Immortal Longings

OH MY GOD I CANNOT PUT INTO WORDS HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS BOOK! this is one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it did NOT disappoint. chloe gong’s writing is so raw and full of talent as she captures you from the starting word all the way through to the last.

this book ripped me apart and i was obsessed with how dark it was - this is so different to her typical YA genre and i truly think that this is my favourite book of hers so far! this book looks at everything: childhood trauma, graphic violence, horror, spice, so this is not suitable for her original audience of the Secret Shanghai novels. i have learned to not get attached to characters whenever i read chloe gong’s books, but…. i ignored my own advice and got attached and now i am ruined.

while this book has romance involved, it is not the main focus of the book. i think this is a fantastic choice as it allows the readers to really dive into the horrors of San-Er and the games. i definitely got hunger games vibes from this book and i am so happy about that because i thrived in the early 2010s dystopian era.

i read this book in around three hours because it was just so fast paced and captivating that i wanted to know more with every page. this is one of the best thing about chloe’s writing, as you can really tell that she has thought about every word in this book. not a word was wasted. gong’s world building is absolutely fantastic, as always, and i find that she eases you into her system rather than chucking everything at you and hoping you understand.

Calla is such a badass and i will defend her actions until the day i die. i LOVED her character so much and i really cannot wait to see what happens with her in the next book. she has the typical shakespearean characteristic of ambition that guides her through the world.

ALSO THAT ENDING OMG??? BOOK TWO IS WHEN????

thank you so much to holder and stoughton, netgalley and chloe gong for allowing me to read this book prior to publication.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Usually, this is a book that I would classify as "sounds great, but not for me".
Usually, I am not a fan of urban fantasy(-esque) settings, or dystopian elements or sci-fi elements, or fantasy worlds where technology plays a central role.
But because of how much I love Chloe Gong's work, I did not care about my usual preferences, because if Chloe Gong writes it, I am going to read it, and I am going to love it.

This was SO GOOD.
There is so much going on between the Hunger Games-style competition, the 90s inspired semi-historical, semi-dystopian/sci-fi/futuristic setting, the retelling of Anthony and Cleopatra, the Roman Empire inspired political structure and schemes, and yet it all works together so perfectly.

Everything that I love about the Secret Shanghai series, aka retelling a story in a new and compelling way and combining it with great worldbuilding, romance, writing and plot, was really taken to a new level in Immortal Longings.
It occasionally happens when reading adult debuts that you are able to tell that the author is used to writing in YA stories, but this did not happen here. From the character's maturity to the complexity of the politics and world to the moral ambiguity, everything is perfectly suited for an adult audience.

Trials and games are always a fun trope, and the competition in this book was one of my favorites I have read in quite a long time.
I think in recent years, too many books have been compared to the Hunger Games, especially since only a few if any actually succeeded in matching the brilliance of that series. And while I usually refrain from comparing books to others because I try to view each book as its own work, I do think that Immortal Longings is the perfect book for those of us who have grown up with Hunger Games.
The author perfectly blended the plot surrounding the games with setting up the overarching storyline of rebellion, revolution, political and societal change and shifts in power dynamics. There are themes of social injustice, colonization and upheavals, as well as the everlasting debate of tradition vs. modernity/technology.

I absolutely loved Calla and Anton! Chloe Gong is so good at writing badass female characters, and Calla is the sort of morally gray heroine I can never get enough of. Anton perfectly complements her, and I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops in the next books. I don't know much about Anthony & Cleopatra, so I can't say much about the 'retelling' aspect, but as far as I know there is some obsession and toxicity involved and I think the author succeeded in portraying that, while still making them a couple you want to root for.

The ending left me speechless and desperately longing (pun intended) for the sequel.
This book has definitely cemented Chloe Gong as one of my absolute favorite authors. Any nervousness about me potentially not liking the setting or an all-new series not hitting as hard as Secret Shanghai has been eradicated. Immortal Longings is a masterpiece and a release you shouldn't miss.

I have no words... this book is amazing. It is a new adult book with some spice but there is still a plot to it. This feels to me like a hunger games kind of vibe but I genuinely love it. The magic system is really interesting. I really enjoyed this. It is completely different to her other books so go into it with a different mind set. This is a retelling of Antony and Cleopatra. Definetely a fast read and would highly recommend this.

Just like any other book Chloe Gong has written, Immortal Longings was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and as usual, it did not disappoint.

Reading Chloe's first novel that was not YA or set in the Secret Shanghai universe was not as drastic of a change as I thought it would be. The writing and world building are familiar enough for those readers to know Chloe from her YA books, while bringing us a completely different universe and tone to the story.

San-Er is a dark and complex city that paints the picture of the cruel world these characters live in, the injustices they go through, and what drives them to participate in the games. In a way, it reminded me of Panem in The Hunger Games— due to the similarity of their inspirations— with fantasy elements, which are characteristic of Chloe's writing.

The fantasy aspect in this story is unlike anything I've recently read. In this story some characters have an ability called "jumping" in which they're able to invade another's body with their qi. To be honest I wasn't really sold on this aspect of the story when I first started reading as I felt there were many exceptions and loopholes to the rules, but as the story progressed I realized that this was done intentionally and many of my questions were answered.

As for the characters, Calla and Anton are amazing protagonists, their mysterious backgrounds and tragic love affair combined with August and Galipei's complex dynamic and calculating moves will keep you hooked to the story longing for more.

The ending of the story was what made this book the masterpiece it is. It elevated the story to a new height and I can't wait to read what adventures Miss Chloe will take us on next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a Digital Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

CHLOE I NEED ANSWERS!!!! she did it AGAIN! uuuuugh i knew there was a reason why she was my favorite author! this book has everything i could ever want: a very unique world building, amazing characters you can’t help but love and the best plots and plot twists seen in this world! i genuinely didn’t see anything coming AT ALL. if i had one criticism to make: there’s a slight incoherence concerning calla’s eyes (you’ll see) and it doesn’t make sense that they are how they are (i’m already saying way too much sorryyyy). but other than that, PER-FEC-TION. the romance only really starts at the 50% mark which leaves little time to actually develop it however, it didn’t particularly bother me. and OMG i almost cried towards the end!! you can’t do that to me, Chloe! i beg you to pick this up when it comes out (July 18🤭), the world of san-er is possibly the most unique thing i’ve ever read and if you love the hunger games you will most certainly love this. 5⭐️ (is is that big of a surprise? no)

~It has gotten monotonous to be leagues above everyone else.~


Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (NO, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING!!!!)

Spice Meter: 🌶️

⚠️Trigger Warning: Graphic Scenes of Death⚠️

📍Release Date: 25 July, 2023


EXCUSE MEEE??? WHO GAVE CHLOE GONG THE RIGHT TO UTTERLY OBLITERATE MY MIND AND SOUL???

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, in my life right now that could come close to making me feel as ecstatic as this book has. I had little doubt that I would fall head over heels for it. As I was hoping, Chloe Gong's literary work has gloriously rescued me from a devastating reading slump once again. I feel invigorated. I could read book after book after book without blinking. Unsurprisingly, everything she has written so far has been phenomenal. It appears as though her writing streak will continue incessantly for a long time. First of all, the plot and the subsequent sub-plots are so well thought out and perfectly executed they had me in a chokehold from start to finish. There is a strong The Hunger Games vibe that works perfectly with the story. Also, I was blown away by the spectacular, utterly shocking plot twists (THAT ENDING IN PARTICULAR) that left me reeling. The world-building is equally remarkable. The lore, the social system, and the politics are bound together beautifully.

Moreover, Gong's affinity for multiple POVs, even of characters that aren't even secondary, carried on to Immortal Longings as well, which I usually don't enjoy, but Gong has a way of making it work in a way that makes me forget I'm not a fan of it. Naturally, Calla Tuoleimi, the protagonist and the most important POV of the story, has stolen the show with her intelligence, skills, sarcasm, and arrogance. Yes, I know some of these are red flags, but I've never been one to worry about such things anyway. On top of that, she's prone to self-destruction and possessiveness (in a hot/ only mildly concerning way 😏), and she has done things that completely deteriorated my mental health. Basically, she's the total package, and I have a major crush on her.

However, I am not the only one who's crushing on her or whose mental health has been shattered because of her. Anton Makusa is as much Calla's victim as anyone who chooses to read this book and lets themselves fall for this hot mess of a princess. Not that he's entirely blameless, either. On the contrary, he could walk all over me anytime he wanted. He stole my heart with the same ease Calla has. He is charming, talented, witty, and extremely complicated. Essentially, he is as much of a hot mess as the princess is. In fact, they share a lot of the same alarming traits. They truly are a match made in heaven...or...well, you know. 👀👀

Additionally, I obviously adore the relationship between Calla and Anton. Since their first encounter, their chemistry and tension popped out of the page stark and near-tangible. They are rivals-to-lovers as they are both participating in a deadly competition where only one can be left standing, making that sweet, glorious banter all the more enticing. It was so intense I squealed like a schoolgirl reading her first romance novel all over again. Besides, they are so profoundly evenly matched in talent and intelligence that together, they have made a formidable, impressive team. You can imagine how these attributes made their relationship all the more passionate....and steamy. 🥵🥵🥵

Lastly, August Shenzhi, the frustratingly enigmatic Crown Prince, whose morals are so gray it's hard to know whether to root for him. While he seems to care deeply for his kingdom and its subjects, he makes some incredibly questionable choices making him one of the most complex characters in the novel. Even though I have a lot of mixed feelings about him that leave me undecided on whether I want him to be happy or to suffer, I am fascinated by his character and curious to see how his arc develops. His relationship with his friend and bodyguard, Galipei, is particularly intriguing. It is the main reason I wonder how his story will progress later.

Remember Immortal Longings will be released this year on 25 July. DO NOT MISS IT!

Immortal Longings is Chloe Gong's adult debut, and the first book in a new trilogy.

Chloe is already one of my favorite authors of all time and I love her books and I was really curious to see how she was going to transition into her adult writing and it's safe to say that I am super satisfied with what is the result and I am beyond in love with this book and I'm so grateful for the publisher Hodder & Stughton for providing me with this anticipated copy so many thanks for that.

I didn't know a lot about this book before I read it because I tend to not read synopsis before picking up titles, especially when I already like the author/no the general vibe of the book which was the case with this one I knew it was going to be a sort of inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and I knew it was going to be a trilogy I knew they were going to be fantasy elements. And that's pretty much all I knew about this book and so although I'm going to say in my review things that are in the synopsis I do feel like if you the least you know will get you more surprised in this reading experience, but I also know that my parameters are not the same as everybody else's and so I know that knowing a fair share of a book it's okay.

So the protagonists of this story are princess Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, but I would definitely say that the big protagonist is definitely Calla she gets the most chapters the most focused and development it's very centered on her story which also is amazing and I was really captivated by this character although I did found some similarities between her and Juliette for some reason maybe it's just something in my head but it did strike me as a resemblance but I enjoy a lot of what motivates as a person and I did love her chapters. Now we do get a few chapters written by Anton but like it's the proportion is so much less than the ones for column and we do get also a few random chapters written by other characters in the book this is sort of a thing that Chloe does and her other books but like here is not a it's not a third protagonist or something else it's just literally random chapters which help to construct some of the mood and some of the in a Revelations that she was working through the story and it's nice to have others as the perspective but it's safe to say that we do have like this is a story focused on Calla that's why she is on the cover of the British edition which also leads me to something else I would like to comment about this book.

The cover. The cover. When I first saw the US cover I loved it I thought it was really pretty and I was generally aesthetically pleased and when I saw the British cover I was like "what is this what book is this" and I did not enjoy that cover at first, however now that I read the book, now that I know the story, my opinions have changed because the British cover is in its essence the book. The British cover is purely, Immortal Longings. The US cover doesn't give me anything doesn't represent anything you know it's just that it's just a generic cover it's just aesthetically pleasing cover it's not an ugly cover I'm not going to say that but definitely the US cover is just very bland and also I don't really associate that cover with Chloe Gong's books specifically. So now I do feel like I enjoy the British covers so much more now that I know the story now that I know that this cover conveys the story so well and the atmosphere.

The atmosphere. Wow. This is one of my favorite things about this book I think it was worked perfectly and you can really see that the author has spent a lot of time constructing a very strong and descriptive ambience, and this setting is just fantastic you know it's very unique you have this world a.k.a City that truly existed in the 1990s and it's such a unique place I was so enthralled and captivated by this setting and and truly the descriptions were so immersive and I think it's one of the best jobs Chloe has ever done with creating a setting in an in a place and it's so different from all of right before from her because her previous books had all been historical in setting, either the Gatsby-esque setting of TVD and OVE and the 1930s of FLF, and it was very refreshing to read her writing something so modern and constructing such a strong atmosphere.

It also made me notice that her writing keeps evolving, I mentioned in my FLF review how much her writing had developed from TVD and how she was at her best in that novel, and I feel like now, yes her writing is once again improved, but I also feel like the writing is different in this book. It has that same feeling of "oh i'm reading a Chloe Gong book" which I LOVE about authors, that just stay on their own brand of writing that you would recognize anywhere, but she has taken a shift from what she did in her other novels, I feel like combined with the setting/aesthetic and also the pacing, because this book moves much faster than her other ones, it all makes her writing a bit different (still good tho) and it makes for a nice reading experience, especially for readers like me who have been reading her books for such a long time.

Also, I was very curious how she would work her way into writing her first trilogy because her other books were all part of duologies and the first thing I noticed is that Immortal Longings is much shorter in size. While her other books were all on the big size of over 500 ish pages (FLF is almost 600), IM has according to the publishers page and to GoodReads around 380 maybe 400 pages, and that is a much more average size. I feel like instead of writing to chunks of books and calling it a day, she simply divided those pages better into three segments and called it a trilogy. But that also makes the story move much faster, because there isn't enough pages to dwindle or waste, everything is at top speed here.

Going back to the narration I feel like since we got to see so much of Calla on this one, it opens up a lot of opportunity for in one of the next two books we read more about Anton. I have so many questions! About! His! Past! You better answer them Chloe!

I also have to say that Calla is amazing and she can do no wrong! I will defend her no matter what, and I'm already so emotionally invested in her.

And yes, Chloe didn't lie on her tiktok this book does feature a bit of spice which was a very nice surprise! It isn't much but it was good, but it also wasn't enough to make me think this book is super "adult!". I know the characters are like 23 and 25 and they do behave as such, but the thing is, I never believed Roma and Juliette were teenagers. They too behaved like twenty somethings, but we all know that it was marketed as a young adult novel etc etc etc. I just feel like a lot of these YA novels are very mature, in terms of the way the characters think and act, and then the same can be said about the characters here in IM, the only difference is that one is being actively sold as an adult book, but all of them characters behave like adults.

