WOW!? What a brilliant and beautifully written book. When I first heard about These Violent Delights and how it would be a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, I just knew that I had to read this!

The setting of this story was phenomenal. I felt as if I had been transported to 1920s Shanghai, Chloe Gong was able (without a doubt) to capture the essence of this wonderful city and enable me to really vision it as I read every page.

Juliet was hands down my favorite character out of them all. I love how deadly she is, you really do not want to mess with her! Throughout the story, you can see her hard exterior begins to crack, allowing a softness to appear. It was written gradually, making it more believable.

Even though this is a retelling of a very classic love story, I loved how there was pretty much next to no romance. It is very clear that the two characters had something “going on”, but their families conflict and desire to save their city outweighs any romance. I do look forward to seeing how there relationship develops in the next book.

It was refreshing to have different viewpoints from different characters. We were introduce to different memebers of both rival gangs, The Scarletts and the White Flowers. Incorpating these different characters into the narrative truly added to the story. I was excited to revisit them!

I am super excited for the next book in this wonderful series and for other people to read it! You’re in for a treat!

These Violent Delights is a wonderful retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Although we see similarities with the original play the author has added new and refreshing elements with a slightly modern twist. The writing is rich and beautiful and flows elegantly from page to page. The plot is dark and full of twists and turns and I was captivated from the moment I picked it up.

Set in Shanghai in 1926 the author describes the setting and culture of Shanghai with vibrancy and authenticity. Tension is created throughout with political intrigue and the blood feud between rivalling gangs, The White Flowers and the Scarlet gang. No one is safe, constantly watching their backs, and this added to the suspense and atmosphere drawing the reading into the story.

The author writes amazing characterisations which are richly developed and with wonderful and diverse personalities you will definitely find your favourites among this cast. Roma and Juliette worked well together, I loved their connection and enjoyed the dynamics between them. Their banter and the chemistry between them is delightful. These star-crossed lovers, with unresolved feelings, find themselves with no other option but to work together to find a solution to the strange contagion sweeping the city taking many lives in a horrific way.

A really wonderful debut novel, which is written incredibly well with such beautiful, rich and detailed writing. There is just the right balance of romance, fantasy elements and political intrigue. A gorgeously dark retelling and with lots of plot twists and turns, amazing characters and a wonderful setting, I highly recommending reading it. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I am a big fan of Shakespeare and his work so when I saw this being pitched as a Romeo and Juliet re-telling I knew I had to read it.

I loved the mix of 1920's Shanghai and Shakespearean quotes. The story follows Roma and Juliette who are part of two rival gangs, and a madness which is sweeping the city.

The characters are really well written, and it is really easy to get to know them and the gangs that they belong to. I really liked The White Flowers, they were badass and fun. The Scarlets were also a good gang but I preferred following The White Flowers.

There were parts where it was definitely a lot more graphic than I expected it to be, so definitely something to watch out for. It took me about 20% of the book to get into the world, and understanding the main plot lines, but the last 40% was really gripping.

I'd highly recommend this and I will definitely being picking up the sequel.

This is so good. It is the most amazing debut novel and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Except maybe make it queerer, but a girl can’t have everything. It takes the best parts of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and turns them into its very own better version. The characters are nuanced and smart, flawed and growing, full of wishes and goals, striving towards their future.

The central romance between Juliette and Roma is slow burning and believable, hinging on the past and dealing with its fair share of issues, rather than falling into the tropes of insta-love that the original depends on. This is just one of the ways in which Chloe Gong has managed to improve on the Bard’s work. These Violent Delights is full of tension and feeling, not letting the reader catch their breath throughout the story. Its pacing is excellent, showing not only the author’s talent, but outstanding editing as well.

Additionally I loved the setting in colonial Shanghai. Recognising places from my own visit evoked a sense of nostalgia, while the book itself subtly addressed issues of colonialist ideology and landscape making the reader consider issues they might not have encountered before. These Violent Delights is many-layered and the reader discovers a new thread running through the story on each read.

