Love to hate to love romance. With 1920s gangs it's a great read and with a beautiful and deep world that is has been build on.

Rep: chinese main characters, chinese side characters, korean side character, trans woman side character, implied achillean side characters

CW: insects, pandemics, gang violence, gun violence, knife violence, murder, body horror, suicide, brief suicidal thoughts, child abuse, death of close family member, illness of close family member, cancer, comas, alcohol consumption, brothels, transphobia, racism, discussion of colonialism

I loved this book! It’s a unique take on Romeo and Juliet that manages to be unique and surprise the reader at every turn, while also still being recognisable as the story that it’s retelling. Iconic scenes from the original Shakespeare play, such as the ball and the balcony scene, are still present here, but their new contexts make them feel both familiar and fresh!

This book also provides a commentary on the Westernisation of Shanghai. There was a lot of discussion of people and businessmen from Britain, France, and the USA, living in Shanghai and not being respectful to the people who already live there. Juliette notes that since this influx, aspects of Shanghainese culture have been disappearing, political control over the city has started to go to the Westerners, and some establishments have even been set up within Shanghai that bar Chinese people from entering. Juliette finds this last one to be particularly absurd, and she’s right! She also comments on the ridiculousness of being expected not to call out these injustices because by doing so she might hurt someone’s feelings. Also, while this is going on, the Communist Party is gaining support throughout China. All of the major characters in this book, being gang members, would be potential targets of the Communist Party, so this is obviously a cause for concern for them as well.

I adored the characters in this book! Juliette was such a fun protagonist! She’s vicious, she’s ambitious, she’s intelligent, she’s unapologetically herself, and she isn’t afraid to let the people she loves know that she loves them. Unless, of course, it’s Roma. Her cousins, Rosalind and Kathleen, were also interesting, as they allowed for a deeper understanding of what life is like in the Scarlet Gang when you’re not its heir. I especially liked Kathleen. She’s loyal to Juliette, generally friendly, and while she likes to avoid bloodshed wherever possible that doesn’t mean that she isn’t prepared to get involved with killing someone.

On the White Flowers’ side, I liked Roma more than I was expecting to! He’s a sweetheart, who doesn’t really want to be a part of a gang, but walking away would put him in more danger than staying does, so he’s stuck. His cousin Benedikt was lovely, and their friend Marshall was so great! Benedikt and Marshall as a duo especially were a lot of fun to read, their scenes pretty much always got me smiling! Thing is, Marshall obviously being Mercutio, I spent a lot of my time reading this feeling absolutely terrified for him. Gong made me love Marshall right from his introduction! And which character is the first to die in the original play?

The villains of this book were also done remarkably well. I’m not going to go into too much more detail here because I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that I’m rooting for Tyler/Tybalt’s destruction and cannot wait for him to get his comeuppance.

Certain aspects of the fantasy plague also hit closer to home than was probably anticipated while this book was being written. It’s mentioned a couple of times that while some people are doing all that they can to prevent the spread and are staying home, some people are simply going about their lives as normal and pretending that nothing is wrong, likely in the false assumption that the sickness is something that happens to Other People. It couldn’t possibly ever affect them, so why should they alter their behaviour? The way in which the plague acts and spreads is rooted firmly enough in fantasy that it didn’t feel too real, but the links are still there. Wear a mask y’all.

If you like any one of Shakespeare, historical fantasy, gangs and/or heists, or exes turned enemies to lovers, then you’ll enjoy this book! I highly recommend it, and I’m looking forward to its sequel!

**** 4.5/5 ****

When I heard what this book was about, a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in China in the 1920s? Yes, please.

It did not disappoint.

I loved the setting, I love the feeding gangs, I love the monster aspect. I just loved it okay?

I was only halfway through this and I had preordered a physical copy because I NEED it.

Cannot wait to read more about Juliette, Roma and their families.

DRC provided by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Chinese protagonist, queer deuteragonists, Korean deuteragonist, trans deuteragonist.

Trigger Warnings: abuse, violence, self-harm, death.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is an incredible retelling of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, set in the 1920’s, in a Shanghai partially controlled by different European foreigners and by the White Flowers, a gang ruled by the austere Lord Montagov, constituted of Russian descendants and refugees of the 1917 revolution; and partially ruled by Lord Cai and the autochthonous people that make up the Scarlet Gang.

In 1926, a monster awakens in the waters of the Huangpu river. A contagious madness floods the crowded streets of the city, jumping from person to person and causing them to gash at their throats with their own nails until they bleed to death. Rivals and heirs to their respective gangs, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov set out independently to find out what is afflicting Shanghai, but their tangled fate will force them to work together to save it while there is still a city to save.