Nevertheless, it is a great book and I had a great time. Ever since the start I was pulled in and was immediately intrigued and captivated by the story, which was great since I was in the middle of a reading slump. I was constantly dying to know what would happen next, and also enjoying every minute of it and never wanting it to end. Which by the way lead me to the ending! What an ending!!! I can't believe I have to wait a year for the next book!!! I mean the actual book isn't even out yet and I'm already suffering with the time I'm going to have to wait, damn! I was totally speechless with that ending, I did not see it coming, and now I am even more excited to continue reading this series and for what comes next for these characters.

In short, I loved this book. It's a 5-star, it's a favorite. It has everything I love. And Chloe Gong can do no wrong.

Chloe Gong’s debut adult fantasy is an Anthony and Cleopatra retelling, set in the background of the games of the King as individuals compete in a fight to the death, hunger games style battle for the honour of being crowned victor. The only tricky part is… body jumping is possible, meaning kills have to be quick less you risk your opponent simply switching body. Each competitor has their reason for competing, none moreso than our two titular characters - Cella and Anton.

Cella, the former princess runaway long assumed dead, and Anton, a palace-born exile, are thrown into the games as a matter of circumstance; begin an intense, all consuming romance. Their relationship is a marvel to read - Chloe nails time and time again the angst-driven desire of two scorned people who, by no circumstances, should be together. The relationship was a joy to watch unfold, but the characterisation of both stood out without a doubt - you have a firm understanding of exactly who they are and what they wish to achieve.

I’ve read, and adored, everything Gong has published to date and yet I cannot help but feel this is her best work yet. The worldbuilding is exquisite, with a fast-paced, multifaceted plot and an entire ensemble of characters. She balances characterisation + plot development perfectly, the end had me experiencing almost every emotion possible for a human to experience. Absolutely ecstatic to continue reading this trilogy.

big thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for this arc.

5. big. shiny. stars.

good fucking god dude she has done it AGAIN. NO MISSES. BANGER AFTER BANGER. it is no secret that i am actual trash for miss chloe gong's work, but TRULY. this was so good, again.

i've described this before as being a voluntary hunger games set within a big city that's way too overcrowded – eighty-eight players having to battle to the death to get to the finals. they all play for the large sum of money to be won, except for miss calla. she just wants to fix their kingdom. and dude i love her so much. AND ANTON. i love both of them.

the story, the characters, i might be biased but i don't care. i will be impatiently waiting for the next book.

AND I WILL ALSO BE SENDING MISS GONG MY THERAPY BILL. thank you very much. WHAT was that ending??? screaming crying throwing up.

anyways. i can't wait to see more of this world in the next book.

*4.5 stars

The only way to win, is to survive

This book was utterly delectable, throughly feral, and a complete thrill from start to finish.

The Hunger Games x 90s Asian Noir x Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. RUN DON'T WALK to pre-order this bad boy, trust me you need it in your life.

I am going to wait to post a full in-depth review until the book is out, but in the meantime if you hear rabid screeching from the direction of New Zealand, it's me thinking about this book.

What the hell was that ending?!

***
Immortal Longings is Gong's adult debut; a retelling of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra with her signature speculative noir stylisms but with Hong Kong 90s gritty action-flick flare and dystopian undercurrents à la Hunger Games. Calla Tuoleimi is presumed dead, but has been lurking in the shadows of her bloodshed and her secrets as she readies for the endgame. Anton Makusa is desperate to save the past, his childhood lover, and will kill for victory in the games to keep her alive.

The good ole conflict of 'duty vs desire' strings the cast together as some are caught in an internal battle with a personal selfish desire and their (goshdarn) sense of righteousness and others swing towards opposite ends of the spectrum. It is made clear where the characters fall on the spectrum, and how the triumvirate of the cast influence each other. Another familiar theme, one seen before in Gong's previous series, is the enduring power of love; towards one's country, towards one's companion, towards one's self. But we do see times of self-loathing and doubt when characters waver and aloofness from others towards the concept, believing it to be beneath them. Identities and power are pretty interesting themes and topics to also consider, mainly with respect to FAFG's worldbuilding.

As someone who heard of but never examined the source of inspiration for this series and made some Google searches after finishing IL, I'd say Gong made great interpretations of the themes that have clear links to the play without being too elementary in her execution while avoiding the *relatively* (cough) outdated ideals that date Shakespeare's works.

With ends waiting to be tied up (and surely to play a bigger role in the sequel) and a cliffhanger to answer for, Immortal Longings paves a bloody road for the next instalment of Flesh and False Gods.

Thanks to Netgalley and (especially) Hodder & Stoughton (for always having my back regarding Chloe Gong's books) for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

It's chloe gong. You know it was going to be good. And it is. A double plot-line that keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself the whole way though!? And the characters. I connected with them so quickly and really felt for their highs and lows. The setting was so detailed, I couldn't easily imagine myself there. The romance was a subtle background one which I loved, and let the power plays and politics really take forefront and it was worth it! Highly recommend and it shows the continuous improvement in her writing. Can't wait for book 2

okay wow, i don't even know where to begin. first of all, i loved this book so so so much, it exceeded my expectations.
i found the magic system to be really interesting and even if there are still some questions open and some things that i don't understand about it, the fact that they could jump between bodies was something i had never read about before. at least not to that extend. i was really fascinated by it. our three main characters were all so interesting to read about (i have to be honest tho, i didn't care about augusts chapters as much as the others, but i am still very excited to hopefully learn more about him) and their relationships with each other were super intruiging.
i am not the first person to compare this book to hunger games and i definetly won't be the last, but i also feel like it still felt very new and original and it can definitely stand on it's own, especially with the adding of the magic system.
i was on the edge of my seat for at least half of the book and i could not put it down.
the rivals to accomplices to enemies? to lovers to i don't even know plotline i enjoyed very much. i have to say tho, sometimes i felt like anton and callas relationship was moving quite fast and i was missing some moments were they really bonded with each other, but overall i am SO excited to read more about them and i love them a lot.
the ending. the plottwist. the cliffanger. chloe gong i just want to talk. HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE SEQUEL I NEED IT IMMEDIATELY!!!!
so yeah, i loved this book and i feel like everyone who loves dystopian and fantasy books and/or the hunger games will love it too.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing an arc in exchange for a review.

According to the palace, the traitor Princess Calla is dead. She was caught and killed in her attempted to escape, and San-Er can rest easy knowing no murderer princess hides in its streets.
But Calla is very much alive and has bided her time, driven to dispense her justice and kill King Kasa.

Strength is a conscious effort. First, you will be braver, and then you will be stronger.
They trained her for war. And she rose up to wage it on them.

She can put her plan in action in a Hunger Games-esque killing tournament where 88 participants are unleashed in the city to kill each other before the victor is left and can meet the King.

Put your name in the lottery, slaughter only eighty-seven of your fellow citizens, and be awarded with riches beyond your wildest dreams.

As proved by her previous books, Chloe Gong is the master of enemies-to-lovers and slow burn. Normally, I don’t get on with the overdone, unrealistic enemies-to-lovers, but I will devour whatever Chloe Gong writes apparently. She’s that good.

Maybe if couples these days went for matching bloodstains instead of wedding rings.

Finally, the amazing magic system? I don’t even know how to describe it simply for a review, but basically think Freaky Friday - some people owning a gene that allows them to jump from body to body if they have sufficient qi. It makes for a heck of an advantage in a killing tournament.
It also allows Gong to explore issues of identity, gender, and how people see themselves. She writes to impress.

I have one complaint - CHLOE GONG, WHAT WAS THAT END?! I now have to wait for the next release after that? My heart is ripped in two and then shredded into a thousand pieces, thanks.

If you liked The Hunger Games, Red Rising, or All of Us Villains, I promise you will love this!

Absolutely loved this hunger games esque story, I was hooked from start to finish. The story centres around 3 main characters, prince August, princess Calla and Anton.
Anton and Calla enter the games both intent on fighting to the death to win the prize, giving Calla access to the King in order to kill him and free the City, all with the help from her cousin August.
She teams up with Anton to eliminate players quicker. I enjoyed the enemy to lovers narrative, Calla is a very strong and determined character, right to the end!
Loved the ending and already dying to read book 2 in this series!

The only way to win, is to survive

This book was utterly delectable, throughly feral, and a complete thrill from start to finish.

The Hunger Games x 90s Asian Noir x Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. RUN DON'T WALK to pre-order this bad boy, trust me you need it in your life.

I am going to wait to post a full in-depth review until the book is out, but in the meantime if you hear rabid screeching from the direction of New Zealand, it's me thinking about this book.

4.7/5

Chloe has done it again! I adore her Secret Shanghai universe, so I had high hopes for her adult debut. Let me tell you, it was absolutely incredible.

But first, I want to thank Holder and Stoughton for providing me with an early e-copy!

Immortal Longings is a retelling of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, but with a sprinkle of The Hunger Games. It follows Calla, a princess who went into hiding after killing her parents and now trying to end her uncle's life (who's the King), and Anton who's trying to get enough money to repay his debts, as they compete in the yearly games and eventually become allies. The problem is, there can only be one winner.

The world was very well crafted, with characters having powers unlike those in any books I've read before - they can jump from body to body (though it isn't as simple as that, of course). I really enjoyed the political aspect of this book as well, since I am a HUGE fan of fantasy politics. You couldn't always know which side a character is on, and yet you saw why they have done what they did, even if you know that they weren't right. Though to be fair everyone is so morally ambiguous that nothing can be seen as "right", just the lesser of evils.

Speaking of, I absolutely loved all the characters. They were very well written and had incredibly complex backstories and motivations. Chloe managed to make me care about them from the first few chapters, which almost never happens. This is also the first time I see my gender reflected accurately in a character, no less the main character. It feels like the author just reached into my head, took the feeling, and put into words. ahhhhh THANK YOU SO MUCH MISS CHLOE<33333

There were so many plot twists! Whenever you think you know where the story is going, you either get proven wrong immediately, or you are lead to think that you got it right only for the story to take a 180 degree turn. I can guarantee that some of the plot twists you will never see coming. And the ending- let's just say I will not know peace until I have book 2. Actually, no, scratch that. I will not know peace with this series, periodt, since I know some of the things happening in Antony and Cleopatra.

The only thing I didn't enjoy as. much was the romance. It happened waaaay too quickly for my liking. The characters definitely do have chemistry, but their "love"/obsession needed more than a few weeks (with only a handful of meetings) to develop, as it felt they knew almost nothing about each other. I understand how it makes sense plot-wise, just wish that they spent more time together. I also want to mention that this book is adult, and that there is a NSFW scene, as well as quite a lot of violence and gore.

Overall, I really enjoyed Immortal Longings and would definitely recommend it to urban fantasy/sci-fi lovers! just make sure to check content warnings:)

~thank you hodder and stoughton and netgalley for a review copy of this book
5 ⭐️
~i have loved all of chloe gongs books so i knew i would love this one as well but it was so much better than I could have ever expected!! I didn’t really know how the plot would play out or what would happen but the plot was so amazing!! This book follows a deadly game where 88 players fight across the city of San-Er until only one remains. The plot twist at the end of this book had me GASPING I am now desperate to read the next book. I loved the world this book is set in, the whole city has been setup so brilliantly that the whole place seems so vivid!! This is one of my favourite books I have read so far this year!! (a must read for any chloe gong or any fantasy lovers!!)

Chloe Gong has only gone and done it again! This book was everything, I wanted and from more! Whilst it’s definitely not similar to the world of These Violent Delights and Foul Lady Fortune, this still kept the classic Chloe Gong writing style which I adore as well as the twist an turns that become more gut wrenching as you go along - my jaw literally dropped a few times.

The romance is peak enemies to lovers with a lil bit of slow burn in there and a massive helping of betrayal ✨ultimate chefs kisses✨. At this point Chloe Gong might as well be crowded queen of enemies to lovers cause it is spectacular! Note that with it being 1/3 there is obviously alot more going to happen between the two!

Whilst the story very much is centred around Calla we also get the POVs of August and Anton, all of which grew up in the palace but with very different experiences which created some interesting dynamics between the three characters and leaves you never really knowing who to trust.

The world of Talin and city of San-Er was such an interesting concept that I can’t wait to see more of in the coming books! It’s pretty hard to go into any of the details without any spoilers but the politics are super interesting and I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of this in the future! The main competition also took a really refreshing twist on what most people (including myself before reading) would assume is a Hunger Games-esque style plot but turned out to be really different!

I literally can’t wait for this book to publish.. also when get an I get the sequel?

Thank you Hodderscape, and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Imagine the Hunger Games set in a sci-fi technological dystopia

In the dystopian capital of San-Er, King Kasa holds an annual games to the death for the chance to win riches.

Princess Calla Tuoleimi has been considered dead for years, and only Prince August lifts a brow when she enters into the lottery for the games. Together, they use their skill of jumping bodies to ensure Calla’s succession in the games so that she can get closer to King Kasa.

Enter Anton Makusa, another talented jumper also set on winning the games to save his childhood love.

This story is an interesting spin on a world that relies on technology almost as much as food and water. There’s such a wide array of characters; but Calla, Anton and August truly steal the show here.

The tension between Calla and Anton was deliciously dangerous. I loved all the twists and reveals in the story. I will in fact be needing time off to recover from this book because it has emotionally wrecked me.

Chloe Gong chose (the maximum level of) violence in Immortal Longings. In many ways. The plots were so carefully planned and expertly carried out that they held me captive from beginning to end. The heart pounding action never ceased and the Hunger Games influence fitted the plot nicely. The plot twists were outstanding and thoroughly astounding. The world building was so impressive, the social structure, the politics, and the lore were all intricately intertwined. San-Er is a desolate and alluring city, full of hunger and want and the magic system was so extensive and felt so alive and real. Calla Tuoleimi, the banished princess with a bloody and tragic past, I immediately adored her for but not limited to her intelligence and sarcasm. I was moved and rooting for her so hard for her tenacity in holding onto what she feels is right, her tremendous wrath for the world and circumstances she lives in and her unbridled drive to leave her mark. She is possessed of unquenchable ambition, murderous bloodlust and an extreme prowess for weaponry. She sacrifices everything to free San-Er from its oppressive rulers, even as the city withers away in front of her. She is altruistic and commits murder and lies but for all the right reasons. Anton is endearing, clever and another incredibly complex character. It goes without saying that I loved the romance development between Calla and Anton. Since their initial meeting, their chemistry and tension have been blatantly apparent and palpable. Due to the fact that they are both competing in a fatal game where only one person can survive, they are rivals-turned-lovers, which makes their flirtatious banter even more seductive, their partnership was as strong as it was because their talent and intelligence are profoundly equal.

