So, I’ll be the first person to admit that I’m not a Romeo and Juliet fan. It’s one of my least favourite Shakespeare plays and I’m happy to be salty about it. But the moment I heard about These Violent Delights, I was curious. And the moment I started it, I was hooked.

As you might have gathered already These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920’s Shanghai. It follows Juliette, the Scarlet gang heir and Roma, the heir of the White Flowers. Juliette is Chinese but spent most of her childhood in the US and Roma is Russian but spent his whole life in the city. When a monster seems to be spreading madness across the city they wind up tangled in each other’s lives again as they try to stop the monster.

I don’t know much about China and certainly not about Shanghai in the 1920’s. The whole atmosphere of the city and gangs was something I’d have more expected in Hong Kong from what I know. So it was interesting to learn more about Shanghai and the international community amid the rise of communism. As someone in 2020, we know the communists are going to win but it was fascinating to see these people fighting against it. And obviously the gangs were definitely going to prefer the county stay capitalist but it definitely delves into this and yeah. I actually learned a lot more than I thought I would.

This is billed as an enemies to lovers romance and it is but it isn’t. If anything it’s more friends to lovers to enemies and then back to lovers. You get hints of Roma and Juliette’s relationship back when they were 15 before there was betrayal. I was kind of sad that we had Rosalind but she wasn’t Roma’s crush before Juliette as since she is so much more important in this book, it would have been interesting to see more connections between the gang. But I did like Roma and Juliette. There was a lot of drama, yes, but it made sense and it made me very emotional. Not like I cried but you experience a lot of feelings and it was good.

The characters were all interesting and though some I wasn’t sure who they were in the original, others with name changes were easily recognizable. And I liked getting a view into some of these characters that we don’t know much about. But also there were changes. Certain characters are dead in the beginning and obviously the use of a monster is something completely new. But it brought something new that I feel like we needed in a Romeo and Juliet retelling. We have some really grotesque scenes and a hint of fantasy but because it was set in a time and country that we don’t see in YA fiction much and that makes it a little bit more educational.

I really enjoyed this book so much. I knew I’d like it but I loved it more than I thought I would. I’m definitely eager for book 2 to come out and I’ll definitely be buying myself a copy when this comes out!

These Violent Delights is an exhilarating reimagining of the classic Shakespeare tale, Romeo & Juliet. Set in 1920’s Shanghai and involving rival gangs instead of feuding families, Juliette and Roma are each heirs to their respective gang. Juliette, a former flapper, is the ex girlfriend of Roma. And with the mysterious deaths throughout the city piling up, Roma & Juliette realize they need to team up to solve the mystery before there is no city left to fight over. The writing is vivid and beautiful, just flowing off the page. It’s shocking this is only Gong’s debut novel. The character development is very strong. They all feel fully fleshed out. Plus, there is diversity throughout. The setting feels real with the detail truly bringing it to life. I enjoyed the blend of historical fiction and fantasy with the addition of the monster. If you’re looking for an original story with inspiration from Romeo & Juliet, look no further. And if you enjoy historical fiction with a dose of fantasy added in, this is the perfect novel for you. Be sure to check out These Violent Delights today!

A fascinating take on Rome & Juliet in Shanghai! Completely perfect for me as I love Shakespeare and have become recently obsessed with this genre. I loved this book and I am a new fantasy reader but was completely captivated. It was a solid debut and I can't wait to read more from Chloe.

This book has amazing social commentary, amazing characters (so much representation!) and a really interesting premise. Unfortunately for me the execution didn't quite work. I don't know what was missing. Was it too long for the story? Was it the writing style? The plot? I'm not quite sure. What I do know is that the majority of reviews I've seen have been overwhelmingly positive and that's really amazing, and I'll definitely try Chloe Gong's future series. This one just wasn't for me and that's cool.

