The first in a (I think) duology, that retells/re-imagines the story of Romeo & Juliet amongst gang warfare and political change in 1920s Shanghai. Didn't turn out to be the book for me but I would still recommend it as the premise is fresh and interseting and it's very well written.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review.

A VERY intense start, superb setting, great and beyond creative adaptation/retelling, and just the sort of dark gritty read I needed in my life.

Romeo and Juliet take a very different angle in this, we have Roma and Juliette, two rival gangsters in Shanghai in the 1920s, and while normally this would have been enough for a retelling, Gong takes it a few steps further.

Roma and Juliette are watching their gang members die, merchants, and just the regular everyday citizens as well. The numbers are mounting at an alarming rate but for some reason, there are only whispers of a monster, of a madness, and the leads are tough to follow. So, what better way to solve the mystery than to have Roma and Juliette work together?

LOVED this so much! And I already need a Netflix adaptation ASAP, also, though, WHAT IS THAT ENDING HOW AM I MEANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK!?

Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review, full review to follow on my blog.

I was hooked from the first chapter. Turns out 1920s Shanghai isn’t boring at all and learning about what a diverse place it was was fascinating. My knowledge of the history of Shanghai - or any places in Asia really - isn’t great so it was really fun to learn a little bit of something new while reading this book. I really enjoyed reading descriptions of the city especially from Juliette’s perspective. The writing in general is really beautiful.

I also enjoyed the story and the characters a lot. It’s told from the perspective of both Juliette and Roma and sometimes their closest friends, so you get the full view of what’s going on as they try to solve the mystery of the Madness that keeps spreading in the city.

I definitely enjoyed Juliette’s perspective the most, because she’s such a badass and lives up to her reputation of being the ruthless Scarlet Gang heir. She’s not completely heartless though, and I think she was well balanced in that regard. She’s not one of those characters who are just said to be really brutal but actually they don’t do anything to show that, but she’s also not a cold-hearted killer. Girl’s got feelings too. Juliette also has an extra layer of complexity from living in western countries for years and so picking up a lot of the fashion and culture, but also being very proudly Chinese.

I liked Roma too, but I think I just naturally gravitate more towards the female characters. Roma is definitely the softer of the two main characters though, and I enjoyed his and Juliette’s interactions together. One of my favorite scenes with them was probably when they were forced to take tequila shots and Roma couldn’t handle his booze at all and Juliette was like “Aren’t you supposed to be Russian?” and Roma responds: “I’m Russian, not an alcoholic.”

I feel like I can’t talk about Roma as a character as much because a lot of it goes into spoiler territory and I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone, but Roma definitely has his complicated side too.

Their romance developed, or I guess re-developed since they had been in love before, at a nice and slow pace which made it very believable especially considering all the reasons that had led to them becoming enemies when they were younger.

The side characters were also great. Both Juliette and Roma have two sidekicks, and like I mentioned we get to see the story from their perspective a little bit as well. Marshall and Benedikt on Roma’s side were really fun, and the sisters Rosalind and Kathleen on Juliette’s side seemed like really good friends to her and I liked them a lot.

The plot of the book isn’t as complicated as it might sound at first, but it was just the right level of mysterious so I couldn’t predict the outcome. Sometimes it felt like Juliette and Roma could get away with things like breaking into places and snooping a little too smoothly, but I guess they were just really lucky. The story gets really intense towards the end of the book as a lot of things start happening and it’s definitely an adrenaline spike. The Romeo and Juliet elements were sprinkled in the story nicely as well, and I could spot all sorts of things even though it’s been like 10 years since I read the play.

Also, the Madness is terrifying. Learning what causes people to tear their own throats out actually made me toss my phone away for a bit to process it because it freaked me out that much. Things get very gory okay?

All in all I really liked These Violent Delights and definitely recommend it if you want historical fiction with a dash of fantasy. You’re in for a wild ride.

First of all: I love anything to do with history. Second of all: I love retellings. This one has both, so my expectations were through the roof. They have been met, mostly. This book was exquisitely written, and it was a delight to read a new, well-versed voice within the YA world. There was a lot of intrigue, the setting was great, and the characters were fleshed out really well. The thing I did not expect was that this book is largely based on politics and economy. And I am not a big fan of that. Still, the aforementioned points were great, so it worked for me.

For a variety of reasons, I do not like "Romeo and Juliette".I don't consider it romantic, don't care for the Shakespearean humour or the language, and can do very well without it thank you very much. For the record - I'm also not a fan of "Pride and Prejudice. I did, however, immensely enjoyed a 2016 movie retelling: "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (don't judge me).
So... "Romeo and Juliette" in 1920s Shanghai? And there's a monster? Count me in!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for helping out and providing me with a copy.

Let's start with the blurb:
"The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang-a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love . . . and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns-and grudges-aside and work together, for if they can't stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule."

