Excuse me for one moment, I need to peel myself off the floor before I try to form any coherent thoughts about this book.

*Deep breath* Okay, this was my most anticipated book of 2020, and it might actually end up being my favorite read of 2020 as well! These Violent Delights hit the spot for me on almost every aspect of the story, from the cast to the plot to the themes. Not to mention the GORGEOUS writing!

I love retellings that feel reminiscent of the original, but are inspired by it rather than following most of the plot points. These Violent Delights did this perfectly -- the plot felt original in its own right, but there were still enough nods to the original Romeo and Juliet that my Shakespeare nerd heart rejoiced (the balcony scene! The duel! Paris!). Also, a monster terrorizing the city and a mystery about who's responsible?? Yes PLEASE!

The cast of characters might be my new favorite fictional #squad. From the whip-smart and deadly Juliette to the secretly soft Roma, from the wisecracking Marshall to the sweet yet cunning Kathleen, the Scarlets and the White Flowers totally drew me into their world. I would have perhaps liked to see a little more of the White Flowers, since Juliette's perspective is the most frequent one in the book, but they'll probably get more fleshed out in the sequel.

I also loved the themes of imperialism woven in throughout the story, especially in Juliette's POV. My favorite fantasy novels are the ones that also contain important social commentary, and this one is no exception! The different political factions and nationalities in the city made for some super interesting conflicts that brought up questions about national identity, ownership, and how "soft power" such as trade relations can still be insidious.

Overall, this was a truly stunning read, and I think I'm going to be dealing with this book hangover until the sequel arrives! Never mind -- it's a small price to pay for the brilliant rollercoaster Chloe Gong just took me on.

There aren't enough words in the English language for how much I love this book.

These Violent Delights is an imaginative and unforgettable retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in 1920s Shanghai. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos.

Eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper, has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations — and their heir, Roma Montagov, is Juliette’s first love and first betrayal.

But when a madness starts to sweep through the city, leading people to start clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. They talk of a contagion; a madness. Of a monster in the shadows.

Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside as the deaths start to stack up. They know that they need to work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

This was definitely one of my favourite books of 2020. It's creative and so well-paced - yes, it's a bit of a slow burn, but there's a lot of backstory to uncover.

I particularly loved the flashbacks, which gave a glimpse into what happened to Roma and Juliette's relationship and why things between them soured.

And the ending absolutely blew me away - despite the fact that it said 'to be continued', I found myself looking for more since I had to know what happened next. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Words cannot even begin to describe how much this book means to me, nor how incredible it was. There were so many reasons for me to love These Violent Delights, and I loved it for all those reasons and more. Going into this book I was pleasantly surprised and I'm so happy to say that my expectations were completely and absolutely exceeded. The characters, the integration of history, fantasy, and Shakespeare, the quality of writing and the interweaving of issues into the plot truly made it above and beyond exceptional to me.

We’ve all heard of Romeo and Juliet, but just wait until you meet Juliette Cai. I think I need to begin here by really stressing that These Violent Delights is far more a reimagining than a retelling of Shakespeare's R&J; it incorporates all the key elements of the play into a new world. Juliette Cai, besides being a badass, is the perfect example. We see her struggles as the heir of the Scarlet Gang both as a woman and as someone who feels slightly distanced from her culture given her American education. Chloe Gong does an amazing job of portraying this and there was a lot I could relate to as a Chinese-born girl who has lived in New Zealand for most of her life. On the other side we have Roma Montagov, heir of the White Flowers. While in many ways Juliette has moved on from her past—or rather, tried to—Roma is still stuck, unable to forget. The contrast between these characters adds so much to the story, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that every interaction between Roma and Juliette is pure gold, and I'll be screaming about the angst for many days to come. There are many other amazing characters that won't get a mention here simply because it would make this review go on for pages and pages, but a special shout out to Alisa Montagova—Roma's little sister—is in order.

The writing style needs a mention here because it was just so good. So much was effortlessly incorporated into the main plot without feeling like an unwanted intrusion, whether it was banter and jokes, the use of all the languages (it's so upper-class 1920s but I love it dearly, plus it highlights the multicultural nature of Shanghai), or the way discourse about identity and colonialism was dispersed within the fantasy. I have huge respect for the fact that hopeless fountain kingdom was the writing soundtrack for this book, and the Shakespeare references had me cackling. It's entirely possible to read and enjoy this book without having read R&J, but it's an additional layer to the book that enhances the package. The plot is extremely clever, from the overarching mystery to the little things, like two slips of paper in one pocket (if you know you know).

