I am always become big fans of reimage or unique retelling. And for years after The Hunger Games series, there is no other series dare to offer story with real high stakes and bloody competition. And this book gave me all of that in one one sitting.

This was my second read from the author and I absolutely love this version of her writing. The prose is darker and beautifully delivered, Descriptive and kinda repetitive for the world surrounding the characters. But it also help me as readers to absorb into our main characters's eyes. Actually the worldbuild, background historical, details setting and magic system seem so intriguing but kinda confusing. Maybe I need to reread later.

I am not fans of the characters names, it was too obviously butchering, too similar with the real one but I still enjoyed to peek their voices, their relationship and got heart sport when following their bloody feral actions. I absolute love this brutal, fast pace and intriguing story. I won't ruin other readers experience with too much details about the characters because I think Cala, Anton and August's ARC journey are the best gems that worth your time to explore.

Thank you Hodderscape from Hodder&Stoughton and Netgalley for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions always become my own.

*4.5 stars

The only way to win, is to survive

This book was utterly delectable, throughly feral, and a complete thrill from start to finish.

The Hunger Games x 90s Asian Noir x Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. RUN DON'T WALK to pre-order this bad boy, trust me you need it in your life.

I am going to wait to post a full in-depth review until the book is out, but in the meantime if you hear rabid screeching from the direction of New Zealand, it's me thinking about this book.

miss chloe gong just cannot miss i fear. every single book she writes feels like a dagger to my heart. the only complain i have is having to wait for the second book because that ending got me screaming like phoebe bridgers at the end of i know the end for real.

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!!

the complex world building and action in this book had me flying through the pages unable to put it down. I absolutely love Chloe Gong's writing because you really feel as if you are right there in the book experiencing everything with the characters as they do. unfortunately some of the characters didn't hold up with how they are originally portrayed and the beginning of the book and some of the magic system was a bit hard to wrap my head around but apart from that it was a really great read.

3.75/5 stars can't wait to see what happens next!!

This is my first book by Chloe Gong, and I'm really intrigued by her way of writing. It's colorful, fast-paced and mesmerizing.
Immortal Longings indeed is an adult book, showing the worst of humanity and getting bloody at times.
In a restrictive kingdom and its dark twin cities, people suffer and barely hang by a thread at times. Yet they all get entertained by the Games, where 88 contestants fight each other to the death until only one remains (yes, get your Hunger Games vibes up). Though they do get provided with weapons, the strongest one is based on a magic system called Jumping. Chosen people can transfer their qi to another body and such inhabit it for as long as they want. What sounds simple is quite complex when thinking it through and raises all kinds of questions. Some are answered in the book: Jumping does not provide immortality, because the qi fades out after 100 years, no matter the body you're in. Some questions are left open or anwered partially with too many loopholes, and some aren't properly touched upon. It's the last one that put me at unease while reading the book - when some people can just invade a body whenever they want, and do with that body whatever they want, then this is cruel abuse and transgression. Gong tries to establish the view that qi is everything, and the body is just a vessel, but it didn't lift my concerns about this.
The characters are really nicely morally grey, and you might find yourself loving and hating them at the same time. However, their motives are sometimes murky and I wished there had been more depth and explanations at times.
The end of the book is a real game changer and you'll want to keep reading after it.
All in all I enjoyed it very much, and had Gong chosen a different magic system, I'd rate it much higher.
3,5/5 stars
Thank you so much @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC.
#ImmortalLongings

What the hell was that ending?!

***
Immortal Longings is Gong's adult debut; a retelling of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra with her signature speculative noir stylisms but with Hong Kong 90s gritty action-flick flare and dystopian undercurrents à la Hunger Games. Calla Tuoleimi is presumed dead, but has been lurking in the shadows of her bloodshed and her secrets as she readies for the endgame. Anton Makusa is desperate to save the past, his childhood lover, and will kill for victory in the games to keep her alive.

The good ole conflict of 'duty vs desire' strings the cast together as some are caught in an internal battle with a personal selfish desire and their (goshdarn) sense of righteousness and others swing towards opposite ends of the spectrum. It is made clear where the characters fall on the spectrum, and how the triumvirate of the cast influence each other. Another familiar theme, one seen before in Gong's previous series, is the enduring power of love; towards one's country, towards one's companion, towards one's self. But we do see times of self-loathing and doubt when characters waver and aloofness from others towards the concept, believing it to be beneath them. Identities and power are pretty interesting themes and topics to also consider, mainly with respect to FAFG's worldbuilding.

