Calla has succeeded in the impossible; she has won the San-Er, eliminating King Kasa, her uncle and former ruler of Talin.
August will take his place and has no intention of giving up the power bestowed on him, even though someone very dear to him could put this at risk.
A rebellion is just around the corner, and Calla and Anton will be forced to put aside their differences and head for the farthest reaches of the land to stop the anarchy.
Only it won't be easy.

Chloe Gong is now an institution when it comes to books whose Chinese culture is the backdrop or the focus of the story itself.
Vilest Things, the second book in the Flesh and False Gods series, picks up where Immortal Longings left off.
If you remember correctly, the first volume ended with a not inconsiderable cliffhanger; fortunately, we did not have to wait long for the sequel.
Vilest Things, undoubtedly is eventful. The chemistry created between Anton and Calla is definitely one of the aspects that interested me most in the whole book.
The fantasy and futuristic part is not bad, however, I found it a bit too long-winded in describing the worldbuilding, especially in a second volume.
I would have found it to make sense in the first volume, in the second not so much.

Chloe Gong's writing is, as always, divine and her words always do justice to each story!

Getting approved for this ARC was truly the highlight of my day because I remember loving the dynamic between Anton and Calla when I read the first book last year. However, in hindsight, I think my affection for their relationship overshadowed some aspects I didn’t fully enjoy. One thing that puzzles me is the inconsistent approach to the body-switching concept. At times, Chloe treats the body as merely a vessel, while at other points (especially in this book), it seems like the physical body is crucial. Maybe this is just a me thing 🤷‍♀️. That said, I did enjoy the book and sped through it, thrilled to see Calla and Anton again. A heads-up, though—if you're planning to read this book (which I do recommend just to see how it all unfolds), you might want to refresh your memory on the first book, as I found myself lost at times.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This is the second book in the Flesh and False Gods series by Chloe Gong.

I am a big fan of Chloe's work and have read all her work. This series is very different from her previous books. It is set in a futurist world, which is a mix of modern and historical elements and has Chinese dynasty influences. It is also inspired, Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra.

After the cliffhanger in book 1 , Calla and Anton are on opposing sides. There is a bigger scheme afoot in Talin and the outer providences, and it seems like the enemy is getting closer and closer.

I found this a slower book than book 1 but there was a lot of world building up the final book in this series. I am so obsessed with Calla and Anton sexual chemistry.

Chloe's writing is beautiful and has such a unique voice with all the historical Chinese influences in her stories.

I genuinely have no words to describe Vilest Things, to the point where I’ve been staring at my cursor blinking and waiting for me to start typing for the past hour. Ever since I finished reading Immortal Longings and was left flipping between the last pages trying to let that absolute cliffhanger of an ending sink in, I’ve been wondering “How is Chloe Gong going to top this?” and now I finally have the answer.

Vilest Things is as jaw dropping and insane as its predecessor, at no point in the story will you know what twists and turns Chloe has planned for the story and how they’ll be resolved. With our beloved cast of characters —Calla, Anton, Galipei, August, now joined by Otta Avia— back, each with their own agenda, feuds and motivations.

Unlike Immortal Longings, Vilest Things will take us outside of the twin cities of San Er and into the other provinces of the Kingdom of Talin as the characters embark on a wild quest to find the crown on Talin. This expansion of the world building didn’t feel too heavy since we got to explore San Er inside out during the first book. One of my favorite things about Chloe’s writing is how she almost makes the city a character itself, and that is no different in Vilest Things. That extends to the newly introduced councilmembers who represent their provinces, not only in the literal sense of being the representative in the structure of the government, but also in their personalities and their actions, creating more conflicts as each and every one of them is looking for the best for their people.

Expanding on the politics, Talin is a mess. Their newly crowned king, August Shenzhi, has been acting differently and no one knows why, except for Calla Tuoleimi, who now serves as her royal advisor. Anton Makusa must be careful on how he deals with his inner power struggle as August fights to regain control over his body, and how he deals with her ongoing fights with Calla and the rest of his Councilmembers. With groups growing against the King and the looming threat of being found out at any wrong move by August’s personal guard, Galipei Weisanna, the political conflicts in this book won’t let you catch a break for a single second.

As for our beloved cast of characters, we’re joined by some of our favorites from the last book such as Yilas, Chami and of course, Mao Mao. We’re also joined by Otta Avia, Anton’s childhood love who has been in a coma for the past seven years and has made an enemy out of Calla, and many more that will help or try to destroy our main cast.

The pieces will finally start falling into place regarding concepts and plots started on Immortal Longings, but don’t think for a second that this will keep you from having questions, plot twists and demanding the third part of the series, as Chloe Gong keeps us living for the hope of it all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodderscape and Chloe Gong for a Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.