In my notes I have written that dorogaya deserves its own bullet point, which it does, so while I can't give it its own paragraph because that would be a step too far, I can begin my conclusion by mentioning it and hoping you will read These Violent Delights to find out what I'm on about. In other news, this was a rare instance of me being satisfied with the ending, it felt like a good place to stop and leaves the right number of loose ends for book two. There is something truly special about this book, and I will certainly remember it. It's no mean feat to be able to tie 1920s Shanghai with rival gangs, a monster, and Shakespeare's R&J, but Chloe Gong has managed to do it absolutely brilliantly. I can't wait for book two and I will certainly be following her writing career for many years to come.

These Violent Delights is the first book in the These Violent Delights series by Chloe Gong. A captivating read that pulls you in and holds your attention until the end, all while leaving you wanting more. Gong's writing is amazing and flows at a smooth, steady pace with intriguing flashbacks. These Violent Delights is a deliciously dark twist on Romeo and Juliet that feels vibrant, modern, and wholly exciting.

Chloe Gong’s debut, These Violent Delights, is a compelling Romeo and Juliet retelling that sets itself apart with its multilayered world building. Juliette Cai is returning to Shanghai, having been away at school in America. She has spent the last four years of her life erasing the girl she used to be, the one who once believed she could build a different life for herself, one where she wasn’t the heir of the Scarlet Gang. Now she is determined to prove herself worthy of her family’s legacy and nothing and no one will stand in her way. But when whispers of a madness sweeping through Shanghai reach her ears, she is forced to reconnect with Roma Montagov, heir to the White Flowers and the one person she once would have left her family behind for. There was a time when Juliette and Roma were inseparable, when they thought they could outrun the blood feud between their families. But years have passed and both now know the consequences of their own naivety and the sting of the other’s betrayal. Fans of second-chance romance and hate to love need to pick this one up. Every Juliette and Roma interaction is filled with layers of tension. While they are both different people than they were years ago, the history of affection between them is always there but hatred is always a second from boiling over as well. Gong also sets her story in 1920s Shanghai where many foreigners have come to grapple for power. The Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers are in danger of being overrun by outsiders looking to exert political influence. These Violent Delights is a must for fans of star-crossed romance with characters who both love and hate with the same kind of ferocity.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and I was beyond thrilled when I was approved for an e-arc. Romeo and Juliet is a story that I know very well and I was definitely intrigued once I had discovered this was a retelling set in 1920s Shanghai. I absolutely enjoyed this book. I connected so much to Juliette as a character and was sucked in from page 1. I loved the romance, the mystery, the setting, the plot, EVERYTHING. I am so excited to see where the second book goes and can only hope that I love it as much as this one.

A Shakespeare retelling (Romeo and Juliet) set in 1920s China.

Romeo (or Roma) Montagov is a the heir to the Russian White Flower gang, while Juliette Cai has recently returned to Shanghai to help run her family's Scarlet Gang (there you have the rival families aspect from Romeo and Juliet).

These Violent Delights (from what I remember from reading Romeo and Juliet back in high school) includes all the characters from the original Romeo and Juliet, with the setting transposed from Verona to Shanghai in the 1920s. Roma and Juliette are a bit older in this book, in their late teens, and have a romantic history already.

I didn't know much about the fascinating history of Shanghai, and didn't realize that in the early 1900s, different colonial powers had "concessions" in the city, or that "White Russians," who were refugees from the Russian Revolution, were common there as well.

So there's a good amount of history in here, and also some fictional elements, like a mysterious "monster" or virus (?) that's killing residents. In an interview the author says she was inspired by Libba Bray's Diviners, also a historical fantasy set in the 20s, and I can see the similarities. Both are big, sprawling books set in the 20s with large casts of characters and a mysterious something or someone lurking around killing people.

This book was an incredibly imaginative retelling.. The one thing I wasn't prepared for was that the romance in this wasn't as front-and-center as I had expected. Roma and Juliette have a romantic past that didn't end well, and have to band together to solve the mystery of the strange illness that's killing members of both their gangs. But this didn't have the dramatic, all-encompassing romantic obsession of the original.