I think Kathleen was my favourite character by far, I felt like she brought a new perspective and I was really engaged with her story. Not sure about the others, Roma was disappointing and Juliette was OK.

trigger warning
<spoiler> bodyhorror, self mutilation, trauma, grief </spoiler>

1920, Shanghai: Juliet Cai has returned to the city after she recieved her education in New York, and brings flapper flair to her family - and their business. The scarlet gang runs one half of the city, and Roma, the guy she used to love, belongs to the white flowers, their enemies.

Okay, I thought this was only historical fiction because it's been ages since I requested it. And I wasn't in the mood for it. So I perked up as I realised there's a monster on the loose, and people are dying. Juliet and Roma will have to pool their resources together to solve this. Either that or loose everybody.

Fantasy twists make everything better in my opinion.

But to be fair, this setting doesn't really need it. A while back I read an interesting book about the atrocity that is the opium wars, and the chaos in the region when western colonialists decided they wanted and didn't care which suffering they inflicted on people, because said people were <i>other</i>.
It's only unchristian if you do it to christians.

So, for the trigger warnings, expect lots of racism I haven't mentioned because the setting as such speaks for itself. There is poverty, there are unjust systems, different cultures clash together. Outside forces, in this case communist politicans, are trying to get a peace of the cake so everybody gets some crumbs.

This book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, so the question is how far the author replicated the story. I am glad to tell you that both main characters have known each other for years, they were pretty tight a while back, but then things happened and Juliet returned to New York. They haven't seen each other for about four years, a time that was formative as they are in their late teens.
Both are being groomed for inheriting the family business a.k.a. becoming gang overlord, but are they? Internal politics rage on both sides, adding confusion. And realism. This vibrant setting felt so, so real.

Lots of violence, turmoil. Not much time to whisper sweet nothings, especially as the characters are not too sure if they want to do that or everything has been ruined already.

The ending really, really upset me, because cliffhanger. Will read on for sure. The problem with reading arcs is finishing a book <i>that is not even out yet</i> and then wanting the next installment.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

This book is a very solid debut novel and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it! It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920s and guys believe me when I say it was everything and more.

The story is a fantasy infused with politics. It is set in the world of gangsters where constant fear, backstabbing, and retaliation are a daily occurrence. Nobody is safe and people always have to look over their shoulders. In the midst of this all two families rule over Shanghai underworld, the Cais with their Scarlet Gang and the Montagovs with the White Flowers. And it's from these two families that the main characters come from, Roma who is the heir to the Montagov's White Flowers and Juliette, the princess to the Scarlet empire.
But can these two young people prove themselves to be the heir everyone needs? And how much are they willing to sacrifice? After all, all is fair in love and war.
I believe the usual themes of the original play were used in a unique and smart way and I also think that we will see more of them in the next book.

Personally, I really appreciated the fantasy elements that this novel deals with. It's not over the top or too complicated, but it's interesting enough to keep the plot going and my attention during the reading experience. There's a madness spreading and it's causing people to kill themselves by clawing their own throats out. Everyone is more scared than ever and the two gangs need to come together in order to find a solution. But will they manage to put aside their differences and succeed?

I truly enjoyed this story and I cannot wait to read the next novel in this series.

The premise of this really spoke to me, 1920s Shanghai? With gangs? With a hate-love relationship? Sign me up! I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare, and though I read parts of Romeo and Juliet in high school, I couldn't tell you exactly how much this followed that story beyond its premise and a few key scenes.

I enjoyed the discussion of language in this novel a lot, and I'm finding it a subject I'm consistently drawn to.


Character

The characters were a lot of fun! Juliet and Marshal (a side character) stuck out the most for me, and I enjoyed that this novel dipped into a lot of characters perspectives.

Roma and his and Juliet's friends (six in all) came alive on the page, but there were times I felt like I didn't see enough of the side characters to really get to know them (except from maybe Kathrine) and Marshal's humour helped him stick out.