The story begins with a bang. Or more precisely - with a touch of madness that makes members of both Scarlet Gang and White Flowers tearing their own throats out. We're getting a glimpse into the main plot driver and taste of how indiscriminate the condition is - it doesn't matter how powerful is the side you're on. In the end, you will be your own worst enemy.

The main characters, in my opinion, were more interesting than their original counterparts. Roma and Juliette are multidimensional. Smart changes in perspective help to understand their point of view, motivations, and pain. It's not easy to be an heir to the empire built on blood, bribes, and brutal determination. To a bystander, their positions in family ventures are unshakeable. Still, one slip is enough to strip them of their influence, power, and even their lives. Their romantic past fuels their determination and their hatred. However, despite the better judgement of the head of their gangs, they understand the need to work together. There's hope for the new generation.

Despite such a power behind the two protagonists, the other characters are not remaining in their shadows. Their portrayal makes it clear that gang life comes at a price, and any influence is a fickle affair. Kathleen, Rosalind, Benedict, and Marshal are capable, strong, and compelling. Arguably, I enjoyed their parts more than the main protagonists - with less responsibility for the main plot come opportunities for more freedom of expression, if you will.
I would hope that we'll see more of them in the sequel, should there be one.

The real star of the book, though, is Shanghai. A melting pot of cultures, influences, and opposing powers. A city that never sleeps. A city that is crowded, lavish, filthy, decadent, wealthy and very poor, Chinese and colonial, and it seduced me. Chloe Gong's writing emanates the tensions and power struggle throughout the city, and it feels as if Shanghai burrows deep under your skin.

Chloe Gong's story makes a few nods toward the original: the balcony scene, the potion, the dagger, to name a few. They are used in a slightly different way, but they fit perfectly. Look out for the "easter eggs"!

The book has all the right elements: great setting, feud fuelled by generations of hatred, well-crafted characters, gripping action. To me, it fell a bit short towards the very end, during the "boss fight" (there is a monster - of course, there was a boss fight!). When the majority of people influenced by the madness is ripping their throats off, the one man, by the sheer power of will, managed to constrain himself just long enough for strategic events to occur. And what's up with grazing big bugs with bullets?

The ending a bit spoiled the story for me. But it's fair to say that this retelling is better than the original. If you're a fan of gangsters, monsters, and compelling narrative - Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights may be a perfect treat for the long winter nights.

I must admit to something before I even think about reviewing this book. I have not read Romeo and Juliet, unless you consider the spark notes version is a proper read through then sure. I have done that. I have never been the biggest fan of Romeo and Juliet and I was at least 40% afraid of me not really liking the book or not being able to do it justice that it probably deserved because of my dislike of the original material. Rest assured though that this book while it maintains the theme of the original content manages to be much more enjoyable and just overall a great book! So yay for that!

I think what I really loved was the fact that the characters had personalities, ambitions and histories that made them seem so great. Juliette Cai, the heiress to the Scarlet Gang is an unapologetic, ambitious and independent person, she does not take any bullshit and she is very aware of how tenuous her position as an heir is. Throughout the book, we see her trying to find the ground on which she can be sure of her position and not give in to others (Tyler, a cousin who has dreams of becoming the head of the Scarlet Gang) who see her as someone who’s not really suitable for the position. She has cousins that seem like they are in her corner but they also have lives of their own and sometimes, it does seem like maybe they have a couple of doubts of their own.

Then there’s Roma Montagov, he’s also the heir to a gang, the opposition of Scarlet Gang, of course. The White Flowers. He has a very complicated relationship with his father, his father has a preference for someone else as the heir to White Flowers, there’s so much happening in that gang and I loved all the interactions there. He’s under pressure, consistently to be better than the preferred heir and it just shows. His relationship with his sister, with his fellow gang members is very complicated. There’s a clear divide sometimes as to who really favours him and who favours the other guy. Roma is a soft man who just wants to be sure that his family is safe, that the people he considers his family are not harmed in the long run. However he’s also the one who managed to betray Juliette when they had just gotten together back then.

I loved the side characters in this book, I loved that they had different equations with different members of the cast. They are, almost all of them, polyglots and I admit to being super envious of that. They spoke Mandarin, Russian, French, English and a spot of Dutch, if I remember correctly. I wish I could speak that many languages. Oh, well. I loved the setting, the time period that the author chose. I also loved the fact that she did not hide from the constant encroachment from the western countries and how it affected the Chinese people and its politics. I loved that. It’s always so satisfying to see that western countries trying to colonise and it being shown as the bad thing really gets me. I guess, it’s the Indian in me, I just love seeing western countries being shown how terrible their ancestors really were.

That got too personal. Let’s not get into that.