Just know that the real monster in this story is not the one depicted in the pages, but the one writing them. Chloe Gong you are evil; you cannot do this without repercussions! I am going to suggest this book to everyone I know and anyone who would lend me an ear so that everybody can learn about your evilness.

If it was not clear enough, I really loved These Violent Delights and its characters. My favourites? The badass heiress to the Scarlet Gang, Juliette, which is hilarious to me since I am a member of the White Flower gang; and the two White Flowers who stole my heart, Marshall and Benedikt.

I am really looking forward to the sequel and I hope the author manages to also include a short trip to Verona in it!

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a 1920's Shanghai set retelling of Romeo and Juliet that mixes magic, monsters and mobsters in an exciting and unexpected way. Our star crossed loves are Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, heirs to the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers respectively, gangs which have been engaged in a blood feud for generations. The twenties are a time of rapid change in the city, and the hold of the gangs is threatened by the emerging Communist Party, but we soon learn that a more deadly and mysterious threat is emerging and it does not discriminate between gang affiliations. It may be that the only way to defeat it is for these sworn enemies to work together for the greater good .
I have to admire the author's skill when it comes to describing the gangster lifestyle and the harsh realities faced by so many people at that time. Using the real political instability of that time as inspiration is a stroke of genius and adds an interesting extra dimension to the story. Where it lost traction for me was the fantasy element, it felt like it did not really gel with the rest of the book, almost like an unnecessary addition. I had no interest in that part of the plot, and could see the ending coming from a mile off, it was a distraction from the political intrigue and gang machinations that really interested me. I liked the characters, particularly that of Juliette and I found myself wanting to know more about several of the secondary characters.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I definitely think that the first thing that will pull you straight into this book is Chloe Gong’s very very intense writing. There is not a single moment that you forget how well written the book is. I’m aware that most people want to read this book because of the angst and Romeo-Juliet inspired retelling, (and personally for me there wasn’t as much angst as I thought I would find) but you’ll stay and love the book for how heavy its plot is and how thoroughly Chloe Gong has explored the world inside her mind to be able to write without any gaps in the world-building.

I absolutely adored Juliette’s personality. She was characterised fantastically to represent all the duality of her emotions and her position as heir. I loved how she’d shift between Juliette, the woman and Juliette, Scarlet Gang’s Heir and how they were both different but somehow utterly the same. I won’t lie, in the beginning the story line reminded me of something out of an Ilona Andrews’ book (and I love IA with all my heart so that was a big plus for me). However, I realised that this was because of the intense writing, gritty setting and the fantastic supporting characters. Chloe took her book in a direction that was completely her own and there was nothing else in my mind other than what Chloe wanted me to see.

Roma, strangely had his own tenor he brought to the story that tugs at your heart in a different way from Juliette’s. You diverge in rooting for both of them even if they stand on different sides. There’s a blood feud, a painful past, betrayal, secrets, warring emotions within and danger in Shanghai that Roma and Juliette must battle.

The only issue—which is a little big of a word—was that the pace became mildly unsteady for me in the middle and I had to push through those parts a little. That being said, the last fifteen percent was crazy swift and took off at a speed that had me racing to catch up because I desperately wanted to know what was next. Other than this and a minor plot armour moment, the book was way too lovely with fantastic LGBTQ+ rep, writing that’s so subtle it’s intense, character perspectives written with intent that provides depth and complexity to the already well layered plot and of course a lot of emotions that’ll grip you throughout ensuring you forget to see that which is right before you until it is sprung on you.

A very happy reading. Four and a half stars!! This was damn near perfect and a debut at that. Go in expecting more and you shall receive.

– 2.5 stars

Take this review with a grain of salt, because lately I can't seem to enjoy any book. My concentration span in quarentine is around 10 minutes max. If my attention is not catch by that time, it's lost. That being said I'm someone who under normal circumstances gets easily bored. 🙈

So far there are way more positive reviews for These Violent Delights, so I'm pretty sure that I'm the odd one here and have an <u>unpopular opinion</u>.

“You destroy me and then you kiss me. You give me reason to hate you and then you give me reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or your heart reaching for me?”

↳ PLOT

These Violent Delights is set in 1926 Shanghai. The city is unofficially divided into two territorties. One belongs to the <b>Scarlet Gang</b> and the other belongs to the White Flowers. These two rival gangs have been ruling Shanghai with an iron fist since forever. Now a madness is spreading throughout the city with members of both gangs dying by clawing out there throats. The story is all about finding the monster who is spreading this madness around the city. Therefore Juliette Cai, heir of the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir of the White Flowers, have to work together to find a cure.

↳ WHAT WAS MEH:

I'm partly to blame, because I'm putting too much hope into the romance aspect of these young adult fantasy books when it's not the focus of the story. I've only read this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling" and knew I had to read this book.. Romeo and Juliet?? Sign me up!

A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred.