If you love long, sprawling historical books with supernatural elements, definitely give this one a try!

"In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens."

With the first sentence, Chloe Gong has started her blistering magic, as she weaves the tale of a city that quivers with life and the two gangs that rule it. With deadly, lilting prose that both beckons you to lose yourself in it and warns you of its edge, and a plot that walks a narrow string, pulled taut and breathtakingly dangerous, These Violent Delights is a striking debut not to be missed.

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Like everyone else, These Violent Delights has been sprawling on the top of my most anticipated reads lists since the day I first heard of it. Needless to say, my expectation were ridiculously high — and still, These Violent Delights managed to exceed them. This book has rendered me speechless, with nothing but a racing heart and the ache of a knife-wound as remembrance of what I’ve just experienced.

Part of this can be attested to sheer skill Gong holds with words: With mere words, she has managed to build a world that is nothing short of intoxicating. The city of Shanghai, as written by Gong, has a heartbeat of its own, and as a strange madness sweeps across it, we are swept along. What caught me the most was the atmosphere, and how tangible it was. Throughout the story, we, the readers, are there. We are there, and we are hurting, and we are thanking Chloe for every second of it. Gong’s deadly prose and elegant storytelling is a lethal combination — and it’s a great part of why I adore this book so much.

As the plot unravels, what we witness is, simply put, unforgettable. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters, all so well-shaped and written, with stories of their own. Gong expertly intertwines commentary on Western imperialism and colonialism with a violent storyline drenched crimson with blood. And then there’s Juliette and Roma.

These Violent Delights is a Romeo & Juliet retelling, and oh, it does it justice. Gong writes this retelling as one who truly loves and understands the essence of this classic — who feels it’s devastating pain, and know how to translate it into words that will throw readers into tumult. Gong perfectly captures the tenderness, the aches, the ‘you’ve hurt me once, and you can hurt me again.’, and the vulnerabilities. She spins it into dread, into tears, into a pain that you can only understand once you’ve read the book. She lines it with tension — with an intensity so palpable — it is truly masterful.

I’ve read so many retellings of Romeo & Juliet, watched so many adaptions, and after reading These Violent Delights, I can say that this one? This one is a favorite.

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These Violent Delights will leave you limp along the Huangpu River, a knife in your slowly-dying heart, as a quiet hush falls heavy over the scene, the river rushing to touch your still-warm toes. It will break your heart, tease you with hope of mending it, and then break it all over again. It will destroy you, little by little. And, if it’s any testament to Chloe Gong’s talent, you will love every second of it.

These violent delights is a Romeo and Juliette retelling taking place in 1920s Shanghai between two rival gangs. I can wholeheartedly say I enjoyed this more than the original Romeo and Juliette. The writing was beautiful and full of detail and capturing. All the characters were well developed. I adored each of the characters we met. Each time the two gangs met, the Montagov's White Flowers and the Cai's Scarlets, the tension between the two keeps you at the edge of your seat. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov have a past filled with hurt and betrayal but have to come together to save their city from the madness ravaging across the city. The chemistry and tension between Roma and Juliette are enticing. This book was well-paced and the mystery aspect of the story was well plotted out. I'm excited for this series to continue.

There is an exquisite joy in reading a book that hits the mark for you as a reader and that, my friends, was my experience with These Violent Delights. This debut young adult historical fantasy novel from Chloe Gong is set in 1920s Shanghai (!) and draws inspiration from Romeo and Juliet (!!). Throw in a blood feud between two rival gangs, mysterious deaths rooted in magic and madness, and two former paramours on opposite sides forced to work together for the sake of everything they care about, and you’ve got yourself the makings of this story.

I always underestimate how much I love a good YA historical fantasy, and These Violent Delights was an excellent reminder of why this particular sub-genre works for me. Chloe Gong does a wonderful job at weaving in so many elements I adored, including:

* The historical setting - I’d never really read a story set in both the 1920s and Shanghai. It was fascinating to see the recognizable hallmarks of the 20s, an era I’ve always found compelling to read and learn about, and to see them in Shanghai with the specific corresponding cultural details and turbulent political climate woven in seamlessly.

