpu River and a mysterious madness is sweeping the city.

Juliette Cai, heir to one of Shanghai’s leading gangs, The Scarletts, must join forces with her arch enemy, Roma Montagov, heir to a rival gang, The White Flowers. Juliette is breathtaking in every way - she’s fierce, courageous and devastatingly ruthless. Roma is gorgeous, thoughtful and equally fierce and powerful. He also happens to be Juliette’s former childhood sweetheart and first love.
Years of animosity and vicious blood-shed keeps the river of hatred deep and vast between them both - a mortally wounded hatred, difficult to heal. That is until Shanghai falls in desperate need for the two to unite. Juliette and Roma must team up to solve the deadly mystery before it takes out their family, their people and their entire city.

And what takes place is a fusion of thrill, passion and devastation! I absolutely loved this tale and still in-awe of the fact that this is a debut novel! From the very beginning, the story felt grippingly intense and exciting.

Not only is this story and main characters riveting, I was quite enthralled by some of the side characters. Especially, Juliette’s cousin, Kathleen. Her bold personality, heartfelt back-story and close bond with Juliette is simply beautiful. The world-building of the 1920’s Shanghai was also brilliant and fascinating. I absolutely loved the setting and the Asian and LGBTQ+ representation in this book. The characters, the plot, the mystery and suspense was so well written, bringing something special to the story. Chloe Gong definitely made this retelling refreshingly unique with her immersive and captivating writing!

I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. A truly delicious, dark and brutal love story!

5 dazzling starlights 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

These Violent Delights is a sprawling and magnificent debut historical fantasy and the best reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet I've read, set in the Autumn of 1920s Shanghai as a new dawn is breaking and both the Opium Wars and the rise of Communism have become omnipresent. The star-crossed lovers in this story are Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai who come from two opposing gangs that are fighting for financial and political control of the city and are embroiled in a bloodthirsty all-out war. Foreign powers have taken chunks out of the city for themselves leaving the rest to be fought over by these two enemy faction. There’s chaos and a melting pot of different groups all staking their claims.

Juliette is the daughter of Lord Cai and heir to the Chinese Scarlet Gang whilst Roma is descended from Russian Montagovs, head of the White Flowers Gang. Having just arrived back in China after studying in New York, 18-year-old Juliette has discovered in the time she's been gone much has changed in Shanghai, the city she and Roma dreamed of ruling. Despite having garnered a reputation for being merciless, Juliette struggles to be respected as the heir of the Scarlets as cultural sexism determines her quick-tempered cousin, Tyler, to be more worthy.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Roma is not as revered by his father as he once was due to his betrayal of Juliette four years ago, which led to the deaths of innumerable Scarlets and placed a target squarely on the White Flowers’ backs. Juliette has vowed seek revenge ever since. But now a deadly disease is steadily sweeping the city linked to an apparent monster living in the Huangpu river and it doesn't discriminate so loyalists of both factions fall to it. Former lovers Roma and Juliette grudgingly decide to put differences aside to try to ascertain the cause and the all-important cure of the illness leading men to tear at their own throats in anguish.

This is a stunning and richly-imagined fantasy with lots of bloody action, revenge, betrayal and so much more that there is never a dull moment. Gong’s prose is so exquisite that on every page I was desperate to save at least one sentence and that is a rarity for me. The setting is the star of the show, though, although there is much to love throughout, and Gong captures the 20s zeitgeist perfectly whilst portraying historically significant events in Shanghai and wider China powerfully at the height of its transformation. I was immersed and transported there and loved every second of it. I must also mention the cast of characters; it is a lesson in diversity, queer, multiple ethnicities, but doesn't ever feel forced. I am blown away by this book, which is as close to perfect you are ever likely to come. Sublime. Read it! Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a review.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Romeo and Juliet. Like probably too much. I have a preprepared rant for when someone slanders it. I love it A Lot. So, when I got the opportunity to get my hands on an ARC of this, I was SO EXCITED.

Thankfully my excitement was well-worth it. I really enjoyed this book! From the first page, you already find the gorgeous writing that exists in this book, The descriptions are simply beautiful. I loved the opening scene, I loved that it mirrored the thumb-biting scene. It was such a fun callback to begin with and set the tone well for me. There are loads of little callbacks to the play like this, enough for a play lover to be excited, but the reader isn't beat over the head with it.