4.5/5 Stars

I haven't had this much fun reading a Romantasy in a WHILE. I want to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Longings is a story set in the crowded city San-Er, capital of the world Talin. In it, the king hosts a dangerous game in which players fight for their life for a chance to win riches. With most players capable of jumping between human bodies, chaos and danger alike is assured. Princess Calla Tuoleimi and Royal Exile Anton Makusa enter these games with different motives, but one thing is sure - they will clash, and one of them will win.

Look, I read this as someone who 1. has never read anything by Chloe Gong before and 2. does not know Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra, which this story is supposed to be inspired by. And let me tell you - I had so much fun. It felt a little overly complicated at times with the introduction of the concept of "body jumping", but I was glad that I could enjoy this as an oblivious peasant.

Both prose and romance were likely what stood out to me in this story. Gong caught me off-guard with her stunning prose and the way I was highlighting half of some of these chapters. I totally understand why fans of writers like V.E. Schwab or Naomi Novik would love her writing. And the romance? Look, I'm by no means a romance reader but there is something about obsessive, terrible "love" that I can't help but be intrigued by. Anton and Calla reminded me of Olivie Blake's Alone With You in the Ether in the best and most awful way possible - this for sure ain't a nice love story. Both them and the other characters were all morally gray in a formidable way and it made this so much more fun!

One last honorable mention about this book is that it talks about (gender) identity and representation in a way that I personally enjoyed and found refreshing to read. It was integrated into the theme of jumping between bodies and using them as "accessories" rather than permanent residences, and the writing around it sure was intriguing. The topic was very current in an unexpected way that left me almost wanting more.

All in all, I feel so lucky to have read this before the release date and I will sure be recommending it to fellow readers!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Immortal Longings' by Chloe Gong.

'Immortal Longings' is the newest Shakespeare retelling by Chloe Gong. In specific, this one is about Antony and Cleopatra. As always, Chloe Gong delivers a beautiful story with well fleshed out characters. Honestly, I knew I'd give this a 5 instantly and I'm glad Chloe held me to that. I am absolutely excited for the sequel to this because if book 1 was this perfect, who knows what book 2 will be like.

TW’s: Blood, violence, sex.

★★★★★ 5/5



Five years ago, Princess Calla Tuoleimi murdered both her royal parents, and she doesn’t regret it. Forced into hiding, Calla is back and intent on finishing the job she initially began, seeing her chance when the games begin. For her, winning is about finally ridding the twin cities of San-Er’s current king, deposing the cities of the monarchy that watches its people suffer, as the winner is greeted personally by the king. There’s no better chance at killing King Kasa than winning the games.

For Anton Makusa, winning means money. It means paying off the deep debts he’s gotten into in keeping his childhood love alive in the hospital. As a skilled jumper, no body is a challenge for Anton to jump into and take over, and for him and the games, this is his best asset, and his best chance at winning.

Oh Miss Gong, you have done it again and I didn’t for a single second doubt you. As a proven incredibly skilled writer in the YA genre, this adult debut is phenomenal. Gong had already solidified herself as one of my favourite authors with her These Violent Delights duology, and its spin-off sequel, but Immortal Longings completely blew me away. From the characters, to the setting, to the plot. I was hooked on every single page.

Told from multiple POV’s, but primarily Calla, Gong knows exactly how to write a character that is not only driven and intelligent, but sarcastic, even a little arrogant at times, and make people love them. Calla isn’t ashamed of what she’s done, she’s not afraid to kill, and despite the events leading up towards the ending, she knows what she must do no matter the cost. Anton, though, it was so unbelievably easy to love him. He was perfect for Calla, seeing her for who she really is and his charm won not only Calla, but me, too.

The setting was incredibly detailed, and I felt fully immersed in it. Getting lost amongst the market stalls with people hawking their wares, the neon lights, and the cafes, it was so easy to imagine the crowded cities and the people there. This, accompanied with the magic system – ‘jumping’ and qi, was explained in a way that wasn’t just shoving it down your throat on the first page/chapter, you learned more about it as the story progressed.

For me, this is another favourite read of 2023, and I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to the Hunger Games, which I can see why. Both have games in which the competitors are meant to kill one another until only one remains, the people organising the games are rich, in positions of power, and ignoring the people and their struggles. There’s themes of uprising and rebellion seen in both, but for me, this didn’t feel anything like the Hunger Games. Not even an older sort of version of it. To me they feel very different.

As a loosely based retelling of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, I haven’t read the original play to compare it, but Gong takes her retellings and makes them her own as seen in her previous works.

I’m beyond excited for the next book, and I already have a physical copy preordered for my shelf.



Did I like the book? Yes!

Did I love it? Yes! I don’t think there was ever a moment where I felt like the story or characters were lacking.

Would I recommend it? Without a doubt. If you’ve read Gong’s previous books, you know what you’re in for character and retelling-wise, and if you did enjoy it but wanted something adult instead of YA, this definitely ticks all the boxes. Or, if you didn’t enjoy it, but feel like trying again, this is definitely a good place to start.

I have been a fan of Chloe Gong’s writing for a few years, since her first book came out, so reading something new and different from her other books has been so exciting and I am proud of seeing how far she has come.

Immortal Longings is a complex and thrilling book with an unique fantasy element that keeps you constantly guessing what is going to happen next. It is tense, twisting and addictive, I might have actually shouted as if Chloe Gong could hear me because I now I’ll have to wait for the sequel which I so desperately need.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book.

I've read some of Chloe Gong's previous books and really enjoyed those. But this adult book of hers I loved. I love a book with a competition element, but with the added body jumping magic some players had made it even better. Fast paced action all the way through. I hope Chloe Gong write more adult books in the future because I couldn't put this one down!

Oh how I loved Immortal Longings! It has everything that I enjoy in a fantasy novel

Rich world building, compelling characters, tension, back stabbing and plot twists!!! A fantastic book and I cannot wait to read the next one!

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Chloe Gong’s previous works, and she has once again met all my expectations and more!

San Er, two cities combined but full of poverty, and a kingdom that hosts a competition with the victor winning a life-changing amount of money. However, in this game, the competitors have to kill each other to win. The book follows Calla and Anton, two competitors, and August the Crown Prince of San Er.

I loved every single character, they were all well-written and multi-dimensional that I could not help falling in love and rooting for them! The three Povs were also fantastic, usually when books have multiple Povs there are a few that I dislike, but that was definitely not the case here. Call and Anton were also my favourite to read, they had so much chemistry and I especially enjoyed their scenes together — I was rooting for them to get together, even when I shouldn’t have.

The setting and world building was really fantastic! Gong’s writing is exceptional and I felt as if I were transported to San Er — while the beginning of the book was a lot of information-dumping, I actually enjoyed it because you could really get a sense of the world and immerse yourself in! Also the magic system was incredibly intriguing!! I have never read anything like it before, the idea of a qi and jumping did hook me from the beginning due to its uniqueness.

I absolutely loved the ending as well and will be highly anticipating the sequel it was so exciting. All of the plot twists had me gasping I could not put the book down — even more so because I had guessed the twist two chapters before!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, I am absolutely obsessed with everything about this book and author!

4.5

As I sit to write this review all that’s running through my brain is a incomprehensible screeching. Once again Chloe Gong has left me speechless and desperate for more.

To preface this review I want to say that i’ve never read Anthony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare (although I have just googled it to make sure I was getting the name right and it says tragedy so I fear once again Chloe Gong is going to be tearing my heart out and ripping it to shreds (please can we have a comedy retelling next time, my heart can’t take anymore tragedies)) so I was truly going into this blind.

The cast of characters in this book are fantastic. I loved every single one; even the ones who were minor and only appeared in a chapter or two. I think that that is one of the things that Gong does best. The variety within her books when it comes to characters is beautiful and her ability to write multiple POVs whilst still maintaining a depth to all of her characters is truly stellar. Also big love to Calla, I can see her becoming a new favourite character for me. I love her, and she can do no wrong.

The setting and “world-building” in this book are also fantastic, especially as someone with aphantasia, the way that the descriptions are written in this book really help. Also the atmosphere of the book is great. It did take me a while to wrap my head around the fact that this was set in the 90s but once I grasped that everything else just fell into place.

For me, the beginning of the book was a bit slow and I think that was because there was obviously a bit of world-building to be done, but once you’re past the 20% mark the pacing really falls into place and it’s not difficult to turn page after page. Also all the plot twists! I was trying to get ahead and work them out but alas, I failed and was left shocked and reeling every time something happened.

Once again, Gong has written a wonderful book (and transitioned seamlessly from YA to adult) and it is definitely on its way to being an incredible trilogy filled with twists and turns. It has once again left me cursing myself, for now I have to wait to find out what happens next.

A big, big, big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC of this book in exchange for a review!

If I had to compare Immortal Longings to other books it would be something like Mistborn meets Battle Royale meets The Selection but it's actually mostly like none of those things.

Set in a fantasy world with many ques taken from Chinese culture, Immortal Longings follows three different young adults as they try to change the future of their cities for the greater good (although their ideas about how this will happen are wildly differing).

One of these young adults is crown prince August who has been scheming for years about how to make his country better; another is an exiled royal, Anton whose past plans have not worked out and whose childhood sweetheart is deathly ill; and one is Calla - a fugitive on the run for killing one royal family in the past and a huge secret.

Working sometimes in tandem, the three are involved in a fight to the death competition which gains the winner immense riches and an audience with the King, where their real goals will be revealed.

This was so exciting! I loved all the characters although many of them were hugely flawed and genuinely rooted for them all. The pacing was really good and though I did find the last plot twist somewhat predictable there were lots of plotpoints that surprised me and I didn't see coming. The slighly romance plotline was relatively realistic so I enjoyed that aspect since it worked well with the rest of the plot.

My favourite aspect of this novel however was the world-building and magic system. The idea that a person with the right gene can have their qi (or essentially, soul) jump into another person's body (essentially possessing them for a length of time) was really new and intriguing and I am excited to see how this expands in the next few books and there were many related plotlines I didn't feel were completely tied up by the end of Book 1. My favourite from Chloe Gong so far: I highly anticipate her future releases!

My first Chloe Gong novel was Immortal Longings, and I have to say that I am absolutely blown away. Why I haven't read any of her other works sooner is beyond me. I'm at a loss for words when it comes to how much I adore this book. I simply can't wait for the next book after that finish, oh my god! The storyline and design of this reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games and Cyberpunk 2077. This was just so amazing to me. I was waiting impatiently to see what would happen next as a result of it. The plot took so many unexpected turns, almost all of which were absolutely unanticipated. They never failed to completely astound me. I'll admit that at first when attempting to make sense of the lore and geography, I was a little lost. However, I believe that when you first start a fantasy or science fiction book, it is the same. But once I finally understood it, the book just flowed and I couldn't put it down. Nothing I could ever say could possibly express how strongly I want you to hurry out as soon as this is released and grab it. It was a phenomenal book and well deserving of five stars.

“For five years, Calla Tuoleimi has been biding and biding her time, tending to the fury that burns beneath her ribs. There is but one task left in her vengeance: King Kasa’s head plucked from his spine and flung across the coliseum.”

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Hoping the next one is out pretty soon this was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ooooh. That was good.
At one point I had very strong Hunger Games vibes, but this went in a very different direction.
Packed full of action, with some great twists thrown in, this one is destined to be a crowd pleaser, much like the games around which it revolves. You can feel the dust and the grime of the streets of San-Er as the contestants snake around the dimly lit streets, squinting through the darkness and trying to stay one step ahead of each other. Of course, they’re not the only players in the games, because this is entertainment for the masses, and as we all know, the odds are never in your favour.
There’s just the right amount of suspense to keep you guessing but with the satisfaction of being able to pick up on enough clues to make some educated guesses too.
Calla, Anton and August make for three solid main characters, and the tension between them builds all the well to the very last line.
Whatever you do, DO NOT read the final page first!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC, Immortal Longings publishes on the 25th July.

Thank you to netgalley and Hodder& Stoughton for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:5+/5
Absolutely mind-blowing...... I have found a new all time favourite! I've really enjoyed Chloe Gong's YA works before, with Foul lady fortune being another one of my all time favourites, but her adult debut was fantastic on a whole another level. It was a little hard to get into because of the complicated world building and the magic system, but once I got fully invested, I couldn't stop reading!
Immortal Longings is a retelling of the Shakespearean tragedy Antony and Cleopatra, inspired by Kowloon walled city. I loved the morally grey characters and, of course, MAO MAO!!! I want more of him in the next book. Immortal Longings is completely different (and much darker) than Gong's previous works.
And that ending.........not to spoil anything but I NEED BOOK 2😭😭.

Chloe Gong take all of my money!

Although Immortal Longings is a fantasy retelling of Antony & Cleopatra, there is also a very dystopian feel to it. Historical fiction and dystopia are not two genres that work together often, but in this fantasy setting that’s exactly what it feels like and I love it.

The dual city of San-Er with its densely packed population and survival of the fittest attitude, kept making me imagine the city setting of Total Recall.

And then of course there’s the games. Eighty eight people fight to the death Hunger Games-style for the chance to win a life changing prize. Oh and they can body jump.

I loved the body jumping aspect, because it begs so many moral and ethical questions - none of which seem to be a problem for the main characters, or in fact anyone in the city.

Ah, our morally grey main characters. We all know our favourite colour is morally grey. It’s hard to know who you’re really rooting for for most of the book because they all have equally dubious motives and a moral compass that hasn’t seen north for a while. So of course I love them.

This one is for fans of :
- The Hunger Games
- Retellings
- Enemies to lovers
- Morally grey characters
- Grumpy and grumpier trope
- Secrets
- Plot twists
- Historical fantasy with a feel of dystopia

A solid 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ohhhhhh, so THAT’s why it’s called the Flesh and False Gods trilogy.

Wow. This was fantastic. Miss Chloe Gong does not miss. Her adult fantasy debut was just as flawless as her Secret Shanghai series, only upping the stakes, the tension, and the gore. I flew through Immortal Longings in only two sittings as I couldn’t put it down. As with TVD and FLF, I really love Chloe’s ability to so clearly callback to Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra and the detailed connections between the plot and the names, as well as remaining wholly original and keeping her readers on their toes. The ending has left me reeling.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, NetGalley and Chloe Gong for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. *

oh my.wow. I am honestly without words. I absolutely loved this and I devoured it. this was my first book from this author and now I understand the hype. It was truly amazing.the plot and the characters .the world building. I cannot wait for the second book.In the meantime I'll read the other work by this author. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Princess,” he calls, and Calla curses him: curses him in the name of every old god, because even looking at him makes her flesh and blood and guts hurt like they are being strewn apart. It doesn’t take a blade to carve open a heart. It only takes a soft glance.