The other characters all blended together with me, and Roma and Juliet's fathers felt like very similar people.


Plot

The plot felt a little lacklustre. The premise of the insects and madness was an interesting one, but the mystery of "who is behind it all" failed to grab my attention. I found it hard to pay attention to the ins and outs of Juliet and Roma's investigations, as I didn't care about the political background, and the potential villains left me disinterested.
There weren't enough humourous or engaging situations within the plot, that could've brought out character for me personally, which left me feeling lukewarm about the overall novel despite promising character dynamics.

These Violent Delights is the debut novel from Pennsylvania University undergraduate Chloe Gong. Set in Shanghai in the 1920s These Violent Delights is a clever retelling of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. The book will be released November 17th and trust me when I say you want to get your hands on a copy.

I was very kindly sent an ARC of These Violent Delights through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Chloe Gong and Hodder & Stoughton.

As mentioned above These Violent Delights is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Taking place in 1920’s Shanghai, a madness is sweeping the city which leads to many dead victims. Juliette and Roma, heirs to rival gangs The Scarlets and The White Flowers, reluctantly team up to solve the mystery before there is no city left to fight over.

First things first I was shocked when I found out that this was a debut novel. Like wow. You would think that Chloe had a whole plethora of novels under her belt before writing These Violent Delights. From the get-go, the story is intense and exciting, mysterious deaths, a suspected monster and all of the drama that the original Romeo and Juliet holds.

The first character you are introduced to is Juliette Cai, the heir to one of Shanghai’s leading gangs The Scarlets. Now do not be fooled into thinking that she will be anything like Shakespeare’s Juliet, Juliette Cai is cutthroat and bold and just happens to be the ex-girlfriend of Roma Montagov, heir to the rival gang The White Flowers.

As the title suggests this is quite a violent book. Obviously, if you are not comfortable reading that type of thing then fair enough this book probably isn’t for you. However, if you don’t violence and gore then you will definitely enjoy These Violent Delights. The violence, although harsh, can be quite poetic at times and really makes this an intense read.

This is the type of book which you cannot put down. The suspense is carried throughout the entire book, something which can be quite difficult to do in YA. This does not mean that it is all doom and gloom and the read is not enjoyable. You will find that even though the story is dark you are enjoying it as it is so immersive and the plot twists are so shocking you will constantly be on the edge of your seat.

Chloe Gong has an incredible worldbuilding ability that made 1920s Shanghai come to life before my eyes. Worldbuilding for me is one of the most important parts of a story. We read to lose ourselves in a story and if you cannot imagine that you are actually there then what is the point?

Juilette and Roma are characters that you really come to love. Extremely well fleshed out and well-written backstories make you feel like you really know them. Although on opposing sides, their stories entwined beautifully and add a new spin on the classic love story.

If you are a fan of Romeo and Juliet, like myself, then you will love These Violent Delights. The age-old blood feud is in full swing and you can feel the tension of Juliette and Roma’s forbidden love.

Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

I have to admit, I did nearly put this book down at least three times before finally deciding it wasn't for me - so there was clearly something that made me want to keep trying. But, in the end, it just didn't do it for me and despite continuing on multiple times I only made it 35% through. It's not a bad book, but it's quite YA-ish and contrite, and it just wasn't keeping my attention enough.

A lot happens, even in the first third I read, but the story progresses at a snail's pace. We'd only really achieved two things at the time I stopped reading. I mean, really, it's so repetitive, it's basically the same three scenes over and over again. There's an edge of Libba Bray's The Diviners in the way it builds up the monster mystery, but the character's plotlines aren't holding the core strong enough for it to remain compelling. Gong also dumps a lot of information constantly - while the cultural and historical aspects are really interesting, I wish it had come across more in action and behaviour than explicit explanations.