I can’t say that I loved romance because the whole concept of this kind of love is something that has bothered me for a long while. However! I did enjoy the push and pull of emotions that they both suffered from. How much they truly wanted what was best for the city and their families. And how despite knowing how much trouble they could get into for doing things and they did it anyway. I liked the fact that sometimes there was nobody stopping them from their impulses and it resulted in not so great consequences.

Overall, I really loved the setting, the characters and plot enough that I can’t wait for the next book. Despite getting this as an e-ARC from the publisher, it did not affect my opinion of the book.

A stunning retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with a backdrop of both imperialism and domestic turmoil. It has blood and gore but it also has atmospheric writing, gripping twists, and a whole lot of angst.

Uhhh…? Excuse me but WHAT WAS THAT ENDING AND HOW DARE YOU.

*twiddles hair* Ya know… if you’d said to me that I’d be fawning over some Romeo and Juliette style romance doobrywhatsit, I’d slap you silly. Yet here we are. Consider myself fully fawned.

This, my friends, is a crackin’ wee novel and I fully expect to see absolutely everywhere when it’s released. Enough rambling – lemmie set the scene a bit:

✨ Roaring 20s but make it Shanghai.
✨ Blood feud keeping two sexually-pent-up-and-ready-to-explode lovers apart
✨ A monster that would make people with even the mildest trypophobia freak the fuck out
✨ One hell of a cliff hanger, but I’ll get to that later

Caught up? Good.
So it’s time to meet your new besties:
Juliette Cai. Clearly a babe and a badass one at that. Juliette is the heir to the Scarlet Gang (🌹), takes no shit from anyone and has never, ever (not even remotely) got over Roma.
Enter Roma Montagov. A Russian delight whom you’ll grow to have a major crush on. Heir to the White Flowers (🌼) and is wildly in love with wee Juliette.

Herein lies the problem – the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers ain’t pals. Unless you want to be murdered on the spot, you stick to your gang’s territory and you absolutely never fall in love with your enemy. On top of that, they had to deal with a bunch of communists trying to overthrow them AND the British / French swanning on in battling for power. It all seems quite tiring to be honest.

They were doing so well keeping to their spots/playing nice until the madness swept through the streets resulting in both sides of the feud tearing out their own god-damn throats at an alarming pace.

Sometimes you just gotta stop killing each other so you can join forces to take on a big ol’ river monster and that’s just what they did.

This book makes you think the story is all wrapped up, but let me tell you right now that that’s a big old stinkin’ lie. The ending will slap you in the pus and leave you desperately wanting more. Let it be known that Chloe Gong knows how to write a solid cliffhanger and I’ll be clinging on for dear life until 2021 for book number two.

On that note, I’ll leave you with this little nugget:

“The most dangerous people are the powerful white men who feel as if they have been slighted”

– Lord Cai

These Violent Delights will be released on 17th November 2020 ★★★★½

Firstly, a huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in echange for my honest and unbiased review.

These Violent Delights is a retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, told against the backdrop of Shanghai in 1926. Roma (Romeo) and Juliette (Juliet) and the son and daughter of rival gangs/cartels in Shanghai and have known each other since childhood.

Juliette Cai having just returned to Shanghai after spending four years in New York is adapting to her homecoming, a return to a Shanghai that has changed dramatically whilst she was away and simultaneously is reasserting her claim as heiress to the Scarlet Gang. Meanwhile Roma Montagov, the heir to the White Flowers is fighting his own challenges, as a consequence to the actions that forced Juliette's departure four years earlier. To say that there is bad blood between Roma and Juliette is an understatement! Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both of them a monster has awoken in Shanghai and a mysterious madness has started to sweep across the city…

I was shocked to find out that this was Chloe Gong's debut, the writing is so mature, flows so well as it pulls you into the world of Shanghai and the deceptive plot that definitely keeps you thinking. The backdrop of a Romeo and Juliet retelling is truly an enhancement to the story, but it doesn't dominate and definitely doesn't interrupt the narrative to remind you. This was a refreshing, well told, well built and well honed story that had me engrossed from start to end.

Our protagonists are definitely not 2 dimensional retellings, Juliette a complicated mesh of old world Shanghai, forced into new world westernisation, with a zest and passion to defend her family (the Scarlett gang,) and herself in whatever way she can. This Juliet has no qualms about defending her reputation and her family and will fight anyone who dares to offend, she is not afraid to fight for what is hers and at times is quite ferocious. Definitely not Shakespeare's damsel here, she is very much the modern woman. However, despite this often aggressive approach, you still feel such empathy for her. She has had to face racism, and personal attacks for being out of place in 20's white dominated New York and has returned to Shanghai fearing that she is now too Westernised.

Roma is no less complicated than Juliet, he has been scarred and hurt by his own experiences and family, he is fighting to attain his father's respect as heir to the White Flowers, but this is a constant downhill struggle that takes so much from him. Roma wants to keep his circle safe and is truly a pacifist at hear, but as heir to a gang mired in blood and violence, he knows that being the heir and eventual leader at the top is far safer than anywhere else.