I loved Juliette. I loved how sassy, but sincere and angry Juliette was about colonialism and the Westerners in Shanghai. Her struggle to understand what it meant to be the "American" girl and how it fit with her Shanghaiese identity felt so true. Her brutatlity and power made her believeable as a gang heiress and her struggles and love made her a great protagonist. Roma was also an interesting character. I enjoyed his morality and his frienships, but I wish we had gotten inside his head a little more. I felt like I really understood Juliette, but Roma, I'm not all there on yet.

I'm not trans, so I can't say for sure, but I enjoyed the depiction of Kathleen. She had a seamless introduction, and her story really interested me. <Benedikt and Marshall's relationship/friendship> was also really exciting. I wasn't expecting it in a historical retelling, but I'm so glad it was there! You cannot convince me that <Bencutio> is not a thing, okay?

Also, I really liked the idea of a Romeo and Juliet who already knew each other. It definitely makes more sense this way since they're meant to be sworn enemies, and especially in this setting. It felt almost like a follow up to the original young naive lovers story from the play. This is an older, hardened Romeo and Juliet who know the reality of their blood feud. They see the repercussions and dangers more because they are more familiar with them.

Additionally, I love how Gong has evolved Romeo's dreaminess and Juliet's practicality into their new selves. Juliette is ruthless and practical, whereas Roma is honorable and dreams of a better future. Their play counterparts show clearly through, but Gong transforms them to make sense for this time and setting. It's really brilliant.

There is some body horror in the book, so I'd be wary of it if that triggers you. I found myself shuddering a few times at the descriptions and I'm usually fine with written horror/gore. Additionally, I enjoyed all the languages mixing, but sometimes there was a lack of translation and I could sort of get the context, but not the meaning exactly. There wasn't like a glossary or anything, so I did find myself doing a lot of googling, as I like to know exactly what the characters mean. Definitely not a big deal, but something that did get a bit old for me.

I also would have liked a map. I know that's usually a thing for fantasy novels, which this obviously isn't, but the territory lines and differently "owned" parts of Shanghai are so important to the story, and sometimes I got a bit lost as to where things were placed and were in relation to each other.

Gong also doesn't gloss over the colonialism in Shanghai, as well as other place the characters have lived. Especially in YA historical fiction, that was very refreshing. As should be obvious, having a Chinese woman as the author gives this book context and depth that a white author would likely be unable to replicate. It's so important to the truth of this story, and Juliette as well.

There is defintiely a lot going on in this book. It's a retelling, a murder mystery, it's got political plots, and a historical setting in a complex, diverse location. Gong has lots of balls in the air and she handles them very well as a whole.

Here's my thing though. I'm not so sure about the <monster. For a book so rooted in histroy, it feels out of place. I wish the reveal had been something a little more realistic. Even some kind of undiscovered animal would work for me more than a weremonster.> I think if the blurb had leaned toward this, or if there were some sort of other <magical or anachronistic element>, it would feel more in line.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be reading the next one, as that cliffhanger was so much for me. Definitely a recommend to anyone who loves Romeo and Juliet, beautiful writing, or historical settings.

This book is a wonderful debut novel, written by someone who is still young (I’m imagining the potential) It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920s.

The story is a fantasy infused with politics and race issues. In a world of gangsters holding onto a ‘blood feud’ … that they will not let go of.

I really liked the fantasy elements in this novel. It kept my attention and had me wanting to read more. The writing is wonderful and the characters are strong and well developed.
It didn’t make me think too much about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette as I read it, but I did wonder sometimes what parts of the story would be similar and what parts would be different, which, for me, added to the enjoyment of the book.
I think anyone could enjoy this book…but be aware the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger.

This was one of those rare, atmospheric and magnetic reads that gave me a book hangover.

Gong writes absolutely stunning prose. While one or two spots were a little flowery for the occasion (generally dialogue that felt a tad theatrical), overwhelmingly the writing was just gorgeous. I made so many highlights! The writing style and language felt evocative of that 1920s time period too, which only added to the immersive story, and I really liked the inclusion of some Chinese (in pinyin form). I’d previously not known about the unique Shanghainese dialect so it was nice to learn something new! The inclusion of certain words and phrases from multiple languages worked really well to enhance the setting – in addition to Mandarin and Shanghainese, there was English (obviously), French, Russian (spoken by the White Flowers, aka the Montagues) and references to other dialects too. Small things that really built up the roiling mix of people and cultures present.

Speaking of peoples and cultures, I also appreciated the frank commentary on colonialism and microaggressions. The social commentary is not just to do with race and white supremacy but also with transphobia and sexism, especially the double standards set for Juliette as the female heir to the Scarlet Gang. The casual diversity in characters (aside from the majority Chinese cast, which I had obviously expected) was also a pleasant surprise! There are at least three queer characters (gay and trans) and I think one of the characters has OCD.