I highly recommend These Violent Delights to anyone who has the slightest inclination towards YA and the various subgenres it addresses. Chloe Gong really is an author to watch and I can’t wait to keep reading her work.

What can I say, I'm now a Juliette Cai stan. I simply am in love with her.

In all seriousness, I loved this book. The characters are now a piece of my heart. The writing was incredible, I truly can't wait to read more by her.

I really liked the drama of it all, but I really need that sequel ASAP.

A really fun read.
Steady pace and flow throughout.
Complex characters revealing a new layer in each new chapter.
This gave me a Six of Crows vibe too!

I usually read these kind of books in one or two sittings, but I tried to savour it and unfortunately life got in the way. This meant I had to re-cap often as there is a lot to take in and retain in the beginning.

I received an arc for an honest review.

"These violent delights have violent ends"

Chloe Gong has created an absolute wonder of a book, full of blood feuds, the supernatural, and forbidden love. I honestly loved every single page, and spent as much time with it in my hands as possible. With astonishing skill and stunning prose, Gong weaves a tale that is for every generation. This will go on to be as much of a classic as its inspiration.

When I tell you I audibly gasped multiple times throughout this book, not because of the plot, but because of the sheer MAJESTY of the prose. It's so obvious that Chloe LOVES writing, because each line of this book is a lyrical masterpiece. It's PACKED with beautiful phrases you'll want to make note of, it's packed with well executed research and you will feel like you're in Shanghai while you read it.

I had high expectations for this and it didn't quite meet them.

If I hadn't been told it was set in the 1920's I would never have known. The Shanghai setting was really vivid though.

I was totally ambivalent about all of the characters.

I think I'm too familiar with Romeo and Juliet to properly enjoy this. It is really well written and I hope it finds an audience with people younger than me that aren't as jaded about R&J.

This is such a cool retelling!
I really liked the writing and adored the setting and atmosphere.
The romance was lowkey torture and the ending omg?! now I'm just dying to get my hands on the sequel.

I really want to see more of the awesome side characters! This book has some great representation.
And there's a M/M romance which I'm COMPLETELY rooting for.

It took me a bit longer than usual to read this but the last 30% was addictive and I loved all the action and twists.

It's a really great debut!

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. I was worried it would be too heavy on the whole star-crossed lovers /instalove thing which is not my favourite part of Romeo & Juliet. But never fear - this is set several years after the blossoming teen romance ended in tragedy but not of the suicide-kind rather with betrayal and murder.

So Romeo and Juliet or rather Roma and Juliette are full of seething hatred and antagonism by the time we meet them here. Heirs to rival gangs in a Shanghai that is rapidly changing - the power of their gangs is waning as foreigner powers start claiming more land and exerting more influence and the communists are gaining ground with the local population. If that wasn't enough, a monster has been spotted in the river and a mysterious disease is making people rip out their own throats. Both are determined to uncover the truth and their paths force them back together.
If the thing you like most about Romeo and Juliet is the rivalry and bloodshed rather than the romance then this is the retelling for you.
Chloe Gong does a great job in creating a bustling, vibrant, dark and changing Shanghai. The characters are all interesting and well-developed with lgbt and own voices rep.
Personally the only slight let-down was finally seeing the monster but I often find that the idea of the monster, the anticipation, is better than when you actually see it. But the sequel could change my thoughts if that cliffhanger is anything to go by.

I AM ONLY GOING TO SAY THIS ONCE,
BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK FOR REAL!

I wanted to read the book since I got to know about the concept, so thank you netgalley for providing with e-arc. But this in no way is biased opinion.

The story concept, was excutied so well. I mean, i would have never imagined a Romeo and Juliet retelling where they have to fight a monster and are part of opposite gang. The story just keeps on the edge with who is behind and so man clues.

The characters, all the characters had a point of view at one point in story which was good because we got so much insight on what was going on. Specially the back stories of Roma and Juliette friends and family who are always with them.
My favorite character out of all of them was Marshall, it was the best character and no one can tell me otherwise.

The book comes out soon, so go read this awesome book!