I'm also not a massive fan of the leads, and I didn't feel their chemistry at all - and that's always a big factor for me personally. Most of their character is built up from what has happened in the past, but the problem is that it gets so concerned with the backstory (and with being mysterious about it) that it doesn't actually get to telling this story. It was also, for me, too dramatic. I didn't feel the tension because it felt like someone held up a *cue gasp* sign. This doesn't make it bad, it's just a stylistic element that I'm not a fan of.

The whole book just felt pulled in too many different directions: at times it was a melodramatic YA gangster love story, then it was a monster mystery, then it was a historical political drama. All are great and can be balanced together, but I just don't think Gong quite managed it for me this time.

This was a loose Romeo and Juliet retelling that I enjoyed. I really liked the atmosphere and the writing was pretty decent.
The plot was well-paced with characters to root for.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book to review.
I knew nothing when going into this book and I ended up liking it. It is advertised as a Romeo and Juliet retelling in 1920s Shanghai but I’d say it was inspired by Romeo and Juliet rather than a retelling.

It is set in 1920s Shanghai and I loved the setting. The world was interesting and I loved it. I enjoyed the gang set up and how there are two main opposing gangs, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. I also enjoyed the mysterious madness and how the two heirs of the gangs had to work together. The plot of the madness and the monster kept me reading. I really enjoyed the politics in the background of the book and how they were navigated. There is nationalism and communism which was good to see and I liked how it was explored.I loved the theme of colonialism and how it dealt with it. The city is divided and parts are owned by the West while others are run by gangs. I liked that it showed Juliette as feeling like a stranger in her own city. The colonialism was done really well and it was my favourite part of the book.

The characters are all okay, Juliette was my favourite but there were times were I was annoyed by her slightly as it felt like other characters weren’t as good so Juliette could look better. Juliette is layered and a well built character. Roma who is a stand in for Romeo is less well built and I didn’t really connect. I liked the inclusion of lgbt side characters and it was great to see a trans character in the books. The romance didn’t really work for me either as I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters and I think it could have worked without the romance.

There is multiple povs in the book and some I enjoyed more than others. I think this book could have worked better if there was less subplots. There were times where I felt the plot was a little convenient but overall I still enjoyed it.

<b>"These violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which as they kiss consume"</b>


These Violent Delights is a loose Romeo and Juliet retelling, set in the 1920's in Shanghai that's run by gangsters. Particular two groups of gangsters the 'Red Scarlet's' & 'The White Flowers'

Juliette is a Chinese heiress who comes back to Shanghai after 4 years away, to prove to her farther that she is ready to rule the Scarlet Gang. She is willing to do anything for her family and her city.

Roma The rival heir to the gang of the White Flowers, has almost been disowned by his own father and now he fights to prove himself and get back in his good graces.

Both gangs ruthlessly kill each other over the blood feud and dominance of their territories, but when a madness sweeps over the city and a 'monster' is sighted coming from the sea causing the deaths of anyone in its way, Juliette and Roma must work together to bring a stop to the monster and save their people and city.

Firstly the description of a Romeo and Juliette retelling was what first captured my attention, I love the original story and everything that came afterwards. I was intrigued by this premise of a different setting and more of a 'horror' aspect rather than just a doomed love story. I was not disappointed, I didn't put the book down, it kept my gripped till the very end and I can't wait to get my hands on book 2!

I really loved the Roma and Juliette interaction, you really get a feel for how much they both have changed throughout the years apart, and how much they both fight their feelings for one another.

<b>"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?"</b>

I really enjoyed the other characters too, I think Marshall might have been one of my favorites, he just brought a little light humour to these gory situations and I loved his little flirtation he had with both both Kathleen and Ben! (but mostly Kathleen, fingers crossed for another star crossed love story here)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5* First and foremost, the entirety of this book made me fall in love with it from the second I first read the synopsis. Romeo and Juliette has always been such a sentimental and favourite read for me, so hearing about a fantasy retelling set in Shanghai blew my mind. From the forbidden love element, to how strong and independent Juliette's character is... I was in awe of this story instantly.