* The nods to Romeo & Juliet - Because it was the first Shakespeare play I ever read, I’ll always have a soft spot for this tragedy. I love that you can totally pick up on the nods to the original tale (the angst! the yearning! the characters, and not just their names!), but also appreciate the ways in which Chloe Gong took some creative liberties to make this story more than just a by-the-book retelling. This is the kind of retelling I want to be reading, that’s for sure!

* The mystery and the magic - I love fantasy books that combine magic and mystery, especially with the mayhem that ensues as we race to find out what’s really going on. While there were a few predictable parts, the way this one comes together by the end is very neat, and I still enjoyed being along for the ride.

*The gangs - I don’t read a lot of stories about gangs, but my interest is always piqued when it comes to exploring the relationship dynamics. Readers will see the internal dynamics of the power struggles and hierarchies of both the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. But we also get to witness the external dynamics of the rivalry between the two (as well as their relationships with other groups of power), and it slowly gets revealed just what exactly sparked the heightened blood feud between them.

*The characters - I’m a big character-driven reader! My particular fascination lies with our two main characters: Roma Montagov (the heir of the White Flowers) and Juliette Cai (the heir of the Scarlet Gang). There are so many similarities between these two: their struggle to hold their position in their gang hierarchies, the vulnerabilities they hide deep down, the desire for things to be better in the city that they love, their willingness to really do whatever they need to in order to succeed and the love and loyalty they both possess in spades. It’s incredibly compelling to see their relationship unfold on the page, since both of them are such strong personalities.

Everything about These Violent Delights just came together beautifully, and I’m so, so incredibly awed by what Chloe Gong has managed to achieve with her debut. I was fully immersed in this story while I was reading it, that's for sure! I would definitely recommend this one (especially if you love the 1920s, gangs and rivalries or Romeo & Juliet).

(P.S. I’m still upset over that ending though. What a rollercoaster! Though, obviously, considering the source material, I should have expected no less. And now I’m highly anticipating the next book, which I needed yesterday because I need to know what happens next!)

“You destroy me and then you kiss me. You give me reason to hate you and then you give me reason to love you. Is this a lie or the truth? Is this a ploy or your heart reaching for me?”

To start off, this book is said to be a ‘retelling’ of Romeo and Juliet, but I don’t quite agree with that. It’s more of a ‘based on’ than a ‘retelling’, taking enough elements from the original story so that if you squint you can see it.

Juliette Cai is the heiress of the Scarlet Gang native in Shanghai. Roma Montagov is the heir of the White Flowers, a Russian gang that is their biggest rival in the city. The story takes place in the 1920s, and both gangs are also faced with the rising powers of Communists, Nationalist, and the steady rise of foreigners.

The plot centers around a monster causing havoc in Shanghai, making people go mad and rip out their own throats. The madness affects Scarlets and White Flowers both, and with their rival gangs refusing to spend even a few minutes in the same room together, Roma and Juliette decide to work together themselves to save their city.

Juliette is a tough-as-nails protagonist that spent most of her life growing up in America, wears flapper dresses, and has at least 2-3 weapons on her at any given moment. She faces being a female heir of a gang in Shanghai, fighting her cousin step by step, and betraying her parents as she works with Roma to find answers about the monster. I lover her character and her determination.

Roma works with his wit more than brute force, and his place as heir is in jeopardy. His father keeps a ‘better’ man as his right hand, and sends Roma off to do other work. I would have liked to have seen more of Roma, but his character just didn’t feel too fleshed out.

I would have also liked to have seem more of the secondary characters. Roma’s cousin, Benedikt and his his friend Marshall are more fleshed out that Roma’s character, and they were fun to watch and follow around. Juliette’s cousins, Kathleen and Rosaline don’t make such a strong showing which is a shame because I could see the potential of both being amazing characters.

The story itself is a bit slow and lackluster. I love how it’s set in Shanghai in the 1920s, and beyond the main focus they’re fighting rising communists and foreigners, but the characters repeat themselves often and the plot kind of spins in circles. There is also a lack of relationship between Roma and Juliette, until there isn’t, then it’s gone again.

Overall, it’s an interesting spin on Romeo and Juliet, but I hope the second book gives us a lot more into character development and relationships.

