Sadly this wasn't for me! This sounded perfect for me but I just couldn't connect with the characters and there was so much info dumping that I could not force myself to read anymore. I found that whilst there was so much detail about certain aspects of the world, the body jumping wasn't explored critically. The lack conversation around consent made this very uncomfortable to read at points and I just didn't feel this was investing in.

This one just didn't work for me. The world had potential but it wasn't fully utilised in my opinion. I couldn't connect with the characters and the body swapping concept made me a little uncomfortable.

when I first heard that Chloe Gong was writing her first adult book based on Antony and Cleopatra I'll admit that I was pumped for the former and a little skeptical of the latter. This was an amazing adventure! Calla was such an interesting heroine, she was sassy, capable, just overall great and this world was fascinating. I can't wait to see where this goes next!

‘Every year, thousands flock to San-Er, the dangerously dense capital twin cities of the kingdom of Talin, where the palace hosts a set of deadly games. Those confident in their ability to jump between bodies can enter a fight to the death - for the chance to win unimaginable riches.

Princess Calla Tuoleimi has been in hiding for five years, ever since she murdered her parents to free the people of Talin from her tyrannical family. Only one person left: her reclusive uncle King Kasa. If she wins, she will finally get the chance to kill him.’

I was really looking forward to this book as I have a soft spot for a book about deadly games. The world building was a lot of the first 25% of the book which I don’t mind as long as there is some action as well. There was but it was sporadic considering the games seemed to be the central point of the story.

I also need to get my biggest ICK out of the way: the body jumping…whilst I understand it, there is a love scene in this book and they are both in borrowed bodies! Not only that but we know that the people can be conscious of what’s happening as well so this is Wonder Woman 84 levels of inappropriate lack of consent.

I did enjoy the female main character and happy she had a hard edge to her as well as a soft side in her few friends. Anton’s motives seem slightly stalkerish for me but when you have a book about fighting to the death I guess that doesn’t matter as much?

Whilst I was happy to go along for the ride this was a long book that could have been edited down, I wanted to enjoy it more than I actually did and I am in two minds whether to complete the series.

I did like the book and if you can stick with it the second half is much better than the first.

Yeah so this is definitely not for me. I think I'm coming to realize that Chloe Gong's writing is perhaps not meant for me. I loved the TVD duology but looking back I think I did because I binged both books in a day and then promptly forgot about them in a short while. I haven't really liked any of her work much post that. Not to say it's not good, but it's just not too appealing to me.

I really wanted to love this book but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it.
I didn’t care about the characters at all and the plot felt rather convoluted and confusing especially at the beginning. I cannot judge whether this got better because I dnf this book at 30% as I had no desire to continue reading and was not going to force myself through a story I didn’t enjoy but at the same time I feel like that’s fair because at 30% the story should have started to grip me which sadly didn’t happen.

Chloe Gong's books do not disappoint. Loved the magic system.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I've previously really enjoyed Chloe Gong's books and Immortal Longings did not disappoint. It was gripping with phenomenal World building and wonderful characters. Would definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc. I have requested it because I really wanted to try a Chloe Gong book and the synopsis for this one sounded incredible. The story and world building were interesting enough to keep me reading, but unfortunately the characters were not my favourite. I have mixed feelings about this book, but I still think it is worth reading. I will keep this in mind for when vol 2 comes out, depending on my reading mood I might pick it up.

This was overall a good book and I liked it.

I was confused by all the different POVs and it threw me off a little. I really liked the worldbuilding and magic system!

I don't know what it was about this book that didn't quite work for me, but unfortunately, it just didn't. The writing was great, with an immediacy to it that I really liked. The plot was simple but well constructed. The characters were interesting and the world building was good. For some reason however, the sum of these parts didn't connect with me, but I am quite sure that there are many people who will eat this book up - I just wish I was one of them!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Incredible as always with Chloe Gong !

I really loved the "These violent Delights" serie and I was so excited to finally discover her new adult one.
And I loved it ! Chloe is kind of Shhakespeare retailling queen at this point. All is extremely well done in this book. The characters and storyline are impressive to me and I'm even more impress by the atmosphere which is depaint here and all this universe.

A hit for sure !

This is the first Gong book that I have really embraced and enjoyed every second and perhaps that's due to the target audience change, I'm unsure - But I was very much into this!