At times, the plot did lose me a little. However, the character arcs, the way Roma and Juliette interacted and the way they portrayed themselves made me refuse to put this book down. I already wish I could reread it again and I can't wait to get a physical copy to annotate. I'm so incredibly happy that I had the chance to read this!

These Violent Delights is a loose Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. Sold yet? I was. We mostly follow the perspective of Juliette Cai, heiress gangster, who has returned from America to Shanghai in a time of political instability, gang rivalry, and a monster threatening the entire city.

There are so many references to Shakespeare throughout TVD, when it comes to the characters names - or even one passage where a famous sonnet is distorted. However, this story is unique enough that it’s plot doesn’t feel like a recycled version of Romeo and Juliet. It’s not stifled by the comparison, and it doesn’t feel dry and predictable like some retellings. There’s an overarching sense of doom brought by the knowledge of the original, yet enough hope that this story will turn out differently to the original. It was a really effective use of the retelling aspect.

I did completely adore Gong’s cast of LGBTQ+ characters. It was diverse, but didn’t feel performative. Gong has just created a cast of characters and a world full of diverse and vibrant characters, without making a big plot twist of their sexualities and gender identities - but not diminishing them in any way either.

Juliette’s brutality was a real highlight for me. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and be cruel at time, though we toed the line of her vulnerability. She was brutal, but not cold. I could feel the emotions bubbling beneath her steely surface, and my heart called out to Roma who couldn’t be the vicious male heir that was expected of him. Gong’s writing truly explored the different facets of these two characters on the opposites of the same coin. I liked that neither character was particularly likeable - they were flawed and morally grey, with priorities and decisions I didn’t always agree with. But, I could see their reason behind these decisions and fully understood through their backstories how they came to be that way.

“... as the rumours went, Juliette Cai was the girl who had strangled and killed her American lover with a string of pearls. Juliette Cai was the heiress who, on her second day back in Shanghai, had stepped into a brawl between four White Flowers and two Scarlets and killed all four White Flowers with only three bullets. Only one of those rumours was true.”

A huge part of the setting of this story was the racial and cultural tensions that punctuated the entire story. We followed Chinese characters who were seeing their city taken over by Russian gangsters and Westerners, and truly understanding the non-white perspective of white influence. I think this is a really important perspective to read about and see represented in an Eastern setting with Asian characters - particularly written by an Own Voices author. The 1920s is an era that is highly romanticised by Western history, without considering the cultural damaged the west was having on non-Western cultures. We need to stop focussing when reading historical stories on only a Western, white perspective, with rose tinted glasses. Gong’s voice was a beautiful addition to this narrative, and one we need more of. The story truly highlighted the pressures put on Juliette to westernise herself in order to be palatable, in the way she dresses, her accent, her language. To hear her family discuss the feeling of losing control over their own city and to feel their identity being threatened was truly heartbreaking, and important to read.

“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.”

Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this one. It was a little slow at times and both the plot and romance felt like it meandered a little in the middle, but it really found its footing towards the end and I was truly gripped for the last 100 or so pages. It left me feeling incredibly excited for the next book! Can’t wait to see what is next for our characters, and the political landscape of Gong’s Shanghai.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a re-telling of Romeo and Juliette set in 1920's Shanghai with the addition of fantastical, almost sci-fi elements. The concept for this book is was first attracted it to me. Being set in China gave it a unique angle that I haven't seen done before. Within this book there were moments a beautiful description, particularly in the first half of the book. It was a very fast paced novel and I flew through it.
That said, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I found it difficult to relate to the characters, and felt that the romance elements were not explored deeply enough, and so didnt seem realistic (not that they were particularly realistic in the original Romeo and Juliet). I was please to see some LGBTQ+ themes included, but again, I felt that they were too subltle, and would have liked more from those characters points of view.
Overall an enjoyable read.