Juliette and Roma are in rival gangs – forbidden aspect? check.
They have a past together, but then they betrayed each other – angst? check.
Reunited to work together to solve a mystery – yearning and longing? check.

On paper everything looks great, but the excecution was lacking and I know that it's partly on me and expecting to much of a romance in a book where it's not the main focus. The romance is a very small subplot. For a good amount of the times Juliette and Roma don't have scenes with each other, but are with their respective gang. The romance aspect didn't really start until maybe the last third of the book. The longing and yearning I was hoping fore was almost non-existent. Every time they had a scene together, I felt exactly nothing.. where was the angst?

One would think there would be so much tension leading to the explanation of the betrayal, but it wasn't. The Romeo and Juliet retelling was disappointing, not even the names that were almost the same could help.

“Just leave me here,” he said with a groan. “How are you this bad?” Juliette asked in disbelief. “I thought you were Russian.”
“I am Russian, not an alcoholic,” Roma muttered.

The romance can not be great, if half of ship is totally BLAND. I see this trend in YA books where the heroine is this kickass and powerful characters and then there is the Hero who just breathes and does nothing ordinary. That's Roma for you. As the heir of the White Flower he has to act tough, but he's acutally such a softie which is fine, but why couldn't he be more exciting???!!! Only for a little.

I don't know if it's inteded or not, but Juliette character arc was pretty fleshed out. We got all her thoughts on colonialism, backstory on how she was send to the US for educational purposes, her dynamics with her cousins and parents and her place in the gang. Compared to Juliette Roma was background noice. There was not much on his background and if this is something that is more explored in the next book, then I apologize in advance for critisizing this.

“So you,” Roma went on fiercely, “cannot fool me any longer. You are the same indomitable girl I would have laid my life down to save. I made my choice to believe in you—now you make yours. Will you keep fighting, or will you crumble?”

Speaking of characters, this book had quite a few, but the most important one next to Roma and Juliette were their cousins. Roma closest relationships are with Benedikt and Marshall, while Juliette is pretty close with her cousins Kathleen and Rosalind. While I love reading about different family dynamics/relationships I didn't care enough about any of them. For that reason it was boring to read the chapters where Kathleen/Rosalind/Benedikt/Marshall were wandering around Shanghai trying to help.

And then there is the plot, I wasn't very fond of. The whole "running around Shanghai finding the monster who spreads the madness" plot was not going anywhere. There were a couple subplots that started, but got lost somewhere. It's annoying how in most YA fantasy books for 80% of the book nothing really happens. The characters run around in circle and accomplish next to zero and in the last few chapters everything happens at once. Twist left and right and then the book ends when it is at its peak! 😬

“I am more concerned with why people were tearing their throats out in this house in the first place—”“It’s the madness,” Juliette interrupted. “It’s here, and it could be a viral contagion. We need to ask the other maids who were in contact with the victims to remain in their rooms for a few days.”

To read about these things during this year. Not that great. It's not the author's fault tbh, cause I doubt she knew what was coming when she wrote this book.

↳ WHAT WORKED WELL:

“My name was too Chinese for the West,” Juliette continued, a wry smile on her lips. She didn’t know why her face had morphed itself into amusement. She was anything but amused. “You know how it is—or maybe you don’t. A temporary thing for a temporary place, but now the temporary thing is burrowed in so deep it cannot be removed.”

Colonialism plays a huge part and Chloe Gong did a great job of portraying this. Foreigner like the British, French, Russians etc. were all over Shanghai to a point were the main character Juliette felt like a stranger in her own country. She came back to Shanghai after her parents send her abroad to study in the US. Now that she's back, Juliette's trying to navigate life. Other themes like racism and sexism were explored in this book too.

The Chinese had built the pit, gathered the wood, and lit the match, but it was the foreigners who had come in and poured gasoline upon every surface, letting Shanghai rage into an untamable forest fire of debauchery.

Juliette shading white people and hating on white supremacy throughout the entire book? LOVED THAT. Just things I love to read about and one of the biggest reasons I could push through this book.

It was the entitlement that drove these men forward. Entitlement that encouraged their wives to place a delicate handkerchief to their nose and sniff, wholeheartedly believing the tirade was deserved. They believed themselves the rulers of the world—on stolen land in America, on stolen land in Shanghai. Everywhere they went—entitlement.

Juliette was a very relatable character for me. Even though, Juliette is the heir to the Scarlet Gang, she had to work extremely hard to get where she is now. Juliette is tough and dangerous to prove to her parents and all the other gang members that she can get the job done. Tyler, one of her counsins, is trying to get Juliette's position, therefore Juliette has to work harder not to make any mistakes and prove that she's the right heir to the Scarlet Gang. As an asian kid, I think, a lot of people will be able to relate to her character to a degree. Having to work harder to prove your parents that you're getting shit done. Otherwise they still treat you like a kid even though you can be 30 or 55.