This seriously may have just become my favorite read of 2020! First; the characters.
Juliette Cai is the heiress to the Scarlet Gang and she is, quite frankly, a badass. She just returned from studying abroad in New York. She speaks Mandarin, English, French, and Dutch among other languages. She is settling back into her position as the heiress, which her cousin has been trying to take. She is independent, confident, and knows exactly what she wants!
Then comes Roma, the heir to the White Flowers, the rival gang of The Scarlets. He is such a wonderfully complex character, in my opinion., His exterior is all tough but inside he just wants peace.
Roma and Juliette have history, they were each other's first loves before Roma betrays Juliette. But they put the past aside to work together to destroy a monster that threatens to terrorize their city (Shanghai) by spreading a mysterious illness which causes people to tear out their own throats.
I love the chemistry between Roma and Juliette.
There is LQBTQ+ representation which we LOVE TO SEE!
I also loved that the book touched on some pretty important political things like imperialism, white supremacy, and communism.
Following along with Juliette and Roma, as well as some pretty amazing side characters, was such a thrill! I already cannot wait for the second book! I need so many answers, especially after that CLIFFHANGER. EEK!

These Violent Delights was a book I didn’t know I needed in my life. I honestly don’t even have proper words to describe how amazing the entirety of this book was. Right from the beginning, the opening chapter had me super intrigued and it just kept getting better and better.

If you love retellings or I mean even if you don’t really like them pick this one up anyway. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but it is gangsters in 1926 Shanghai. I mean the stunning world the author created, the deeply developed characters, the retelling aspect were all just fantastic. We have Juliette Cai the heiress to the Scarlett Gang and Roma Montagov the heir to the White Flowers. These two gangs rule Shanghai and absolutely hate each other, they will kill each other without a second thought. Juliette has just returned from America and something is going on in Shanghai. A madness is sweeping through the city that has people killing themselves, they rip out their own throats. Both gangs are trying to figure out what this madness is and how it is spreading. They may even have to put aside their feud and team up to stop it.

Something else that I need to bring up is how not only was this really unique even though it was a retelling, but how you could tell the Chloe Gong put in her research about 1926 Shanghai. It felt like I was there, and there was so much history and politics from that time period put into this book. I not only never got bored, but I wanted more information. I really loved how it was fantasy but had that realistic aspect to it as well. I loved how dark this book was and how much better this retelling was than the original. I need more, and I need more now.

“He had learned to hit first and hit fast, countering the talk that followed him around with a Cheshire-cat grin on his face. If he was tougher, then he could not be beat down. If he was more vicious, then nobody could drop their judgment upon him without fearing a knife pressed to their throat.”

I completely fell in love with the characters and I am always a fan of well developed ones. I can’t wait to read more about Juliette and Roma, but not only them. I want to read more about all the side characters who were just as important. I was honestly completely shocked with the twist that Gong wrote and kept thinking omg what is happening. Not to mention that ending?? Biggest cliffhanger I have read, and now I seriously need the next book. This has easily become one of my favorite books of 2020 and has even entered my favorite books ever list.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an eARC via NetGalley for review.

These Violent Delights poses the question of what Romeo & Juliet would look like if it were set in 1926 in a gangster-run Shanghai with a monster on the loose. From the first page, the parallels to Shakespeare’s classic play were evident, but Chloe Gong masterfully gives each character depth and motivations that distinguish them from their theatrical counterparts.

Juliette is the American-educated Cai heiress. Back home in Shanghai, she just wants what is best for her people—the Scarlet Gang—and to steer clear of Roma Montagov. Roma is the heir-in-name to the White Flowers and would prefer not to be a gangster, but it is better than the alternative. The Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers are bitter rivals, wrestling for control of Shanghai. But other forces are at work in the city: foreigners eager to colonize, Communism on the rise, and a monster running through the streets, infecting the residents of Shanghai with a destructive madness. The monster does not discriminate, so Juliette and Roma must put aside their blood feud to save their city.

