I feel like this story would've worked better as a standalone.

My main issue with the first series was that for a book marketed as young adult fantasy, it didn't have much fantasy in it. Well, somehow the author managed to put even less fantastical elements in the sequel, to the point that I honestly think this should be marketed as historical fiction with a touch of magical realism.

Other than that, the book had major issues like the head hopping and the fact that there was no sense of narrative structure. Also, Juliette's actions were completely out of character. In the first book we were made to believe she's some violent anti-heroine, happy to shoot everyone and everything to get her way. Now suddenly she has morals? And no, there was no sense of character development to get from that point to this point.

I honestly think this series just wasn't planned well. Which is very disappointing considering all of that potential in the first book.

It's a bit counterproductive to say this about a book marketed as a romance story, but I wish this one had less romance focused storylines in it. I was very much in awe at the end of "These Violent Delights" but having read "Our Violent Ends" now, I'm honestly asking myself when did it all went sour for me. I think the sentiment of discovery wore off in this second book and it has made me realised this story as a whole did not need to be a duology if it ended like it that.
I also felt the political revolution part was either too present for a story about violence and gangsters, and although nicely woven into the overall plot, it became a little lackluster when it actually reached its climax. Nothing new really happens until the second half of the book (like its predecessor) and while it does get better towards the end, I fear it followed the whole Game of Thrones syndrom, where things get dragged until the very end of each season for a relatively lackluster conclusion. It's also got a little bit predictable and the soap opera vibes I got from the Roma and Juliette interactions didn't help much.
Don't get me wrong, Chloe Gong knows how to write, how to write well and how to write something compelling, but the pacing and content just didn't work for me. I'm sure I will love one of her next books in the future, because in any case, I want really want to.

This is one of those rare cases where the second book is better than the first. It was a tad predictable. But if like me, you like being right that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

I kept putting off Our Violent Ends because I knew it would break my heart. And here I am, writing this review with a hole in my chest.

It started with a bang, followed by heart-pounding and heart-wrenching scenes that felt like Chloe Gong herself twisted a knife deep into my soul. After the events of These Violent Delights, I had to witness Juliette and Roma hurt each other while Benedikt slowly lost himself. Not to mention THAT scene with Rosalind, and THAT scene with Tyler, and do not get me started on THAT ending... To put it simply, it was torture.

However, it was a torture that I welcomed and would willingly experience all over again if I had been given the time to reread the book. Yes, Our Violent Ends was so good that it had kept me up long past midnight.

Let me write this whole paragraph for the characters because my heart bleeds for them. I would give them my life to see them get a day without hate being the cause of their misery. Sure, I cared a lot about Juliette and Roma, but my heart has also cried for Benedikt and Marshall. To see Benedikt fall apart while Marshall watched him from afar: utter and absolute pain. Also, Katherine—or Celia—and Rosalind, both sisters, deserved all the happiness this universe could offer.

Oh, and the epilogue. I thought reading the epilogue would give me a sense of comfort, but I should have known better. But however much it hurt me, the epilogue also gave me hope, excitement, and apprehension for what's to come in Foul Lady Fortune.

On a side note, it was heartbreaking to know that some events in this story are based on what has happened in the past. In the chapter where the massacre happened, I was terrified and saddened by the fact that civilians will always be victims in the power struggle.

If you have read the first book but haven't picked up Our Violent Ends yet, you have nothing to worry about except your heart. The sequel is so much better than These Violent Delights in every aspect. Thus, you could expect a gripping plot wrapped in spine-chilling action scenes with a star-crossed lovers' story at its heart.

This was a solid conclusion for an interesting duology. Although I was hoping for a happy ending 😅 I also wish it was less about politics and more about romance, as that’s what made the first book so charming for me.

Parts of this book worked really well as a conclusion to the duology. The relationship dynamics between the two main characters were fantastic and I found myself fully absorbed in their forbidden romance.

My problem with this book is that the plot separate to the romance felt quite tied up at the end of the first book (or could have been with just a couple more chapters) and so it felt like a lot of that stuff was uneccessary in this novel and it left me a little bored. I feel like we either needed to stretch the storyline from the first book out more into this second or just make the first one longer and have a standalone.

