Immortal Longings is an action-packed urban fantasy with a dramatic premise; an annual city-wide games where 88 participants fight to the death, with the added chaos of the ability to jump between bodies. It is set in the overcrowded city of San-Er, and I really enjoyed some of the vivid protrayals of the busyness and cramped turmoil.

There is, at a times, quite a lot of information thrown at the reader, and I found there to be a strange juxtaposition between learning too much about some things, and not enough to give me a full picture about others. Ultimately, however, the thing that stopped me from fully being hooked into this story was that I struggled to find someone to root for. The main three characters of Calla, Anton and August all have somewhat understandable motivations, but they are unlikeable and didn't excite me. I am sure that readers who can find a character to latch onto will enjoy the dive into San-Er, but for me, my interest stayed surface level.

From the moment I picked up Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, I was completely enthralled. This highly anticipated book exceeded all my expectations, showcasing Gong's exceptional writing talent and raw storytelling ability.

Gong's departure from her usual YA genre is a bold move, but it pays off brilliantly in this dark and gripping tale. Immortal Longings explores themes of childhood trauma, graphic violence, and horror, making it a departure from her previous Secret Shanghai novels. While I knew better than to get attached to the characters, I couldn't help myself, and now I'm left emotionally wrecked.

The romance in the story takes a backseat, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the harrowing world of San-Er and its deadly games. The book reminded me of the intensity of The Hunger Games, and as a fan of dystopian literature, I found myself thoroughly engrossed.

What sets Immortal Longings apart is the author's impeccable pacing and captivating writing style. I devoured this book within hours, unable to tear myself away from the page. Gong's careful choice of words and meticulous world-building shine through, making every aspect of the story come alive.

Princess Calla is a remarkable and resilient protagonist. Her ambition, reminiscent of Shakespearean characters, drives her through the treacherous world of San-Er. I became deeply invested in her journey and eagerly await the next instalment to see how her character evolves.

The ending of Immortal Longings left me speechless and longing for more. It was a masterful conclusion that promises even greater adventures to come.

Chloe Gong is probably my favourite author at this moment in time.

I was sceptical of this read as a huge fan of Chloe’s previous work, I felt this wouldn’t be able to come close to how much I enjoyed those.

From the start of this story, I was hooked! Chloe’s world building is unmatched. Although similar to other fantasy series, like The Hunger Games, this story felt fresh and new.

I simply cannot wait for the sequel.

It took, a while to really get into the book but once I did I didn not want to put it down. I do enjoy a book with multiple povs and this was done well. The characters themselves seemed to be inconsistent in their traits that were discussed early on. I understand characters grow and develop with the plot but it didn't seem to really be done gradually and in a way that has the author agreeing and understanding the changes that occur in them. It was still a fun read especially
the world building

”There are no gods in this world. Only kings and tyrants”


There’s just something about Chloe Gong and her Shakespeare retellings that are just magical.


Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!


This was the best book I’ve read this year. No question about it. (not including some rereads but still this has made its way up on my all time favourite books list) Even before I started it, I had no doubt that I would love it. It’s written by Chloe Gong. I’ve loved These Violent Delights. No way in hell I wouldn’t love this too and I was right.


I went into this book not knowing a lot about it to be honest. I knew it was inspired by Antony and Cleopatra, and that was enough for me. And to add to that I believe that the best way to go into this book is to go without knowing anything. Without setting any expectations. But if you’re not convinced, to give it a short and quick summary:

The story takes place in the kingdom of Talin and every year in its capital twin cities, San-Er, the palace hosts a set of deadly games - those who are confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies enter this fight to the death in order to win riches they couldn’t even dream of. And, of course, our two main characters are taking part in these games. Calla Tuoleimi is a princess in hiding as she was the one who massacred her parents and left the palace of Er empty five years before. Her intentions, you might ask? To bring down the monarchy and kill King Kasa before she is caught and the only way to do that is by winning the games and facing him as the victor. Then we have Anton Makusa, an aristocrat in exile, and the only way of saving his childhood love is by entering the games and winning the prize. An unexpected alliance is formed between Calla and Anton and things only get more interesting from there.


When I tell you that this book kept me on the edge of my toes I’m not joking and I’m not exaggerating either. Chloe Gong is a masterful storyteller and she knows how to keep her readers hooked from page one. All the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Most times I couldn’t believe what I’ve just read. Everything was so diligently crafted and added into the story and my brain could barely process the things it was witnessing.