As someone who heard of but never examined the source of inspiration for this series and made some Google searches after finishing IL, I'd say Gong made great interpretations of the themes that have clear links to the play without being too elementary in her execution while avoiding the *relatively* (cough) outdated ideals that date Shakespeare's works.

With ends waiting to be tied up (and surely to play a bigger role in the sequel) and a cliffhanger to answer for, Immortal Longings paves a bloody road for the next instalment of Flesh and False Gods.

Thanks to Netgalley and (especially) Hodder & Stoughton (for always having my back regarding Chloe Gong's books) for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining from beginning to end and with a great setting, Immortal Longings will be perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and intense romances.

Chloe Gong is a genius, and with Immortal Longings, this thought of mine only solidifies more and more.

In the city of San-Er, thousands of people flock every year in order to face a series of games. These battles, unless one dies, assures them winnings equal to unimaginable riches.
After losing her parents, Calla's goal is to suppress the monarchy, and if she ever wins the games, she will have the chance to kill her uncle.
It was Calla's good fortune to meet Anton Makusa, the best jumper in the kingdom.
An alliance of sorts is formed, also enriched by the presence of King Kasa's adopted son August.

*Calla Tuoleimi , princess of Er. She could do nothing on a throne, but she can do everything with a sword in her hand.*

Immortal Longings is a real gem.
It managed to keep me glued to the pages of the book, undoubtedly an engaging and dynamic book.
Rich in events, the story is enriched by the absence of our main characters.
Calla, besides being a princess, is a born fighter. She has her goals clearly defined and is willing to do anything to win, until she meets Anton.
Well, he doesn't go short on strong character either.
The worldbuilding enriches the story and makes me fully immerse myself in the story.

In conclusion: read it!

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is an exciting new series by one of my absolute favourite authors and it's a story of living in dilapidated cities, entering a bloodbath game for a better life that leads to the goal of bringing down an evil ruler. This book was confusing a lot of the time but once everything falls into place, it was so thrilling and nerve wracking.

I was all into this story and the author has once again outdone herself. I absolutely had no idea what to expect in this dystopian tale that reminds me so much of The Hunger Games but with a twist of having the ability to move between bodies with one's qi. Only the premise is similar but apart from that, it was totally at a course of its own.

I have to say the layout is weird as always if its an e-arc from netgalley but because this book has multiple povs, that was my main concern because it keeps changing and I have to give all my concentration towards it.

I am already well equipped by the author's plot twists yet this book still caught me by surprise. This alone is the reason why I'm such a huge fan of the author's works. And you know it's a Chloe Gong staple when the main character wields weapons the best and its just so badass I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel because that ending? Outrageous!

All in all, this is a very exhilarating read. One I definitely recommend you to read.

It's chloe gong. You know it was going to be good. And it is. A double plot-line that keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself the whole way though!? And the characters. I connected with them so quickly and really felt for their highs and lows. The setting was so detailed, I couldn't easily imagine myself there. The romance was a subtle background one which I loved, and let the power plays and politics really take forefront and it was worth it! Highly recommend and it shows the continuous improvement in her writing. Can't wait for book 2

okay wow, i don't even know where to begin. first of all, i loved this book so so so much, it exceeded my expectations.
i found the magic system to be really interesting and even if there are still some questions open and some things that i don't understand about it, the fact that they could jump between bodies was something i had never read about before. at least not to that extend. i was really fascinated by it. our three main characters were all so interesting to read about (i have to be honest tho, i didn't care about augusts chapters as much as the others, but i am still very excited to hopefully learn more about him) and their relationships with each other were super intruiging.
i am not the first person to compare this book to hunger games and i definetly won't be the last, but i also feel like it still felt very new and original and it can definitely stand on it's own, especially with the adding of the magic system.
i was on the edge of my seat for at least half of the book and i could not put it down.
the rivals to accomplices to enemies? to lovers to i don't even know plotline i enjoyed very much. i have to say tho, sometimes i felt like anton and callas relationship was moving quite fast and i was missing some moments were they really bonded with each other, but overall i am SO excited to read more about them and i love them a lot.
the ending. the plottwist. the cliffanger. chloe gong i just want to talk. HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE SEQUEL I NEED IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!
so yeah, i loved this book and i feel like everyone who loves dystopian and fantasy books and/or the hunger games will love it too.