She has done it again! Chloe Gong, the woman that you are.

I said it before, Chloe Gong writes cities that she loves, and you can feel it through the pages. Every description tells you how much she loves San-Er. In the Secret Shanghai series, she takes you back in time to a real place in this world, but with Immortal Longings, she has created a whole new world, and I can only imagine how hard the whole process is. San-Er is the capital twin-cities of Talin, a metropolis that has grown to its land's limit, the great wall that separates itself from the rural part of the kingdom, so now it grows up. Buildings are stacked one over another, they have connections midair, it felt like a mix between Coruscant from Star Wars and the Republic City from The Legend of Korra but more crumpled. I LOVED IT.

So that's the setting and the thing I liked the most. Let's talk characters. Our main characters, Princess Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa, are inspired by Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra, and unlike Romeo and Juliet, which is a pretty well-known story, I know nothing about this, so I can't say much about the retelling aspects of the book, but that didn't keep me from enjoying it and falling in love with Calla and Anton. Their chemistry and banter are spot on, and since in this world people can jump from body to body (yes, they can), Chloe relies more on non-physical descriptions about everyone, and I think it was a good resource to make us connect with the character on a deeper level.

This is Chloe's first adult work, and it has way more violent descriptions and one explicit sex scene, but regarding themes, I find it pretty similar to her young adult works. She has always dealt with these themes. I want to see how she'll tackle Calla's morals and intentions towards the monarchy. This time it felt a little naive to believe replacing one tyrannical king with a prince would solve the kingdom's problems, but we'll have to wait and see because not everything may work out the way she thinks it will.

The story still has a few loose threads, but this is not my first rodeo. I believe everything that's still not tackled will be in the next books, and as with all of Chloe's other works, the ending left me shocked, but this time I HAD predicted it. I was just not sure she would do it.

Somehow I need to make all these thoughts and feelings about this book into an actual review, and not just me screaming that, once again, Chloe Gong has tricked me into caring about characters when I’m fully aware of how this play ends.

It’s an absolute masterpiece. The world of San-Er is rich and dense in a way that I can envision so clearly. The whole technological side mixed with a monarchy was just the cherry on top.

The stars of this book are its characters.

Calla’s yearning for change to the corrupt world she lives in is something so personal to me. Her wish to stop children from going hungry, and her willingness to take it all upon herself made me wanna cry. The more I read, the more I understand that she is really just a collection of these fragile hopes, and that there is not much of her that is tangible.

In contrast to this, Anton is aimless. He clings on to the past, and cannot build anything permanent because he doesn’t really understand how. I just wanted to grab him and tell him that that he could make something if he actually committed to a cause or a belief.

Separately, I do feel a great amount of sympathy for August, who does have good intentions, but is still clinging onto the fear that all of this could be taken away after spending so long fighting to be seen.

There’s a whole cast of other characters that I could also add here but I think that would make this more of an essay, than a review.

I’m so overwhelmed by this book but I’m the best way possible. It’s definitely one of best I’ve read, and now I’m scared for the next one.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this e-arc. This review given freely and is entirely my own.

Chloe Gong is unbelievably skilled at keeping readers hooked to the page. Even though the pacing dragged slightly in the middle, it was a lightening quick, sizzling action-filled story.

THE ROMANCE (ANTON X CALLA)

1. “Listen,” he says, an edge to his voice now. Though he cannot see her, Calla smiles, finally liking where this is going. There’s a hardness to his tone, a sense of ferocity that has been whetted into a weapon. This is more like someone who would enroll himself in the games. “You’ve seen my kill numbers. My ability to jump. You know that I’m an asset to have on your side. We can work together, then break our alliance at the end. Only at the end.”
2. Calla teeters sideways. He catches her immediately, his shirt staining with red where she presses close. “I’ve got you,” he promises. “I’ve got you, Princess.” And Calla passes out.
3. Anton draws closer. His hand lifts, brushing along her face, fingers burying into her hair. It’s not the same soft gesture as when she was asleep. He is not try-ing to soothe her; he is holding her in place to get a good look like an investor putting his prize up to the light.“You’re a wild, terrifying thing, do you know that?” he asks, a tremor in his voice.
4. In a blink, he’s slammed her up against the wall, pressed against her to keep her still. The plaster trembles. There’s a nail jutting out from it, probably where the picture frame had been hanging, and as Calla’s head spins, she wonders if she hit her head too hard before and that’s why she can’t get a single thought in order.“Calla,” he tries, his breath warm against her neck. “Stop this.
5. Throat exposed, heart facing out. Now he is hers to take. Calla heaves for breath. One of her hands is braced on his chest, the other reacquainting with the blade that has landed on the floor. As soon as she has secured the handle, she raises the dagger high, imagining how its arc will come down. She can feel his heart thudding beneath her touch: fear and something else. “Calla,” Anton says again, desperation creeping into his voice, and Calla wants to tear him apart. Because she has him completely under her mercy, pinned like prey, but all he can do is look up at her like that. “Don’t even try it,” Calla spits.
“What?” Anton asks. His eyes trace along her face. His pupils have blown so large that Calla can’t see the usual purple that rings his black irises. In an effort to keep him down, she presses upon his hips harshly, and then she can feel him, can gauge exactly why his pulse throbs at his throat. “What am I trying?”
6. “Go on,” he says evenly. “Kill me. Fall not a tear. Be the murderous princess they say you are.”
7. Calla can handle pain. She can handle blood. But this—this is somehow all and none of that at once, a wrenching in her very soul. This is tenderness. And she is more afraid of it than anything else in their forsaken kingdom.
8. She could kill him right here if she wanted. The apartment hosts only the two of them. The rest of San-Er sleeps within its own walls. He would have nowhere to jump. But she won’t. She trusts her life in his hands, and for that, she wants to deserve his trust too, offer him safety in her embrace.
9. Suddenly, Anton turns, nudging his shoulder closer toward her. Calla snatches her hand back with a start, but he’s not stirring against her touch. He has not awakened at all: he only adjusts until he is facing her, eyes still closed. Before Calla can react, Anton draws her near, seeking her body amid the sheets. He reaches for her, an arm curling around her waist, solid and steady. Even asleep, he reaches for her
10. “Calla,” she echoes, putting on a tone of reverence. She makes a thoughtful noise. “Would you know me in another body?”
“In any body,” Anton promises, “you would still be the same terrifying princess.
”That draws a laugh from her, and the sound sends an unexplainable thrill shooting along his body. He would give anything to keep her like this next to him, her every gesture of approval like a line of narcotics wired directly into his veins. When she lifts her chin to grin at the look on his face, he can’t help but feel that he is giving away more than he should, yet he can’t stop himself.
11. She lets him, and he knows she catches the exact moment his jaw clenches tight and his voice hardens. “Who cares if you stole her? You deserve this power more than the girl who was born into it. Forget your name and adopt the title instead. Calla. Soon, people will be saying it just as they whisper God.”
12. Calla extricates her arm without niceties, and Anton blinks, taken aback. One of the factories nearby must be rumbling to a start, because there’s smoke rising through the gaps between the buildings, low-hanging clouds misting around them. He blinks again because of the smoke in his eyes, but also at himself, at the dip in his stomach that comes without warning. Seven years without Otta, and he would have thought he had gotten better at this. Would have thought that leaving his youth behind meant outgrowing his need to hold on too tightly to people once he has them. Yet Calla pulling away makes his skin prickle as if he’s been given a slap on the wrist without knowing what he did wrong.
13. Calla removes the cigarette from her lips and, with the puff of smoke still in her lungs, leans forward and kisses him. Despite his words, he lets her release right into him, taking the toxins down his throat. He’ll let her poison him, swallow everything down like this is the sweetest liquor he has ever tasted.
14. Anton isn’t sure if he still loves Otta, but he thinks he loves Calla. He loves her quick temper, and her sharp words, even when they’re directed at him. He loves the rush every time he turns her scowl into a grin, or her grin darkens into a glare. Is that love? It’s not as if he ever really learned what love is supposed to feel like.
15. “Kiss me,” he says. “Kiss me and make every dreadful second here worth it.”Calla only needs to be asked once. She presses her lips to his, and the rest of San-Er drowns out, fades to nothing, shrunken into oblivion by sheer will. All Anton can hope is that this is enough—that this time around, outsmarting the cities with a plan pinned on love will finally succeed.
16. Let it bruise. Let him mark her skin permanently as a memory of what divine agony is. “Calla,” Anton murmurs when their mouths separate for a moment, “I won’t hurt you. I refuse.

THE WORLD/THE CITY

1. In a way, the wall is not protection against the outsiders who flock en-masse into the twin cities, but for these outsiders, to spare them just one second longer from laying eyes on the ruin within. No one wants to move to San-Er. No one prefers to be kept awake at night by persistent clanging and neighbors arguing and brothels screaming, instead of wild, open skies in quiet, rural Talin. But with peace comes quicker starvation; with open ground comes no money. It is either their children’s graves lined up one by one in a row outside the willow trees or a factory job in San-Er, and the choice is easy. Rural civilians make the slow shuffle through the guarded gates of San-Er, clutching their citizenship passes to their chest and blinking in awe at the colossal mess that awaits inside. People starve in San-Er too, but at least they can say they tried.
2. A compact, concentrated world of food hawkers splashed with oil and metalworkers clanging on blades and technicians fixing up unwieldy computers to resell. San-Er spends each moment functioning off the fumes of its last. There is no other way to survive.

CALLA

1. Now, so close to a second chance to strike, she cannot sink into her anger, or she might never emerge. She has spent too long compartmentalizing every terrible impulse and smoothing them down to be palatable. When the time comes to confront the blistering shards that live inside her, it will have to be in one big swallow.
2. Calla has never claimed to be good. She has never wanted to be good. But she seeks it in every corner of the twin cities, a sign that goodness is something Talin is capable of. Every day, she wakes up and she begs for what she has done to mean something, for the kingdom to tell her she is right to believe it could be honorable, that it’s befitting to spill blood until there is nothing left of her, until all the pieces are gone, until she cannot feel this twinge of doubt each time her blade slips in and out. There is peace at the end of this. There must be.
3. Take the cuts. Take the burns. You will heal, and you will be braver. Braver? I want to be stronger. Strength is a conscious effort. First, you will be braver, and then you will be stronger. They trained her for war. And she rose up to wage it on them.
4. Each time she sees him, he wears someone new. His eyes change shape and his nose changes length, his hair alters long and short, and his height moves up and down. Yet no matter the body, his same set of expressions remains, and Calla wants to make a game of collecting them. She has seen smug. She has seen eerily calm, a feigned indifference. They are not enough. Anton Makusa is hiding a lifetime’s worth of deceit under his skin, and she wants to pick him apart, and see what lies beneath. She wants to see his fullest contempt. She wants to see rage.
5. “This is Kasa’s rot,” Calla continues steadily. “And when he’s gone, no child will go hungry again.” Anton examines her. She must know that this is unrealistic. Calla Tuoleimi is too clever to be fooled into such elementary thinking, too sensible to believe that a kingdom could change so wholly by merely swapping one mortal man for another. Though perhaps . . . perhaps she is simply weary enough to be fooled. She looks at the cities with such duty, the weight of the kingdom hefted upon her shoulders by her own appointment. Allowing August’s heroics to swoop in means reprieve from the never-ending, immeasurable task of keeping watch; a savior to replace a tyrant, and justice restored so long as one cruel king bears the burden of his whole lineage’s wrongs.
“Do you want to stop Kasa from letting another child go hungry again?” Anton broaches slowly. “Or do you want to punish him for letting you go hungry?”
A spark of ire flashes in Calla’s eyes. Then, that glint fades just as fast a

ANTON MAKUSA

1. Anton leans his body up against the alley wall. He readies himself. All he knows is this: He’ll always choose the easiest path. Not the most honorable, not the cleanest, not the messiest. If he’s offered an opportunity, he will take it
2. Pampi smiles. Sometimes she feels a thousand years old, like an ancient god who has been sleeping in wait, ready for her moment to come. Her mother called it narcissism, but who’s the one still around?

AUGUST SHINGZHI

1. August takes the ornamental crown off his head with a sigh. Without its weight there, he runs a hand through his hair, tugging at the knots that have formed in the wind, easing the tension in his scalp. He doesn’t protest when he feels Galipei drop a hand onto the base of his neck. He tips his head down, letting Galipei work his fingers instead.
2. Good kingdoms don’t need good soldiers. A good soldier dies on the battlefield and lets the people cry for him. Good kingdoms need loyal soldiers, terrible ones.

I am a huge fan of Chloe Gong, and her secret Shanghai series is up there in my top five series of all time. When she announced Immortal Longings, I knew this was going to be just as good as the rest of her work.

whilst the world-building is in depth and took a little while to understand fully, I didn't feel like it was too much of an info dump. I may be biased because I love her, but this book was a firm 5 stars for me, and I can't wait for more from Chloe!

Thank you to both NetGalley and Hodderscape for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was SOO excited when I got approved for this book. Chloe Gong is an absolute autobuy author for me. I immediately fell in love with her writing style with These Violent Delights and I have loved everything else she has written since, too. This book is not an exception, even if it is a little different than what I had expected!

I am a massive fan of competition books - The Hunger Games was one of my first major loves in the world of YA - so the premise of this book is very up my street anyway. The execution of it only makes it even more so. This one hasn't even released yet and I am desperately awaiting its sequel!

Told from multiple perspectives, this book shows us so many different parts of this world that Gong has created. Though incredibly built, it feels wrong to call it anything but horrific; with a city that can be described as gritty at best, a magic system that allows members of the society to jump from body to body at will and a popular televised game that requires a player be the last one standing through whatever means necessary, this world is masterfully built.

The characters who populate this story are just as well crafted. The main perspectives are that of the crown prince, a parricidal princess and an exiled aristocrat. Considering each of them have seemingly similar backgrounds, their lives and perspectives are so incredibly different and each offers so much to the story. I absolutely loved each of their narrations.

Every now and again, there was a bit of info-dumping going on, but I find that is true of a lot of adult fantasy novels, especially with so much history involved in them. I didn't find it enough of an issue to be even slightly annoyed by this and I very much enjoyed learning all of the small and large details about the world that Gong has crafted.

I cannot wait for the next instalment of this series. It is going to be a new favourite for me for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches. Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty…and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa’s forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him. Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he’s deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he’s one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning. Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa’s adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin’s ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton’s partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she’s playing for—her lover or her kingdom.

