These Violent Delights is a sprawling and magnificent debut historical fantasy and the best reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet I've read, set in the Autumn of 1920s Shanghai as a new dawn is breaking and both the Opium Wars and the rise of Communism have become omnipresent. The star-crossed lovers in this story are Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai who come from two opposing gangs that are fighting for financial and political control of the city and are embroiled in a bloodthirsty all-out war. Foreign powers have taken chunks out of the city for themselves leaving the rest to be fought over by these two enemy faction. There’s chaos and a melting pot of different groups all staking their claims.

Juliette is the daughter of Lord Cai and heir to the Chinese Scarlet Gang whilst Roma is descended from Russian Montagovs, head of the White Flowers Gang. Having just arrived back in China after studying in New York, 18-year-old Juliette has discovered in the time she's been gone much has changed in Shanghai, the city she and Roma dreamed of ruling. Despite having garnered a reputation for being merciless, Juliette struggles to be respected as the heir of the Scarlets as cultural sexism determines her quick-tempered cousin, Tyler, to be more worthy.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Roma is not as revered by his father as he once was due to his betrayal of Juliette four years ago, which led to the deaths of innumerable Scarlets and placed a target squarely on the White Flowers’ backs. Juliette has vowed seek revenge ever since. But now a deadly disease is steadily sweeping the city linked to an apparent monster living in the Huangpu river and it doesn't discriminate so loyalists of both factions fall to it. Former lovers Roma and Juliette grudgingly decide to put differences aside to try to ascertain the cause and the all-important cure of the illness leading men to tear at their own throats in anguish.

This is a stunning and richly-imagined fantasy with lots of bloody action, revenge, betrayal and so much more that there is never a dull moment. Gong’s prose is so exquisite that on every page I was desperate to save at least one sentence and that is a rarity for me. The setting is the star of the show, though, although there is much to love throughout, and Gong captures the 20s zeitgeist perfectly whilst portraying historically significant events in Shanghai and wider China powerfully at the height of its transformation. I was immersed and transported there and loved every second of it. I must also mention the cast of characters; it is a lesson in diversity, queer, multiple ethnicities, but doesn't ever feel forced. I am blown away by this book, which is as close to perfect you are ever likely to come. Sublime. Read it! Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a review.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Romeo and Juliet. Like probably too much. I have a preprepared rant for when someone slanders it. I love it A Lot. So, when I got the opportunity to get my hands on an ARC of this, I was SO EXCITED.

Thankfully my excitement was well-worth it. I really enjoyed this book! From the first page, you already find the gorgeous writing that exists in this book, The descriptions are simply beautiful. I loved the opening scene, I loved that it mirrored the thumb-biting scene. It was such a fun callback to begin with and set the tone well for me. There are loads of little callbacks to the play like this, enough for a play lover to be excited, but the reader isn't beat over the head with it.

I loved Juliette. I loved how sassy, but sincere and angry Juliette was about colonialism and the Westerners in Shanghai. Her struggle to understand what it meant to be the "American" girl and how it fit with her Shanghaiese identity felt so true. Her brutatlity and power made her believeable as a gang heiress and her struggles and love made her a great protagonist. Roma was also an interesting character. I enjoyed his morality and his frienships, but I wish we had gotten inside his head a little more. I felt like I really understood Juliette, but Roma, I'm not all there on yet.

I'm not trans, so I can't say for sure, but I enjoyed the depiction of Kathleen. She had a seamless introduction, and her story really interested me. <Benedikt and Marshall's relationship/friendship> was also really exciting. I wasn't expecting it in a historical retelling, but I'm so glad it was there! You cannot convince me that <Bencutio> is not a thing, okay?

Also, I really liked the idea of a Romeo and Juliet who already knew each other. It definitely makes more sense this way since they're meant to be sworn enemies, and especially in this setting. It felt almost like a follow up to the original young naive lovers story from the play. This is an older, hardened Romeo and Juliet who know the reality of their blood feud. They see the repercussions and dangers more because they are more familiar with them.

Additionally, I love how Gong has evolved Romeo's dreaminess and Juliet's practicality into their new selves. Juliette is ruthless and practical, whereas Roma is honorable and dreams of a better future. Their play counterparts show clearly through, but Gong transforms them to make sense for this time and setting. It's really brilliant.

There is some body horror in the book, so I'd be wary of it if that triggers you. I found myself shuddering a few times at the descriptions and I'm usually fine with written horror/gore. Additionally, I enjoyed all the languages mixing, but sometimes there was a lack of translation and I could sort of get the context, but not the meaning exactly. There wasn't like a glossary or anything, so I did find myself doing a lot of googling, as I like to know exactly what the characters mean. Definitely not a big deal, but something that did get a bit old for me.