⤷‧₊˚4⭑
“would you know me in another body?”
“in any body, you would still be the same terrifying princess.”

ok wow
that was so good?

chloe gong never disappoints, this was her first adult novel and that was the only thing i knew about this book when i started reading it. the atmosphere was so beautifully written and it was a easy & quick read also let’s not start about how gorgeous the cover is.

& the end i mean hello??
i need the second book right now!

thank you so much for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a fan of this author’s writing, to the point where I wonder if her books aren't for me, but whenever she releases a new book, I always want to read it in the hopes that I'll enjoy it. Despite the fact that I enjoy the world building and the characters' ability to switch bodies by jumping, as well as the survival game they must play, however It is poorly executed.

The author didn't quite describe San-Er in just one or two chapters, but nearly half of them had repetitive narrations that didn't need to be explained, interfering with the plot. what irritates me is that instead of a game filled with action from the players there was only a relentless narrative and a ridiculous revenge plan;

A slew of characters emerged, diverting attention away from the three MCs, August, Calla, and Anton. What I didn't like was that their POVs weren't separated by chapter, so I couldn't tell what was going on.

The ending, which should be the perfect way to end the game, becomes dull, and even silly to me. I struggled to finish this book despite almost DNFing it, so I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2. I still want to read more of this author's work.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!

Immortal Longings is Chloe Gong's adult debut, and the first book in a new trilogy.

Chloe is already one of my favorite authors of all time and I love her books and I was really curious to see how she was going to transition into her adult writing and it's safe to say that I am super satisfied with what is the result and I am beyond in love with this book and I'm so grateful for the publisher Hodder & Stughton for providing me with this anticipated copy so many thanks for that.

I didn't know a lot about this book before I read it because I tend to not read synopsis before picking up titles, especially when I already like the author/no the general vibe of the book which was the case with this one I knew it was going to be a sort of inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and I knew it was going to be a trilogy I knew they were going to be fantasy elements. And that's pretty much all I knew about this book and so although I'm going to say in my review things that are in the synopsis I do feel like if you the least you know will get you more surprised in this reading experience, but I also know that my parameters are not the same as everybody else's and so I know that knowing a fair share of a book it's okay.

So the protagonists of this story are princess Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, but I would definitely say that the big protagonist is definitely Calla she gets the most chapters the most focused and development it's very centered on her story which also is amazing and I was really captivated by this character although I did found some similarities between her and Juliette for some reason maybe it's just something in my head but it did strike me as a resemblance but I enjoy a lot of what motivates as a person and I did love her chapters. Now we do get a few chapters written by Anton but like it's the proportion is so much less than the ones for column and we do get also a few random chapters written by other characters in the book this is sort of a thing that Chloe does and her other books but like here is not a it's not a third protagonist or something else it's just literally random chapters which help to construct some of the mood and some of the in a Revelations that she was working through the story and it's nice to have others as the perspective but it's safe to say that we do have like this is a story focused on Calla that's why she is on the cover of the British edition which also leads me to something else I would like to comment about this book.

The cover. The cover. When I first saw the US cover I loved it I thought it was really pretty and I was generally aesthetically pleased and when I saw the British cover I was like "what is this what book is this" and I did not enjoy that cover at first, however now that I read the book, now that I know the story, my opinions have changed because the British cover is in its essence the book. The British cover is purely, Immortal Longings. The US cover doesn't give me anything doesn't represent anything you know it's just that it's just a generic cover it's just aesthetically pleasing cover it's not an ugly cover I'm not going to say that but definitely the US cover is just very bland and also I don't really associate that cover with Chloe Gong's books specifically. So now I do feel like I enjoy the British covers so much more now that I know the story now that I know that this cover conveys the story so well and the atmosphere.

The atmosphere. Wow. This is one of my favorite things about this book I think it was worked perfectly and you can really see that the author has spent a lot of time constructing a very strong and descriptive ambience, and this setting is just fantastic you know it's very unique you have this world a.k.a City that truly existed in the 1990s and it's such a unique place I was so enthralled and captivated by this setting and and truly the descriptions were so immersive and I think it's one of the best jobs Chloe has ever done with creating a setting in an in a place and it's so different from all of right before from her because her previous books had all been historical in setting, either the Gatsby-esque setting of TVD and OVE and the 1930s of FLF, and it was very refreshing to read her writing something so modern and constructing such a strong atmosphere.