Juliette’s cousins (on her mother's side,) Kathleen and Rosalind, have their own complicated histories and challenges that they have to face, particularly as relatives with a differing surname from Juliette's mother's side. Whilst Tyler, Benedikt; and their friend, Marshall having declared for Romeo have become his men at arms and are at threat by anything that threatens Roma. I could say so much more about these characters, but I'm loathe to spoil the plot, but I must say that they provided additional perspective to the story and plot that definitely enhanced the book.

There are other supporting characters, who I really should name, but I'm not going to because I really didn't like them and yes, every book should have it's villain or two and these were definitely well-written and appropriate for their given parts.

As for the world-building, it was totally spot on. Gong didn't info-dump the history of Shanghai on the reader, instead the reader is immersed into a gritty and tumultuous Shanghai that is fighting foreigners left and right, as Colonialism and Communism fight to take control. I must say that I could imagine walking along the streets as barbers cut hair, flicking hair into the sewers and bun sellers yelled about their wares and the market, you could almost smell and hear it!

The plot itself is definitely one that pulls you in, as you gradually hear about myths and legends. It is onion like, as you continue to read, more and more layers are peeled away and there are sub-whorls that take you away from the original issue, misleading and diverting our protagonists and the reader. The plot in itself is both interesting and supportive to the love-hate relationship we see between Roma and Juliet. Yes, this book is also a romance, a romance that is based on their split and the consequences of it four years earlier. Juliet is under the belief that Roma betrayed her and how she reacted to that, whilst Roma knows that for the sake of his heirdom and the safety of those he loves and cares for, he cannot risk falling for Juliette again!

I could write so much more about this book, but to do so would spoil the plot for you and that is definitely not my intent. Congratulations to Chloe Gong on an excellent debut and following that ending I really MUST read the sequel to These Violent Delights NOW!

Thank you , it was a great read that I give 4.5 stars and one I will definitely return to.

Love to hate to love romance. With 1920s gangs it's a great read and with a beautiful and deep world that is has been build on.

Rep: chinese main characters, chinese side characters, korean side character, trans woman side character, implied achillean side characters

CW: insects, pandemics, gang violence, gun violence, knife violence, murder, body horror, suicide, brief suicidal thoughts, child abuse, death of close family member, illness of close family member, cancer, comas, alcohol consumption, brothels, transphobia, racism, discussion of colonialism

I loved this book! It’s a unique take on Romeo and Juliet that manages to be unique and surprise the reader at every turn, while also still being recognisable as the story that it’s retelling. Iconic scenes from the original Shakespeare play, such as the ball and the balcony scene, are still present here, but their new contexts make them feel both familiar and fresh!

This book also provides a commentary on the Westernisation of Shanghai. There was a lot of discussion of people and businessmen from Britain, France, and the USA, living in Shanghai and not being respectful to the people who already live there. Juliette notes that since this influx, aspects of Shanghainese culture have been disappearing, political control over the city has started to go to the Westerners, and some establishments have even been set up within Shanghai that bar Chinese people from entering. Juliette finds this last one to be particularly absurd, and she’s right! She also comments on the ridiculousness of being expected not to call out these injustices because by doing so she might hurt someone’s feelings. Also, while this is going on, the Communist Party is gaining support throughout China. All of the major characters in this book, being gang members, would be potential targets of the Communist Party, so this is obviously a cause for concern for them as well.

I adored the characters in this book! Juliette was such a fun protagonist! She’s vicious, she’s ambitious, she’s intelligent, she’s unapologetically herself, and she isn’t afraid to let the people she loves know that she loves them. Unless, of course, it’s Roma. Her cousins, Rosalind and Kathleen, were also interesting, as they allowed for a deeper understanding of what life is like in the Scarlet Gang when you’re not its heir. I especially liked Kathleen. She’s loyal to Juliette, generally friendly, and while she likes to avoid bloodshed wherever possible that doesn’t mean that she isn’t prepared to get involved with killing someone.

On the White Flowers’ side, I liked Roma more than I was expecting to! He’s a sweetheart, who doesn’t really want to be a part of a gang, but walking away would put him in more danger than staying does, so he’s stuck. His cousin Benedikt was lovely, and their friend Marshall was so great! Benedikt and Marshall as a duo especially were a lot of fun to read, their scenes pretty much always got me smiling! Thing is, Marshall obviously being Mercutio, I spent a lot of my time reading this feeling absolutely terrified for him. Gong made me love Marshall right from his introduction! And which character is the first to die in the original play?

The villains of this book were also done remarkably well. I’m not going to go into too much more detail here because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that I’m rooting for Tyler/Tybalt’s destruction and cannot wait for him to get his comeuppance.