Originally, I've thought of giving this book a 3.5 star rating. But as I go deeper into the story, I find myself actually enjoying the characters and getting used to the pacing that I did not like at the beginning. Roma and Juliette are built with equal parts of invincible personas and vulnerabilities. I liked their dynamic and the tropes they presented throughout the book. They naturally made some blunders, and fortunately, there were also pleasing developments. The plot also lacked a little bit of strong factors, such as the pacing and whatnots, and yet it kept me engaged.

In regards to the author's writing, it was rich and filled with so much history that can really make a reader feel welcomed to cultures they have never seen or experienced. As a debut novel, that is something that cannot be easily done.

Overall, despite the book's flaws. I see a lot of potential for the series and am looking forward to the next installment.

'In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens.'

I think a lot of people are going to really LOVE this book, I wouldn't be surprised to see this being the next series that's extremely hyped in the online book community and I definitely won't be surprised to see a lot of merch popping up in book boxes. The reason that I say that is because it hits on a lot of trends that recent popular series have e.g. (lovers) to enemies to lovers (maybe?), second chance romance, uber angst, family dynamics, edgy violence, betrayals, prickly heroine, subverted character tropes, etc. etc. etc. And, it does those things well, on the level that you would expect from a YA fantasy book. It also has the added benefit of being a really fresh retelling of Romeo and Juliet, so the comfort of a familiar story is going to resonate with a lot people.

I enjoyed how Gong updated the story of Romeo and Juliet for this Shanghai based Urban Fantasy, especially with how she weaved in the topics of identity and colonialism. It made the reason for the warring families feel much more fleshed out and the stakes a lot higher. I really love retellings, however, more often than not, they don't read like they're bringing anything new to the story or like they're using the source material to make a statement about the world we live in today. I much prefer retellings that have a purpose for the retelling and These Violent Delights definitely did! The only thing that I didn't really vibe with on the retelling front was the use of direct lines from the original play; there was something a bit cheesy about it and when they were included it didn't fit with the style of dialogue that had been used throughout the rest of the book. Direct R+J quotes aside, there were a few times when the written dialogue was quite stilted; I couldn't imagine real versions of these characters speaking the way that they did.

'"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 plot or your heart reaching for me?"'

The disparate prose styles were the thing that held me back from loving this book. There was a certain prose style used in the prologue (and scattered throughout the book,) that was so brilliant. But, then it switches to a more standard prose style for the the bulk of the story, which was a bit of a letdown considering how engaging the prologue was. This could have been a 4 or a 5 star if the prose had been as good as it was in the prologue. There is a particular style that a lot of YA fantasy writers use that is accessible but it takes the uniqueness out of the writing. I wanted to read this book and be like 'Yes, this is Chloe Gong's writing' but I finished it feeling like there would be no way for me to pick out her writing style from a lot of other authors' writing style. Sometimes I wonder if this stylistic choice happens in the editing phase because we all know YA is a marketing strategy and I wouldn't be surprised if they think we just want to keep reading the same thing over and over. I did really like the way that Gong wrote the action scenes and the scenes where the madness was overtaking people; the description was quite visceral - to the point where there were certain phrases that turned my stomach. However, I did end up feeling like there was a bit of edgy for edginess sake.

'In a blink: guns upon guns, each arm raised and steady and trigger-happy, ready to pull.'

The plot was very intriguing, specifically in the way that the magic system, main antagonist and character work fed into the plot. It felt really solid and not like these separate elements were just slapped together in order to attach the fantasy label. The 'madness' infection that was sweeping this city felt like a big threat all throughout the book and it was well seeded from start to finish, whilst also giving space for the character drama to play out. I was also very into the urban fantasy setting, I would love to see more UF in YA because it does feel like an untapped genre in this category. I could have done with a smidge of a slower pace in order to allow for more world building though.