Honestly every character in this book is a major walking red flag, but for them I’m colorblind. I couldn’t help loving them. Flaws and all. I love some good morally grey characters and red flags.



What are memories if not stories told repeatedly to oneself? Her whole body is the very narrative of her existence.”


Calla was the character that shone brightest in this book with her cunningness, intelligence and ruthlessness. While this is a multi POV book, she is the character who is most important to the plot and probably the one with the most chapters. Her character was so utterly complex and I just loved learning more about her. It was so fascinating to see what motivated her and what drove her to fulfil her goal. Despite being a princess, Calla hasn’t had an easy life. There are a lot of hardships that she has endured throughout her life and those little things combined have led her to be the person we get to see in the present. Setting those aside, her refusal to jump between bodies has had me curious since the beginning. The games heavily rely on this ability so why wasn’t she using it? Was it arrogance? The palace’s teachings? Her reasons turned out to be so much more convoluted then they first appeared and the explanations left my jaw on the floor.


Anton, as our princess, was another mystery that I desperately wanted to solve and understand. There were so many questions surrounding his past in the beginning, and I’ve always had this frantic need for answers. He is such a charming character and he has piqued my interest from his first time on the page. As Calla, he is a walking disaster dealing with his own set of misfortunes. For years he has lived by jumping from body to body, being one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, but what happened that led him to be in exile, living like this? Why did Otta, his childhood love, lay in a coma and why was he the only one trying to keep her alive? What happened in his past that led to all this? All these questions were swarming in my head while reading and I felt like I couldn’t put the books down until I got the answers I wanted.


”Love isn’t deserved. It is given freely.”


The relationship between those two had me on my knees. The tension!!! Miss Gong right here is a queen at writing rivals-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers <s>however you perceive their ship to be</s>. The aspect of both of them participating in the games and having to face each other in a battle to the death if they want to attain their goals, made their whole dynamics so much more alluring. Their banter and interactions were everything!! I found myself more than once just squealing because I could not handle what was being thrown our way. The angst intertwined with these somewhat fluffy and sweet scenes and topped off with a couple of steamy scenes just made their whole relationship so much better. I’m gonna be honest I wish there was a tad bit more development for it. It felt a bit sudden at first, but aside from that I have no complaints.


”He is more poisonous than all the cinnabar in the world combined.”


Then we have August, who was honestly my favourite character, despite being the one with the most questionable motives. He is a really twisted character. One moment he may seem to have the purest of intentions and the next he is a sadistic asshole. But that’s exactly what made him the most interesting character to me. Out of all the characters, he is the one that had the most depth and the moment you thought you started understanding him, he does something that just makes you question his whole character all over again. He seems to genuinely care for the kingdom and its people, but his approach to trying to better the kingdom makes you wonder whether you should root for him or not. His relationship with Galipei is something that I took a strong interest in. Galipei seems to be truly devoted to his prince, and although he probably deserves better, I genuinely shipped him with August. I felt like there was so much tension there and I just couldn’t help myself. It got to a point where I want to say that I was invested in their dynamics as much as I was in Calla and Anton’s.


The magic system and world-building was interesting. I don’t really have much to comment on the world we were thrown in. It felt a lot like any standard fantasy world with a corrupt monarchy. There wasn’t anything that stood out in that regard, but I truly loved the jumping aspect. I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like this in any other book or maybe they just didn’t stand out to me. This did though. I loved the way it was added so seamlessly into the story and it was such a fascinating power to read about.


Well, after this ending it’s time to suffer as I wait for the sequel. I won’t forgive Chloe Gong for leaving me hanging like this. although I should have expected this.


”Death is easy to summon in San-Er, but one cannot go offending it either.”


Everyone please buy and read this book when it gets released because it was truly a phenomenal read that needs more hype!!


Immortal Longings is out July 18th in the US and July 25th in the UK!!

Another great book by Chloe Gong! Beautifully written and a brilliant story! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.25 ☆
Chloe Gong never ceases to amaze me! After the series of Secret Shanghai, which has become one of my favorite series ever, the queen is back with a new story this time but with an Adult tone and with much more brutality and violence!

Immortal Longings is a retelling of Antony and Cleopatra, from the vibes of The Hunger Games and inspired by the Walled City of Kowloon, a city in the Hong Kong region that made it the most populated city in the world in the 90s!