Books that end with a cliffhanger are always the worse. I didn't expect anything less from this book, but unfortunately I'm not interested enough in any of these characters or plot to continue with this series.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

i cannot believe i have survived this book, yet here we are. These Violent Delights is a heart-wrenching YA historical fantasy that tore my heart to pieces, yet left me wanting (and needing) more.

set in 1920s shanghai, the story is about two rival gangs, The Scarlet Gang and The White Flowers and their respective heirs, Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, as they try to uncover the secrets behind the uncommon deaths among the citizens of their city. in order to do so, the two heirs must leave their blood feud -and history- aside. i found the premise to be very intriguing, and from the first page, the author sets you right in the mood for the book, with a gorgeous poetic writing and a beautiful use of words.

not only that, but i was also left speechless because of the way the author builds up to the climax of the story. i must admit, the book took quite some time to get into, and i did find the first 40% to be quite repetitive. for example, we are constantly reminded that juliette has power amongst the scarlet gang. i also found some of the scenes a little useless to the overall story. however, once the action part of the story starts, i was unable to stop reading. i realized later on that the author set a very steady base for the story, because i wasn’t lost and didn’t need to come back to previous parts of the book to remember some information.

the story also takes the time to speak loudly of political issues, such as the impact of colonization and imperialism, along with racism, which i had a great time reading about and comparing them to today’s world (i did not find much difference, and i didn’t know what to think of that).

and the ending was just heart-breaking. chloe gong slowly patched the broken pieces of my heart, only for her to stab me (metaphorically) in the end, with characters so well-crafted i could almost believe they are real. our two main characters, juliette and roma, are complicated and have many layers to them, which made them more than just characters on paper to me.

i honestly feel like These Violent Delights is the next Big Thing in YA. i am almost sure of it. and it deserves it. through the pages, i could feel the time it took the author to craft this story, the effort and the dedication. this story isn’t one i would stop thinking about soon, and is one you should keep on your radar, because it will break records.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

These Violent Delighte is a Romeo and Juliette retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. It follows rivals Juliette Cai, heir of the Scarlet gang and Roma Montagov, heir of the White Flowers. Juliette and Roma are forced to put aside their differences and work together.

I was so intrigued by the premise of the book and I went in with high expectations and I was happy that this book lived up to it. The writing in the book was so beautiful. It had the right balance between the political intrigue, romance and friendships.

I loved the dynamic between Juliette and Roma. Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers?? excellence so the angst, tension and yearning was... chefs kiss. Juliette was such a badass mc and she was hilarious too, I was laughing out loud at certain parts. Roma turning out to be the secret soft boy is everything I didn’t know I needed.

As well as this, the other relationships and friendships in this book meant so much to me. Juliette and Kathleen? Benedikt and Marshall? Roma and Alisa? The chaotic energy Juliette and Marshall have? Juliette, Roma, Kathleen, Benedikt and Marshall? I would lay my life down for all of them.

I did not see the plot twists coming and the cliffhanger at the end but I can’t wait for the next book and see how the relationships develop.

Oh wow. This was good.

This was such a brilliant take on Romeo and Juliet, a vast improvement on the original in my opinion, and an amazing story in its own right.

Star crossed lovers set in 1920's Shanghai, between rival gang heirs, oh and also a madness sweeping the city and killing people, with a mystery of how to stop it thrown in. Yes please!

The idea of this book intrigued me from the start, I wanted to see how a retelling of this tradgey would play out, and I was not disappointed. The original really vexes me with its grand gestures, backed up by nothing. Two people being in love after first sight. Yuck.

But this book gave our two lovers history. There is more to their relationship than meets the eye and is deliciously discovered throughout the book. You have to wait for the pay off and it definitely serves.

The side characters in this book were also brilliant. I felt a big connection with Kathleen, Marshall and Benedikt. They aren't just merely there to help further the main characters narrative, we learn things about them too. I looked forward to having more scenes from their perspectives and really cared about them.

The nods to the original story were also present and very artfully done. Without spoilers but certainly reference some key points, but also in a fresh and unique way, taking away the predictability of the retelling.

At the beginning I felt a little out of touch with Juliet, she seemed to be quite inconsistent with their character. But after reading more, it was actually more of a reflection of her character. Of a woman who has been questioning her place all her life. Is she Chinese, is she Shanghai-nese, is she American?

I would say, to those thinking of reading. I would be wary to pick this up if you are prone to be triggered by the themes of plague and death, especially after this year and Covid19. The author predicted greatly a lot of people's uncaring attitudes to those affected by the madness in this book, mirroring all to much of what we have seen in reality. If you are someone who has been personally affected by the pandemic in a noticeable way to yourself, please proceed with caution.