I also would have liked a map. I know that's usually a thing for fantasy novels, which this obviously isn't, but the territory lines and differently "owned" parts of Shanghai are so important to the story, and sometimes I got a bit lost as to where things were placed and were in relation to each other.

Gong also doesn't gloss over the colonialism in Shanghai, as well as other place the characters have lived. Especially in YA historical fiction, that was very refreshing. As should be obvious, having a Chinese woman as the author gives this book context and depth that a white author would likely be unable to replicate. It's so important to the truth of this story, and Juliette as well.

There is defintiely a lot going on in this book. It's a retelling, a murder mystery, it's got political plots, and a historical setting in a complex, diverse location. Gong has lots of balls in the air and she handles them very well as a whole.

Here's my thing though. I'm not so sure about the <monster. For a book so rooted in histroy, it feels out of place. I wish the reveal had been something a little more realistic. Even some kind of undiscovered animal would work for me more than a weremonster.> I think if the blurb had leaned toward this, or if there were some sort of other <magical or anachronistic element>, it would feel more in line.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be reading the next one, as that cliffhanger was so much for me. Definitely a recommend to anyone who loves Romeo and Juliet, beautiful writing, or historical settings.

This book is a wonderful debut novel, written by someone who is still young (I’m imagining the potential) It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920s.

The story is a fantasy infused with politics and race issues. In a world of gangsters holding onto a ‘blood feud’ … that they will not let go of.

I really liked the fantasy elements in this novel. It kept my attention and had me wanting to read more. The writing is wonderful and the characters are strong and well developed.
It didn’t make me think too much about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette as I read it, but I did wonder sometimes what parts of the story would be similar and what parts would be different, which, for me, added to the enjoyment of the book.
I think anyone could enjoy this book…but be aware the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger.

This was one of those rare, atmospheric and magnetic reads that gave me a book hangover.

Gong writes absolutely stunning prose. While one or two spots were a little flowery for the occasion (generally dialogue that felt a tad theatrical), overwhelmingly the writing was just gorgeous. I made so many highlights! The writing style and language felt evocative of that 1920s time period too, which only added to the immersive story, and I really liked the inclusion of some Chinese (in pinyin form). I’d previously not known about the unique Shanghainese dialect so it was nice to learn something new! The inclusion of certain words and phrases from multiple languages worked really well to enhance the setting – in addition to Mandarin and Shanghainese, there was English (obviously), French, Russian (spoken by the White Flowers, aka the Montagues) and references to other dialects too. Small things that really built up the roiling mix of people and cultures present.

Speaking of peoples and cultures, I also appreciated the frank commentary on colonialism and microaggressions. The social commentary is not just to do with race and white supremacy but also with transphobia and sexism, especially the double standards set for Juliette as the female heir to the Scarlet Gang. The casual diversity in characters (aside from the majority Chinese cast, which I had obviously expected) was also a pleasant surprise! There are at least three queer characters (gay and trans) and I think one of the characters has OCD.

I just loved the Easter egg-like references to Shakespeare’s play – the reveal of the oh-so-important poison being my favourite – and I really enjoyed the hints, both subtle and overt as to who was who in the cast. There was even a hilarious parodic reference to one of Shakespeare’s famous sonnets.

The plot has a brisk pace and hefty dose of eye-popping twists, and while the omniscient narration means the reader knows more than the characters do, I still didn’t manage to guess the main antagonist, nor their motives! Honestly, I was suspecting someone else, and I have tHeoRiEs for book 2… The onslaught of contagious madness was horrifying and this book is certainly going to be nauseating for those afraid of insects. I was absolutely disgusted several times…which I guess adds to the experience if you’re a bit masochistic.

I cared about all the characters (not you, Tyler/Tybalt) and similarly to how I felt during Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’, I was absolutely terrified for their wellbeing. I even had to stop at one point because I was too afraid that they might die. (In fairness to Tyler/Tybalt, he does get more characterisation to him here than in the original play.) There are a number of POVs, and while it was easy enough to differentiate when each chapter section was dominated by a single character, sometimes I was confused when it seemed to suddenly slip from what felt like third-person limited to omniscient narration. This wasn’t a big problem though.

As you may know, enemies to lovers is my favourite trope, and I have a special affection for arcs that ping-pong between enemies to lovers. What was great was that the Roma and Juliette seesaw was always convincingly tied with the plot and never felt forced. Certainly felt painful, though. There was also a burgeoning side ship that I adored too!

Something special about ‘These Violent Delights’ is how entertaining its Acknowledgements section was too. I’ve never enjoyed reading one as much as Gong’s here! I think there was a reference to Gansey (‘The Raven Cycle’ and also kudos to Halsey’s ‘hopeless fountain kingdom’ album, both of which are instant wins in my book.