I just loved the Easter egg-like references to Shakespeare’s play – the reveal of the oh-so-important poison being my favourite – and I really enjoyed the hints, both subtle and overt as to who was who in the cast. There was even a hilarious parodic reference to one of Shakespeare’s famous sonnets.

The plot has a brisk pace and hefty dose of eye-popping twists, and while the omniscient narration means the reader knows more than the characters do, I still didn’t manage to guess the main antagonist, nor their motives! Honestly, I was suspecting someone else, and I have tHeoRiEs for book 2… The onslaught of contagious madness was horrifying and this book is certainly going to be nauseating for those afraid of insects. I was absolutely disgusted several times…which I guess adds to the experience if you’re a bit masochistic.

I cared about all the characters (not you, Tyler/Tybalt) and similarly to how I felt during Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’, I was absolutely terrified for their wellbeing. I even had to stop at one point because I was too afraid that they might die. (In fairness to Tyler/Tybalt, he does get more characterisation to him here than in the original play.) There are a number of POVs, and while it was easy enough to differentiate when each chapter section was dominated by a single character, sometimes I was confused when it seemed to suddenly slip from what felt like third-person limited to omniscient narration. This wasn’t a big problem though.

As you may know, enemies to lovers is my favourite trope, and I have a special affection for arcs that ping-pong between enemies to lovers. What was great was that the Roma and Juliette seesaw was always convincingly tied with the plot and never felt forced. Certainly felt painful, though. There was also a burgeoning side ship that I adored too!

Something special about ‘These Violent Delights’ is how entertaining its Acknowledgements section was too. I’ve never enjoyed reading one as much as Gong’s here! I think there was a reference to Gansey (‘The Raven Cycle’ and also kudos to Halsey’s ‘hopeless fountain kingdom’ album, both of which are instant wins in my book.

I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

‘These Violent Delights’ is a brilliant concept – a loose Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, featuring a fantasy monster, gang warfare, and a fascinating look at colonialism – but suffers a little from the scale of its ambition. It’s certainly a fast-paced and intriguing YA fantasy, but it isn’t quite as gripping as I’d like it to be.

Juliette Cai has just returned home to Shanghai after completing her education in the USA. As the heir to the Scarlet Gang, her job now is to start integrating herself with her father’s contacts and cement her people’s loyalty to her – but instead, she finds herself entangled in a conspiracy with a mysterious – and invariably fatal – virus, and strange rumours of a monster. Even worse, her arch-enemy Roma Montagov – heir to the White Flowers – keeps showing up. Determined to solve the mystery before more of her people die – and before Roma beats her to it – Juliette embarks on a mission that will truly test her loyalty – to her family, to the Scarlet Gang, and to a particularly irritating enemy-turned-lover-turned-enemy who just keeps getting under her skin.

Juliette and Roma are both major POV characters, but Juliette is such a force of nature that she feels like the true protagonist. She’s not particularly likeable – she’s completely ruthless, almost uncaring of the feelings of others and willing to do anything to ensure her own success – but at her core is a heart of fragility and worry. Juliette has had to fight for her place as the heir to the Scarlet Gang, and she knows that one misstep will send everything tumbling down.

Roma, on the other hand, is far easier to like. He’s also a ruthless gangster, but makes no secret of how much he hates it. Roma’s position as heir to the White Flowers is just as tenuous as Juliette’s for the Scarlets, but for very different reasons – Juliette’s father is unsure of her suitability as a woman, and also slightly scared of her; Roma’s father thinks his son is soft and unworthy. He’s the sort of character you constantly want to give a hug, because everything keeps going wrong despite the fact he’s always trying to do the right thing.

The strength of this book is in the setting. It really draws you into the various microcosms of 1920s Shanghai, the feeling of multiple cities within cities, and the political tensions of a city and country in transition. Chloe Gong’s writing is gorgeous, and she absolutely captures a sense of place. I know very little about this time period or area of the world, and the way it’s depicted here makes me want to find out more.

The main issue I have with this book is that, for a Romeo and Juliette retelling, there’s very little emotional buildup. Roma and Juliette were together, then four years ago there was a massive betrayal resorting in them returning to mortal enemies. Now there’s a huge amount of tension – and potentially lingering feelings – but much of this is brushed over with a simple explanation of ‘things happened in the past’. The decision to tell us about their past relationship rather than show us a relationship developing weakens the romance, and thus the story. I struggle to understand why Roma likes Juliette when she does nothing likeable – it mostly seems to be nostalgia for a character we never see on page – and similarly, Roma seems like someone Juliette would despise for his weakness rather than fall in love with.

