Vilest Things

"you are my anchor in this world."

Let us not be fooled by this quote because Vilest Things is far from sweet, soft love and is exactly what its name is: VILE. Chloe Gong does it again with VT, her impeccable talent of weaving the plot with politics, scheming and merging of multiple storylines in one.

While Immortal Longings focused on the games and Calla-Anton's alliance and their respective goals, in VT we saw more of the complex politics surrounding San-Er and the monarchy. The Crescent Societies goals and propagandas came to light in response to the current happenings in San-Er. Other than the political storyline, the relationships were beautifully developed.

From Anton trying to come to terms with him being in August's Body while trying to seek revenge against August, to Calla's plan to save San-Er from Otta Avia's vile self and having no one in her corner. The betrayal, revenge, action was unmatched. We didn't end up getting a lot of Calla-Anton but what we got SERVED. The relearning of each other's selves and falling in love again gave us some much needed soft calla anton moments in between the deliciously aggravating political tension around. Also, my boy Galipei, doing shit without August and having only eyes for his love ;) The action, The angst, The pain, the romance: EVERYTHING was off the charts. This series has one of my favourite magic systems, in the ability of jumping between bodies and the concept of everybody having their qi and I was so excited to learn in depth about its origins and was intrigued enough to set myself up for Book 3. I'm hyped but scared as well because this series is based on a tragedy and knowing Chloe with OVER (LVC DOESN'T count), I'm right to be scared.

I have been a Chloe Gong stan since These Violent Delights and her writing has only gotten better. The character development of my girl Calla throughout the 2 books: UNMATCHED. A fantastic middle book in every sense.

I can only say one thing: Go in blind in book 2 and you'll come out of it loving every single bit about it.
Chloe gong needs to pay for my therapy, but you won't see me complain about it anytime soon.

Thank you to Netgalley UK and HodderScape for the early copy!

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.

This installation in the ‘Flesh and False Gods’ series follows on immediately from the first, Immortal Longings. From the beginning to the end of Vilest Things I was on the edge of my seat, hanging on to every word and I am just so so grateful I got to read this early!

While Immortal Longings primarily focused on the games, Vilest Things delves deep into the politics of San-Er and its history. This was so interesting to read about, and I think Chloe Gong is especially talented in writing about politics.

From the outset it is obvious that the stakes are higher in this novel and it makes the reading experience so much more entrancing. Chloe Gong’s writing is truly so beautiful and addictive, it was genuinely a struggle to put the book down! The claustrophobic setting created in San-Er is consistently entertaining to read about and I enjoyed following characters we didn’t see as much of in Immortal Longings.

Also I just have to praise Chloe Gong’s characterisation! The twisted and conflicting morals in every character makes for such an enjoyable read! In addition, I must say Calla is honestly one of my favourite main characters ever, I appreciate how self-assured she is rather than bending to the will of others and cowering to men’s actions. Also, more Mao Mao! Who can complain about that?

Overall, I am so so grateful to have received a digital arc of this & I’m so grateful to Chloe Gong for writing this! She truly outdoes herself with every release and I’ve never found myself disappointed by reading one of her books. I can’t recommend this series enough!

First things first, I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for access to the ARC!
I've read the first book last year and loved it, so I was very eager to read the sequel.
We get right into the consequences of the ending of the first book and the way the main characters are dealong with it.
In this book, we get to see the provinces that surround the main city and there is a lot more development in terms of world building.
The book also keeps you second guessing about which characters are trust worthy and what are their real motivations and goals.
All in all, it's a good sequel for the first book and I really enjoyed and look forward to the next one.

Rating - 4.75⭐️

I loved this even MORE than the first book!! This was one of my highly anticipated sequels this year AND MISS CHLOE GONG DID NOT DISAPPOINT🙌🏻🙌🏻

THE CHAOS! THE DRAMA!🤌🏻 I especially had a fun time reading the drama unfold between Otta, Calla and Anton.

I LOVED the exploration of the obsessive relationship between Calla & Anton. They’re at each other’s throats one moment with accusations of betrayal and then the next they’re confessing their undying love for each other and the cycle repeats.

Chapter 36 and onwards gave me GOOSEBUMPS‼️ Calla Tuoleimi was such a girlboss in those last few chapters.

Overall I had a really fun time with this book and I’m so excited for the third instalment!!

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Vilest Things.]

Rating: 5/5

Going into Vilest Things, I was a little nervous that this series would lose some of its shine. Immortal Longings is one of my all time favourite books and although I was confident the sequel would still be fantastic, I still feared that dreaded middle point slump, or that some time away from this world would simply change my opinion. Of course, I shouldn’t have worried; Chloe Gong has unsurprisingly done it again. Vilest Things is everything I hoped it would be and on top of that, it completely exceeded my expectations. As if that were possible! This is a world that lures you into its dangerous trap and before you know it, you’re frantically turning each page as the plot descends into the best kind of chaos. Strap in, some wild things are about to go down.

In Vilest Things, we leave behind San-Er's bloody games and delve further into the brutal and calculating political side of this cutthroat world. Following King Kasa’s assassination and August Shenzhi’s accession to the throne, Cala Tuoleimi must now act as royal advisor at a time where civil unrest is rising higher and higher. And to make matters worse, it’s not August who controls his body, but instead, Anton Makusa, who narrowly escaped death and is still reeling from Cala’s betrayal in the final round of the games. Following that we have the impossible awakening of his first love, hidden secrets threatening the peace, and a toxic love story that is impossible to look away from.