I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

‘These Violent Delights’ is a brilliant concept – a loose Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, featuring a fantasy monster, gang warfare, and a fascinating look at colonialism – but suffers a little from the scale of its ambition. It’s certainly a fast-paced and intriguing YA fantasy, but it isn’t quite as gripping as I’d like it to be.

Juliette Cai has just returned home to Shanghai after completing her education in the USA. As the heir to the Scarlet Gang, her job now is to start integrating herself with her father’s contacts and cement her people’s loyalty to her – but instead, she finds herself entangled in a conspiracy with a mysterious – and invariably fatal – virus, and strange rumours of a monster. Even worse, her arch-enemy Roma Montagov – heir to the White Flowers – keeps showing up. Determined to solve the mystery before more of her people die – and before Roma beats her to it – Juliette embarks on a mission that will truly test her loyalty – to her family, to the Scarlet Gang, and to a particularly irritating enemy-turned-lover-turned-enemy who just keeps getting under her skin.

Juliette and Roma are both major POV characters, but Juliette is such a force of nature that she feels like the true protagonist. She’s not particularly likeable – she’s completely ruthless, almost uncaring of the feelings of others and willing to do anything to ensure her own success – but at her core is a heart of fragility and worry. Juliette has had to fight for her place as the heir to the Scarlet Gang, and she knows that one misstep will send everything tumbling down.

Roma, on the other hand, is far easier to like. He’s also a ruthless gangster, but makes no secret of how much he hates it. Roma’s position as heir to the White Flowers is just as tenuous as Juliette’s for the Scarlets, but for very different reasons – Juliette’s father is unsure of her suitability as a woman, and also slightly scared of her; Roma’s father thinks his son is soft and unworthy. He’s the sort of character you constantly want to give a hug, because everything keeps going wrong despite the fact he’s always trying to do the right thing.

The strength of this book is in the setting. It really draws you into the various microcosms of 1920s Shanghai, the feeling of multiple cities within cities, and the political tensions of a city and country in transition. Chloe Gong’s writing is gorgeous, and she absolutely captures a sense of place. I know very little about this time period or area of the world, and the way it’s depicted here makes me want to find out more.

The main issue I have with this book is that, for a Romeo and Juliette retelling, there’s very little emotional buildup. Roma and Juliette were together, then four years ago there was a massive betrayal resorting in them returning to mortal enemies. Now there’s a huge amount of tension – and potentially lingering feelings – but much of this is brushed over with a simple explanation of ‘things happened in the past’. The decision to tell us about their past relationship rather than show us a relationship developing weakens the romance, and thus the story. I struggle to understand why Roma likes Juliette when she does nothing likeable – it mostly seems to be nostalgia for a character we never see on page – and similarly, Roma seems like someone Juliette would despise for his weakness rather than fall in love with.

The other niggle I have is that the fantasy elements feel disjointed. The plotline about a virus and a monster feels discongruous with a story about gangsters in 1920s Shanghai. I absolutely adored the historical context and the glimpse into a time period and culture I know little about, and I almost wish the fantasy elements had been toned down to allow the history to shine through. The plot is mostly predictable, and I suspect part of the reason for that is so much exposition is required to make everything fit that some of the mystery is lost.
Overall, this is a solid YA fantasy with a brilliant setting, but perhaps one which takes on too much. Fans of enemies-to-lovers romance, Shakespeare, and strong characters who take no prisoners might love this, but it definitely feels like a debut.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – thanks so much as always to Netgalley for sending this to me!

I feel super bad about this one, because I was so lucky to get an ARC and I know this book has been highly anticipated in the book community. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t working for me. I was having to force myself through it one page at a time and really didn’t enjoy the reading experience.

While I appreciated the rich, lush setting of the book, and I feel the plot had all the right elements and would probably have shaped up to be full of amazing twists and turns, it just didn’t grab me for some reason. I didn’t vibe with the writing style, or the characters. Juliette intrigued me, and she was almost enough to make me keep reading, but I just didn’t feel much of a spark from the other characters, and the romance – the main thing that drew me to this book – didn’t catch my attention either.

Ultimately, I just think this was a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me,’ because it seems like everyone else has been really loving this book. At the moment I find that I’m gravitating more towards lighter, easier reads, and this story just demanded too much focus from me right now. Had it come out at a less fraught time, I might have persevered with it, but with nothing drawing me into the story and no real motivation to continue, I’m afraid I’ve had to let this one go.