Calla is a feisty one for sure and I absolutely loved that about her. A whizz with a sword and absolutely lethal, she was very interesting to read about. Being a princess who killed her parents - the king and queen - so is most assuredly an outcast. However, she takes this in her stride and lives life on the edge. I liked reading from Calla’s POV for the majority of the book because her thought processes are rather interesting to me. She’s cold and calculated when she needs to be but there’s this warmth inside her that peeks out now and again that’s incredibly endearing. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where her character goes in the next book!
Anton, like Calla, is absolutely lethal and rather intriguing because of it. He seems to prefer being in a new body every few days at most because it offers variety - and there’s the thrill of stealing someone else’s vessel when they least expect it. I rather liked reading from his POV because it felt different to any other POV I’ve read in the past. Considering how the ending of this book came about, it’s going to be very exciting to read from his perspective in the next book!
August isn’t seen quite as much as the other two but he still makes an impact. He’s desperate to change the world in any way he can and if that means taking a page out of Calla’s book and killing his adoptive father, so be it. He did annoy me a little bit, I must admit. He seems so self-righteous that at times I wanted to knock some sense into him. He seemed to hate getting his hands dirty too but wanting the deadly results he desired. August is a character that doesn’t jump out at me as a favourite, but I did like his POVs. Anton may just come out on top between them two.

Being a massive fan of Gong’s work from the very beginning and getting an advanced copy of her first book, I just knew I needed to jump into her Adult debut! The plot is very good and strong, which is no surprise to me. It was engaging and fast paced, keeping the reader on their toes throughout. The characters were well fleshed out and interesting, all very different and individual from the other. The romance was cute, giving me the perfect essence of enemies to lovers - something I think Gong excels at wholeheartedly! Also, the slight inclusion of spice was perfect in my eyes! I must say that the story is rather wordy and at times, I did find myself struggling to keep up but I didn’t want this to affect my rating. All first books that are fantasy tend to be wordy and a bit overwhelming at times as the reader settles into the new world and established their understanding, and I think this is what was holding me back a bit. The ending however… holy crap I was not expecting that! What brilliance but what a cliffhanger it has left me on! I need the next book immediately!

Overall, Immortal Longings is another stunning story from Chloe Gong that everyone needs to read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

Immersive, dark, raw and full of with talent! - ALL the stars!! Also where can I sign up for book 2?!

Chloe Gong never disappoints - I loved all of her twisted retellings of Juliet & Romeo and now, with Immortal Longings I think I have reache a new level of fangirling.

Loved the themes this story included: discussion of trauma, violence, spice, bit of romance.
I have always loved the trials,only one can survive, games with a high stake kind of situation going on and this novel has excelled all my expectations. Loved that it was mature, dark and very smartly explaining the horrors of the game.

If you prefer plot dirven stories over character driven or romantically overpowering ones (I would consider this one a very traumatic slow burn affair), Immortal Longings will be a new favorite adult book for you!

Thank you so much for the Publisher, Netgalley and Chloe Gong for this masterpiece and being able to read it early!

An excellent, exciting world. I hope there’s more. Huge thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

SCREAMING INTERNALLY AT THAT CONCLUSION.

Holy shit, I enjoyed this read. It reminded me of Battle Royale and Hunger Games, except with people willingly volunteering to participate. It also reminded me of the film Jumper with people's abilities to jump into bodies, or course in Jumper they jump to places, not bodies.

Calla and Anton both participate for reasons of their own and begin a rocky alliance. This is made harder with Anton's ability to jump so a catchphrase is used to help Calla identify him. She can jump as well she just chooses not to.

I can't wait for the next book, Chloe, you did an amazing job!

𝟰.𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀

[𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘦-𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺]

Every year, the kingdom of Tali hosts a set of deadly games, in which competitors fight to the death for a chance of winning riches beyond their wildest dreams. Calla and Anton both enter the games, though their end goal is quite different. Being the most powerful competitors, they end up striking an alliance, that quickly turns into something they weren’t expecting.

This is Chloe Gong’s adult fantasy debut and it did not disappoint. Everything about this book fascinated me. Although the beginning was a little slow, due to the worldbuilding being quite dense, I found myself quickly mesmerized by the world Gong has created. The contrasts in the kingdom are really big, the nobles all indulging in riches, while the rest of the population is left to starve and fend for themselves. The author did a terrific job in setting the atmosphere, the discontentment of the people, their anger and helplessness is very tangible. They’re miserable, but they fear the king and won’t risk a rebellion, if it will only make their lives worse. The plot is so good, I loved the hunger games vibes, but I appreciate how it’s not a copy paste version of it. This being an adult book, I particularly enjoyed the violence of the games, that only made the environment more deadly. The magic system is brilliant and unique. Some people are born with the ability to body jump - their essence, referred to as “qi” in the book- is able to enter someone’s else’s body. Interesting, isn’t it? Without giving spoilers, I’ll say that because of this ability, some jump from their birth body to another body, which means it’s difficult to trust someone when you don’t know if they’re who they say they are.

Amongst many other things, one of my favorite aspects about Gong’s writing is how much she focuses on the politics of the world, and this book in particular delves into the subject of political power in a dystopian society. The meaning of the games for this society is so well portrayed. King Kasa uses them as a tool, a way to keep the masses entertained and focused on something other that the utter chaos and violence that surrounds them everyday. In doing so, it keeps them occupied and contained, they’re so enthralled by the bloody violence of the deadly games, that, for a while, they forget the political turmoil that’s permanent in the kingdom.

We have a lot of characters, but Calla, Anton and August are the main ones. The characters are morally grey, very interesting and complex. It’s impossible not to want to know more about each of them. August is pretty much an enigma, I’m not sure he can be trusted, but I highly enjoyed his povs. Chloe writes amazing female characters and Calla is not an exception. She is sarcastic, arrogant and deadly, has self-destructive tendencies and is, to put it quite plainly, a mess. What’s there not to love? I adore her, there’s a lot of vulnerability behind the hard exterior, a girl who had to become something powerful in order to survive. Anton shares a lot of similarities with Calla, but he’s softer. He’s charming and witty, he stole my heart immediately, but he’s very complicated, and, just like Calla, a total mess.

From the moment they meet, the tension between Calla and Anton is tangible and I love their dynamic. If you’re a fan of knife to the throat, “I can kill you any second”, rivals to lovers and backstabbing betrayals, you’ll love them. Their romance is all consuming and obsessive, to the point where you’re left wondering if it’s really love at all. My issue with their relationship is that we don’t get to see a lot of it, I feel like a part of it happens off page and I wanted more!!

Because the book focuses more on the various plots that are happening, the character development is not as in depth as I wish it was. This, the slow beginning and dense worldbuilding, that left me a little confused at the start, are my main critiques and the reason why it’s not a 5 star read. However, it does not dampen my enjoyment and love for this book.

THE ENDING!! That final plot twist is incredible and I need the second book. I’m without words, I just know book two will be amazing. Immortal Longings will surely please Chloe Gong’s fans, but I believe it can also open the door for more readers to get to know her work.

First of all I want to be completely honest, I am afraid I didn’t get to finish the ending of this book due to device issues.

I found on a small device (a phone) the front was really to small to read comfortably, usually I would have a tablet with me, or even use the computer however as I am currently travelling I was struggling to read the front on Netgalley.

What I can tell you from the chapters I have read, is that this book is unique, and something very different to other YA novels I have read.

Once I am back home and on a computer I will try and get back and finish Immortal Longings for sure, however at this moment in time it isn’t practical to read it on such a small screen with small font.

I will definitely be checking back into it in the near future however.

Each year, the twin cities of San-Er hold a game. Eighty eight competitors fight to the death, with the winner being granted riches and the option of leaving the city for a quiet life elsewhere, something which nobody else is allowed to do. When Calla enters the game she’s determined to win, though not because she wants or needs the money. She’s a princess in hiding who’s been in exile since she killed her parents five years ago, and being the victor is the only way she can get face to face with the king, her uncle, so she can finish the job.

This book isn’t slow paced, but is deceptively slower paced than you’d probably expect, with a decent chunk of the word count being dedicated to descriptions of the cities that paint a clear and detailed picture of what San-Er looks like and what it’s like to live there. This is a stylistic choice that isn’t going to be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it! Gong managed not to lose my interest at any point, even during the passages where less was actively happening, and by the end of the book I had a really strong understanding and image of the city in my mind.

I loved Calla! She’s the sort of anti-hero who desperately wants the world to be a better place and is prepared to do whatever it takes to make it so, even if that means burning everything down and hurting innocent people along the way. She’s not happy about participating in the king’s games and she doesn’t revel in killing all these people but that doesn’t mean she won’t do it with brutal efficiency. She doesn’t waste time feeling guilty about any of it. Those people need to die so she can achieve her goal, that’s all there is to it, and she’s confident in her ability to get the job done to the point of arrogance. It was interesting to see the ways in which her priorities shift – and don’t shift – as she gets closer than anticipated to Anton, another participant in the game.

I didn’t find the romance between Calla and Anton entirely convincing, which weirdly I thought suited the story well. Their relationship isn’t healthy and in the situation they’re in it would be almost impossible for it to be. They both have their own reasons for entering the game that means losing isn’t an option for either of them, and unless one of them pulls out of the game one of them has to die. They both know this from the start. They both know they aren’t planning on backing down. The third most significant pov character points out in text that Calla and Anton’s relationship can’t possibly be genuine love after so short a time. Just because a character believes something doesn’t mean they’re correct, and this book is a prime example of that. I believe that they believe they’re in love which is arguably the more important point. If you’re looking for a heartwarming love story this isn’t the book for you.

The magic system is centred around people’s ability to ‘jump’ from body to body, basically possessing other people. No more than two people can occupy a body at any one time, if someone possesses someone for long enough then the original person will fade away and effectively die, and the only way to tell who’s piloting a vessel at any given time is by looking at their eyes as those are intrinsic to the person and their qi, and not to the vessel. I thought this was a really cool detail!

Jumping is so normalised in this society that it’s stated that many people don’t stay in the body they’re born in, with Anton spending the entire book hopping from vessel to vessel without giving the people whose bodies he’s taking much thought. It also leads to there being a lot of collateral damage in the game, because if a player is killed then so is anyone else who happens to be in that vessel at that time. It’s established that people who’ve been jumped into are completely unaware of anything that happens during this time but that they still have to deal with the physical consequences of whatever was done while they were possessed. There are some inherent consent issues here. Someone who’s being possessed can’t consent to anything the person possessing them might decide to do with their body. Your mileage may vary on how much this bothers you.

This is getting a lot of comparisons to The Hunger Games, and it’s completely understandable why, but Squid Game is possibly a closer comp. Unlike in The Hunger Games, the people participating in King Kasa’s game have all volunteered to be there and are technically able to withdraw at any time, but the vast majority of them are facing financial situations such that they’re effectively facing death either way so almost nobody ever does. Just like in both these comps, the societal critique is both blatant and sadly needed.

I sometimes find myself wishing I didn’t read an arc of a book for the very simple reason that I’m now faced with even longer to wait until the next book in the series than most people are going to have. The way this book ends is such that I desperately want to know what happens next, both the bigger picture and also the next thing that gets said in that room. But I have to wait! Oh well, Chloe Gong hasn’t disappointed me so far, so I’m sure the wait will be worth it.

If you like retellings, battle royales and the societal commentary that tends to accompany them, a magic system based on possession, or the concept of cyberpunk-but-make-it-dial-up, then I recommend checking this one out!

Chloe Gong writes characters how I like them best. Dangerous and slightly unhinged. This book did not disappoint at all. So many twists had me gasping for air at the end.
So much happened in the last couple of chapters that I might need three days just to process what I read.
This book is perfect for the hunger game-esque times we have re-entered. It is virtually the hunger games set in the 1990s in Hong Kong if all the tributes had the power to move into other people's bodies.
I absolutely loved Calla and how she developed. However, I did not feel much chemistry between her and Anton. I did feel for Roma and Juliette in These Violent Delights.
I fully recommend this book and will be actively waiting for the second one.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodderscape, for this amazing ARC

Title: Immortal Longings
Author: Chloe Gong

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is a captivating novel that I had the pleasure of reading as an advance copy. Set in 1926 Shanghai, this book offers a unique blend of historical fiction, romance, and fantastical elements that kept me enthralled from start to finish.

Gong's writing style is exquisite, painting vivid and atmospheric scenes that transported me to the glamorous yet treacherous world of 1920s Shanghai. Her attention to detail is commendable, capturing the essence of the time period and infusing it with a touch of magic. The prose flows effortlessly, making it a joy to read.

The story itself is a brilliant reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set against a backdrop of feuding rival gangs in a city caught between tradition and modernity. Gong deftly weaves together themes of love, loyalty, and duty, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The characters are complex and well-developed, and I found myself deeply invested in their fates. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov make for compelling protagonists, and their star-crossed romance is both heartwrenching and beautiful.

What impressed me most about Immortal Longings is Gong's ability to seamlessly integrate Chinese culture and folklore into the narrative. The incorporation of mythical creatures, such as fox spirits and dragons, adds an enchanting layer to the story, and the exploration of Chinese traditions and societal expectations adds depth and authenticity.

I highly recommend Immortal Longings to fans of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. Chloe Gong has crafted a mesmerizing tale that will transport readers to a bygone era, where love and danger intertwine in a city on the brink of change. This book left me longing for more, and I eagerly anticipate future works from this talented author.

Chloe gong has done it once again.
A thrilling dystopian hunger games type energy with romance and Sci Fi fantasy vibes.
A futuristic retelling of cleopatra and political scheming fitting for an adult audience-you'll be hooked and on the edge of your seat reading this!
Cannot wait for the sequel!

“#1 New York Times bestselling YA author Chloe Gong’s adult epic fantasy debut, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra , is a fiery collision of power plays, spilled blood, and romance amidst a set of deadly games”

“What are memories if not stories told repeatedly to oneself?”

Where do I start with this review? From the very beginning Chloe’s writing draws you in, the desertion of the cities and surroundings felt like you were there yourself watching everything unfold. The action had me hooked as well as uncovering more about the secrets of the Crescent Society.

Calla as a person is so strong willed and determined and her wanting to win the games to help those who have nothing and are treated like nothing just as she was shows that. “The weight of the kingdom hefted upon her shoulders by her own appointment”.

Also the banter between her and Anton was amazing and I loved seeing her start putting her trust in him; them together literally had me giggling and kicking my feet they’re perfect!