The other niggle I have is that the fantasy elements feel disjointed. The plotline about a virus and a monster feels discongruous with a story about gangsters in 1920s Shanghai. I absolutely adored the historical context and the glimpse into a time period and culture I know little about, and I almost wish the fantasy elements had been toned down to allow the history to shine through. The plot is mostly predictable, and I suspect part of the reason for that is so much exposition is required to make everything fit that some of the mystery is lost.
Overall, this is a solid YA fantasy with a brilliant setting, but perhaps one which takes on too much. Fans of enemies-to-lovers romance, Shakespeare, and strong characters who take no prisoners might love this, but it definitely feels like a debut.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks so much as always to Netgalley for sending this to me!

I feel super bad about this one, because I was so lucky to get an ARC and I know this book has been highly anticipated in the book community. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t working for me. I was having to force myself through it one page at a time and really didn’t enjoy the reading experience.

While I appreciated the rich, lush setting of the book, and I feel the plot had all the right elements and would probably have shaped up to be full of amazing twists and turns, it just didn’t grab me for some reason. I didn’t vibe with the writing style, or the characters. Juliette intrigued me, and she was almost enough to make me keep reading, but I just didn’t feel much of a spark from the other characters, and the romance – the main thing that drew me to this book – didn’t catch my attention either.

Ultimately, I just think this was a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me,’ because it seems like everyone else has been really loving this book. At the moment I find that I’m gravitating more towards lighter, easier reads, and this story just demanded too much focus from me right now. Had it come out at a less fraught time, I might have persevered with it, but with nothing drawing me into the story and no real motivation to continue, I’m afraid I’ve had to let this one go.

DNF at 30%

"The stars incline us, they do not bind us."
So... this was amazing and I need the next book right now. The story is effortlessly engaging and is truly unique despite having the Romeo and Juliet inspiration. A historical urban fantasy set in such a lush backdrop of 1920s Shanghai with two ex-lovers caught in a rumbling gang war in an increasingly divided city. The politics, the characters, the setting, the writing, and the fantastical elements were all great in my opinion. I would highly recommend it and it definitely explores some very important themes. Some scenes and topics are quite violent or graphic in nature so do bear in mind that if you are unsure whether to pick it up or not.
Firstly, we have to talk about the writing. Wow, just wow. It was so good. I think I may have highlighted more passages in this book than I ever have before with this book. There were so many important quotes and topics explored and I am already wanting to buy my own copy so I can annotate it which I never do! Similarly, the atmosphere and setting was just phenomenal, so unique and different but not in an alienating way, I was so wrapped up in this world and I cannot wait to jump back into it whenever the second book comes out.
The characters were so complex and the representation in this book was also handled in a really nice way. I have a few predictions of things that may be coming in future novels. All the characters are ethically not the best people yet I still managed to care for them all so deeply. So much so that when certain events occurred towards the end I nearly burst into tears in the middle of a public bus. So I applaud Chloe Gong because I have grown close to every. single. character. And considering the amount of violence in this book, is a mean feat.
One thing I would say is it took me a long time to get through this book, this could be partially my fault as I read it on my phone via the kindle app and that can be a distraction. The plot is pretty slow and the pacing is also slow, this is not necessarily a bad thing especially considering how character-driven the story is in retrospect. I do think that I will like the following books perhaps even more than this one considering the connections I have forged with the countries. None the less this is what is stopping me from giving this book a full five stars.
Rated: 4.5 Stars

I received These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong for free on NetGalley by Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this early copy! This review is also available on my blog - Book, Blog & Candle!

These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated reads and I was so excited to be approved for it on NetGalley! I've heard so many good things about this book and it definitely lives up to the hype! A Romeo & Juliet retelling set in 1920's Shanghai is such a fantastic concept, I knew I had to read it!

In These Violent Delights we follow our star-crossed lovers Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov who are the heirs to rival gangs. Raised to hate each other but they fell in love anyway until a harrowing betrayal sets them firmly back as enemies. I didn't realise how much I would love the "enemies to lovers to enemies" trope, it is so good!