But on a purely story based front, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was angsty, had mystery, had fantasy features, romance, amazing friendships and more. Definitely one to watch. Shall be waiting for the sequel, because that ending... Omg.



Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to receive an ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review – thank you so much! These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020, so I was eager to read it. It was the first book I picked up in November because I couldn’t resist starting it – and I wasn’t disappointed! Chloe Gong really knocked it out of the park. These Violent Delights is longer than I expected – and the font was quite small – but I still moved through it quickly as I found it hard to put down.

You know there are some books that are supposedly enemies-to-lovers but they’re not really enemies? As this book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, the enemies are very much real. Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai come from opposing gangs in Shanghai which have a long and bloody history. Juliette is uncompromising and fierce, and even though I didn’t agree with all her decisions, I respected her so much. Roma also is the type of guy who refuses to back down, which lead to a lot of confrontations. It was a bit frustrating because I just wanted them to be happy together, but the tension means the enemies-to-lovers relationship is excellent!

Both Juliette and Roma are the heirs of their respective families, and this cutthroat setting really creates a burden on their shoulders. There was bloodshed in the past, and I was so intrigued to find out what worsened the blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. However, they must put aside their differences and work together when a madness appears in the city and people start dying with no explanation. This is a dark book, reflecting the atmosphere in Shanghai at the time, so there is a lot of violence, almost always to do with the gangs.

I really enjoyed the madness part of the plot because I couldn’t wait to find out the answers. I do wish there was a bit more detail and development in that area, but I’m sure we’ll learn more in future books. There are lots of twists and turns, and the direction of the book definitely surprised me, especially at the end. I really cannot wait to read more of this story because there is so much more I want to happen!

"A temporary thing for a temporary place, but now the temporary thing is burrowed in so deep it cannot be removed"

I had such a fun experience reading this book. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect – all I really knew before going in was that this book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. So the book is historical YA, but also with some fantasy/sci-fi elements. The setting was so well described – it really felt like I was there. The writing is one of the huge highlights of this book, and it even felt like Shanghai itself was a character. There is such a mix of people in the city, and it was so frustrating to see the effects of colonialism on Shanghai as a whole and also individual people.

The supporting characters also really shone in this story, notably Benedikt, Marshall, Rosalind and Kathleen. They all have a different dynamic with Roma and Juliette respectively, and their interactions were so fun to read about. There are a lot of LGBTQ+ characters, including a trans side character, which was really great to see. I’d love to know more about all of these characters, because there were definitely hints about more detailed backstories.

So overall, this was such a strong debut! I’m already highly anticipating more from Chloe Gong, and I can’t wait to see these characters again. The descriptions are truly amazing, and if you like books with complex and morally grey characters with a hint of fantasy, you’ll love this book. I’d just be aware of content warnings for violence, death, and descriptions of deaths caused by the madness.

4.5/5 stars

Just phenomenal in every way. This became an instant favourite and obsession of mine.

Full review to come on my blog.

‘These Violent Delights’ follows Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, the heirs of two rival gangs in the 1920s Shanghai. The blood feud between the gangs – the Scarlets and the White Flowers – existed for generations, but the tensions have been heightened in recent years. Now, with Juliette’s return to Shanghai after living in the US – for her safety – for the last four years, things are getting even more complicated. Despite their families, Juliette and Roma used to be close, but now the betrayal and hate may be too much to move forward even when their city is at risk from something so violent, so unearthly, that the only way to save their people and survive, is working together.

What I loved the most about ‘These Violent Delights’, it’s the atmosphere of the place, but also the whole book itself. While Juliette and Roma’s story – star-crossed lover from the opposite gangs – is not anything new, the execution of the story and the setting have been great, and added so much to this book. Juliette and Roma re-unite in order to eliminate a common threat, an illness that’s a lot like madness that seems spread in the city, both in the territory of the Scarlets and the White Flowers. But their complex relationship with each other as well as increasingly tense politics of Shanghai of the 1920s with many foreigners desiring to influence the country even further added even more interesting and complex layer to the whole narrative, and I have enjoyed it very much. I also really liked the depiction of supporting characters in ‘These Violent Delights’, they didn’t feel like they were only there to fulfil a secondary role – instead, they all have been interesting and so diverse characters, each with their story to tell.

When I started reading ‘These Violent Delights’, for a moment I forgot it’s the beginning of the series, so when I reached the ending, I could only look at my Kindle and wonder where is more. I’m really looking forward to the next instalment and learning more about Juliette, Roma and all different characters from this series.

Author: Chloe Gong
Genre: YA Retelling/Fantasy
Format: E-Book Advanced Readers Copy
Published: 17th November 2020
Pages: 439
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Review

Content Warning: Death, gore, physical abuse, child abuse, violence, loss of a loved one, racism, transphobia and colonization.