The first 30% of the book was quite slow but necessary to introduce new worldbuilding, new characters and a new story.
From the middle onwards the book becomes really full of action and the interactions between the characters become more and more interesting and even a little spicy... I couldn't stop reading and in one afternoon I had finished it!
The story is full of court intrigues, social and political issues, deadly games, fights, betrayals and of course also a rivals-to-lovers love story full of angst, violence but also sweet and spicy moments (coff, coff.. chapter 23).

I really liked the two MCs and Chloe Gong always manages to give life to real characters, full of emotions, motivations and feelings!
Calla Touleimi is a real badass, consumes about 364756 cigarettes a day, killed her parents, and is trying to bring down the monarchy, but at the same time she's fragile, passionate and has a very cute cat (Mao Mao I love you!)... it reminded me a lot of Juliette Cai but Calla is much more cruel and dark and obviously also more mature and adult.
On the other side we have Anton Makusa, outcast from his family, full of childhood traumas, with his childhood love in a coma and too caring and worried!
And then there's August, drunk of power as he waits for his adoptive father to leave to take the throne. He is a truly complex character.

Chloe's writing is truly something unique and even in this book she managed to capture me and make me feel part of the story, I also loved the multiple POVs and made the characters even more vivid.
As I said before, Immortal Longings is a dark book full of graphic violence, blood, fights, deaths, childhood traumas, a pinch of spicy and a city devastated by poverty, fights and the monarchy.

The magical system is also very fascinating: the qi (氣), the fact of jumping from one body to another and changing bodies is really interesting... I still have some doubts about some things but Immortal Longings is the first book of a trilogy so in the next books I think my doubts will be dissolved.

I really liked the ending, it was quite predictable, but the plot twist made me scream and the final sentence made me scream even more... maybe the whole ending was a bit too fast but I cant't wait to read the next book and I'm sure it will be even better since by now we already have a lot of worldbuilding and the dynamics between the characters have already broken out!

If you loved Chloe Gong's other books I highly recommend reading her adult debut, and if you haven't read Secret Shanghai YA series I still recommend reading Immortal Longings if you love Hunger Gmaes, morally gray characters and Rivals-to-Lovers!

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder&Stoughton and Chloe Gong for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Can't wait to read the sequel!
Immortal Longins is out everywhere on July 18, 2023. Don't miss it!!

It was a wonderful book. It has the essence of the story of Antony and Cleopatra but put into a completely new and different world that changes their personalities and helps them develop as characters beyond the mythology that has been created around them.
The world and the plot are complex but the author introduces them in a way that you don't get lost. As well as having some plot-twist and mystery that blew me away.
You can tell that Chloe Gong has matured as an author and I loved the story.

Antony and Cleopatra meets Battle Royale/Hunger Games and it's going to live rent free in my head for ages.

I don't even know where to start with this book and I say that a lot but this time I am really at a loss. I've not read Gong's other works (I know, I know) but I know she's incredibly well received and I can absolutely see why. This book had everything, characters you love and hate, great side characters, romance, sword fights, a cat!

We have three main characters, Calla and Anton are the two main mains and then August who remains a bit of a mystery while we still learn bits about him. Side note, love that everyone is in their 20s. We need more of that. Calla, I wasn't sure about from the start. She had me thinking she'd be another toughy-tough girl MC with sass and blah blah blah. I am so pleased to say I was wrong. Her character was a lot of things but underwhelming was not one of them.

Anton we only get to know because in this world the person's qi (and all they are) jumps with them when they change bodies. While we know his birth body is just hanging out somewhere, he's constantly changing shells. This was a really interesting point to the story because it added some different levels to how characters faces and eyes are often described. Gong had to do it in a way that the bodies Anton was in almost were irrelevant. He could have just been space dust and the effect would have HAD to be the same to keep his character. It was something kinda new and I'm into it. 10/10 there.

I'm really not going to talk too much about August and when you finish the book, you'll understand why.

I am really, really looking forward to where the story goes next. I want more of this world, Calla and Anton, the Crescent Society and their whole thing with what Pampi had going on. Basically, just more of everything.

And finally, I cannot explain why but for whatever reason my entire favourite line in this whole book was 'Here's your stupid lunch'. It just got me.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Dystopian setting, pure action & hunger games type of competition for adults. Every character was multi faceted and each time I thought I understood them they'd surprise me. The hints dropped in between and trying to understand characters' emotions just from their words instead of having it explained, made each POV fascinating to read. And THAT ending....oh wow can't wait for book two!!