I did enjoy the writing though and I will be picking up the next series that is also set in this world.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

While "Our Violent Delights" was cool, I never really warmed to it, but I absolutely loved this sequel! It's 1920s "Romeo and Juliet" in Shanghai with monsters, gangsters, communists, nationalists, and lots of pining. I usually hate Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" because it's a teen and a kid having a hardcore crush and dying uselessly because of it. Roma & Juliette are older in this one, more mature, and I especially enjoyed the ending. I liked almost everything about this retelling, but I found that apart from the main characters everybody else remained a bit flat. I also thought that the city itself could've been described a bit more to create a deeper sense of place, but that's just my personal preference.

4.5 stars

This was a really well constructed and intricately plotted conclusion to this duology that focused primarily on the political situation between the gangs as opposed to the more fantastical elements of the first book. As a result, the narrative felt more propulsive and the character motivation felt more authentic. I felt that Juliette took centre stage in this book, whereas Roma was a little bit in the background. I also thought that the side characters that had intrigued me in book one, didn't get as much focus, which was a little disappointing. Overall however, I think this was a much more accomplished book and I would definitely pick up Chloe Gong's work in the future.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Our Violent Ends is a breathtaking ending to These Violent Delights. I read the book in one sitting the first time I managed to get an ARC of it and I was so shocked at the ending, even though part of me knew that it would happen. Now that I can re-read the book, I can see how beautifully Juliette and Roma's relationship has blossomed in the sequel. The book was executed to perfection and the ending was tragic but tied up the series well.

This was an incredible end to the series, despite knowing how the story would end being familiar with Romeo and Juliet. The suspense was still phenomenal and all the character development across the book. The diversity in the book was so well written and integrated flawlessly into the narrative.

I thoroughly enjoyed These Violent Delights and I was excited to see how the duology was going to end. The world that Chloe Gong created was masterfully down and I loved how the story ended. It wrapped the duology up very well.

This series is fantastic. Set in 1920s Shanghai. This is the sequel to These Violent Delights. This is so vivid and at times violent as there are monsters roaming. The two groups of white and red really build up the suspense. I flew through this book. There is a slow burn romance too which I adored.

A solid second book, really enjoyable and gripping. These books are such a good Romeo and a Juliet retelling and I adore them.

Great writing, great characters but so unique even as a retelling.

Overall enjoyable read.

Our Violent Ends is a stunningly beautiful sequel. Words can’t describe how sad I am that this duology is over, I knew it was a Romeo & Juliet retelling, but I still fell apart, no spoilers but It’s going to hurt, a lot. Gong broke my heart, there is a light that gives me some hope , I admit I do love a happy ending and can’t cope when it’s anything but, I was crying and then hopeful, then crying and …… no spoilers you have to read for yourself

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Oh my god, this was a perfect end to this duology.

I adore Chloe Gong's writing and I instantly fell back into this story and with these characters. I adore Roma and Juliette and their dynamic. I also love these side characters.

Honestly a great duology that I loved. I cannot wait to see what Chloe Gong writes next.

4.5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for my earc of this book.
I am so impressed with Gong’s writing and this book! There was the odd occasion of slow pace but other than that a really engaging read!!

This took me a while to read, and I felt like it was a bit meandering in the middle with plot lines that didn't seem to go anywhere important. However, I really liked the ending, and it actually surprised me! This was extra impressive as it is a retelling so you would have thought the basic plot, including the ending, was a given.
Good story, I gave it a low 4*, not completely convinced that a sequel was necessary after These Violent Delights though.

After loving These Violent Delights I wondered whether the sequel would match up and my worries were completely unnecessary. Our Violent Ends immediately immerses you into the action which I appreciated after the slow start to the first book. The growth in the author's writing is evident when you consider how well the characters are fleshed out and the tightness of the plot.
Roma and Juliette's relationship was beautiful to read and equally as devastating. Although this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, it completely stands alone as its own story - a testament to Gong's writing and reimagination of the much-beloved characters.

A stunning sequel, I can't believe Chloe Gong created this because it is just so so amazing. I really can't wait to see what Gong does next - this was a fantastic rendition of Romeo and Juliet, and I don't normally like retellings! I want to reread this duology all over again...

This is a really well-written series with wonderful characters and set against the amazing backdrop of Shanghai. It has an action-packed ending! It is wonderfully explosive. It had been left a little open-ended, I hope this means there is more to come.