The ending as well Omg I need the next book immediately - “What fine daylight we have today” will live in my mind rent free

Chloe Gong did it again for me!! Honestly, I really did not know what to expect as this is her adult fantasy debut, but every thought was exceeded!! This book is a dystopian epic fantasy romance novel. We follow Princess Calla Tuoleimi and Anton Makusa. We follow them as they turn from rivals to lovers amidst the blood games. If The Hunger Games and Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra had a baby, it would be this book.

I love how much we get from Calla. The content, the plot and the characteristics of her, truly enthralled me. She is intriguing and fascinating. In the beginning, we are given multiple holes in her characteristics. Some things did not sit quite right for me in the beginning and the mystery of Calla Tuoleimi, did not disappoint. It will all makes sense once you near the end of the book. In modern-day society, she'd be a girl boss. PERIOD.

In my opinion, there is no better match for Calla than Anton Makusa. Anton is literally Calla's partner and equal. I love the detail in the book which points out how they are physically matched and attuned with each other (ehem.. take that statement how you want to take that hehe). But quite literally, he is soft yet rough, he is literally a paradox in my opinion. There is so much that he's been through and yet he is able to pull himself together and just be the oddly goofy self around Calla. With Calla, he is soft, encouraging, loving and caring. Honestly, what else is there to say?

Find a man like Anton Makusa.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in search of a little rival-to-lovers romance amidst blood games, looking for a Hunger Games X Anthony and Cleopatra-inspired novel and in search of some enthralling plot.

Chloe Gong has, once again, simultaneously torn my heart to shreds while making me desperate for the next book.

THE TWISTS? Immaculate.

I absolutely devoured Immortal Longings. I already adore Chloe’s writing style but it was darker, grittier, and much more violent than her YA writing style in her adult debut.

Immortal Longings is beautifully atmospheric, grungy, and Chloe did a wonderful job of making the cities feel claustrophobic.

Character-wise, I was obsessed with Calla from the get-go, and Anton is just as wonderful. They’re both morally grey (though Anton definitely has the moral high ground) and Calla is, frankly, unhinged. I love her. Their dynamic is great and the romance is top tier.

I will now be waiting for book two very VERY impatiently. Favorite book of 2023!

It was a wonderful book. It has the essence of the story of Antony and Cleopatra but put into a completely new and different world that changes their personalities and helps them develop as characters beyond the mythology that has been created around them.
The world and the plot are complex but the author introduces them in a way that you don't get lost. As well as having some plot-twist and mystery that blew me away.
You can tell that Chloe Gong has matured as an author and I loved the story.

Antony and Cleopatra meets Battle Royale/Hunger Games and it's going to live rent free in my head for ages.

I don't even know where to start with this book and I say that a lot but this time I am really at a loss. I've not read Gong's other works (I know, I know) but I know she's incredibly well received and I can absolutely see why. This book had everything, characters you love and hate, great side characters, romance, sword fights, a cat!

We have three main characters, Calla and Anton are the two main mains and then August who remains a bit of a mystery while we still learn bits about him. Side note, love that everyone is in their 20s. We need more of that. Calla, I wasn't sure about from the start. She had me thinking she'd be another toughy-tough girl MC with sass and blah blah blah. I am so pleased to say I was wrong. Her character was a lot of things but underwhelming was not one of them.

Anton we only get to know because in this world the person's qi (and all they are) jumps with them when they change bodies. While we know his birth body is just hanging out somewhere, he's constantly changing shells. This was a really interesting point to the story because it added some different levels to how characters faces and eyes are often described. Gong had to do it in a way that the bodies Anton was in almost were irrelevant. He could have just been space dust and the effect would have HAD to be the same to keep his character. It was something kinda new and I'm into it. 10/10 there.

I'm really not going to talk too much about August and when you finish the book, you'll understand why.

I am really, really looking forward to where the story goes next. I want more of this world, Calla and Anton, the Crescent Society and their whole thing with what Pampi had going on. Basically, just more of everything.

And finally, I cannot explain why but for whatever reason my entire favourite line in this whole book was 'Here's your stupid lunch'. It just got me.

”There are no gods in this world. Only kings and tyrants”


There’s just something about Chloe Gong and her Shakespeare retellings that are just magical.


Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!!


This was the best book I’ve read this year. No question about it. (not including some rereads but still this has made its way up on my all time favourite books list) Even before I started it, I had no doubt that I would love it. It’s written by Chloe Gong. I’ve loved These Violent Delights. No way in hell I wouldn’t love this too and I was right.


I went into this book not knowing a lot about it to be honest. I knew it was inspired by Antony and Cleopatra, and that was enough for me. And to add to that I believe that the best way to go into this book is to go without knowing anything. Without setting any expectations. But if you’re not convinced, to give it a short and quick summary:

The story takes place in the kingdom of Talin and every year in its capital twin cities, San-Er, the palace hosts a set of deadly games - those who are confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies enter this fight to the death in order to win riches they couldn’t even dream of. And, of course, our two main characters are taking part in these games. Calla Tuoleimi is a princess in hiding as she was the one who massacred her parents and left the palace of Er empty five years before. Her intentions, you might ask? To bring down the monarchy and kill King Kasa before she is caught and the only way to do that is by winning the games and facing him as the victor. Then we have Anton Makusa, an aristocrat in exile, and the only way of saving his childhood love is by entering the games and winning the prize. An unexpected alliance is formed between Calla and Anton and things only get more interesting from there.


When I tell you that this book kept me on the edge of my toes I’m not joking and I’m not exaggerating either. Chloe Gong is a masterful storyteller and she knows how to keep her readers hooked from page one. All the twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Most times I couldn’t believe what I’ve just read. Everything was so diligently crafted and added into the story and my brain could barely process the things it was witnessing.


Honestly every character in this book is a major walking red flag, but for them I’m colorblind. I couldn’t help loving them. Flaws and all. I love some good morally grey characters and red flags.



What are memories if not stories told repeatedly to oneself? Her whole body is the very narrative of her existence.”


Calla was the character that shone brightest in this book with her cunningness, intelligence and ruthlessness. While this is a multi POV book, she is the character who is most important to the plot and probably the one with the most chapters. Her character was so utterly complex and I just loved learning more about her. It was so fascinating to see what motivated her and what drove her to fulfil her goal. Despite being a princess, Calla hasn’t had an easy life. There are a lot of hardships that she has endured throughout her life and those little things combined have led her to be the person we get to see in the present. Setting those aside, her refusal to jump between bodies has had me curious since the beginning. The games heavily rely on this ability so why wasn’t she using it? Was it arrogance? The palace’s teachings? Her reasons turned out to be so much more convoluted then they first appeared and the explanations left my jaw on the floor.


Anton, as our princess, was another mystery that I desperately wanted to solve and understand. There were so many questions surrounding his past in the beginning, and I’ve always had this frantic need for answers. He is such a charming character and he has piqued my interest from his first time on the page. As Calla, he is a walking disaster dealing with his own set of misfortunes. For years he has lived by jumping from body to body, being one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, but what happened that led him to be in exile, living like this? Why did Otta, his childhood love, lay in a coma and why was he the only one trying to keep her alive? What happened in his past that led to all this? All these questions were swarming in my head while reading and I felt like I couldn’t put the books down until I got the answers I wanted.


”Love isn’t deserved. It is given freely.”


The relationship between those two had me on my knees. The tension!!! Miss Gong right here is a queen at writing rivals-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers <s>however you perceive their ship to be</s>. The aspect of both of them participating in the games and having to face each other in a battle to the death if they want to attain their goals, made their whole dynamics so much more alluring. Their banter and interactions were everything!! I found myself more than once just squealing because I could not handle what was being thrown our way. The angst intertwined with these somewhat fluffy and sweet scenes and topped off with a couple of steamy scenes just made their whole relationship so much better. I’m gonna be honest I wish there was a tad bit more development for it. It felt a bit sudden at first, but aside from that I have no complaints.


”He is more poisonous than all the cinnabar in the world combined.”


Then we have August, who was honestly my favourite character, despite being the one with the most questionable motives. He is a really twisted character. One moment he may seem to have the purest of intentions and the next he is a sadistic asshole. But that’s exactly what made him the most interesting character to me. Out of all the characters, he is the one that had the most depth and the moment you thought you started understanding him, he does something that just makes you question his whole character all over again. He seems to genuinely care for the kingdom and its people, but his approach to trying to better the kingdom makes you wonder whether you should root for him or not. His relationship with Galipei is something that I took a strong interest in. Galipei seems to be truly devoted to his prince, and although he probably deserves better, I genuinely shipped him with August. I felt like there was so much tension there and I just couldn’t help myself. It got to a point where I want to say that I was invested in their dynamics as much as I was in Calla and Anton’s.


The magic system and world-building was interesting. I don’t really have much to comment on the world we were thrown in. It felt a lot like any standard fantasy world with a corrupt monarchy. There wasn’t anything that stood out in that regard, but I truly loved the jumping aspect. I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like this in any other book or maybe they just didn’t stand out to me. This did though. I loved the way it was added so seamlessly into the story and it was such a fascinating power to read about.


Well, after this ending it’s time to suffer as I wait for the sequel. I won’t forgive Chloe Gong for leaving me hanging like this. although I should have expected this.


”Death is easy to summon in San-Er, but one cannot go offending it either.”


Everyone please buy and read this book when it gets released because it was truly a phenomenal read that needs more hype!!


Immortal Longings is out July 18th in the US and July 25th in the UK!!

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Immortal Longings
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Book 1 of Flesh and False Gods
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Chloe Gong
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Sci-fi/Dystopian
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 18th July 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 23rd June 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5

”Take the cuts. Take the burns. You will heal, and you will be braver.
Braver? I want to be stronger.
Strength is a conscious effort. First, you will be braver, and then you will be stronger.
They trained her for war. And she rose up to wage it on them.”

This book picked up a sword and impaled me with it. I gasped so loud when I finished it that the walls shook and my water bottle fell over.

Emotional, brutal, and tantalizing, the plot is a sweet torture, almost reading like a citified hunger games, but one that includes a princess turned outlaw that wants her revenge.

In true Chloe Gong style, this book is a retelling. She reinterprets the story of Antony and Cleopatra, puts a dystopian and contemporary spin on it with Chinese elements, and delivers it to the reader in a prose that is defiant and bloodthirsty.

The main character, Calla, is built with complexity. She wants to be honourable but where’s the honour in slaughter? The romance she finds herself wrapped up in develops unbidden but fierce.

One of my favourite parts of the story is the world building. It depicts a filthy urban setting stricken with poverty and desperation. I loved it. It was so raw and real.

I cannot recommend this enough.

—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚‍♀️✨

From the moment I picked up Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong, I was completely enthralled. This highly anticipated book exceeded all my expectations, showcasing Gong's exceptional writing talent and raw storytelling ability.

Gong's departure from her usual YA genre is a bold move, but it pays off brilliantly in this dark and gripping tale. Immortal Longings explores themes of childhood trauma, graphic violence, and horror, making it a departure from her previous Secret Shanghai novels. While I knew better than to get attached to the characters, I couldn't help myself, and now I'm left emotionally wrecked.

The romance in the story takes a backseat, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the harrowing world of San-Er and its deadly games. The book reminded me of the intensity of The Hunger Games, and as a fan of dystopian literature, I found myself thoroughly engrossed.

What sets Immortal Longings apart is the author's impeccable pacing and captivating writing style. I devoured this book within hours, unable to tear myself away from the page. Gong's careful choice of words and meticulous world-building shine through, making every aspect of the story come alive.

Princess Calla is a remarkable and resilient protagonist. Her ambition, reminiscent of Shakespearean characters, drives her through the treacherous world of San-Er. I became deeply invested in her journey and eagerly await the next instalment to see how her character evolves.

The ending of Immortal Longings left me speechless and longing for more. It was a masterful conclusion that promises even greater adventures to come.

Chloe Gong is probably my favourite author at this moment in time.

I was sceptical of this read as a huge fan of Chloe’s previous work, I felt this wouldn’t be able to come close to how much I enjoyed those.

From the start of this story, I was hooked! Chloe’s world building is unmatched. Although similar to other fantasy series, like The Hunger Games, this story felt fresh and new.

I simply cannot wait for the sequel.

4.5/5
I am ABSOLUTELY REELING over the ending.

There are two assumptions I got right about this book:
1. As an enjoyer of the hunger games series when I was in junior high school, I would have a great time reading this, and
2. That by the 86% of the book I just knew that the final part of the book will leave my brain in shambles. Because that's exactly what Chloe Gong has done to me since Our Violent Ends and Foul Lady Fortune. And I was right. But please, for the sake of my sanity, don't end a book like that with no book 2 release date on sight.

“Calla Tuoleimi, princess of Er. She could do nothing on a throne, but she can do everything with a sword in her hand.”

this book was amazing! 88 participants battling to the death for money and fame, this year including a princess who killed her own family (with help from the new prince) and a man who was exiled from the palace, both of whom want their revenge.

Calla Tuoleimi was one of my favourite characters ever. she was a princess who killed here parents to try to make their city better, and is in the games to finish her goal by killing the new king.

August Shenzhi was interesting. the kings adopted son, who offers Calla a deal; he helps her win the game, and she’ll kill the king, letting him take over. he claims this is to help the city, but is it really because he craves the power?

and the last main character, Anton Makusa. he was banished from the palace when him and Augusts half sister-Antons girlfriend-Otta, where caught trying to escape the cities. she ended up in a coma, and he is constantly jumping between bodies, determined to win these games to keep paying her medical bills.

Anton and Calla eventually team up, and together they are brilliant. they also have amazing romantic tension, and there’s the question of whether their relationship is based on love or obsession.

August and his main bodyguard, Galipei, where also an intriguing pair. I hope for more of them in the next book

I loved this book a lot, it was so well written, I was obsessed with the characters, and I could not put it down. the ending made me need book 2 immediately!!

overall, I highly recommend!

Another thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read from Chloe Gong!

I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to read Immortal Longings before it's release, and in true Gong fashion: it did not disappoint.

As usual her writing style is sophisticated enough to draw you in without giving away too much, there are multiple instances within the book where you think you know what is right only to be hit by a twist showing you how wrong you were.

The three main characters were each written with various undertones, it made it hard to feel who you could trust. I liked the build up of the relationships between all of them. I liked the slow burn build up with Anton and Calla, each chapter could see the slight build in their relationship, making you crave more and more of them together.

I was unsure at first if there was going to be a sequel, throughout you get the impression that everything will be wrapped up nicely at the end, until you get to those last few pages and find yourself hit by a plot twist which keeps you wanting more.