DNF at 30%

"The stars incline us, they do not bind us."
So... this was amazing and I need the next book right now. The story is effortlessly engaging and is truly unique despite having the Romeo and Juliet inspiration. A historical urban fantasy set in such a lush backdrop of 1920s Shanghai with two ex-lovers caught in a rumbling gang war in an increasingly divided city. The politics, the characters, the setting, the writing, and the fantastical elements were all great in my opinion. I would highly recommend it and it definitely explores some very important themes. Some scenes and topics are quite violent or graphic in nature so do bear in mind that if you are unsure whether to pick it up or not.
Firstly, we have to talk about the writing. Wow, just wow. It was so good. I think I may have highlighted more passages in this book than I ever have before with this book. There were so many important quotes and topics explored and I am already wanting to buy my own copy so I can annotate it which I never do! Similarly, the atmosphere and setting was just phenomenal, so unique and different but not in an alienating way, I was so wrapped up in this world and I cannot wait to jump back into it whenever the second book comes out.
The characters were so complex and the representation in this book was also handled in a really nice way. I have a few predictions of things that may be coming in future novels. All the characters are ethically not the best people yet I still managed to care for them all so deeply. So much so that when certain events occurred towards the end I nearly burst into tears in the middle of a public bus. So I applaud Chloe Gong because I have grown close to every. single. character. And considering the amount of violence in this book, is a mean feat.
One thing I would say is it took me a long time to get through this book, this could be partially my fault as I read it on my phone via the kindle app and that can be a distraction. The plot is pretty slow and the pacing is also slow, this is not necessarily a bad thing especially considering how character-driven the story is in retrospect. I do think that I will like the following books perhaps even more than this one considering the connections I have forged with the countries. None the less this is what is stopping me from giving this book a full five stars.
Rated: 4.5 Stars

I received These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong for free on NetGalley by Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this early copy! This review is also available on my blog - Book, Blog & Candle!

These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated reads and I was so excited to be approved for it on NetGalley! I've heard so many good things about this book and it definitely lives up to the hype! A Romeo & Juliet retelling set in 1920's Shanghai is such a fantastic concept, I knew I had to read it!

In These Violent Delights we follow our star-crossed lovers Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov who are the heirs to rival gangs. Raised to hate each other but they fell in love anyway until a harrowing betrayal sets them firmly back as enemies. I didn't realise how much I would love the "enemies to lovers to enemies" trope, it is so good!

Juliette has returned to Shanghai, after being forced to go to America, and she is ready to take her rightful place as the heir to the Scarlet Gang and determined to forget all about Roma. I loved Juliette's character so much! She's an absolute badass, quick witted and incredibly dangerous. I have to declare right now that I'm definitely joining the Scarlet Gang!
On the other hand Roma is trying to get back into his fathers' good graces and trying to get everyone to take him seriously as the heir to the White Flowers. He's learnt to be more cautious but he does have an angry side that flares up when those he cares about are hurt.
They've both got to prove themselves to their families but soon have to put aside their differences and work together in order to stop the madness that is plaguing the city.

The writing throughout the book is incredibly gorgeous, it's so descriptive and intriguing. I also loved the historical elements that were layered in the story, there was so much I didn't know about and now want to research even more! These Violent Delights is an intense read that really immerses the reader fully into the story. I usually make notes as I go along but I didn't want to take my eyes off the story for a single second! It is so clever and such an amazing retelling - I must admit I love it even more than the original Romeo & Juliet. The suspense, the yearning and the twists were just perfection, you can really tell how much love was poured into every part of this book. I can't wait to read even more!

These Violent Delights is witty, intelligent and an instant favourite of 2020 for me! Thank you again Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley, it stabbed me right in the feels but I loved every second!

I love a good retelling as much as the next person and especially when it comes to retellings of Shakespeare’s plays there are certainly plenty available. When it comes to Romeo & Juliet, the adaptations which come to mind immediately are the films, whether it be the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli film or the 1996 Baz Luhrmann adaptation. In These Violent Delights however, Chloe Gong has not just written a retelling of the classic tale but she has revived it, she has charged it with commentary on colonialism, race and class and of course, given us the star crossed lovers in Juliette and Roma, tying together a debut which will be sure to captivate readers.

I loved the sense of atmosphere and setting which Gong creates throughout the novel, portraying Shanghai in the 1920’s with rich description and making the city and each unique place feel so palpable to a reader. Whilst reading I could feel the sense of debauchery and excess, of the blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers which is not so thinly hidden under the exchanges in the city and the rising tide of tension between all the different factions. I also liked how Gong explores the impact of western powers / foreign colonial influences on Shanghai and how discussions on race and class are approached and weaved into the story deftly and enriches it in so many ways.

As well as the conflicts which form the basis of the story, there is also a larger mystery and sinister plot at play, with whispers of a monster within the city and the madness, plague like that follows. I liked how there was this more fantasy / sci-fi like element alongside the more ‘realistic’ elements within the story, and how both work so well with each other. I found it really heightened the experience of the book for me, as I was thinking of theories and how it would all play out.