Rarely does a rainy day recommend you a book, when you can hear the thunder screaming and the rain pelting the windows—as if warning you to read this book now or you’ll be drenched in tears—and you decide to actually honour the anticipation building within you by picking it up right then. But one such day did recommend These Violent Delights to me and I shall be sending a thank you letter to whoever operates the tap in the clouds.

These Violent Delights sharpens the edges of a classic by retelling it through a lens of another era while never holding back from suffusing originality, individuality, and an independent perspective on all aspects of this masterpiece. Heirs of two rival gangs taking up their responsibilities while remembering (and often trying not to) their past, a monster emerging from the waters, and political revolution waiting to unfold, this historical fantasy is painted within Shanghai of mid 1920s.

Juliette, heir to the popular Scarlet Gang, strengthens her stance with heightened fervour as a young woman who recently returned from the States; Roma, heir to The White Flowers, abides by his father’s commands with conflict as an emotionally responsive young man left with no room to opine. Both didn’t choose this life, both gangs are being triggered by the same threat, and both can kill each other if witnessed in the rival’s territory—at the behest of unsaid sectional rules set up to avoid bloodshed.

Like a whetted blade awaiting its purpose to destroy, the two come together with a repulsiveness that frequently gets replaced by yearning, to uncover the mysterious infection clawing at people’s throats and apprehend the larger ambition behind the dreadful eyes of a monster beneath the sea, behind the violent spread of this lurgy, and behind the growing change in the political scene. Akin to the sharp blade, this coalition does destroy—the heart of every reader.

The lesser I speak of the romance, the more one would fully immerse themselves in a bath of scarlet roses and white flowers. But nothing about this rivals-to-lovers is relaxing. It’s a tsunami of contention, inclination, and an ache that will upheaval even the steadiest of your grounds and you’ll agree that something with such disorder and disruption can only be excellence.

It’s simply this excellence that perfectly balances an exclusive focus on the Roma-Juliette while also rolling a film of side characters who possess distinctive personalities. With absolutely no retention of Romeo and Juliet, considering I haven’t read it yet, I’m not the best person to draw any sort of parallels at the moment but if I ever review the classic, I’ll draw parallels with These Violent Delights in that review.

The other side of me as a history fanatic did connect dots with a knowledge of the Northern Expedition, imperialism, the Nationalist & the Communist parties, and the factory strikes igniting the first sparks of a revolution while foreign powers still dominate over the government. Like an icing on the cake, the varying aspects that deliver such superiority are imbued with heartfelt strands of identity, familial expectations, and emotional bonds that aren’t easy to escape from.

Read this historical fantasy romance for the love filled with angst, for a fierce heroine, a lover hero, and for all the complexities that can justify my lack of words to precisely sum up why this is easily one of my favourites of the year.

DNF
I was SO excited for this book but itwas not for me. I love Romeo and Juliet and so it being based on the play but set in 1920s Shanghai sounded super interesting. Unfortunately I found it incredibly boring. I read to 40% but had to give up. There was so much description it made me zone out and I did not connect with any of the characters. I felt the storyline was pretty basic too. I know alot of people are loving this so it is simply just not for me.

This book was SOO INCREDIBLE!! The writing was sublime, the storytelling and narrative weaving was crisp and beautifully woven. The allusions to Romeo and Juliet with a dark twist was so compelling to read and Juliette and Roma were such lovely leads. This was an incredible book to read!!

I'll start by saying that I unapologetically love Romeo and Juliet; it's my favourite of Shakespeare's plays. Despite that, I haven't read any retellings of it, so I was immediately intrigued by the idea of a reimagining set in an intricately-wrought 1920s Shanghai. Here's a history that more people ought to know about, one often neglected when it comes to YA literature. As I read, I enjoyed picking out all of the Romeo and Juliet references. This aspect was very well done, and it even took a while for me to make some connections! When your plot is based on such a popular text, I'd wager you can run the risk of your readers predicting every single thing and making your story seem stale, but that wasn't the case here.