This review contains spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with a copy.

“I hate those who harm the people I love. Most often they tend to be the White Flowers. There’s a difference.”

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and I’m happy to say that, for me it lived up to my expectations. As soon as I read the first line of this novel, I was immediately pulled in to this incredible story. The writing is luscious and transports the reader into the setting of 1920s Shanghai. I was completely immersed and gripped by this story, I could barely put this down as I needed to know what happened next. One of my favourite things about this novel was the main character Juliette, she was incredibly complex, ambitious, determined and outspoken. At the beginning of the novel I wasn’t sure how I felt about Roma, however as we got further into the story and got to hear about his past he grew on me. The romance was another thing that I liked about this book, Juliette and Roma have a lot of chemistry and they have a rather complex relationship and it was interesting to see them attempt to build up their relationship again. Another aspect of These Violent Delights that I enjoyed was the discussions surrounding colonization and the politics in Shanghai at that time. There were quite a few plot twists throughout this novel and I didn’t see any of them coming, especially the twist at the end. Another thing I loved about this novel was the diversity, there is a trans side character who I adored and there are hints of a romance brewing between Marshall and Benedikt so I’m expecting to see this be developed in the next book. Also, this cover is just stunning and it’s one of my favourite covers of this year. After that ending, I need the sequel ASAP!

Overall this was a fantastic YA Retelling/Fantasy debut with a complex main character, a gripping plot, and a shocking ending. I’m so excited to read the next book!

DNF'd 20% through.

I'm gutted to be writing this review, I have to be honest. I really had high hopes for this one, I was so hyped for it. However, it just didn't deliver for me. Couple of things are my problem and not the authors but the I do have a couple of problems with the book itself.

First of all, the premise of this story is amazing and a brilliant idea. The writing, in general, is fine.

However, I struggled with the descriptiveness. Some of the sentences could have been 3 or 4 words less. Albeit beautiful writing, there can be too much of a good thing. I also struggled with how political this book is, just as I am really getting into the story, the politics pulled me back out. This is more so a personal thing than a problem with the book, I usually stay away from books that are heavy on the politics.

There are clearly people who will love this book. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. And I'm still gutted about it.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Hodder for sending me an eARC of this book. And also to Hodder for sending me a physical copy as well.

Be warned that every other sentence in this review is going to be about how much I loved this book because it was SO GOOD! Like how is this a debut? Honestly I was absolutely blown away so all I can say is read it... You will not be disappointed.

"Anyone can be the master to a monster should their heart be wicked enough."

1920's Shanghai. The City is ruled by warring gangs the biggest of which are the Scarlet Gang and White Flowers. Once, there seemed a chance at peace between the two but one event changed that and created a blood feud that leaves the streets running red. Juliette Cai is the heir to the Scarlet's, recently returned from her time in the America, there are people who question her right to rule after such a long time away. Roma Montagov is the heir to the White Flowers. He doesn't always agree with his fathers way of doing things but knows that he needs to show loyalty to ensure he takes over from him. These two used to be lovers, but fate intervened and now they are more likely to aim guns at each other than loving glances. But something is stirring in the streets of Shanghai, a deadly plague that doesn't differentiate between Scarlet and White flower. And it will take Juliette and Roma working together if they are to save the city they both love.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVED THIS BOOK. And one of the contributing factors to that was the brilliantly written characters. Honestly, I fell a little in love with them all. Juliette who see's herself as an outsider in her own home but just desperately wants to belong somewhere. She is an incredibly talented woman, and not one that I would fancy my chances against in a fight. She travels around with an air of fear around her, something she has spent time cultivating for the heir of the Scarlet's cannot be seen as weak. Roma who is afraid to stand up to his father for fear of the consequences, that he will be displaced as the heir and find there is no place for him in this world. He would prefer words over violence, but knows his way around the battlefield almost as well as Juliette.

Whilst these two are the main characters Gong does a fabulous job of building side characters that you fall in love with just as much. Juliette's cousins Rosalind and Kathleen and Roma's cousin Benedikt and Marshall an inner circle member of the white flowers. These four added to some of my favourite moments in the book and Marshall definitely became a favourite character of mine. She also brings a new depth to the story with a wide range of LGBTQ+ characters.

The setting for this book was just *chefs kiss.* Gong brings 1920's Shanghai to life with her breathtaking writing style and I was dragged head first into a world filled with gangsters, flappers and monsters. Gong shows us what is a slightly romanticised time by western culture, from an own voices perspective and she doesn't shy away from the depravity of it. How an entire culture was seen as lesser and subsequently westernised. We see this written brilliantly in Juliette's story. Her fight to stay true to her culture, whilst at the same time feeling the need to dress a certain way, to use a certain language to make herself accessible to the western side of the city.