I obviously can’t write this review without mentioning the flawless depiction of the lovers to enemies / star-crossed lovers tropes within the book and how much pain Juliette and Roma’s complication-ship caused me. Yes, complication-ship. As one may expect with a Romeo and Juliet retelling, things are not easy for our main characters, but the situation is even more fraught and complicated when you’re part of rival gangs and even a hint of working together / being in a relationship could cause utter strife.

I liked how we were introduced to the couple years after a tragic event which tore them apart and we meet them in the present, when they’re at odds once more. The sense of yearning was so high, and their scenes were so tender and so full of wistfulness for what could be, if only the blood feud was over. I really liked the choice Gong makes here to reveal their past relationship in snippets and mentions here and there, rather than through heavy exposition. Normally I’d want to read it all firsthand but this slow reveal actually works so well and still conveyed to me the sense of history, affection and care that these two characters have between them, and also the doomed nature of their relationship, between the divided loyalties and impossible choices they are both forced to make. It was so compelling and speaks to the heart of what has enthralled readers for so long; two young people who love each other so much but seemingly can’t find a way to be together.

I also really liked that we got to read through multiple perspectives, and it wasn’t just reserved to Juliette and Roma, even though they are the main characters. We get a range of well written and fully realised secondary characters who I loved just as much and it never felt tedious or unnecessary when Gong diverts to their perspectives. I genuinely liked Marshall and Benedikt, Roma’s best friend and cousin and their teasing dynamic as well as sisters Kathleen and Rosalind, who are Juliette’s cousins and closest confidantes. I think sometimes secondary characters can feel inconsequential if a writer doesn’t pay as much attention to them, but I really appreciated how each of these characters had their own stories and journeys and definitely added a lot to the book.

Overall, These Violent Delights was a delight (pun absolutely intended) from start to finish and I can’t wait for the next instalment already! I’ve heard that it’s going to be a duology so I’m in eager anticipation. I would recommend this to any fans of Y/A, retellings and fantasy – basically I feel compelled to hand a copy of this book to everyone I know and/ or shout about it from the rooftops. I feel like it will be immensely popular on its release and deservedly so.

The first in a (I think) duology, that retells/re-imagines the story of Romeo & Juliet amongst gang warfare and political change in 1920s Shanghai. Didn't turn out to be the book for me but I would still recommend it as the premise is fresh and interseting and it's very well written.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for review.

A VERY intense start, superb setting, great and beyond creative adaptation/retelling, and just the sort of dark gritty read I needed in my life.

Romeo and Juliet take a very different angle in this, we have Roma and Juliette, two rival gangsters in Shanghai in the 1920s, and while normally this would have been enough for a retelling, Gong takes it a few steps further.

Roma and Juliette are watching their gang members die, merchants, and just the regular everyday citizens as well. The numbers are mounting at an alarming rate but for some reason, there are only whispers of a monster, of a madness, and the leads are tough to follow. So, what better way to solve the mystery than to have Roma and Juliette work together?

LOVED this so much! And I already need a Netflix adaptation ASAP, also, though, WHAT IS THAT ENDING HOW AM I MEANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK!?

Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review, full review to follow on my blog.

I was hooked from the first chapter. Turns out 1920s Shanghai isn’t boring at all and learning about what a diverse place it was was fascinating. My knowledge of the history of Shanghai - or any places in Asia really - isn’t great so it was really fun to learn a little bit of something new while reading this book. I really enjoyed reading descriptions of the city especially from Juliette’s perspective. The writing in general is really beautiful.

I also enjoyed the story and the characters a lot. It’s told from the perspective of both Juliette and Roma and sometimes their closest friends, so you get the full view of what’s going on as they try to solve the mystery of the Madness that keeps spreading in the city.

I definitely enjoyed Juliette’s perspective the most, because she’s such a badass and lives up to her reputation of being the ruthless Scarlet Gang heir. She’s not completely heartless though, and I think she was well balanced in that regard. She’s not one of those characters who are just said to be really brutal but actually they don’t do anything to show that, but she’s also not a cold-hearted killer. Girl’s got feelings too. Juliette also has an extra layer of complexity from living in western countries for years and so picking up a lot of the fashion and culture, but also being very proudly Chinese.

I liked Roma too, but I think I just naturally gravitate more towards the female characters. Roma is definitely the softer of the two main characters though, and I enjoyed his and Juliette’s interactions together. One of my favorite scenes with them was probably when they were forced to take tequila shots and Roma couldn’t handle his booze at all and Juliette was like “Aren’t you supposed to be Russian?” and Roma responds: “I’m Russian, not an alcoholic.”

I feel like I can’t talk about Roma as a character as much because a lot of it goes into spoiler territory and I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone, but Roma definitely has his complicated side too.