This book was a complete and utter delight to read. The atmosphere is richly developed through expressive prose, evoking a strong sense of time and place. There is a diverse set of characters in terms of race and ethnicity as well as queer representation, each one well-developed and treated with care and respect. I loved the way that the various languages that the characters speak were interspersed throughout, used in ways that further developed the plot and characters. The story also touches on the impact of colonialism on the colonized, critiquing the way Communism is used by the West as reason to intervene and take over and the sense of entitlement that colonialism carries. It examines the impact of multicultural upbringing with Juliette feeling like a foreigner in her own country but also feeling the need to speak and dress in a Western fashion in order to be heard, particularly as a woman. These perspectives spark critical conversations, engaging in a deeper discussion on the forms monstrosity can take.

As a loose retelling of Romeo & Juliet, I was on edge throughout, expecting certain events to occur. I won’t say what happens, but I loved the reinterpretation. I felt so invested in each character and the Roma and Juliette’s star-crossed love was perfectly written. If you love historical YA with hints of sci/fi and fantasy, creative retellings, and mysteries, this one’s for you!

DNF at 31%

I had high hopes for this one, but it's not for me. It had the makings of all the things I hated with The Gilded Wolves: overwritten prose, teenagers who acted like miniature adults (a logistically implausible lifestyle crammed into a short period of time), and forced camaraderie between the two friends groups (with a lot of annoying info dumps). It also felt too long, even though I wasn't even halfway through.

Loved the setting, enjoyed the politics, adored the queer rep, but kinda wished the author had made her characters mid-twenties instead of 19.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

These Violent Delights is a difficult book for me to review. I loved some aspects, while other things were a letdown.

The atmosphere and setting are handled with perfection. I felt the danger rumbling between the two gangs on the streets of Shanghai, as well as the underlying turmoil caused by the political divide.

Juliette is a strong, badass female character. She’s complex and well developed. Roma, on the other hand, is far less dynamic. Also, each of their fathers, who are rulers of their respective gangs, are largely absent throughout. Given that neither thought their children worthy of ruling, their absence and silence at critical times didn’t make sense.

If you’re looking for the kind of emotionally-torn romance of Romeo and Juliet, you won’t find it here. We’re told some things about Roma and Juliette’s past and how they loved each other deeply, but we don’t see it. They interact more as barely tolerant adversaries than war-torn lovers.

While I was intrigued by the monster aspect of the plot, the reveal, for me, slid too far into sci-fi.

Then, the ending. I didn’t like it. At all. My reasons without spoilers: We have an epilogue with a major cliffhanger, but not the kind of cliffhanger that made me want to run out to buy the next book. This cliffhanger made me groan with irritation, as it led me to expect a lot more of the same in book two.

I have read a fair amount of Shakespeare retellings and this one is by far the most intriguing. And the most ambitious. Despite being set in the 1920s, it touches on a lot of topics that are very modern: colonialism, gender identity, sexism. There are plot reversals that, if you're like me and spent the majority of middle school and high school having Romeo and Juliet thrust down your throat ad nauseam, are just plain delightful. For example, Juliette twists the "What's in a name" quote by describing how she bastardized her Chinese name into what it is now in order to be more palatable to American sensibilities.

Juliette has also finally been given her own cadre in the form of two additional cousins, one of whom is transgender. Her past companions were typically just her Nurse and hot-headed Tybalt (in this case, Tyler), while Romeo had Mercutio, Benvolio, AND Balthasar (now Marshall, Benedikt, and younger sister Alisa).

However, what I enjoyed most is how much agency Chloe Gong has given Juliette. No longer is she just a lovestruck teenager rebelling against her family. Gangster Juliette is a force to be reckoned with. She is stubborn and clever and unforgiving. She is merciless. She isn't a lonely beacon of goodness amidst unrelenting violence. She is a product of it.

This isn't a Romeo & Juliet story. It isn't even a Juliette & Roma story. It is a story about Juliette and whoever is lucky enough to deserve her time of day.

Shanghai! 1926! The area that we know of today as China is having a hell of a time, leadership-wise, but the glamorous port city of Shanghai, known back then as “The Paris of the East, the New York of the West,” has wholeheartedly embraced the spirit of the Roaring 20s. Drugs, dancing, debauchery, anything you could possibly desire, just stick out your arms and spin around and eventually, you’ll hit it. Just be sure you don’t dizzily wander into the wrong gang’s territory. See, Shanghai is pretty well divided up by two rival gangs: the Scarlet Gang, headed by the Cai family, and the White Flowers, headed by the White Russian Montagov family. They’ve been in a blood feud since forever. Why? Reasons. What reasons, you ask?