Special thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley UK for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Now I will be honest I struggled with this book for the first 60% there’s a lot of world building a took me a while to figure out the locations and if it was old worldly or dystopian. But my god the last 40% had me gripped, I did not see the plot twist about calla coming at all and I did actually exclaim out loud NO WAY. The love story could have done with a bit more development in my opinion, I prefer more flirting and the slow burn. Would recommend to those that enjoyed throne of glass and the serpent and the wings of night very similar themes.

The book is interesting from the beginning, it is impossible for the characters not to catch your attention. My favorite aspect of this novel is probably the magic system, specifically, the concept of "jumping" in this universe. the plot is SO complex, and has so many layers, as do the characters.
In general, this is a great start of a new series that I'm really excited to continue reading.

Title: Immortal Longings
Author: Chloe Gong

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is a captivating novel that I had the pleasure of reading as an advance copy. Set in 1926 Shanghai, this book offers a unique blend of historical fiction, romance, and fantastical elements that kept me enthralled from start to finish.

Gong's writing style is exquisite, painting vivid and atmospheric scenes that transported me to the glamorous yet treacherous world of 1920s Shanghai. Her attention to detail is commendable, capturing the essence of the time period and infusing it with a touch of magic. The prose flows effortlessly, making it a joy to read.

The story itself is a brilliant reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set against a backdrop of feuding rival gangs in a city caught between tradition and modernity. Gong deftly weaves together themes of love, loyalty, and duty, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The characters are complex and well-developed, and I found myself deeply invested in their fates. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov make for compelling protagonists, and their star-crossed romance is both heartwrenching and beautiful.

What impressed me most about Immortal Longings is Gong's ability to seamlessly integrate Chinese culture and folklore into the narrative. The incorporation of mythical creatures, such as fox spirits and dragons, adds an enchanting layer to the story, and the exploration of Chinese traditions and societal expectations adds depth and authenticity.

I highly recommend Immortal Longings to fans of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. Chloe Gong has crafted a mesmerizing tale that will transport readers to a bygone era, where love and danger intertwine in a city on the brink of change. This book left me longing for more, and I eagerly anticipate future works from this talented author.

Morally Grey FMC ✅
Rivals to lovers ✅
Interesting world system ✅

Overall I enjoyed this book. The description caught my attention immediately as I love books based on deadly games. Other key parts that caught my eye were 'only one of them can walk out alive.'. Chloe's writing is right up my street and I found her storytelling gripping.

The pacing of this book felt some what slow to me, although I was always eager to pick it up and read more. I wish some of the fighting scenes were longer and a bit more complex, a lot of the time they were over as quick as they'd begun.

The world of San-er is interesting and described with attention to detail. You get to understand that the world is in disarray, but the crown will do nothing about it so our main character Calla is taking it into her own hands.

This book is written from multiple pov's, which makes the story very dynamic and interesting. Often I don't enjoy multiple pov's as I always prefer one character above the rest, but I didn't find that with this book.

The 3 main characters are all people who will do anything to get what they want, so it makes the dynamic interesting. Our main character Calla isn't afraid of getting her hands dirty to fulfil what she thinks is right, although sometimes it's a bit brutal. I'm not sure she has a moral compass, but it does make for an interesting story.

The romance subplot was fun. I always enjoy a rivals to lovers trope so that had interested right away. There was a bit of a slow burn, but them when it got going they said I love you almost instantly which was a bit quick for my liking. The end of the book does have me intrigued to see how their relationship develops in the second book.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the ARC to review.

Immortal Longings is a retelling of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra with a strong Hunger Games vibe by Chloe Gong (famous for Secret Shanghai novels and the False Gods trilogy).

This book is written for adult readers and includes a lot of violence. The main plot is about bloody games where only one can win - and to win, you need to kill everyone else. If you win - you will get a lot of money and a chance to handshake with the tyrannic king Kasa. The first thing, money, needs Anton Makusa to save his childhood love. The second thing needs Calla Tuoleimi, a long-lost princess, ready to kill the king.

This plot promises many moral dilemmas and strong emotions. But we do not get them. Both main characters lack some higher purpose. Sure they have some goals about winning but it did not feel convincing. The romantic line is without real chemistry. Anton and Calla don't talk to each other. They are more like partners but not friends or true lovers.

On the other hand, we get a brilliant idea of a magic system. Changing bodies poses plenty of opportunities. I liked this a lot. But there are some moral questions that the characters did not care about and the author lost some great chances to sort them out.

The begging of the book felt strongest. The ending was truly a monumental plot twist but delivered to the story some serious plot holes.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC.