It also made me notice that her writing keeps evolving, I mentioned in my FLF review how much her writing had developed from TVD and how she was at her best in that novel, and I feel like now, yes her writing is once again improved, but I also feel like the writing is different in this book. It has that same feeling of "oh i'm reading a Chloe Gong book" which I LOVE about authors, that just stay on their own brand of writing that you would recognize anywhere, but she has taken a shift from what she did in her other novels, I feel like combined with the setting/aesthetic and also the pacing, because this book moves much faster than her other ones, it all makes her writing a bit different (still good tho) and it makes for a nice reading experience, especially for readers like me who have been reading her books for such a long time.

Also, I was very curious how she would work her way into writing her first trilogy because her other books were all part of duologies and the first thing I noticed is that Immortal Longings is much shorter in size. While her other books were all on the big size of over 500 ish pages (FLF is almost 600), IM has according to the publishers page and to GoodReads around 380 maybe 400 pages, and that is a much more average size. I feel like instead of writing to chunks of books and calling it a day, she simply divided those pages better into three segments and called it a trilogy. But that also makes the story move much faster, because there isn't enough pages to dwindle or waste, everything is at top speed here.

Going back to the narration I feel like since we got to see so much of Calla on this one, it opens up a lot of opportunity for in one of the next two books we read more about Anton. I have so many questions! About! His! Past! You better answer them Chloe!

I also have to say that Calla is amazing and she can do no wrong! I will defend her no matter what, and I'm already so emotionally invested in her.

And yes, Chloe didn't lie on her tiktok this book does feature a bit of spice which was a very nice surprise! It isn't much but it was good, but it also wasn't enough to make me think this book is super "adult!". I know the characters are like 23 and 25 and they do behave as such, but the thing is, I never believed Roma and Juliette were teenagers. They too behaved like twenty somethings, but we all know that it was marketed as a young adult novel etc etc etc. I just feel like a lot of these YA novels are very mature, in terms of the way the characters think and act, and then the same can be said about the characters here in IM, the only difference is that one is being actively sold as an adult book, but all of them characters behave like adults.

Nevertheless, it is a great book and I had a great time. Ever since the start I was pulled in and was immediately intrigued and captivated by the story, which was great since I was in the middle of a reading slump. I was constantly dying to know what would happen next, and also enjoying every minute of it and never wanting it to end. Which by the way lead me to the ending! What an ending!!! I can't believe I have to wait a year for the next book!!! I mean the actual book isn't even out yet and I'm already suffering with the time I'm going to have to wait, damn! I was totally speechless with that ending, I did not see it coming, and now I am even more excited to continue reading this series and for what comes next for these characters.

In short, I loved this book. It's a 5-star, it's a favorite. It has everything I love. And Chloe Gong can do no wrong.

Characters: 7/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Worldbuilding: 8/10
Writing: 10/10

I apologise in advance. I have turned into a philosopher. First and foremost, this is my opinion and commentary. This version contains spoilers!

This book is Chloe's debut in the adult genre. Compared to Foul Lady Fortune, which was more fun and entertaining, it is serious and has a darker tone. I see why one could get bored with everything going on and the worldbuilding. If you aren't invested, you might struggle to keep up. I also found it to be slower paced.

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but it is a bit Hunger-games-esque so if you liked that I think you’d enjoy this too. There also are no explicitly good characters, for the morally grey character lovers. But don't go into this looking for queer rep because there's nothing concrete worth mentioning.

Everything in this book happens in San-Er, once two cities but now joined under the Tyrannical rule of King Kasa, the capital of Talin. The living conditions of the lower class are bad, which is why people enter The games. What the contestants might get out of them, even if by dying, is explained pretty early, so I’ll skip that, but the victor is greeted by the king and awarded a large sum of money. And that’s why the main character, a traitorous princess Calla, enters the game under a false identity, so she can finish what she started and kill the king. She is immediately discovered by August, the king's adoptive son and heir to the throne, who offers her support and pardon if she does the dirty work for him which would put him on the throne. Early into the games, she also allies with another contestant and grows close to him. But only one of them can become the victor, when they are the last one standing.

Something really interesting in this book was the concept of people being able to transfer into different bodies. But only people with a special gene have that ability. This skill is intertwined with the concept of qi which originates from Chinese culture. I found it quite fascinating. On the other hand, there are people from a certain family tree that are protected from being invaded by jumpers. There are also laws to how jumping works as well as various negative consequences. Everything was very thought out.

As in Chloe's fashion, the foreshadowing was excellent. I should have seen some things coming. I did sense something was amiss when Anton commented that Calla also had to jump out when she told him about the first time she did it, but I didn't read too much into it.