Their romance developed, or I guess re-developed since they had been in love before, at a nice and slow pace which made it very believable especially considering all the reasons that had led to them becoming enemies when they were younger.

The side characters were also great. Both Juliette and Roma have two sidekicks, and like I mentioned we get to see the story from their perspective a little bit as well. Marshall and Benedikt on Roma’s side were really fun, and the sisters Rosalind and Kathleen on Juliette’s side seemed like really good friends to her and I liked them a lot.

The plot of the book isn’t as complicated as it might sound at first, but it was just the right level of mysterious so I couldn’t predict the outcome. Sometimes it felt like Juliette and Roma could get away with things like breaking into places and snooping a little too smoothly, but I guess they were just really lucky. The story gets really intense towards the end of the book as a lot of things start happening and it’s definitely an adrenaline spike. The Romeo and Juliet elements were sprinkled in the story nicely as well, and I could spot all sorts of things even though it’s been like 10 years since I read the play.

Also, the Madness is terrifying. Learning what causes people to tear their own throats out actually made me toss my phone away for a bit to process it because it freaked me out that much. Things get very gory okay?

All in all I really liked These Violent Delights and definitely recommend it if you want historical fiction with a dash of fantasy. You’re in for a wild ride.

This story are so well done. Love it!! Romeu and juliet it's my favourite "fairy tale" e this is so similiar but so diferent at the same time. Well done!!

First of all: I love anything to do with history. Second of all: I love retellings. This one has both, so my expectations were through the roof. They have been met, mostly. This book was exquisitely written, and it was a delight to read a new, well-versed voice within the YA world. There was a lot of intrigue, the setting was great, and the characters were fleshed out really well. The thing I did not expect was that this book is largely based on politics and economy. And I am not a big fan of that. Still, the aforementioned points were great, so it worked for me.

For a variety of reasons, I do not like "Romeo and Juliette".I don't consider it romantic, don't care for the Shakespearean humour or the language, and can do very well without it thank you very much. For the record - I'm also not a fan of "Pride and Prejudice. I did, however, immensely enjoyed a 2016 movie retelling: "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (don't judge me).
So... "Romeo and Juliette" in 1920s Shanghai? And there's a monster? Count me in!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for helping out and providing me with a copy.

Let's start with the blurb:
"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."

The story begins with a bang. Or more precisely - with a touch of madness that makes members of both Scarlet Gang and White Flowers tearing their own throats out. We're getting a glimpse into the main plot driver and taste of how indiscriminate the condition is - it doesn't matter how powerful is the side you're on. In the end, you will be your own worst enemy.

The main characters, in my opinion, were more interesting than their original counterparts. Roma and Juliette are multidimensional. Smart changes in perspective help to understand their point of view, motivations, and pain. It's not easy to be an heir to the empire built on blood, bribes, and brutal determination. To a bystander, their positions in family ventures are unshakeable. Still, one slip is enough to strip them of their influence, power, and even their lives. Their romantic past fuels their determination and their hatred. However, despite the better judgement of the head of their gangs, they understand the need to work together. There's hope for the new generation.

Despite such a power behind the two protagonists, the other characters are not remaining in their shadows. Their portrayal makes it clear that gang life comes at a price, and any influence is a fickle affair. Kathleen, Rosalind, Benedict, and Marshal are capable, strong, and compelling. Arguably, I enjoyed their parts more than the main protagonists - with less responsibility for the main plot come opportunities for more freedom of expression, if you will.
I would hope that we'll see more of them in the sequel, should there be one.

The real star of the book, though, is Shanghai. A melting pot of cultures, influences, and opposing powers. A city that never sleeps. A city that is crowded, lavish, filthy, decadent, wealthy and very poor, Chinese and colonial, and it seduced me. Chloe Gong's writing emanates the tensions and power struggle throughout the city, and it feels as if Shanghai burrows deep under your skin.

Chloe Gong's story makes a few nods toward the original: the balcony scene, the potion, the dagger, to name a few. They are used in a slightly different way, but they fit perfectly. Look out for the "easter eggs"!

The book has all the right elements: great setting, feud fuelled by generations of hatred, well-crafted characters, gripping action. To me, it fell a bit short towards the very end, during the "boss fight" (there is a monster - of course, there was a boss fight!). When the majority of people influenced by the madness is ripping their throats off, the one man, by the sheer power of will, managed to constrain himself just long enough for strategic events to occur. And what's up with grazing big bugs with bullets?

The ending a bit spoiled the story for me. But it's fair to say that this retelling is better than the original. If you're a fan of gangsters, monsters, and compelling narrative - Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights may be a perfect treat for the long winter nights.