Chloe gong has done it once again.
A thrilling dystopian hunger games type energy with romance and Sci Fi fantasy vibes.
A futuristic retelling of cleopatra and political scheming fitting for an adult audience-you'll be hooked and on the edge of your seat reading this!
Cannot wait for the sequel!

“#1 New York Times bestselling YA author Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra , is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games”

“What are memories if not stories told repeatedly to oneself?”

Where do I start with this review? From the very beginning Chloe’s writing draws you in, the desertion of the cities and surroundings felt like you were there yourself watching everything unfold. The action had me hooked as well as uncovering more about the secrets of the Crescent Society.

Calla as a person is so strong willed and determined and her wanting to win the games to help those who have nothing and are treated like nothing just as she was shows that. “The weight of the kingdom hefted upon her shoulders by her own appointment”.

Also the banter between her and Anton was amazing and I loved seeing her start putting her trust in him; them together literally had me giggling and kicking my feet they’re perfect!

The ending as well Omg I need the next book immediately - “What fine daylight we have today” will live in my mind rent free

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Immortal Longings takes place in a semi-futuristic Hong Kong-like dual cityscape where some people have the ability to "jump" and take over someone else's body. There is an urban Hunger Games-like event that takes place, which is where we follow our main characters.

To start, I have never read any of Chloe Gong's other work. This is her first adult book, and I would say... you can tell. Other than a tiny bit of spice, this book feels very young adult. While our characters are all around age 25, it does not feel that way. Plus, the pacing feels very YA, because no scene lasts any longer than necessary. This is a quick, easy read.

A friend of mine said this book was good "so long as you suspend disbelief," and I fully agree with this sentiment. While yes, this is an SFF book that already requires a suspension of disbelief, this book goes further than most. The concept of "jumping" leads the reader to think of so many hypotheticals, many of which the author just hand waves away. Is it interesting? Yes. Will you find the premise doesn't make sense if you think about it too much? Also yes.

Despite both of the above, this was SO enjoyable. I (a thirty-one year old woman) felt like a teenager reading The Hunger Games again, and found myself fitting chapters in between tasks at work. I couldn't put it down, and read it in slightly over 48 hours. If you enjoy fast-paced, low-level fantasy, you will also enjoy this book. While I don't see it becoming a favorite series for me, I will definitely be picking up the sequel whenever it comes out.

Chloe Gong did it again for me!! Honestly, I really did not know what to expect as this is her adult fantasy debut, but every thought was exceeded!! This book is a dystopian epic fantasy romance novel. We follow Princess Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa. We follow them as they turn from rivals to lovers amidst the blood games. If The Hunger Games and Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra had a baby, it would be this book.

I love how much we get from Calla. The content, the plot and the characteristics of her, truly enthralled me. She is intriguing and fascinating. In the beginning, we are given multiple holes in her characteristics. Some things did not sit quite right for me in the beginning and the mystery of Calla Tuoleimi, did not disappoint. It will all makes sense once you near the end of the book. In modern-day society, she'd be a girl boss. PERIOD.

In my opinion, there is no better match for Calla than Anton Makusa. Anton is literally Calla's partner and equal. I love the detail in the book which points out how they are physically matched and attuned with each other (ehem.. take that statement how you want to take that hehe). But quite literally, he is soft yet rough, he is literally a paradox in my opinion. There is so much that he's been through and yet he is able to pull himself together and just be the oddly goofy self around Calla. With Calla, he is soft, encouraging, loving and caring. Honestly, what else is there to say?

Find a man like Anton Makusa.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in search of a little rival-to-lovers romance amidst blood games, looking for a Hunger Games X Anthony and Cleopatra-inspired novel and in search of some enthralling plot.

1,5 stars, rounded up because I usually like Chloe Gong's books and I think you either click with this one, or don't.

I'm mostly meh about this book. It's like Chloe Gong went out of her way to use every small thing I disliked in each of her previous books (which, I actually really liked for the most part!) to combine into this one. The pacing made this really difficult for me to push through, the descriptions were almost painfully academic (very lengthy repetitive info dumping) with very little room left for the reader to breathe and take it all in. It all ends up sounding super pretentious, which I'm sure wasn't the aim of this story.

Some characters I kept confusing with others, and I think the plot in general lacked the exciting X factor we all look forward to when grabbing a novel we have very high expectations for. I'm sad because I still do think the premise of this book could have been better executed, had it been less complex or simply better edited or written with more experience in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. There's really no need for a trilogy if you just get to the point!