I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to read this one and fingers crossed i'll be considered for an ARC of book 2!

first off the plot twist is insane!!!!!!!!!!!!
wdym tht's not who she thinks it is!!!! the set up is incredible tho! from when he says he could probs go into the body to the codeword!!!!! omg!!!!!

the set up is incredible and so is the characters - the motivations especially. the ending felt very in line what the characters would think and their motivations because calla was like anything for her goal and it makes sense that she would sacrifice who she loved for her goal but it did make me confused becuase then hwy did she go rescue her attendants if she wanted to do everything for her goal. wouldn't that more appropiate thing to be leave them for the dead

i wish we fully could read what was going to happen in regards to the plot twist (but i guess the auhtour just wants to like put in the second boook and like make ppl wait for that) so it could make it feel like more developed and not rushed.

however i do feel like while the relationhsips between the characters were interesting to read about, it did feel kinda rushed so i hope there'll be more focus onto it in the next books. especially, the sub plot o f the crescent temple did feel rushed in like how it was discovered because like it was so quick as well. i felt like i didn't really see what happened and like i was rlly confused and it was kinda glossed over

in the next book, i can't wait to see what otta's character sil bring and like how the tiwst is done because i feel like there are so many questions that like the reader is left wobdering about

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for goodreads

I won’t lie, most of this book I felt very torn on how I felt. I was never one to read very action packed fantasy, and preferred romance filled fantasy novels, but Chloe Gong did not disappoint. I read the first 60% quite slowly, but once I hit the last 40%, I couldn’t put it down. So much was going on, so many plot lines to keep up with, so many TWISTS? THAT ENDING? IM SORRY? ILLEGAL! Wishing I could qi jump into miss Chloe’s brain and find out what happens next.

I need the next book tomorrow and yet, I know I will have to wait another year or more for book two. This is a brilliant novel, it gave me extreme hunger games vibes (which i adored) and Calla was an extremely strong and fierce fmc, though many of her actions were very questionable. I really enjoyed Anton’s character also, I though both characters were amazing together and I just need MORE! I don’t think there was much to dislike about this book, the writing is fantastic and the characters are so intricate and you can’t help but connect to them all in one way or another (apart from King Kasa ofc, ew). The ending really threw me for a loop and now I can’t stop thinking about this book.

Highly, highly recommend this book if you love action packed adult fantasy, well thought out plot lines, slow burn romances, and the hunger games. This book is for you.

An incredible thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal longings is the perfect adult debut.
Chloe did such an amazing job.
Augustus, Calla and Anton are all morally grey character and during the entirely of the book you don’t know who to trust or believe.

Until the very end, and even after I don’t know what the heck happened and why!
I loved Calla and how strong she is. The way she’s so murderous but she starts to be soft with only one person.

All characters decides to take part in the games in their different way for different reasons.
At the end you think they reached their end goal, but you are not sure they did tbh.
I did question all 3 of them for 360 pages tbh.

I was surprised that I loved the one who’s not a prince more than the prince. That’s a first for me for sure.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong was such a fun, action-packed read. 88 civilians enter a city-wide fight to the death, the winner receiving riches and a face-to-face with the king.

Games, rivals to lovers, fights to the death - it delivered everything I was expecting.

If you love the fight-to-the-death aspect of The Hunger Games, definitely give this one a try. I loved the 'magic' elements and the history of the characters and location. It’s dripping in atmosphere and I never found myself feeling annoyed at any Cato/Clove parallels - which was one of my worries before going into this.

I struggled with the third-person present tense. It's not something I normally read and sometimes found myself thrown out of the story trying to make sense of it. Apart from that I loved my reading experience.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Chloe Gong for an e-copy ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This has got to be one of the easiest 5 stars I have given this year and just cements Chloe Gong as an auto buy author for me.

We are following Calla and Anton as they compete in a city-wide killer event, literally a killer event. The romance is super cute, the deception is 😘. The magic system is insane and so well done, it wasn't confusing at all.

I cannot wait for book 2... I also cannot wait for my pre-ordered physical copy to come to annotate the HECK out of it.

This book was one of my favorite reads so far this year. It was bloody, well-paced and gut-wrenching, and I loved every second of it.

I won’t say it was unpredictable because most of the big plot twists were fairly predictable, but it was so well done that I was always excited to get to the reveal point and I still squealed like an idiot when they finally happened. That’s one of the things I actually liked most about this book: the anticipation. I knew the unfolding of this or that trope was coming and I couldn’t wait for it. The anticipation kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

If you know me, you know I like main characters who are not afraid to get their hands bloody, so in hindsight, the fact that I loved Calla’s story was not really a surprise. She’s fierce and efficient, I loved Anton almost as much as I loved her. I only wish that the angst of the tension between them had been more deeply delved into; when it finally really started to be obvious, the reader is told that it has been happening for a while, but the feelings were not mentioned or shown enough that I felt that tension build.

The world-building was great though, Chloe Gong is a very visual writer and you can easily picture everything she describes. I can only imagine that more will come on that front in the next two books.
I can’t wait for the sequel.

Short review: aaaahhhhhhhh!!!

Longer review: I've never read Chloe Gong before even with the These Violent Delights duology being on my tbr for the longest time but my LORD was this the introduction I wanted.

Immortal Longings follows a scrimmage within a whole city. Imagine The Hunger Games but across the entire span of London, or Shanghai, or New York, plus they're telling the other players where their competitors are. I was a huge fan of the early 2010's era of dystopia that included The Hunger Games and Divergent but this was just so much better in every single way.

I loved Calla in the way that people love the likes of Loki and Deadpool. They're very much not the good guys but you just have a soft spot for them. Calla was well and truly the anti-hero and I loved her for it.

Chloe Gong, please give me book 2 immediately thank you!

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder and Stoughton, and especially Chloe Gong for writing this ARC.

i'm in love with this book. i love the atmosphere, the characters, the plot, the writing, the ship. and that cliffhanger? i'm so excited for the next one!

First of all big thankyou to Hodder and sloughton (an inprint of Hodderscape ) for am advanced copy .

I read a little bit of chole books before , when I found out about this book being coming up for review in jumped at the chance , I was very intrigued to find out what adventures lay in store,.I can say I wasn't disappointed.
This book is new adult fantasy which I've started reading alot of . I can tell you this book had me sucked in to chole world she has created hook, linen,and sinker .



I loved the fantasy side to the book , the romance well all ill say is if you love a bit of spice you won't be disappointed .

The plot is fantastic and is so well paced I would definitely say it remember me a bit of the hunger games but I think that what I loved most about this story if I'm honest .

The characters calla and Anton oh my gosh I loved them there is no stopping them in this story , it normally takes me a little while to warm to characters but they had me from the start.

We all love a good plot twist the book has a few , and the ending I NEED MORE !!! , I can not wait for the next adventure, I mean once my heart stops racing from this book ,

I'm giving this book a thrilling 5 star adventure.

*Actual rating is 4.75 stars*

Immortal Longings is Chloe Gongs adult debut novel, and it features everything you canto expect from her - a big cast of characters, a delicious enemies to lovers romance, and more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Then add a deadly, competitive game to that in a dystopian fantasy world and you got this book.

Some books you just immediately know that you’re gonna enjoy, and even though this book had a slow start it was still clear that I was gonna like this book. The story was full of intense and heart pounding action, while set in a dark and gritty world. Not to mention the really cool concept of jumping, of being able to take over other peoples bodies.

As previously mentioned, this book features a big cast of characters. Something that results in multiple POVs, with three main POVs and a handful of minor characters POVs scattered throughout the book. Now I’m not a person who usually likes it when books have more than two POVs, but here it just worked for me. So big kudos to Gongs writing for being able to write a story with multiple povs and characters, and still have me thoroughly engaged in the story. Because here it really helped add to the story, to get these glimpses into all these characters - into their individual motives and schemes. We’re not talking about simple double crossing, oh no. Throw in some triple crossing in there too just to make sure that the reader never knows someone’s true colours.

The one thing that keeps this book from being a full 5 star read for me, and which is common among all her books, is that there’s one major POV that I just don’t care about. In this case Prince August. While there was nothing wrong with his character I just didn’t really connect with his character. In stark contrast I was wholly invested in Calla and Anton, the two other main POVs.

Also that ending?! The implications of it? I was shocked! Not to mention that there was a second plot twist in the ending. This book really wanted to give me a full-on book hangover, and it succeeded.

Immortal Longings is the first book in an adult fantasy series by author, Chloe Gong. This was my first read by this author, but I am keen now to go back and read more of her YA novels. While this one is advertised as an adult novel (in contrast to her YA novels), it wasn’t super graphic and I think would still appeal to upper YA readers. I really like the “jumping” element which took me a while to get my head around but once I did I felt this gave the story something fresh and new and opened up a whole lot of possibilities. The book does end on a cliffhanger but that is to be expected from the first book in a series like this. I’m keen to read the next one and hope we don’t have to wait too long. Told in multiple POV the story is a lot of fun and both main characters are relatable and enjoyable to read. I’d recommend this one for fantasy fans looking for something new.

I’m glad this is the first book in a trilogy, because I need so much more. We have a trio of fierce characters whose goals and motivations are deeply intertwined, yet not always aligned. The side characters also brought so much to the story, whether it was their own schemes or the intrigue from simply existing (looking at you, Otta Avia). I loved getting into each character’s head, and their dynamics were so entertaining. A personal favorite is Calla and August, there was just something special about their interactions.

There are definite The Hunger Games parallels to be made, but the games in Immortal Longings are more of a puzzle piece rather than the puzzle itself. From the threat of outside invasion to secret societies within San-Er, what made this book stand apart is the world it’s set in. Descriptions of the physical setting, and the magic. Jumping added intrigue both in terms of those who are good at it, and those who refuse, one of the many ways to wonder about the characters’ reasons for their actions and decisions.

In Immortal Longings, storylines are woven together to create chaos, each character fighting for their desires and beliefs. Whether the character was primary or secondary, they all contributed to the richness of the plot, which was a complicated mess in the best way. No objective could be accomplished as easily as expected. All of a sudden, the end had arrived, and it was truly a *gasp* moment; I fondly await book two.

Immortal Longings
Chloe Gong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

Before I start this review I’d like to give my thanks to Hodderscape, Chloe Gong and Netgalley for providing me with the e-ARC of ‘Immortal Longings.’ All opinions expressed in this review are my own, honest opinions of the book! There are no spoilers in this review!

I adored everything about this book- Chloe Gong never fails to exceed expectations! Immortal Longings is the first in her new adult series inspired by Anthony and Cleopatra with morally grey characters, competitions to the death, rivals to lovers, multiple POVs, a bit of spice and astonishing world building! Our main characters- Calla, Anton and August are all such fascinating and complex characters with their own unique voices so the multiple POVs worked really well. The POV switches made me so invested- none of the characters could be said to be reliable narrators and there is lots of scheming behind each others backs so it is impossible to decide who to trust. I loved the POVs from minor characters too because it built so much tension and really helped flesh out the world Chloe Gong has created.

All of the main characters were of the slightly unstable morally-grey variety and I was living for it! Calla was ruthless, intelligent and incredibly stubborn with an intriguing past that made you need to know more right from the very beginning. Her goals are moral and for the good of the kingdom but she is willing to murder and betray to achieve them. Calla cares for her kingdom more than anything and even abandons her own morals just for the chance to save it- she’s a truly unforgettable character. Anton on the other hand cares not for the kingdom but only about saving his childhood lover and he too will do anything including slaughter innocents to save her. Together Calla and Anton they make a near unstoppable team and their alliance soon turns into something more. August, to me, was definitely the most complex character. He is just like Calla in the sense that he wants the king off the throne and the kingdom to be a better place but his end goal is to have himself on the throne. His motives fluctuate from pure to selfish throughout the book and he is overall a very twisted man. I couldn’t decide whether he would truly improve the kingdom as the insisted he would or become corrupted by power the second the crown was put on his head. I loved Augusts chapters so much and his relationship with his bodyguard, Galipei, was so interesting- I can’t wait to see more of them in the second book.

Not only were the characters amazing, the world building was phenomenal too! For a fairly short book, we get so many details about the politics and history of the world and it fit into the story really naturally. The magic system in this book were also one of the most interesting magic systems I’ve ever read! It involves the jumping of a persons qi into other bodies and it’s honestly such an interesting concept I adored reading about it! The descriptions in this book were beautifully written and cinematic and the dialogue was well done and witty- I was a huge fan of Chloe Gong’s writing in the Secret Shanghai series but the prose in Immortal Longings is on another level, you can tell how much she’s developed as a writer! This is by far my favourite book this year and I’m already dying for the sequel- no spoilers but I SCREAMED at the ending. I was actually SHOOK, I did not expect such a major plot twist on the last page! Anyway, I can’t wait for everyone to read this and thank you again to Chloe Gong, Hodderscape and NetGalley for the ARC ❤️

<b>Immortal Longings</b> is Chloe Gong adult debut and I loved it.

Chloe has a special way to tell the story, and although the setting is dirty and dark, it is just impossible to not find her words beautiful.

Immortal longings is a dystopian urban fantasy told by 3 main different POV, and some extra ones to spice things up a bit.
All POV are working for more or less the same purpose, but with different results in mind. In a world as damaged and corrupted as the twin capital cities of San-Er, is it even possible to win?

<i> “There are no gods in this world. Only kings and tyrants</i>

I was hooked from the first page, and had my heart on my throat for the last 20% of the story. This book has everything I love in fantasy: high stakes, fast pace, interesting characters, foreshadowing and surprises.

The characters are deliciously grey and it is still unclear who are the heroes and the villains. Everything is told and woven in a way that demands our attention until we are feeling what they feel. I fell for Anton, cried for other minor characters, felt anxious for the mysteries going on, and was surprised several times.

<i> She stains his mind in vivid color, bright and burning and dangerous.</i>

Recommended for Chloe Gong fans, as well as urban fantasy readers. If you enjoyed Altered Carbon from Netflix you will love this book.

<i>I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I had no idea what to expect from my first Chloe Gong book but my god was I swept away in this story!

This series is an urban fantasy retelling of the story of Antony and Cleopatra, following a runaway princess Calla, exiled nobility Anton, and heir to the throne August as they navigate the yearly bloody trials in the city of San-Er. (There’s also a cute cat!)

The romance/alliance in this book is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games so if you liked that series as a kid you’ll love this story. (The spice is also VERY well written and that is coming from someone who often finds it cringe). If you like the trope of her putting a dagger to his throat this one is definitely for you.

The world-building was also incredible as you really get a feel for the different areas of San-Er which was the perfect setting for this story. It genuinely feels like you can hear the bustle of this city through the words on the page.

After reading this I cannot wait for the rest of the series and just HAVE to pick up Chloe Gong’s other books. This was perfect for her first adult fantasy venture!