The action in this was spot on, I loved the sarcasm and wit of the characters and we gots all the fire in this one! I enjoyed the romance element and we got a bit of a 'Whoa there Nelly!' at the end! I'm confident I'd jump feet first into book two and I look forward to seeing how the st

I felt like this was just lacking in everything. The world building, the characters, the politics, magic and the plot all just missed any depth - and that's even with all the massive amounts of info dumping that Chloe Gong provides to try and set up this city.

I read a lot of fantasy, and it's really, really obvious when an author just doesn't spend time finessing their world. Immortal Longings just felt a bit amateurish in execution, with clunky dialogue and prose. The games that are promised in the summary failed to invite any kind of tension to the plot, and the romance just wasn't interesting or developed.

Disappointing, but you can tell Gong has promise with big ideas and an epic imagination. She just needs time to develop her craft.

DNF at 45%
The characters barely have any personality, the info dump is insane. I have no idea what's happening and I don't care

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is positively a gem! While it took me few pages to get into this new world since I got the hang of it, I could not put it down. It kept me glued to the pages. I was eagerly turning page after page, desperately wanting to know what happens next.

Chloe Gong once again proved that she is a master storyteller, seamlessly weaving a tale of bloodbath, ancient rivalries, power struggle, and the timeless struggle between mortality and immortality.

Calla Tuoleimi (23 years old), a princess who murdered her whole family and then went into hiding? Oh boy. Have you read Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and loved Mia Corvere? Then you should read this book and fall in love with Calla. Those heroines are not the same, naturally, but I think they could be great friends or even greater enemies. Anton Makusa (25 years old), an exiled aristocrat, truly grew on me. Yeah, he is another one of my bookish boyfriends now.

Their relationship may seem a bit instalovey but once I read A Conversation with Chloe Gong I fully understand why it is written like that and I love this turbulent relationship. I crave drama as long as it is in books and not in my life. They try to kill each other very aggressively on their first meeting and then these maniacs become unexpected allies, which makes you wonder if or more likely when they are either going to tear each other apart just for them to eventually end up having sex 🤭. It´s safe to say that this book made me very happy! ❤️🔥

And while I am allergic to cats, I once again found myself caring about that fluffy ball called Mao Mao. I was worried for a bit.

The only thing that could be improved is the talk about consent, but I understand that the characters simply live in a world where taking over another body has become a norm and they are not too bothered by it.

Overall, Chloe Gong has once again crafted a compelling narrative that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page and makes you crave the sequel ASAP. The ending… wow. It absolutely left me wanting more. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys deadly games and morally grey characters, who cross over into villain territory.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, Immortal Longings is the first book in an adult fantasy trilogy where two characters, Calla and Anton, enter a deadly game set in a walled city with 90s noir vibes and where people have the ability to swap bodies. I liked the concept, but I was quite underwhelmed by the rushed romance and the fact that the game gets relegated to the background as the book progresses. That said, the ending leaves things in a very interesting place for the sequels.

This was not what I expected and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Modern with a Hunger Games feel. The twists I didn't see coming and I was fully invested in the characters.
The magic aspect of people being able to "jump" into other bodies was such a fascinating idea, the fact that the persons Qi is what makes the person the person not what they look like on the outside as bodies are literally able to be changed like clothing by those with the jumping gene.
The world building was also done really well, the oppression by nobility was truly felt and there was also the religious aspects as well making this more than just a standard fight for your life game of survival.
Look forward to seeing what happens with the next book after that crazy ending. Need to know what happens next!

I really struggled to engage with this book and didn't feel like picking it back up after pausing. It took me weeks to make progress, and my motivation stemmed more from the desire to complete it than any genuine enjoyment. The plot lacked originality, resembling a typical Hunger Games-style setup with a monarchy twist. However, it failed to offer a unique perspective or critical commentary on classism and oppression, making it feel unoriginal and uninspired. The abundance of characters and convoluted plotlines made it exhausting to follow, and the shallow characterization left me uninterested in any of their fates. The inner monologues lacked depth and personality, serving as mere conduits for more unnecessary info dumping.

Moreover, the attempt to create mystery around the characters fell flat. Instead of intriguing me, the lack of substantial information only increased my confusion and detachment. The absence of clear character motivations for their involvement in the games left me uninvested in them. Overall, the book lacked excitement, depth, and originality, resulting in a painfully dull reading experience.

I was so disappointed by this book. I had such high hopes, as I adored the These Violent Delights duology and they where both five star reads for me. However, this book was just not it, There was too much information within this book, that I definitely felt could have been chopped down a LOT. The plot wasn't gripping for me, and I felt completely detached from the characters.