While we spend a great deal of our time with Roma (heir of the Russian White Flowers gang) and Juliette (heiress to the Chinese Scarlet Gang), Gong also tells her story from the viewpoints of several other side characters. I think the book could have been more powerful without this, if I'm being honest. I didn't particularly care for Kathleen, Benedikt, Marshall, and Rosalind, and nor did I think they were as developed as they could have been; their sections didn't seem to drive the story forwards at all. Likewise, there's many moments of banter and humour, but this book got my attention with the premise of a pair of star-crossed lovers reluctantly working together amidst a bloody feud. These Violent Delights shines when it's exploring the unresolved feelings of longing and yearning between Roma and Juliette, and I think the levity undermines the gritty feel.

That said, this is still a book that deserves to be read! It's an #ownvoices story with excellent commentary on colonialism (notably set in an era often romanticised and associated with glitz and glamour), and we can truly feel that through Juliette, who feels as though her identity is being fragmented and that she must dress a certain Westernised way in order to be respected.

A very dark and gripping take on romeo and Juliet that kept me engaged from the start. I'm very impressed with the author's writing, enjoyed all of the violence and gore, the main romance was done very well and I was pleased to see some LGBTQ+ rep also in the story.

This book is fabulous! A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in Shanghai.
I loved the gang's and the danger that suggests- it reminded me a lot of the Baz Luhrman film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Roma and Juliette are from opposing gangs, enemies with a blood feud between them. They are also ex lovers. When a monster starts to roam the streets of Shanghai killing mercilessly, they have to put aside their differences and work together.
The characters were amazing. I loved Juliette, Kathleen and Rosalind were fabulous and I really liked Roma, Benedikt and Marshall.
There were fabulous twists and turns throughout the book and that ending. WOW!
The atmosphere was just incredible, I can't recommend this book highly enough!

This book had an absolutely amazing premise. Set in 1920s Shanghai amidst the blood feud of two warring gangs, Gong weaves an element of the supernatural and mystery with sightings of a monster seemingly causing mass hysteria - leading to people ripping their own throats out with their bare hands.

The author paints such a vivid and visceral picture of the streets of Shanghai. I could so clearly picture the street vendors and rickshaw drivers among the speakeasys and brothels. Shanghai was such a melting pot during this time with Chinese, Russians, French, American and British all scrambling for a piece of it for themselves.
It definitely shows that the author put a lot of time in researching this historical period that doesn't get talked about enough in Western history books.

All of these characters were very fleshed out, they were all flawed in their own way, each dealing with regrets and unbelievable pressures.
I definitely think that fans of The Diviners series by Libba Bray and The Last Magician series by Lisa Maxwell would be fans of this debut.

The plot was very politically driven, which for me, sometimes affected the pacing of the story. However, it wasn't enough to take away from my enjoyment of reading.
It was so interesting to read from Juliette's perspective. We see her struggle with the betrayal she's harboured for years and has irrevocably changed her. She also deals with people thinking she's "too Western" based on how she dresses and often plays the part of the ditzy flapper girl so people will underestimate her. She has to have this cut throat exterior to gain respect from the Scarlets as their heir. However she may be brutal at times she cares for her people and will do anything to stop the madness spreading in her city. She sees it as her responsibility and is fiercely protective of her role.

There are very close ties to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Which may sound surprising about a book with a monster plague running amok. But you can see each character from Romeo and Juliet mirrored in our main protagonists.

I have to admit I do have a lot of questions upon finishing this book. From how it ended there does seem to be a sequel in the works, but personally I think I would have liked to see a little more answered in this first instalment.
For example, I would have liked to learn more about the monster and the insects that were infecting people. How were these insects connected to a somewhat amphibious creature?

What made it mutate to turn this human into such a creature?

I think the plot suffered a little from having so much going on at once, with the communist riots happening in tandem with the monster plaguing the streets and also trying to hunt down different business men and government officials that were behind it all.

Also, the plotline of their being a spy in the Scarlet gang was kind of raised and dropped, and while I have my own theories as to how that's going to progress in the next book, it was left hanging a little too open for my liking.

The romance element to this plot was just "ok" for me. I wasn't super invested in Juliet and Roma as a couple. There was definitely tension there but perhaps because of the distrust between them, I just didn't feel a huge amount of chemistry. But this will be an aspect that I look forward to being expanded on.