"These days, Juliette." he said, low and warily, "the most dangerous people are the powerful white men who feel as if they have been slighted."

As well as the obvious Romeo and Juliet references; the doomed romance, warring gang's and a city at war. Gone treats us to a multitude to Shakespeare references, some slightly more obvious than others, but if you're not the biggest fan of the classics you needn't worry. She makes this story wholly her own. Yes you will be able to pick up on the obvious references, but with the addition of folklore, a new culture and monsters, you are never quite sure where the story is going and whether it will end in the climactic way you expect.

This is a book that, as much as I wanted to fly through it, I had to take my time. So much happens and as well as the main monster hunting plot, we get treated to little sub plots based around the side characters that add a whole new depth to the story. As well as this we get treated to a whole host of plot twists, some predictable due to the Romeo and Juliet base, but others that had me gasping out loud.

Yes, there is romance in this book. It's a Romeo and Juliet re-telling after all. And while I lived for the scenes between the two MC's, some of my favourite scenes were the non-romantic relationship's. Seeing Juliette spending time with her cousin's, the annoyance that only family can bring out in you, but also the absolute trust you put in those people. And Roma with Benedikt and Marshall, the only two White Roses who have declared their loyalty to him as heir. The undying loyalty between these people is evident and I loved that we got to explore these non romantic relationships as well.

I can honestly say there was nothing that let me down with 'These Violent Delights.' In fact my only issue is that I have to wait a whole year for book two because that ending killed me! I can see Chloe Gong becoming the next big thing in YA Fantasy and I am here for it.

Sometimes reading a retelling can feel like a bit of gamble, but with These Violent Delights I feel like I hit the jackpot. It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut, because the writing is excellent, the world of 1920s Shanghai brought vividly too life, in a story that takes Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and reimagines it in the best possible way, without being held down by that original story as it shapes itself into something new and refreshing.

The worldbuilding was spot on and carefully crafted, avoiding word dumps, and instead drawing the reader deeper and deeper into the streets of Shanghai during a period of transformation and conflict. The descriptions and details gave These Violent Delights a depth and breadth that was delightful to read, and it was so easy to close your eyes and imagine that you were there in those streets. Shanghai was more than a backdrop to a retelling, it was a character in and of itself, shaping the characters and the stories into something that it could never have been in a different setting.

The original Romeo and Juliet is a story that most of us know. This isn’t it, or at least not as we know it. These Violent Delights has a plot all of it’s own, and one that grabs hold of you and pulls you in, immersing you in both the world and the narrative, through the stories, the myths and legends and the situation that is happening. There are twists and turns, layers upon layers, there is the romance and the love-hate that we are more familiar with – although not in this strained relationship with a history (and I loved the history and the dimension it added to their relationship and interactions as well as the narrative around them), there is politics and tension, between them and the gangs that they are the heirs to, and in the city as a whole.

The characterisation is just as on-point as everything else, and Gong has created two main characters that are as complicated at the world around them. They both have their own motivations and desires, and experiences beyond their own shared past, lending a unique voice to the narrative. Juliette’s experiences, shaped by time spent in New York where she felt out of place and now returning to a place, she’s not sure she still belongs, are very different to Roma’s who has remained in Shanghai, Yet, Roma with his own struggles and pains, is no less complicated or compelling a character, and together, they really do raise the story to another level. Especially, when the cast of secondary characters are just as complex and beautifully written, whether they are cast as allies, villains or just part of the world, with goals and pasts of their own, and together they are woven into a story that comes alive in the world that Gong has crafted around them.

A fantastic debut, with some incredibly beautiful writing and memorable characters, that has taken a classic story and made it anew. The different elements are well balanced, with twists and turns to keep you on your feet, and a world that draws you into its pace.

*to be posted to blog/goodreads on 14/11

Okay, so, let me be honest; I went into this book not knowing much except that it was a sort of retelling of Romeo and Juliet in Shanghai, and that everyone was talking about it. So I decided to wing it and ask for it on NetGalley and I’m very grateful to have been given a proof of it.

Honestly this was unexpectedly super good. I’m choosing unexpectedly as a word here because more than half of the book is very slow. Chloe Gong has a gorgeous writing that is very flowery and gives you a very lush description of the world this book takes place in; this also means that not much actually happens until the halfway point if not the last 30%. It’s a slow book that definitely gives you everything you need to be hooked by the end - I mean, I’m already looking forward to the sequel because!!! that ending!!!

The world is lush and wonderful, the politics of it all are intricate and makes so much sense, and the characters are to die for. I absolutely loved Juliette and Roma. They are so different but so similar and Juliette is such a badass, we stan a Woman ™. The tension and history between them two is one of the main elements of the book and Gong did such a fabulous job.