There is a lot of diverse rep in this book, but beyond the nationality/race rep for Roma and Juliette, the majority of it occurred with the side characters and it wasn't given enough of a spotlight front and centre.

Overall, this was a solid debut and I am really looking forward to seeing people get very excited about this book. It would be nice for this book to be extremely popular so we can start seeing more fresh settings and plots in YA fantasy. I don't know about you but I'm very fatigued with the fierce-female-character-faces-off-against-nefarious-royalty trend in YA , it seems like it's been around forever - even Vampires didn't have this kind of staying power. Chloe Gong is bringing something new to the table; I will most likely read on in the series on that basis alone and I will definitely be recommending this.

I studied Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in high school for three consecutive years, and to this day, I’ve not touched a copy of it or had the urge to ever read it again. Having, what some consider a masterpiece, be told to you straight and simple really erases its magic and beauty. And I think Chloe Gong has convinced me to read this play again and to give it another chance. Because These Violent Delights was stunning!

These Violent Delights is a Romeo & Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920s, where, instead of Capulets and Montagues, we have the Cai family and the Montagov family who are apart of feuding gangs: The Scarlet Gang and The White Flowers. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are rivalling heirs who share a past and must set aside the blood feud and their anger towards one another to investigate and destroy a monster that has awakened in their city.

I want to start off by saying how beautiful Chloe Gong’s writing is – it just flows across the page and is poetic without being overly complicated. It was easy to emerge into the story just by reading the first page. There were times when it seems we were getting an omniscient perspective who looked on over Shanghai as chaos ensued. It was intriguing. I love third-person narrative and especially loved how Gong carried the perspective to other characters beyond Juliette and Roma – to Kathleen, Marshall, Benedikt, and more. It allowed a fuller view of Shanghai and of the cast of characters Gong has brilliantly crafted. Beyond Juliette and Roma, the side characters were well-rounded and developed enough for me to care about them and understand them. Although, I did find the heads of the gangs: Lord and Lady Cai and Lord Montagov really underdeveloped. They fell a bit flat and felt very one-dimensional characters.

The pacing of the first 60% was quite slow. Yes, a lot of things happened, but Juliette and Roma didn’t start officially working together till after the 60%, and which is when the pace immediately picked up. I did like how Gong used the first 60% of the book to flesh out characters, setting and the conflict, but, personally, it did take me a while to actually grasp onto the plot and onto the actual story itself. As I said, the last 40% of this book was absolutely amazing! I was finally hooked because it was so action-packed, the stakes were much higher and I loved Juliette and Roma working together. They made such a good team – even when they’re from feuding families.

There was LGBTQA+ representation which I love, though there were only hints to it. There are no outwardly LGBTQA+ relationships, though there is one that is budding slowly, and there is a trans character, Kathleen, who’s perspective we receive in quite a few parts and I LOVED her sections so much! I hope we get to see more of Kathleen and other LGBTQA+ characters in the sequel!

Juliette is such a well-crafted character: she is intelligent, determined, loyal and so violent and angry and fierce. Yet, she’s also heartbroken and lost within the power struggles of The Scarlet Gang as a woman and the heir and she’s soft for Roma Montagov. On the other hand, Roma’s exterior is soft and is always underestimated by his own father and by other in The White Flowers, when in truth, he can be just as violent and angry and malicious as Juliette. Their journey from friends to lovers to enemies to lovers again was so satisfying to read about, and I fell in love with them so easily.

I can only say, the reason why this wasn’t 5 stars for me was because of the politics in this book. Nothing wrong with the actual politics mentioned and discussed, but rather my lack of knowledge of them. I began to understand them gradually, but in the beginning, I had to research virtually every page when some political was mentioned – which resulted in me coming out of the story and losing focus. It was hard to grasp straight away and a lot of it just went right over my head. Another thing was how the reader essentially finding out/knowing clues and answers to the mystery before the characters did really affected the reveal of the characters’ findings. They proved quite anti-climactic to me in parts.