I must admit to something before I even think about reviewing this book. I have not read Romeo and Juliet, unless you consider the spark notes version is a proper read through then sure. I have done that. I have never been the biggest fan of Romeo and Juliet and I was at least 40% afraid of me not really liking the book or not being able to do it justice that it probably deserved because of my dislike of the original material. Rest assured though that this book while it maintains the theme of the original content manages to be much more enjoyable and just overall a great book! So yay for that!

I think what I really loved was the fact that the characters had personalities, ambitions and histories that made them seem so great. Juliette Cai, the heiress to the Scarlet Gang is an unapologetic, ambitious and independent person, she does not take any bullshit and she is very aware of how tenuous her position as an heir is. Throughout the book, we see her trying to find the ground on which she can be sure of her position and not give in to others (Tyler, a cousin who has dreams of becoming the head of the Scarlet Gang) who see her as someone who’s not really suitable for the position. She has cousins that seem like they are in her corner but they also have lives of their own and sometimes, it does seem like maybe they have a couple of doubts of their own.

Then there’s Roma Montagov, he’s also the heir to a gang, the opposition of Scarlet Gang, of course. The White Flowers. He has a very complicated relationship with his father, his father has a preference for someone else as the heir to White Flowers, there’s so much happening in that gang and I loved all the interactions there. He’s under pressure, consistently to be better than the preferred heir and it just shows. His relationship with his sister, with his fellow gang members is very complicated. There’s a clear divide sometimes as to who really favours him and who favours the other guy. Roma is a soft man who just wants to be sure that his family is safe, that the people he considers his family are not harmed in the long run. However he’s also the one who managed to betray Juliette when they had just gotten together back then.

I loved the side characters in this book, I loved that they had different equations with different members of the cast. They are, almost all of them, polyglots and I admit to being super envious of that. They spoke Mandarin, Russian, French, English and a spot of Dutch, if I remember correctly. I wish I could speak that many languages. Oh, well. I loved the setting, the time period that the author chose. I also loved the fact that she did not hide from the constant encroachment from the western countries and how it affected the Chinese people and its politics. I loved that. It’s always so satisfying to see that western countries trying to colonise and it being shown as the bad thing really gets me. I guess, it’s the Indian in me, I just love seeing western countries being shown how terrible their ancestors really were.

That got too personal. Let’s not get into that.

I can’t say that I loved romance because the whole concept of this kind of love is something that has bothered me for a long while. However! I did enjoy the push and pull of emotions that they both suffered from. How much they truly wanted what was best for the city and their families. And how despite knowing how much trouble they could get into for doing things and they did it anyway. I liked the fact that sometimes there was nobody stopping them from their impulses and it resulted in not so great consequences.

Overall, I really loved the setting, the characters and plot enough that I can’t wait for the next book. Despite getting this as an e-ARC from the publisher, it did not affect my opinion of the book.

A stunning retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with a backdrop of both imperialism and domestic turmoil. It has blood and gore but it also has atmospheric writing, gripping twists, and a whole lot of angst.

Uhhh…? Excuse me but WHAT WAS THAT ENDING AND HOW DARE YOU.

*twiddles hair* Ya know… if you’d said to me that I’d be fawning over some Romeo and Juliette style romance doobrywhatsit, I’d slap you silly. Yet here we are. Consider myself fully fawned.

This, my friends, is a crackin’ wee novel and I fully expect to see absolutely everywhere when it’s released. Enough rambling – lemmie set the scene a bit:

✨ Roaring 20s but make it Shanghai.
✨ Blood feud keeping two sexually-pent-up-and-ready-to-explode lovers apart
✨ A monster that would make people with even the mildest trypophobia freak the fuck out
✨ One hell of a cliff hanger, but I’ll get to that later

Caught up? Good.
So it’s time to meet your new besties:
Juliette Cai. Clearly a babe and a badass one at that. Juliette is the heir to the Scarlet Gang (🌹), takes no shit from anyone and has never, ever (not even remotely) got over Roma.
Enter Roma Montagov. A Russian delight whom you’ll grow to have a major crush on. Heir to the White Flowers (🌼) and is wildly in love with wee Juliette.

Herein lies the problem – the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers ain’t pals. Unless you want to be murdered on the spot, you stick to your gang’s territory and you absolutely never fall in love with your enemy. On top of that, they had to deal with a bunch of communists trying to overthrow them AND the British / French swanning on in battling for power. It all seems quite tiring to be honest.

They were doing so well keeping to their spots/playing nice until the madness swept through the streets resulting in both sides of the feud tearing out their own god-damn throats at an alarming pace.

Sometimes you just gotta stop killing each other so you can join forces to take on a big ol’ river monster and that’s just what they did.

This book makes you think the story is all wrapped up, but let me tell you right now that that’s a big old stinkin’ lie. The ending will slap you in the pus and leave you desperately wanting more. Let it be known that Chloe Gong knows how to write a solid cliffhanger and I’ll be clinging on for dear life until 2021 for book number two.