Juliette has returned to Shanghai, after being forced to go to America, and she is ready to take her rightful place as the heir to the Scarlet Gang and determined to forget all about Roma. I loved Juliette's character so much! She's an absolute badass, quick witted and incredibly dangerous. I have to declare right now that I'm definitely joining the Scarlet Gang!
On the other hand Roma is trying to get back into his fathers' good graces and trying to get everyone to take him seriously as the heir to the White Flowers. He's learnt to be more cautious but he does have an angry side that flares up when those he cares about are hurt.
They've both got to prove themselves to their families but soon have to put aside their differences and work together in order to stop the madness that is plaguing the city.

The writing throughout the book is incredibly gorgeous, it's so descriptive and intriguing. I also loved the historical elements that were layered in the story, there was so much I didn't know about and now want to research even more! These Violent Delights is an intense read that really immerses the reader fully into the story. I usually make notes as I go along but I didn't want to take my eyes off the story for a single second! It is so clever and such an amazing retelling - I must admit I love it even more than the original Romeo & Juliet. The suspense, the yearning and the twists were just perfection, you can really tell how much love was poured into every part of this book. I can't wait to read even more!

These Violent Delights is witty, intelligent and an instant favourite of 2020 for me! Thank you again Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley, it stabbed me right in the feels but I loved every second!

I love a good retelling as much as the next person and especially when it comes to retellings of Shakespeare’s plays there are certainly plenty available. When it comes to Romeo & Juliet, the adaptations which come to mind immediately are the films, whether it be the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli film or the 1996 Baz Luhrmann adaptation. In These Violent Delights however, Chloe Gong has not just written a retelling of the classic tale but she has revived it, she has charged it with commentary on colonialism, race and class and of course, given us the star crossed lovers in Juliette and Roma, tying together a debut which will be sure to captivate readers.

I loved the sense of atmosphere and setting which Gong creates throughout the novel, portraying Shanghai in the 1920’s with rich description and making the city and each unique place feel so palpable to a reader. Whilst reading I could feel the sense of debauchery and excess, of the blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers which is not so thinly hidden under the exchanges in the city and the rising tide of tension between all the different factions. I also liked how Gong explores the impact of western powers / foreign colonial influences on Shanghai and how discussions on race and class are approached and weaved into the story deftly and enriches it in so many ways.

As well as the conflicts which form the basis of the story, there is also a larger mystery and sinister plot at play, with whispers of a monster within the city and the madness, plague like that follows. I liked how there was this more fantasy / sci-fi like element alongside the more ‘realistic’ elements within the story, and how both work so well with each other. I found it really heightened the experience of the book for me, as I was thinking of theories and how it would all play out.

I obviously can’t write this review without mentioning the flawless depiction of the lovers to enemies / star-crossed lovers tropes within the book and how much pain Juliette and Roma’s complication-ship caused me. Yes, complication-ship. As one may expect with a Romeo and Juliet retelling, things are not easy for our main characters, but the situation is even more fraught and complicated when you’re part of rival gangs and even a hint of working together / being in a relationship could cause utter strife.

I liked how we were introduced to the couple years after a tragic event which tore them apart and we meet them in the present, when they’re at odds once more. The sense of yearning was so high, and their scenes were so tender and so full of wistfulness for what could be, if only the blood feud was over. I really liked the choice Gong makes here to reveal their past relationship in snippets and mentions here and there, rather than through heavy exposition. Normally I’d want to read it all firsthand but this slow reveal actually works so well and still conveyed to me the sense of history, affection and care that these two characters have between them, and also the doomed nature of their relationship, between the divided loyalties and impossible choices they are both forced to make. It was so compelling and speaks to the heart of what has enthralled readers for so long; two young people who love each other so much but seemingly can’t find a way to be together.

I also really liked that we got to read through multiple perspectives, and it wasn’t just reserved to Juliette and Roma, even though they are the main characters. We get a range of well written and fully realised secondary characters who I loved just as much and it never felt tedious or unnecessary when Gong diverts to their perspectives. I genuinely liked Marshall and Benedikt, Roma’s best friend and cousin and their teasing dynamic as well as sisters Kathleen and Rosalind, who are Juliette’s cousins and closest confidantes. I think sometimes secondary characters can feel inconsequential if a writer doesn’t pay as much attention to them, but I really appreciated how each of these characters had their own stories and journeys and definitely added a lot to the book.

Overall, These Violent Delights was a delight (pun absolutely intended) from start to finish and I can’t wait for the next instalment already! I’ve heard that it’s going to be a duology so I’m in eager anticipation. I would recommend this to any fans of Y/A, retellings and fantasy – basically I feel compelled to hand a copy of this book to everyone I know and/ or shout about it from the rooftops. I feel like it will be immensely popular on its release and deservedly so.