Certain aspects of the fantasy plague also hit closer to home than was probably anticipated while this book was being written. It’s mentioned a couple of times that while some people are doing all that they can to prevent the spread and are staying home, some people are simply going about their lives as normal and pretending that nothing is wrong, likely in the false assumption that the sickness is something that happens to Other People. It couldn’t possibly ever affect them, so why should they alter their behaviour? The way in which the plague acts and spreads is rooted firmly enough in fantasy that it didn’t feel too real, but the links are still there. Wear a mask y’all.

If you like any one of Shakespeare, historical fantasy, gangs and/or heists, or exes turned enemies to lovers, then you’ll enjoy this book! I highly recommend it, and I’m looking forward to its sequel!

**** 4.5/5 ****

When I heard what this book was about, a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in China in the 1920s? Yes, please.

It did not disappoint.

I loved the setting, I love the feeding gangs, I love the monster aspect. I just loved it okay?

I was only halfway through this and I had preordered a physical copy because I NEED it.

Cannot wait to read more about Juliette, Roma and their families.

DRC provided by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Chinese protagonist, queer deuteragonists, Korean deuteragonist, trans deuteragonist.

Trigger Warnings: abuse, violence, self-harm, death.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is an incredible retelling of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, set in the 1920’s, in a Shanghai partially controlled by different European foreigners and by the White Flowers, a gang ruled by the austere Lord Montagov, constituted of Russian descendants and refugees of the 1917 revolution; and partially ruled by Lord Cai and the autochthonous people that make up the Scarlet Gang.

In 1926, a monster awakens in the waters of the Huangpu river. A contagious madness floods the crowded streets of the city, jumping from person to person and causing them to gash at their throats with their own nails until they bleed to death. Rivals and heirs to their respective gangs, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov set out independently to find out what is afflicting Shanghai, but their tangled fate will force them to work together to save it while there is still a city to save.

Just know that the real monster in this story is not the one depicted in the pages, but the one writing them. Chloe Gong you are evil; you cannot do this without repercussions! I am going to suggest this book to everyone I know and anyone who would lend me an ear so that everybody can learn about your evilness.

If it was not clear enough, I really loved These Violent Delights and its characters. My favourites? The badass heiress to the Scarlet Gang, Juliette, which is hilarious to me since I am a member of the White Flower gang; and the two White Flowers who stole my heart, Marshall and Benedikt.

I am really looking forward to the sequel and I hope the author manages to also include a short trip to Verona in it!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a 1920's Shanghai set retelling of Romeo and Juliet that mixes magic, monsters and mobsters in an exciting and unexpected way. Our star crossed loves are Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, heirs to the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers respectively, gangs which have been engaged in a blood feud for generations. The twenties are a time of rapid change in the city, and the hold of the gangs is threatened by the emerging Communist Party, but we soon learn that a more deadly and mysterious threat is emerging and it does not discriminate between gang affiliations. It may be that the only way to defeat it is for these sworn enemies to work together for the greater good .
I have to admire the author's skill when it comes to describing the gangster lifestyle and the harsh realities faced by so many people at that time. Using the real political instability of that time as inspiration is a stroke of genius and adds an interesting extra dimension to the story. Where it lost traction for me was the fantasy element, it felt like it did not really gel with the rest of the book, almost like an unnecessary addition. I had no interest in that part of the plot, and could see the ending coming from a mile off, it was a distraction from the political intrigue and gang machinations that really interested me. I liked the characters, particularly that of Juliette and I found myself wanting to know more about several of the secondary characters.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I definitely think that the first thing that will pull you straight into this book is Chloe Gong’s very very intense writing. There is not a single moment that you forget how well written the book is. I’m aware that most people want to read this book because of the angst and Romeo-Juliet inspired retelling, (and personally for me there wasn’t as much angst as I thought I would find) but you’ll stay and love the book for how heavy its plot is and how thoroughly Chloe Gong has explored the world inside her mind to be able to write without any gaps in the world-building.

I absolutely adored Juliette’s personality. She was characterised fantastically to represent all the duality of her emotions and her position as heir. I loved how she’d shift between Juliette, the woman and Juliette, Scarlet Gang’s Heir and how they were both different but somehow utterly the same. I won’t lie, in the beginning the story line reminded me of something out of an Ilona Andrews’ book (and I love IA with all my heart so that was a big plus for me). However, I realised that this was because of the intense writing, gritty setting and the fantastic supporting characters. Chloe took her book in a direction that was completely her own and there was nothing else in my mind other than what Chloe wanted me to see.

Roma, strangely had his own tenor he brought to the story that tugs at your heart in a different way from Juliette’s. You diverge in rooting for both of them even if they stand on different sides. There’s a blood feud, a painful past, betrayal, secrets, warring emotions within and danger in Shanghai that Roma and Juliette must battle.