The book is written in 3rd person, allowing for more deception as we don’t see what’s going on inside the characters, just what is apparent from the outside. But with jumping, the factor of deception is even higher, which leads to many plot twists. Shoutout to Sydney for giving me this cue. Another thing about jumping is that people do not value their bodies (with the exception of the royals, who frown upon jumping into a lower person's body because of classism). They view them just as shells carrying their qi. Appearance doesn’t necessarily tell much, as there could be anyone occupying the body. Although jumping is illegal, it is not uncommon. And since it facilitates crime while being undetectable on surveillance cameras, there is also a great deal of injustice and dilemmas in the judicial system.

There are people who don’t inhabit a different body from their birth one, people who temporarily take over someone else's when convenient for them, or people who don’t even have a permanent one. Which makes you think, who actually are we, or what if our bodies are mere vessels? What defines us?

Moving on to Calla, who actually isn’t the original princess. But a farmer girl who accidentally jumped into her body and has occupied it ever since. Out of all the characters (which I admittedly didn't really care about), she was the one I liked the most. She is strong, independent, and also ruthless. Her life as Calla is all she’s ever known. She does not remember what it was like not to be her. The original Calla has probably faded away, her body taken over. It is why Calla also refuses to jump. She has no identity without that body, and hasn’t done it since it happened for the first time. The once poor girl is set on removing the king from the throne, so the world could become a better place. August wishes the same. But I think he would have ended up on the same path as the king before him. He’s calculative and goes by any means necessary to achieve his goal. Unfortunately for him, he never gets to sit on the throne as he gets taken over by Anton. Or maybe he’s still in there with him. That would be interesting. I didn't particularly like Anton. He is the contestant Calla allies with, and eventually, they develop a romantic relationship.

Now, this relationship I found very intriguing. I’m not sure whether it was intentional or not, but I’m hesitant to call what they had love. Anton has a history of being obsessed with his childhood sweetheart. He did not occupy any body permanently (so she slept with a random dude?) so it couldn’t have been physical attraction that Calla was feeling for him. But was she truly in love with just his character? I'm not convinced. Their emotional connection came a bit out of nowhere. At the very end, the reason he entered the games in the first place was so that he could pay medical bills for Otta his girlfriend, who had been in an artificial coma preventing her from dying for years. He clings on to her hoping she would awake, all while claiming he was in love with Calla. When she suggests he steps out of the games, so she could win with them both alive, he refuses. So, when Calla is forced to choose between him and freeing the people from a tyrant, I don’t find her choice surprising. Obviously, I didn't expect Anton to actually be dead but him jumping into August, now the king, makes things complicated. And I bet he's pissed about her killing him. But I mean, what was the guy expecting? He couldn't let go of his ex, so why should she give up everything for him? I wouldn't mind if Calla gets a new love interest. If this goes down as allies to lovers to enemies, then I am here for it. I knew Otta was going to wake up, and maybe she'll gang up with Anton, who'll want revenge on Calla. At least that's how I'd set everything up. But if he turns out to be fine with everything that went down, I'll be disappointed. I want conflict. There's a lot of potential for drama, interesting and juicy stuff. Basically, I hope they don't have a happy ending as a couple because where's the fun in that? I just love messy relationships and complicated characters. Gives you something to think about.

There's a lot left unanswered, so I will be looking out for the sequel.

Ps: If people were so recognisable by eyes alone, why didn't anyone ever think to wear contacts? Do they not exist???

~It has gotten monotonous to be leagues above everyone else.~


Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (NO, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING!!!!)

Spice Meter: 🌶️

⚠️Trigger Warning: Graphic Scenes of Death⚠️

📍Release Date: 25 July, 2023


EXCUSE MEEE??? WHO GAVE CHLOE GONG THE RIGHT TO UTTERLY OBLITERATE MY MIND AND SOUL???

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in my life right now that could come close to making me feel as ecstatic as this book has. I had little doubt that I would fall head over heels for it. As I was hoping, Chloe Gong's literary work has gloriously rescued me from a devastating reading slump once again. I feel invigorated. I could read book after book after book without blinking. Unsurprisingly, everything she has written so far has been phenomenal. It appears as though her writing streak will continue incessantly for a long time. First of all, the plot and the subsequent sub-plots are so well thought out and perfectly executed they had me in a chokehold from start to finish. There is a strong The Hunger Games vibe that works perfectly with the story. Also, I was blown away by the spectacular, utterly shocking plot twists (THAT ENDING IN PARTICULAR) that left me reeling. The world-building is equally remarkable. The lore, the social system, and the politics are bound together beautifully.