The cliff-hanger! I want the sequel in my hands! I thought, if not for the cliff-hanger, These Violent Delights could’ve been a great stand-alone. But I’m super glad Chloe Gong decided against that and is going to write a sequel because I loved this book and the characters so much! This was just what I needed for the beginning of October as it was quite dark and creepy at parts.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in advanced. Thank you, Chloe Gong, for this exceptional book!

<i>Big thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC via Netgalley <3</i>

Hello, I am crying and an emotional mess all at the same time. Yes, it is a thing, NOBODY TOUCH ME!!!!!

I,,, this book. Chloe Gong. Just everything BLEW. ME. AWAY. And also: I. NEED. BOOK. TWO. RIGHT. FREAKING. NOW.

Seriously, can I have the sequel because HOW could it be over so quickly?!?!?

Yo, I just really loved this book. I flew threw it and was so invested, in the world and in the time period. Both of which were so transportive and immersive. Literally adored the Shanghai setting and also 1920s setting. Spectacular I tell you.

I also LOVED the writing. At first, we were not vibing, but by the end of the book, I was just so in love and in awe of Chloe Gong's talent uWu. The way the story was told was just so well done. I loved the mystery element, and yes I am still a scaredy-cat. Twas reading it at night and bruh I thought a monster was going to attack me lmao. This whole book is just genius though.

I also just want to applaud Chloe Gong for, ya know not only being a student and icon, but also on the incredible world-building. Which I absolutely adored. It was so well fleshed out and complex and I was just eating it up. I also really loved the social commentary, especially concerning communism and also on society in Shanghai. Brilliant.

The characters ahhhhh, I am eternally screaming. I literally loved them ALL. Roma and Juliette were my faves, I love them so so so much. But I also loved the side characters. I loved Benedikt and Marshall, who are beans and the best sidekicks *wink wink*. I also LOVED Kathleen, who is a queen. They were so real and I felt like I was there with them in the story, literally friends with them all. The dialogue was also great. I loved how it was set in the 20s but the language was not at all hard to comprehend.

But probably my FAVOURITE part was the *drumroll please*, can you guess? Indeed it was the romance. But this isn't just any romance. Literally I loved it so much it's not even funny. Like this could be UP THERE with my absolute fave OTPs. Because OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!! It was so good?? And am I deceased?? I'm just obsessed with the whole childhood friends to lovers to enemies (to lovers) set-up and it was so ~delicious~. I ship them so so so so hard. Mad I have to wait like a freaking LONG time for the sequel, but I am obsessed with them all the same. I just love how simple the romance was, yet the chemistry and dynamic were just so perfect that even though there is little of it, I still shipped them so hard.

I just,,, wow. I have not been able to think about anything else but this book since I finished it. It was fantastic and everything I'd ever want in a YA book. We got historical fiction, romance AND a hint of magic/urban fantasy. Love to see it.

Did I mention that I need a sequel? Because I want a sequel.

Also, this is for sure a favourite of the year, possible THE favourite of the year!!

Wow just wow. Where to begin with this book... first I want to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful cover. It is literally stunning and draws you in straight away.

Second let’s talk about the immersive poetic writing style. After reading the first page I was swept away in the narrative. Almost as if someone was speaking it to me and I was mealy listening as they conjured the tale of the beast in the river.

It’s so breathtaking. These characters have been given a new lease of life. This is not the Romeo abs Juliet you know. They are darker, grittier and have had time to grow up and understand the decisions and sacrifices they must make.

No longer is Juliet a weak girl. Instead she is a strong, independent woman. Able to walk toe to toe with any man and shoot him in the head if she so pleases. She’s at the top of her food chain and a key player in the game. I used to hate her but now in this retelling I find her refreshing and extremely likeable.

I really loved this book, it’s characters and it’s plot and I want the second one straight away. This is the problem with reading ARCs you have even longer to wait for the follow up.