The only issue—which is a little big of a word—was that the pace became mildly unsteady for me in the middle and I had to push through those parts a little. That being said, the last fifteen percent was crazy swift and took off at a speed that had me racing to catch up because I desperately wanted to know what was next. Other than this and a minor plot armour moment, the book was way too lovely with fantastic LGBTQ+ rep, writing that’s so subtle it’s intense, character perspectives written with intent that provides depth and complexity to the already well layered plot and of course a lot of emotions that’ll grip you throughout ensuring you forget to see that which is right before you until it is sprung on you.

A very happy reading. Four and a half stars!! This was damn near perfect and a debut at that. Go in expecting more and you shall receive.

– 2.5 stars

Take this review with a grain of salt, because lately I can't seem to enjoy any book. My concentration span in quarentine is around 10 minutes max. If my attention is not catch by that time, it's lost. That being said I'm someone who under normal circumstances gets easily bored. 🙈

So far there are way more positive reviews for These Violent Delights, so I'm pretty sure that I'm the odd one here and have an <u>unpopular opinion</u>.

“You destroy me and then you kiss me. You give me reason to hate you and then you give me reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or your heart reaching for me?”

↳ PLOT

These Violent Delights is set in 1926 Shanghai. The city is unofficially divided into two territorties. One belongs to the <b>Scarlet Gang</b> and the other belongs to the White Flowers. These two rival gangs have been ruling Shanghai with an iron fist since forever. Now a madness is spreading throughout the city with members of both gangs dying by clawing out there throats. The story is all about finding the monster who is spreading this madness around the city. Therefore Juliette Cai, heir of the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir of the White Flowers, have to work together to find a cure.

↳ WHAT WAS MEH:

I'm partly to blame, because I'm putting too much hope into the romance aspect of these young adult fantasy books when it's not the focus of the story. I've only read this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling" and knew I had to read this book.. Romeo and Juliet?? Sign me up!

A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred.

Juliette and Roma are in rival gangs – forbidden aspect? check.
They have a past together, but then they betrayed each other – angst? check.
Reunited to work together to solve a mystery – yearning and longing? check.

On paper everything looks great, but the excecution was lacking and I know that it's partly on me and expecting to much of a romance in a book where it's not the main focus. The romance is a very small subplot. For a good amount of the times Juliette and Roma don't have scenes with each other, but are with their respective gang. The romance aspect didn't really start until maybe the last third of the book. The longing and yearning I was hoping fore was almost non-existent. Every time they had a scene together, I felt exactly nothing.. where was the angst?

One would think there would be so much tension leading to the explanation of the betrayal, but it wasn't. The Romeo and Juliet retelling was disappointing, not even the names that were almost the same could help.

“Just leave me here,” he said with a groan. “How are you this bad?” Juliette asked in disbelief. “I thought you were Russian.”
“I am Russian, not an alcoholic,” Roma muttered.

The romance can not be great, if half of ship is totally BLAND. I see this trend in YA books where the heroine is this kickass and powerful characters and then there is the Hero who just breathes and does nothing ordinary. That's Roma for you. As the heir of the White Flower he has to act tough, but he's acutally such a softie which is fine, but why couldn't he be more exciting???!!! Only for a little.

I don't know if it's inteded or not, but Juliette character arc was pretty fleshed out. We got all her thoughts on colonialism, backstory on how she was send to the US for educational purposes, her dynamics with her cousins and parents and her place in the gang. Compared to Juliette Roma was background noice. There was not much on his background and if this is something that is more explored in the next book, then I apologize in advance for critisizing this.

“So you,” Roma went on fiercely, “cannot fool me any longer. You are the same indomitable girl I would have laid my life down to save. I made my choice to believe in you—now you make yours. Will you keep fighting, or will you crumble?”

Speaking of characters, this book had quite a few, but the most important one next to Roma and Juliette were their cousins. Roma closest relationships are with Benedikt and Marshall, while Juliette is pretty close with her cousins Kathleen and Rosalind. While I love reading about different family dynamics/relationships I didn't care enough about any of them. For that reason it was boring to read the chapters where Kathleen/Rosalind/Benedikt/Marshall were wandering around Shanghai trying to help.

And then there is the plot, I wasn't very fond of. The whole "running around Shanghai finding the monster who spreads the madness" plot was not going anywhere. There were a couple subplots that started, but got lost somewhere. It's annoying how in most YA fantasy books for 80% of the book nothing really happens. The characters run around in circle and accomplish next to zero and in the last few chapters everything happens at once. Twist left and right and then the book ends when it is at its peak! 😬

“I am more concerned with why people were tearing their throats out in this house in the first place—”“It’s the madness,” Juliette interrupted. “It’s here, and it could be a viral contagion. We need to ask the other maids who were in contact with the victims to remain in their rooms for a few days.”