Don’t worry about it.

Point is, there’s a blood feud between the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers and they hate each other. Like my cats, the two gangs assert complete control over their respective territories, and should any other White Flower or Scarlet cross into rival territory, oh you bet there will be growling, hissing and fur flying. Except in this case it’s gangsters killing each other.

Juliette Cai is the heir to the Scarlet Gang - she’s recently returned from spending a few years abroad in America, enjoying the flapper life in New York City. But now she’s back, and she’s determined to take her rightful place as heir.

Roma Montagov is heir to the White Flowers. He and Juliette are bitter enemies. Their families and their gangs are enemies. And yet, there was a point, a few years ago when Juliette and Roma fell madly in love. When they were everything to each other. When they were certain their love would overcome the divide between Scarlets and White Flowers. Pfft. Youths, thinking things like this will end well. It does not end well. Roma betrayed Juliette - he used their relationship to get information about the Scarlet Gang and use it against them. Or so Juliette thinks. She didn’t stick around long after Roma’s betrayal - heartbroken and royally pissed off, she left for New York with a new determination to see the White Flowers pay.

But, aside from the war between the gangs and the rumblings from communists and the presence of so many meddling foreigners, something is seriously wrong in Shanghai. There are rumors of a monster in the Huangpu river. And there’s a terrifying illness spreading throughout the city - a madness that spares no one, be they Scarlet or White Flower, foreign or Chinese. A madness that causes people to tear out their own throats with their bare hands. Literally.

As the madness tears its way through Shanghai, Roma makes a horrifying discovery: the madness spreads through these itty bitty flea-like bugs, and that these bugs might just have something to do with the rumored monster. But Roma knows he can’t figure out what’s causing the madness alone - not when he only has access to one half of the city. He’ll need help from the one person who isn’t really inclined to give it: his ex-lover and arch-enemy, Juliette Cai.

But can the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies again ever put aside their pasts to become allies? Or does the blood feud run too deep?

Oh man oh man, I would read literally anything set in 1920s Shanghai. It’s a time and a place that I find fascinating. I’m a little more take-it-or-leave-it with the Shakespeare retelling aspect - honestly, I came more for the historical fantasy set in 1920s Shanghai than I did for a rehash of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is nowhere near my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays (Much Ado About Nothing FTW), and the whole R&J star crossed lovers, two households both alike in dignity in fair Verona where we lay our scene has really been done to death. But you can scoff at the idea of yet another Romeo and Juliet retelling and still enjoy These Violent Delights. Chloe Gong manages to turn the story completely on its head - the building blocks to Romeo and Juliet are there - the feuding families, a city divided, the star-crossed lovers - but everything is given a new (and, quite frankly, refreshing) twist: instead of just two families, it’s two crime families, hashing it out in the streets of 1920s Shanghai, and the star-crossed lovers? They broke up in a bad way and now they hate each other. Also there’s a river monster, a madness plague, foreigners to the left of me, communists to the right - this isn’t anything like you’re average Shakespeare retelling. The story does start out a bit slow, but things do pick up. Unfortunately, I went in thinking this would be a standalone book. It is not. Apparently it’s a duology? Either way, be prepared for a cliffhanger and a wait for the sequel - don’t blame me when you get to the end and run out of pages. I warned you!

In all, These Violent Delights is a captivating and transporting read - want to forget about reality for a while? Try reading about gangsters in China during the 20s fighting against a river monster with madness-causing-bug-friends. It’s awesome! Also: maybe someone should arrange for a little couples counseling for Roma and Juliette. Or give them a ticket to anywhere that is not Shanghai.

It’s the 1920s in Shanghai where two rival gangs are so deep into their blood feud that they fail to miss the monster that quietly swoops through their city ready to kill them all.

When I think of Romeo and Juliet I think of their story as tragic and dark, so I went into These Violent Delights thinking it’d be somewhat similar. Which it was. This book is extremely twisted. Here’s a list of content warning from the author: this book contains mentions and descriptions of “blood, violence, gore, character deaths, explicit description of gouging self (not of their own volition), murder, weapon use, insects, alcohol consumption, parental abuse.”