As a debut, I really enjoyed Chloe Gong's writing style. I loved the dark, gory nature that she didn't shy away from and think she'll only continue to grow as a writer. There are definitely some favourite passages I have loved and will reread again and again.

As a whole, this was a really enjoyable read from its characters to the setting. I will definitely be purchasing a finished copy and eagerly await more from this author.

Actual rating <b>4.5 stars</b>

<i>Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the provided ARC in exchange for a review.</i>

When I first saw the premise, a Romeo and Juliette retelling set in Shanghai in 1926 that also included gangs, I was sold. It seemed like something new that also appealed to my very new interest in East Asian inspired books and other media. I've never read a Romeo and Juliette retelling before and I was excited about this book but I also really loved the cover! So, when I saw that I was approved for a physical ARC, I was beyond excited.

And oh, this book did NOT disappoint!

I was completely engrossed with it right off the bat. The two things that immediately caught my attention were the beautiful writing and the very well-done atmosphere. Chloe Gong's writing flows so well on-page and reads effortlessly and I loved that. <i>These Violent Delights</i> is one of the few books with a strong feel for the atmosphere that I've read. It basically felt like I was there with the characters, and whenever I had to stop reading I just missed that feeling. Reading a book set in Shanghai was also definitely refreshing and the type of new in YA I crave.

I feel like I have to say that in my opinion, this book is more historical fiction than fantasy and although it has some fantastical elements, they are very low-key, to the point where I'd say it's more of the magical realism type. I still don't know how they managed to create a monster even after the explanation at the end of the book, but I'm okay with that because I really enjoyed this.

The book definitely kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. I absolutely loved it and that's why putting my feelings into words will be hard.

I don't have a single complaint. The plot was executed very well, it kept me interested the whole time and there wasn't a single boring part in it. I was engrossed with it the whole time and I didn't want it to end. What's more, for the first time in ages I found myself wanting to read to the wee hours of the night and I even stopped watching my dramas (something that I usually look forward to) in favour of reading this. I enjoyed it that much.

Usually, when I read a book, I'd have this one main character that I'm not that interested in, but this wasn't the case here. I welcomed each POV the author introduced and if anything, I'd like to see more from all of them! Especially Kathleen and Benedikt, I want to know more about them.

I loved all of the effortless representation we have here because it's not made to be a big deal and that's what I love seeing. It's done well and I appreciate it.

What I loved about Juliette and Roma is that they aren't the kids from the original story. They are the same age, 19, and they already have some kind of history that is revealed slowly throughout the book. I enjoyed it because it was definitely done in a way I liked. For those of you who don't like much romance, but would like to give this a chance, I'd say the romance is very low-key and is definitely not the main thing in the book at all. It's focused more on the plot which I loved because I believe it just made the romance part better. Juliette and Roma had great chemistry, as did another pair of characters that shall remain a secret.

I would have liked a bit more from Rosalind because I feel like her character was kind of absent, and there was definitely a reason for it but it wasn't completely clear so I definitely hope there's more of her in the sequel.

Benedikt and Marshal seem like an amazing duo and I loved their dynamics, they were the best partners to each other and to Roma.

In my head, Roma is a soft cinnamon roll who tries to be fierce and I love him. I loved him in <i>These Violent Delights</i> and how much he was trying to stay true to himself and what he believed in. Actually, that's what I love about both him and Juliette. They decided to keep going and find out what or who's behind the madness and the monster even when nobody else cared enough to do so. I loved seeing them work together.

Juliette was also a great character who has her strengths and weaknesses. I loved how human she was even when she was trying to be ruthless. She was written excellently, just like everything else in the book. I'm extremely biased.

I loved the mystery element but what I appreciated the best was the way the madness was described and how realistic the reaction of the people was. I don't know if it was added as a later edit or if it was just spot on from the beginning, but the different types of reactions to it were very, very realistic.

What's more, that ending was just great. It left me wanting more. While I wasn't surprised at one of the final acts, I was so not expecting this ending, and I'm so excited about the sequel.