To read about these things during this year. Not that great. It's not the author's fault tbh, cause I doubt she knew what was coming when she wrote this book.

↳ WHAT WORKED WELL:

“My name was too Chinese for the West,” Juliette continued, a wry smile on her lips. She didn’t know why her face had morphed itself into amusement. She was anything but amused. “You know how it is—or maybe you don’t. A temporary thing for a temporary place, but now the temporary thing is burrowed in so deep it cannot be removed.”

Colonialism plays a huge part and Chloe Gong did a great job of portraying this. Foreigner like the British, French, Russians etc. were all over Shanghai to a point were the main character Juliette felt like a stranger in her own country. She came back to Shanghai after her parents send her abroad to study in the US. Now that she's back, Juliette's trying to navigate life. Other themes like racism and sexism were explored in this book too.

The Chinese had built the pit, gathered the wood, and lit the match, but it was the foreigners who had come in and poured gasoline upon every surface, letting Shanghai rage into an untamable forest fire of debauchery.

Juliette shading white people and hating on white supremacy throughout the entire book? LOVED THAT. Just things I love to read about and one of the biggest reasons I could push through this book.

It was the entitlement that drove these men forward. Entitlement that encouraged their wives to place a delicate handkerchief to their nose and sniff, wholeheartedly believing the tirade was deserved. They believed themselves the rulers of the world—on stolen land in America, on stolen land in Shanghai. Everywhere they went—entitlement.

Juliette was a very relatable character for me. Even though, Juliette is the heir to the Scarlet Gang, she had to work extremely hard to get where she is now. Juliette is tough and dangerous to prove to her parents and all the other gang members that she can get the job done. Tyler, one of her counsins, is trying to get Juliette's position, therefore Juliette has to work harder not to make any mistakes and prove that she's the right heir to the Scarlet Gang. As an asian kid, I think, a lot of people will be able to relate to her character to a degree. Having to work harder to prove your parents that you're getting shit done. Otherwise they still treat you like a kid even though you can be 30 or 55.

Books that end with a cliffhanger are always the worse. I didn't expect anything less from this book, but unfortunately I'm not interested enough in any of these characters or plot to continue with this series.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

i cannot believe i have survived this book, yet here we are. These Violent Delights is a heart-wrenching YA historical fantasy that tore my heart to pieces, yet left me wanting (and needing) more.

set in 1920s shanghai, the story is about two rival gangs, The Scarlet Gang and The White Flowers and their respective heirs, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, as they try to uncover the secrets behind the uncommon deaths among the citizens of their city. in order to do so, the two heirs must leave their blood feud -and history- aside. i found the premise to be very intriguing, and from the first page, the author sets you right in the mood for the book, with a gorgeous poetic writing and a beautiful use of words.

not only that, but i was also left speechless because of the way the author builds up to the climax of the story. i must admit, the book took quite some time to get into, and i did find the first 40% to be quite repetitive. for example, we are constantly reminded that juliette has power amongst the scarlet gang. i also found some of the scenes a little useless to the overall story. however, once the action part of the story starts, i was unable to stop reading. i realized later on that the author set a very steady base for the story, because i wasn’t lost and didn’t need to come back to previous parts of the book to remember some information.

the story also takes the time to speak loudly of political issues, such as the impact of colonization and imperialism, along with racism, which i had a great time reading about and comparing them to today’s world (i did not find much difference, and i didn’t know what to think of that).

and the ending was just heart-breaking. chloe gong slowly patched the broken pieces of my heart, only for her to stab me (metaphorically) in the end, with characters so well-crafted i could almost believe they are real. our two main characters, juliette and roma, are complicated and have many layers to them, which made them more than just characters on paper to me.

i honestly feel like These Violent Delights is the next Big Thing in YA. i am almost sure of it. and it deserves it. through the pages, i could feel the time it took the author to craft this story, the effort and the dedication. this story isn’t one i would stop thinking about soon, and is one you should keep on your radar, because it will break records.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

These Violent Delighte is a Romeo and Juliette retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. It follows rivals Juliette Cai, heir of the Scarlet gang and Roma Montagov, heir of the White Flowers. Juliette and Roma are forced to put aside their differences and work together.

I was so intrigued by the premise of the book and I went in with high expectations and I was happy that this book lived up to it. The writing in the book was so beautiful. It had the right balance between the political intrigue, romance and friendships.

I loved the dynamic between Juliette and Roma. Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers?? excellence so the angst, tension and yearning was... chefs kiss. Juliette was such a badass mc and she was hilarious too, I was laughing out loud at certain parts. Roma turning out to be the secret soft boy is everything I didn’t know I needed.