On that note, I’ll leave you with this little nugget:

“The most dangerous people are the powerful white men who feel as if they have been slighted”

– Lord Cai

These Violent Delights will be released on 17th November 2020 ★★★★½

If I said that I wasn’t ready for this book, it would be a huge understatement!

I throughly enjoyed the Romeo and the Juliet retelling and the entire atmosphere of the 1920s in Shanghai. I personally felt like the author did an amazing job with both characters and their families & friends, she was able to make every character distinct and give them enough page time to let the reader get familiarized with them.

After THAT plot twist I genuinely cannot wait to read the sequel and learn more about these characters

Firstly, a huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in echange for my honest and unbiased review.

These Violent Delights is a retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, told against the backdrop of Shanghai in 1926. Roma (Romeo) and Juliette (Juliet) and the son and daughter of rival gangs/cartels in Shanghai and have known each other since childhood.

Juliette Cai having just returned to Shanghai after spending four years in New York is adapting to her homecoming, a return to a Shanghai that has changed dramatically whilst she was away and simultaneously is reasserting her claim as heiress to the Scarlet Gang. Meanwhile Roma Montagov, the heir to the White Flowers is fighting his own challenges, as a consequence to the actions that forced Juliette's departure four years earlier. To say that there is bad blood between Roma and Juliette is an understatement! Meanwhile, unbeknownst to both of them a monster has awoken in Shanghai and a mysterious madness has started to sweep across the city…

I was shocked to find out that this was Chloe Gong's debut, the writing is so mature, flows so well as it pulls you into the world of Shanghai and the deceptive plot that definitely keeps you thinking. The backdrop of a Romeo and Juliet retelling is truly an enhancement to the story, but it doesn't dominate and definitely doesn't interrupt the narrative to remind you. This was a refreshing, well told, well built and well honed story that had me engrossed from start to end.

Our protagonists are definitely not 2 dimensional retellings, Juliette a complicated mesh of old world Shanghai, forced into new world westernisation, with a zest and passion to defend her family (the Scarlett gang,) and herself in whatever way she can. This Juliet has no qualms about defending her reputation and her family and will fight anyone who dares to offend, she is not afraid to fight for what is hers and at times is quite ferocious. Definitely not Shakespeare's damsel here, she is very much the modern woman. However, despite this often aggressive approach, you still feel such empathy for her. She has had to face racism, and personal attacks for being out of place in 20's white dominated New York and has returned to Shanghai fearing that she is now too Westernised.

Roma is no less complicated than Juliet, he has been scarred and hurt by his own experiences and family, he is fighting to attain his father's respect as heir to the White Flowers, but this is a constant downhill struggle that takes so much from him. Roma wants to keep his circle safe and is truly a pacifist at hear, but as heir to a gang mired in blood and violence, he knows that being the heir and eventual leader at the top is far safer than anywhere else.

Juliette’s cousins (on her mother's side,) Kathleen and Rosalind, have their own complicated histories and challenges that they have to face, particularly as relatives with a differing surname from Juliette's mother's side. Whilst Tyler, Benedikt; and their friend, Marshall having declared for Romeo have become his men at arms and are at threat by anything that threatens Roma. I could say so much more about these characters, but I'm loathe to spoil the plot, but I must say that they provided additional perspective to the story and plot that definitely enhanced the book.

There are other supporting characters, who I really should name, but I'm not going to because I really didn't like them and yes, every book should have it's villain or two and these were definitely well-written and appropriate for their given parts.

As for the world-building, it was totally spot on. Gong didn't info-dump the history of Shanghai on the reader, instead the reader is immersed into a gritty and tumultuous Shanghai that is fighting foreigners left and right, as Colonialism and Communism fight to take control. I must say that I could imagine walking along the streets as barbers cut hair, flicking hair into the sewers and bun sellers yelled about their wares and the market, you could almost smell and hear it!

The plot itself is definitely one that pulls you in, as you gradually hear about myths and legends. It is onion like, as you continue to read, more and more layers are peeled away and there are sub-whorls that take you away from the original issue, misleading and diverting our protagonists and the reader. The plot in itself is both interesting and supportive to the love-hate relationship we see between Roma and Juliet. Yes, this book is also a romance, a romance that is based on their split and the consequences of it four years earlier. Juliet is under the belief that Roma betrayed her and how she reacted to that, whilst Roma knows that for the sake of his heirdom and the safety of those he loves and cares for, he cannot risk falling for Juliette again!

I could write so much more about this book, but to do so would spoil the plot for you and that is definitely not my intent. Congratulations to Chloe Gong on an excellent debut and following that ending I really MUST read the sequel to These Violent Delights NOW!

Thank you , it was a great read that I give 4.5 stars and one I will definitely return to.