The story is intriguing and kept me on my toes throughout the whole book - I truly did not see the big reveal coming. I did guess a big event quite early on but I still really enjoyed its unfolding. I have to admit I’m not too sure what will happen in the sequel but I am very excited for it!

To conclude I can say These Violent Delights is a really awesome book that will keep you reading not only because of its plot and characters, but also because of its setting and world. Such a good surprise!!

I absolutely adored this book, it’s become one of my favourite reads this year.

The setting was so wonderful to read I loved that it was set in Shanghai in the 1920s it was both magical and dark and I loved it. I loved the mystery and how we are slowly fed information about this mysterious contagion and monster. Is it something supernatural? What or who is causing these deaths. It made me want to read just one more chapter.

These days…the most dangerous people are the powerful white men who feel as if they have been slighted.

I really loved how Chloe took the story of Romeo and Juliet and gave it a fresh spin and honestly this is better than the original. Roma and Juliette are the only ones worth reading about. The angst and chemistry between them and how we meet them after they had already fallen in love and been betrayed so they already have all this history between them which makes their relationship even more interesting especially as we slowly learn about it through flashbacks and how it affects them in the present. I loved the setting too where we see not only gangs fighting to rule but also the west coming to “improve” things. There was so many different groups all fighting for power and it is the people who suffer most in their battles.

Killer. Violent. Ruthless. All those and more – that was who she was now.

Juliette is my queen, I absolutely loved her! She is ruthless and does what needs to be done to look after her people and the people of Shanghai. I related to her a lot, how she is a capable leader but because she is a woman people don’t take her seriously, she can’t make a single mistake otherwise she will lose the support of everyone. She wants to do what is best for her people but she also has to manoeuvre around politics and how people don’t want to change.

Her character was so complex and I just completely fell in love with her. The ruthless and unfeeling exterior she has to always show to others so she won’t be seen as weak and how she pushes down how she feels especially towards a certain white flower, it was just amazing reading about her. I loved the discussions on how she never fit in, in the west but because she had spent time there she no longer fit in, in Shanghai either. It was so relatable, right down to how her name wasn’t western enough so she had to change it to suit them.

His title gave him power. Power kept him safe.

Roma was a cinnamon roll and I really enjoyed reading about him too but Juliette has my heart. I loved how he was soft and sweet but like Juliette he has to show a ruthless exterior. He also has to deal with his family not completely trusting him because of his history with Juliette and I really loved how he was never domineering or controlling when working with Juliette. I loved seeing how much he cared and loved his sister and how he would do anything to protect her.

A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred.

I loved every single interaction between Juliette and Roma. The tension and the angst, the pining and their electric chemistry that grew as the story went on and they slowly started to open up to each other again. I loved their dynamic and how they could only show their vulnerability to each other and also feared showing vulnerability because it was dangerous for them. I cannot wait to see them in the sequel especially after the events of that ending! Although I do hope they have a better ending than Romeo and Juliet did.

I loved the side characters too, they were all interesting and complex and had their own story arcs which I was invested in too. Honestly all the characters in this were so well written. I loved all of them and I can’t wait to see what will happen in the sequel especially after that ending.

This book was incredible and discussed so many important issues while also creating a dark and gritty atmosphere. The story will suck you in and the characters will have you completely hooked onto their every word and you will think about this book long after you finish it.

These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in 1926.
Should I stop my review here? We all know that's enough information for you to want to read it…
Ok, ok, I'll write more.
So, our two main character, Juliette and Roma are both heirs to rival gangs, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. The two gangs have been enemies for generations and the feud got even worse four years before our story starts when our two main characters were just 15, since then, it's become an attack on sight kind of feud. During those four years, Juliette was actually shipped to New-York and she comes back to Shanghai just before the beginning of the novel. Sadly, she's not the only thing that arrives to Shanghai, a madness caused by a monster starts to take over the city and both Juliette and Roma are to look into it. Needless to say, their paths will cross.

These Violent Delights is told through several points of view; we have both Roma's and Juliette's, of course, but we also have four other POVs. I won't tell you whose but I will tell you that it was a great addition and I loved being in their heads too.
The whole book is just so perfectly paced and the plot was enthralling from beginning to end. Let's be honest, there's nothing I didn't like about this. The characters (main or secondary) were great and layered, the tension between all of them felt so right, I really did love it all. I have a special place in my heart for Kathleen and I just cannot wait to read more about them all in the sequel. I just don't know how I'm gonna wait this long.
I was so into the book, I couldn't help but want to scratch my head most of the time (you'll understand why), I really just felt like I was there, in Shanghai (where I've never been before,) fighting for my life. The setting and the mood is just this realistic.

I don't know what more to write so I'll stop here... I just cannot wait to have my physical copy in my hands!!