As well as this, the other relationships and friendships in this book meant so much to me. Juliette and Kathleen? Benedikt and Marshall? Roma and Alisa? The chaotic energy Juliette and Marshall have? Juliette, Roma, Kathleen, Benedikt and Marshall? I would lay my life down for all of them.

I did not see the plot twists coming and the cliffhanger at the end but I can’t wait for the next book and see how the relationships develop.

Oh wow. This was good.

This was such a brilliant take on Romeo and Juliet, a vast improvement on the original in my opinion, and an amazing story in its own right.

Star crossed lovers set in 1920's Shanghai, between rival gang heirs, oh and also a madness sweeping the city and killing people, with a mystery of how to stop it thrown in. Yes please!

The idea of this book intrigued me from the start, I wanted to see how a retelling of this tradgey would play out, and I was not disappointed. The original really vexes me with its grand gestures, backed up by nothing. Two people being in love after first sight. Yuck.

But this book gave our two lovers history. There is more to their relationship than meets the eye and is deliciously discovered throughout the book. You have to wait for the pay off and it definitely serves.

The side characters in this book were also brilliant. I felt a big connection with Kathleen, Marshall and Benedikt. They aren't just merely there to help further the main characters narrative, we learn things about them too. I looked forward to having more scenes from their perspectives and really cared about them.

The nods to the original story were also present and very artfully done. Without spoilers but certainly reference some key points, but also in a fresh and unique way, taking away the predictability of the retelling.

At the beginning I felt a little out of touch with Juliet, she seemed to be quite inconsistent with their character. But after reading more, it was actually more of a reflection of her character. Of a woman who has been questioning her place all her life. Is she Chinese, is she Shanghai-nese, is she American?

I would say, to those thinking of reading. I would be wary to pick this up if you are prone to be triggered by the themes of plague and death, especially after this year and Covid19. The author predicted greatly a lot of people's uncaring attitudes to those affected by the madness in this book, mirroring all to much of what we have seen in reality. If you are someone who has been personally affected by the pandemic in a noticeable way to yourself, please proceed with caution.

But on a purely story based front, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was angsty, had mystery, had fantasy features, romance, amazing friendships and more. Definitely one to watch. Shall be waiting for the sequel, because that ending... Omg.



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

I was so happy to receive an ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review – thank you so much! These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020, so I was eager to read it. It was the first book I picked up in November because I couldn’t resist starting it – and I wasn’t disappointed! Chloe Gong really knocked it out of the park. These Violent Delights is longer than I expected – and the font was quite small – but I still moved through it quickly as I found it hard to put down.

You know there are some books that are supposedly enemies-to-lovers but they’re not really enemies? As this book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, the enemies are very much real. Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai come from opposing gangs in Shanghai which have a long and bloody history. Juliette is uncompromising and fierce, and even though I didn’t agree with all her decisions, I respected her so much. Roma also is the type of guy who refuses to back down, which lead to a lot of confrontations. It was a bit frustrating because I just wanted them to be happy together, but the tension means the enemies-to-lovers relationship is excellent!

Both Juliette and Roma are the heirs of their respective families, and this cutthroat setting really creates a burden on their shoulders. There was bloodshed in the past, and I was so intrigued to find out what worsened the blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. However, they must put aside their differences and work together when a madness appears in the city and people start dying with no explanation. This is a dark book, reflecting the atmosphere in Shanghai at the time, so there is a lot of violence, almost always to do with the gangs.

I really enjoyed the madness part of the plot because I couldn’t wait to find out the answers. I do wish there was a bit more detail and development in that area, but I’m sure we’ll learn more in future books. There are lots of twists and turns, and the direction of the book definitely surprised me, especially at the end. I really cannot wait to read more of this story because there is so much more I want to happen!

"A temporary thing for a temporary place, but now the temporary thing is burrowed in so deep it cannot be removed"

I had such a fun experience reading this book. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect – all I really knew before going in was that this book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. So the book is historical YA, but also with some fantasy/sci-fi elements. The setting was so well described – it really felt like I was there. The writing is one of the huge highlights of this book, and it even felt like Shanghai itself was a character. There is such a mix of people in the city, and it was so frustrating to see the effects of colonialism on Shanghai as a whole and also individual people.

The supporting characters also really shone in this story, notably Benedikt, Marshall, Rosalind and Kathleen. They all have a different dynamic with Roma and Juliette respectively, and their interactions were so fun to read about. There are a lot of LGBTQ+ characters, including a trans side character, which was really great to see. I’d love to know more about all of these characters, because there were definitely hints about more detailed backstories.

So overall, this was such a strong debut! I’m already highly anticipating more from Chloe Gong, and I can’t wait to see these characters again. The descriptions are truly amazing, and if you like books with complex and morally grey characters with a hint of fantasy, you’ll love this book. I’d just be aware of content warnings for violence, death, and descriptions of deaths caused by the madness.

4.5/5 stars