Moreover, Gong's affinity for multiple POVs, even of characters that aren't even secondary, carried on to Immortal Longings as well, which I usually don't enjoy, but Gong has a way of making it work in a way that makes me forget I'm not a fan of it. Naturally, Calla Tuoleimi, the protagonist and the most important POV of the story, has stolen the show with her intelligence, skills, sarcasm, and arrogance. Yes, I know some of these are red flags, but I've never been one to worry about such things anyway. On top of that, she's prone to self-destruction and possessiveness (in a hot/ only mildly concerning way 😏), and she has done things that completely deteriorated my mental health. Basically, she's the total package, and I have a major crush on her.

However, I am not the only one who's crushing on her or whose mental health has been shattered because of her. Anton Makusa is as much Calla's victim as anyone who chooses to read this book and lets themselves fall for this hot mess of a princess. Not that he's entirely blameless, either. On the contrary, he could walk all over me anytime he wanted. He stole my heart with the same ease Calla has. He is charming, talented, witty, and extremely complicated. Essentially, he is as much of a hot mess as the princess is. In fact, they share a lot of the same alarming traits. They truly are a match made in heaven...or...well, you know. 👀👀

Additionally, I obviously adore the relationship between Calla and Anton. Since their first encounter, their chemistry and tension popped out of the page stark and near-tangible. They are rivals-to-lovers as they are both participating in a deadly competition where only one can be left standing, making that sweet, glorious banter all the more enticing. It was so intense I squealed like a schoolgirl reading her first romance novel all over again. Besides, they are so profoundly evenly matched in talent and intelligence that together, they have made a formidable, impressive team. You can imagine how these attributes made their relationship all the more passionate....and steamy. 🥵🥵🥵

Lastly, August Shenzhi, the frustratingly enigmatic Crown Prince, whose morals are so gray it's hard to know whether to root for him. While he seems to care deeply for his kingdom and its subjects, he makes some incredibly questionable choices making him one of the most complex characters in the novel. Even though I have a lot of mixed feelings about him that leave me undecided on whether I want him to be happy or to suffer, I am fascinated by his character and curious to see how his arc develops. His relationship with his friend and bodyguard, Galipei, is particularly intriguing. It is the main reason I wonder how his story will progress later.

Remember Immortal Longings will be released this year on 25 July. DO NOT MISS IT!

Unfortunately this is a DNF at 15%, I found the main female character to be very similar to the authors other series. I couldn’t connect with the story and found it to be quite boring and lacklustre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this e-ARC!

I loved Chloe Gong’s writing style since I read These Violent Delights so I was excited for the start of another series because I knew she wouldn’t disappoint.

Although I must admit that it took me a little to get hooked, once I got it I couldn’t stop reading, the double plot that revolves during the entire book and the 3 main characters are absolutely brilliant.

Unlike her other books, the pacing of this one is faster, which makes it easier to get sucked into this world, plus Chloe’s way of telling stories makes you imagine yourself in the world where the story takes place.

Our three main characters are described as killers who don’t have remorse on killing whoever they need to kill, this is well done in the entirety of the book until the romance plot appears and two of the characters leave that aside because they don’t want to k!ll each other, although I understand this change of thinking for the plot of the story I would’ve loved to see more of Calla’s side during the whole book, as we end up seeing at the end of the book.

Overall I think this was an incredible story, a great beginning for a trilogy and what can I say that ending left me with the need of the second book asap, everything Chloe does is impressive, can’t wait to read the next book.


Ps: tears were shed.

Can't decide on the rating but I'm landing around 4 stars
It was an easy read and Def got me out of my slump. The story was compelling and interesting, and my favourite part was the setting. The worldbuilding was stellar in that aspect
The idea of body jumping to me isn't as great, it feels more visual than anything
Also I sometimes find Gong's romantic writing a tad saccharine or cringey, and there was some of that in here. But nonetheless, I still very much enjoyed all around and I think she has developed a lot from her YA stuff

wow.

This book was a delight to read. Reading the premise of the book I thought that it was going to be the exact same as every other book in its genre (I requested it anyway because why fix what's not broken, right?) I was pleasantly surprised by Chloe Gong's unique take. She did a fabulous job of crafting a world that you could delve into with a plot that managed to surprise you by doing what you expected in unexpected ways.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, the thought and in opinions written above are my own and are freely given