Chloe Gong continues to prove why shes ome of my favourite authors of all time, I love her writing style so much and whilst this is different from Secret Shanghai j loved every single moment of reading this book and will literally read every single thing she ever writes

Chloe Gong has once again manages to gut me and tear apart my flesh with her bare hands, while also instilling hope that I too will have a love story as epic as this one. Definitely a must-read for fans of fantasy and dystopia!

chloe gong will always be one of my fave authors. she never misses. every plot she conjures up is delicious and every character has me in chokehold. 10/10 forever x

Chloe Gongs books just get better and better, she has honed her craft to produce incredible books. This book is a triumph and I can hardly wait until the next episode.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I loved Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights and Foul Lady Fortune series, so I was so excited to get this ARC! This is a very Hunger Games-esque retelling of Antony and Cleopatra with a lot of world-building to wrap your head around.

Like most of Gong's novels in my opinion, it's slow to start but once it gets going, it doesn't stop.

The absolute shock I felt at that Calla reveal was magnificent, and the ending reveal?? Oh my god. I am desperate for the next book and I'm so interested to see how this retelling turns out.

I feel weird about <spoiler> Calla and Anton having sex with him in someone else's body but I also get in this world, bodies are viewed very differently. I'm working through it. </spoiler> Also, <spoiler> at the end, couldn't they have just pulled their chips? Before they got to the coliseum anyway. They had an agreement and then were like "damn no way out of this" even though there clearly was. Oh well. </spoiler>

Please can I have the next book now. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

In Chloe Gong’s first adult fantasy, inspired by Antony and Cleopatra, we are introduced to the tech-worshipping twin capital cities of San-Er. These built up cities are smog-filled and poverty stricken, and as people live in built-up high rises and can jump into different bodies as easily as changing an outfit, life is dangerous.

Once a year, desperate citizens can win a fortune by entering a lottery to play in the games; a televised event where 88 participants fight to the death to be the king’s victor…

Princess Calla Tuoleimi has been in hiding ever since murdering her tyrannical parents and is the reason that the King will not leave his palace. This year, Calla has managed to trick her way into the games under a false identity, and will carve her way to victory - and into the king’s presence - to finish what she started.

Anton Makusa has tricked his way into the games, too. It’s his final chance to save his childhood love, but when Anton faces Calla and proposes teaming up, their tenuous alliance will spiral into something with the power to consume them both…

My thoughts:

I love the world that Chloe Gong has built here, and the chaotic mix of dystopian urban fantasy with elements of tech, the Roman Empire and The Hunger Games oddly worked for me. It did take me a while to get into, but the last third had me truly hooked. Antony and Calla’s slow burn is well played and I even found the villainous August compelling reading!

Immortal Longings is a definite must read for Chloe Gong fans and is out on July 18th. Thank you to Hodderscape and Netgalley for the e-ARC - I can’t wait for book two!

🔹Forget your name and adopt the title instead. Calla. Soon, people will be saying it just as they whisper God."🔹

💫 Immortal Longings is @ adult debut in which the story Antony and Cleopatra meets the Hunger Games ! Initially ,as in her other books, I struggled to get into the story especially because of the world building and the info- dumping.. But then I just say wow! The story is pretty much set in a world inspired by Kowloon city with 90's technology and people with mind jumping ability which made me totally immerse in its dark atmospheres!

💫The best part is the characters: there are no heroes or villains, they are all very morally gray and willing to do anything to achieve their goals. Calla is brilliant and strong but I also enjoyed the scenes where her more human and insecure side also appears. Anton has my whole heart: he is ruthless, funny,also full of trauma and caring. The alliance between the two begins as a necessary means to achieve their own ends , but then in a natural way it turns into attraction and finally into love. But will love be enough to make Anton and Calla change their priorities ?

💫in essence Cong did not disappoint : she managed to create a claustrophobic and dark atmosphere with real characters perfect in their imperfection in a story with dark tints, full of blo!d,d£ath, spicy,political intrigue and plot twists !

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc copy💫

🔹 And what fine daylight we have today to ensure its longevity in their memory.🔹

4.5! Tahnk you Netgalley, Hodder and Stoughton for this e-arc!

I WAS UTTERLY SHOCKED (in amazing way) CHLOE GONG DID THAT AGAIN!
All the plot, the settings, and characters set in the most purrrfect way I can’t get enough of it? But the ending!? When will it RELEASED PLEASEEEEE.

Review to be continue

Immortal Longings is a slick, smart, and sharp adult debut that pulls you into its dark and tangled web. Whether you escape or not, it will stay with you.

Something I have always loved about Chloe Gong’s work is how she draws inspiration from classic Shakespearean tales. You can identify the fingerprints of Shakespeare in the characters and overarching plotlines, but these are definitely Gong’s creations. There is always a twist, subversion, or challenge to these well-known narratives. Immortal Longings takes some inspiration from Antony and Cleopatra and for me, this was most evident in the sizzling passion and changing dynamics between Calla and Anton. These two could set the world on fire and would probably happily watch everything around them burn. This is a dynamic that you can never really pin down. Everything is a manipulation, a power play but there are also some feelings in there that catch sparks.

Juliette Cai officially has competition for my favourite Gong characters here in the complex Calla Tuoleimi. She is often cruel, but there are shimemrs of vulnerability and Gong ensures there is depth and layers to her character. She is driven by rage and revenge, going to any means necessary to achieve her goals. However, she is also driven by a deep desire to survive and some of the moments around that are genuinely heart-wrenching. Gong never lets you forget that this is a character whose hands are stained by blood though. She is a badass fighter, branded by her reputation. I also have to shout out Mr Mao Mao for being the only pure character in the entire book (as far as we currently know).

Gong has taken the beating heart of her YA series, tore it out and ramped everything up to eleven. This is a violent book, drenched in blood and death. The stakes are always rising higher, with new and intriguing players stepping onto the board at unexpected moments. She unleashes her trademark, cut-throat twists with some moments that made me want to throw the book across the room. If you thought her previous twists were awful, we have reached new levels of evil genius.

The entire concept of body switching is fascinating and connects to deeper ethical questions around identity and personhood. In this world, it is easy to lose sight of who you truly are and to keep running from the heinous actions you have taken. Also, as a literary device, it works as an excellent way to keep your readers on their toes and creates such a tense and paranoid atmosphere. When literally everyone around you could be an enemy in disguise, who can you truly trust?

As always, Gong’s writing is incredibly evocative. Her worldbuilding is incredibly vivid and rich. San-Er springs to life around you, until you can practically see the smoke and smell the scent of blood in the air. The balance of narrative perspectives is excellent, bringing together a variety of intriguing characters and giving us new insights into both past and present. As with Calla, Anton is given so much depth and complexity in his character. His perspective is one that I adored, filled with devious manipulation and desires. He almost callously ‘jumps’ from body to body with very little regard for those he has invaded.

Immortal Longings is a twisty, intense and vicious stab to the heart that you will absolutely adore.

Chloe Gong was born to write Shakespeare retellings. They are perfect every single time. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

This truly is the perfect mix between the Hunger Games and story of Antony and Cleopatra. The world-building and the magic system are very interesting and entrancingly built. I absolutely loved the concept of "jumping" between bodies. It's a great idea and I don't ever remembering reading about it in another book. Transfer of consciousness yes, but not willingly jumping from one body to the other. It was fascinating to learn more about it and how it works.

The protagonists Calla and Anton are the stars of this story and their chemistry is off the charts. I could practically feel it through the pages.

Calla is brilliant, intelligent, cunning and absolutely ruthless. She has a complicated history and, despite being a princess, her life is far from being easy. It was an absolute treat to be introduced to her and learning about her motivations and simply what makes her tick. One of the things I was particularly curious is how she refuses to “jump” between bodies, something that everyone in this world is capable of doing, particularly during the deadly game. The truth when revealed made me re-read the page a few times over to process it.

As for our male protagonist Anton, he’s a complete mystery in the beginning but no less charismatic and magnetic. He’s heavily in debt from keeping his childhood love Otta alive during her coma and is participating in the games in hopes to pay that he owes. Throughout the book, more details of him and his past are revealed, and I kept wanting to know more about what led him to end up with such a life. As the best “jumper” in the kingdom, his alliance to Calla makes sense, but the growing tension between them since they met just jumped off the pages. They complement each other perfectly and seeing them together is so alluring and addictive. I couldn’t stop reading.

I was on the edge of seat the whole time reading this book. Since I read the Gong’s previous duology These Violent Delights, I learned that no one is safe and twists and turns are definitely incoming. I was right.
I can’t wait to see how the story will progress in the next instalment, but this one I will remember for a very long time.

4.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC for this book.

Antony and Cleopatra is my all time favourite Shakespeare play, so from the moment I heard that this book was being written, I have been incredibly excited for it. Chloe Gong delivers an entertaining fantasy novel that stands out as it’s own story despite its clear inspiration.

At first I was a little disappointed with the retelling elements of this novel, as I expected the novel to more directly parallel the play - as Gong’s These Violent Delights duology did with Romeo and Juliet - however, this book follows its own plot while maintaining the feel and relationships between characters found in Antony and Cleopatra. This book seems to act more as set up for events that mirror the play, while this instalment follows a more original plot line.

Gong’s characters are immediately entertaining and I found myself getting invested in their stories quickly; they also maintain a similar flare and tone to the characters in Gong’s young adult work, so if you enjoyed the characters there, you most likely will here as well. I loved the development of Anton and Calla’s relationship and any time they were on page together was a highlight. Another highlight was the fascinating, body hopping magic system. Because of this, the action scenes here were always tense and demanded attention.

I vastly appreciate Gong’s prose and tight-pacing in this novel, as I read most of it in a single day. Gong has a talent for writing extremely readable stories and that is no different here; the entire novel held my attention for it’s entirety and was so fun and easy to read that I truly got lost in the story and my enjoyment of it.

However I was left wanting more from Immortal Longings. While many aspects of the book worked with the shift from young adult to adult, I do feel the book would’ve benefitted from a little higher page count and more exposition. The book relies heavily on its main event of the game, and while I understood why this existed for the narrative and themes it explores, I wish more details of the origins surrounding this event were explained to give it more of a firm grounding in this aesthetically, well-realised world. Additionally, as much as the book occupies itself with the politics of San-er, I feel a more thorough explanation of how this society functions would’ve been valuable.

Despite the few issues I had with this novel, I cannot deny that I had a great time reading it regardless. I cannot wait to see where this story is headed and find out what plot twists I will be confronted with next!

This was a book that did give me Hunger Games vibes and I have very much missed the dystopian genre that was once so popular. I also do love an Urban Fantasy so this was a treat.
The characters are morally grey, which I always find interesting as it makes them less predictable and encourages me to read more. I also find this gives the characters more depth as no person is really so black and white as some characters in stories can be.
Immortal Longings is fast paced story for the majority, although sometimes the descriptions did seem a bit long which detracted from the book a little. Although at times I also found some of them very quotable and imaginative, "She stains his mind in vivid color, bright and burning and dangerous.", for example.
This was my first time reading a novel by Chloe Gong, but I think I now need to go through her other books. I'll definitely be picking up the second in the series.

OMG, Chloe Gong totally nailed it again with this book!! Seriously, it's been one of my absolute faves this year. Think Hunger Games meets the epic love story of Antony and Cleopatra, all set in this super cool world with an awesome magic system where people can "jump" between bodies. The suspense in this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and those unexpected twists, just like in These Violent Delights, kept me hooked. The world-building is so immersive, and the romance, though subtle, is sooo good! Calla and Anton's chemistry is off the charts and makes their characters absolutely irresistible.

Calla is a total boss - she's brilliant, ruthless, and her past is seriously complex. And get this, she refuses to "jump," which adds a crazy intriguing twist to the story. Anton, on the other hand, starts off as a bit of a mystery, but damn, he's got that charm and magnetism that draws you in. Their dynamic is fire!

Chloe Gong's writing just keeps getting better, and I'm dying for the next book. If you're into plots that keep you guessing and characters you can't help but connect with, trust me, you need to read this book. It's an epic journey you won't forget!

Looking at the reviews Immortal Longings is a love it or hate it kinda book and I’m firmly in the ‘love it’ camp.
Compelling characters, gripping story, strong world building, interesting magical system with the hint of more to unfold- what’s not to love? And not to forget that cliffhanger of an ending - can’t believe we’ve got to wait until Summer 2024 for the next instalment.

Flesh and False Gods trilogy you are on my (ever growing) book list. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended.

This was my first Chloe Gong book and I will certainly be exploring her back catalog now!

Every year the people of Talin flock to its twin capital cities of San-Er for the palace’s games. Citizens are selected and fight it out to the be last one standing, who then receives riches and an audience with the king.
Calla is a princess of Er who slaughtered her parents and fled. Believed to be dead by the general public, she secretly enters the games for the chance to kill the king of San, who has combined San-Er (and therefore all of Talin) under his rule.
Anton was once the prince’s friend and wished to help him change the way the leaders of San-Er ruled, but when he went rogue with the prince’s half sister and was caught, he was exiled - his qi permanently removed from his birth body. He needs to win the games to escape his ever mounting debts.
Both must win. Both are very skilled. But when they realise who one another are, they decide to team up - temporarily - to get themselves closer to the finish line… only things don’t quite go to plan.

I loved Calla and Anton as main characters. Along with Prince August, they make up our POV characters and give us different insights into the story. I really enjoyed the way that certain facts were revealed to us in a show-don’t-tell way, only when they were discovered by one of the other MCs - after all, how often do you consciously think about things you already know about yourself?

The plot was familiar - deadly contest, only one can win - however I enjoyed the way the magic system put a different spin on it. In this world, people with a particular ability can jump their qi into another person’s body. As long as they are stronger than the other person, they can temporarily (or, rarely, permanently) take over that person’s body and pilot it as their own - this does leave their birth body unprotected and vulnerable to being jumped into, however.
This added an extra excitement to the games, as it was difficult for other competitors to know who was a player and who was an innocent bystander, and meant they could change their appearance at will.

The twists and turns were enjoyable, if somewhat predictable. There is one particular detail which I, and several others I have spoken to, noticed which is either a big clue for something later on or a gaping plot hole. I’m assuming the former considering the editing team I’m sure this book had! So I’m excited to see where that leads.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed Immortal Longings and will definitely continue the series when the next book comes out!

I love retellings and when I read the description of this book I was really excited. When I got this book I was so happy and started reading it straight away, but since life got in the way, I read it for like a week. And omg I really liked it. I have Chloe's other books on my shelf and can't wait to read them. This book was so good and I can't wait for the next one.