To put it plainly, I am obsessed. I’m obsessed with San-Er and its crowded buildings. I’m obsessed with the idea of jumping from one body to another. And most importantly, I am absolutely obsessed with Calla and Anton. My obsession probably isn’t as unhealthy as theirs, but it’s hard not to get sucked into their maddening romance that is overflowing with tension and heat. The author expertly pulls every thunderous emotion of theirs to the surface until it feels like you’re right there with them on a tightrope that threatens to snap with each new plot development.

If you thought Talin was a mess in the first book, oh boy, things are about to get even crazier. We get to see more of the world in Vilest Things and it’s not just San-Er that suffers disturbances. I really enjoyed travelling to the various locations in this book and I appreciated the stark differences found amongst them all. This is a series where if you’re not jumping from body to body, you’re now also moving quickly through ever changing landscapes, but at no point did I feel lost or confused.

And then there’s the characters and, more specifically, the character development. Absolutely incredible. We see Calla straddle the fence of duty and self-preservation constantly but there’s never any doubt of who this character is and what she stands for. I truly feel like I know this woman and what she represents, which I think is a fantastic example of how well Chloe Gong has nailed down this cast. Anton also undergoes evident change in this book in such a natural manner that I never question the evolution of, it’s so believable that I find myself standing behind every explosive choice that they make - regardless of if they’re right or wrong.

The stakes are higher, the relationships are dysfunctional, the world is close to going up in flames, and I’m having the best time. I’m simultaneously over the moon and bereft, because yes, this was fantastic, but now I have to wait for the finale? Beware to those who are new to this series, the cliffhangers are as deadly for the characters as they are for the reader, but oh, I promise it’s worth it.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0 STARS

If you enjoyed Chloe Gong’s previous works, you will definitely love this.

Unlike Immortal Loggings, Vilest Things dives deep into San-Er’s history and complex political environment, and god is it goooood.

I find most fantasy series fall flat when it comes to the sequel. We get given all the action and knowledge in the first book, and there’s almost nothing to keep it going but Vilest Things DELIVERED.

My attention was rapped.

Stunning, spectacular give me 14 of them right now 😭😫🤭

Miss Chloe Gong really does know how to drop the most juiciest, jaw-dropping information after writing the most intense and heartbreaking moments.

I don't want to mention any spoilers, but all I will say is that this journey is a complete 360 to Immortal Longings but in an incredible way. I have never been so gripped as I had read this. The twists and turns were so incredibly well written and honestly left me guessing every single time.

I need book 3 immediately, I just know that it will be the most tense and jaw-dropping book I'll read.

Thank you, netgalley and hodderscape for the e-arc 🫶

After reading Immortal Longings, I wasn’t sure if the sequel was going to be quite as good but Chloe proved me wrong. Vilest Things was even better than I anticipated and I think it even surpasses the greatness of the first book. Chloe’s writing has always been so immersive and this story is no different. The development of all these characters was so refreshing to see and I’m excited to see everyone’s fates at the end of this series as a whole. The twists in this book were so good and very unexpected, in the best way possible. The introduction of a few new characters and more background on the same characters from Immortal Longings kept the pace of the book just right. The fast-paced moments with the best action scenes were perfectly balanced with the slower paced scenes in between.
I cannot wait for the final book to be released!

Much like Immortal Longings, Vilest Things is a litany of all things morally grey and murky. The second installment of this trilogy sees Calla and Anton unpicking the catastrophic mess they've made at the end of book 1, both in Talin and their personal lives.

There is a lot of context in plot progression with light call backs, so would suggest a reread of Immortal Longings ahead of reading this if it's been a while.

The crowning glory in this book is Calla and Anton's relationship and banter. And most notably Calla's unique ways of apologising. 😂

This book will make you audibly gasp. All hail Chloe Gong, master of emotional damage!

This book was an absolute whirlwind of passion, intrigue, and power plays. The blend of romance and political machinations kept me on the edge of my seat. The author’s writing style is both sharp and evocative, pulling me into the emotional turmoil and high-stakes drama with every page. The witty banter and deep romantic tension between Calla and Anton were portrayed with such nuance, I couldn’t help but get completely absorbed. The character dynamics were rich and complex, adding layers to an already gripping narrative. This isn’t just a fantasy romance; it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and a brilliant exploration of power and identity.

When in doubt about a sagging middle instalment, look to the characters to lead the drama stir-ups.

There were many things I enjoyed in this instalment. The heated back and forth between Calla and Anton. Anton chasing down dead leads. The heartbeats of anarchy palpating to life every now and then, a reminder of threats older and larger than our cast persisting and setting up the climax. The lovely twist with history. The qi experiments and the larger role of divinity within the story, throwing more weight behind the name of this trilogy.

I had the puzzle pieces but I wasn't able to make every last one click together...not until the final chapter. Oh, was it an itch satisfied. Patting myself on the back for noticing the clues (and the clues were nicely woven in!)

It certainly sets up what's going to be a truly bloody showdown. But will Anton, Calla, and San-Er survive?

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

EXCUSE ME, but you cannot leave me on that ending omg.

This book is full of twists, strategic moves and questionable intentions and I absolutely loved it. The magic, the developments regarding Qi and people from the past. This story grows and explores new angles with detail and it leaves you nothing but intrigued to find out more.

I will need 3-5 business days to wrap my head around the complexity of those twists and the dangerous path they have led the story down. I’m so excited for the next book!