Juliette Cai is the heir of the Scarlet Gang who has returned to Shanghai after being in America for four years. Since she was last home, she has perfected her reputation of being someone to fear. Rumors have spread of her killing her American lovers with her bare hands and that’s just how Juliette likes it. Becoming the next ruler of the Scarlet Gang deeply scares her, but living without that power in Shanghai scares Juliette more.

Then there is Roma Montagov, who is the heir of the White Flowers. His father’s gang controls the other half of Shanghai and is just as deadly as the Scarlet Gang.

Ever since Juliette and Roma’s paths first collided and deepened the blood feud between the rival gangs, their leaderships have been questioned by their people. So, the two of them have built up a persona. They want their fathers to respect them enough to leave their people in their hands. Juliette and Roma have a lot to prove, and it becomes more complicated to prove themselves when a monster takes control of the people in Shanghai.

Chloe Gong’s writing is beautiful and very descriptive which was both a positive and negative for me. These Violent Delights read as if I was watching a movie. With all the beautiful descriptions I felt like I was being shown everything happening, even the gruesome parts, which overall I enjoyed.

There were parts that felt too info-dumpy for my liking, though. It took me a while to feel connected to both Juliette and Roma. I had to take a break a couple of times in the beginning because it was hard to grasp all the information being thrown at me.

Which brings me to the characters. I was ecstatic to see all the amazing representation in this book. Chloe Gong truly took a classic and gave it a major upgrade for modern times. It felt refreshing to see so many marginalized groups having their stories told in this book.

Each character was perfectly flawed. Juliette and Roma the most. They have this cold demeanor but they secretly wish for nothing but love and acceptance. The two of them made this story for me. Their love is a tragic yet beautiful one and both of them are so much more than who the original characters were.

There are many subjects tackled throughout this book. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I applaud Chloe Gong for diving deep into each topic. I can tell from her writing how much it meant to tell this story, and for that alone, I will recommend this book to everyone.

Overall, These Violent Delights is an impressive debut. There is a lot that happens and even after finishing it, I find myself having more questions than answers. With all the action and the love story I was intrigued throughout the entire book and it kept me on my toes. Something felt like it was missing while I was reading, but I still enjoyed the majority of the story. Definitely check this book out if you enjoy dark stories with a hint of fantasy!

4.5 out of 5 stars
“The stars incline us, they do not bind us.”

Has anyone seen the Romeo and Juliet movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes? It uses all Shakespearean language but it’s set in modern day. It’s fabulous!

This book reminded me a lot of that. While I’ve studied Romeo and Juliet in school, it’s been years. But because of that movie, I could see scenes played out using similar language (modernized) and purpose.

I adored this. It was done very well with exceptional writing, intricate world building (I’m going with that phrase cause while it’s the 1920’s time period, it was still created masterfully), and well developed characters.

The feud between the Cai’s (Capulet’s) and Montagov’s (Montague’s) is still fascinating as ever. It has gone on for generations. They are intent on maintaining their area of the city Shanghai, but also the “eye for an eye” concept; any death to one side, guarantees one for the other. Each are bent on this equality. Then, Roma and Juliette are almost forced to work together to save their people and to save the city. “Until the madness stops, that’s all I ask. Between the two of us, we put the knives and guns and threats down for as long as it takes to stop our city from falling. Are you willing?”

I already adore Romeo and Juliet but Roma and Juliette are just as easy to love. Their passion was born of hate and anger but thrives on each other. It’s is forbidden and their lives are truly at stake if even seen together.

The intricacies and twists of this story taken to a new level was something I couldn’t get enough of. I devoured each chapter and couldn’t wait for time to keep reading. I thrived on the similarities from the original story but relished the differences.

I did have a few small reasons it didn’t reach 5 stars. First of all it was loooong. The physical book is 464 pages, but it has to be a high word count because the time my kindle told me it would take to read was very considerable. It was pretty close too. However, I wouldn’t take any scenes out so I’m just going to complain about the length! Also, switching between protagonists was not smooth and lead to confusion. However, I wonder how much of this might be fixed in the final copy?

Content for this one is high. Violence is common, everyone owns and wears a gun but also knives, almost as a statement let alone protection. In the author’s words on Goodreads, “This book contains mentions and descriptions of blood, violence, gore, character deaths, explicit description of gouging self (not of their own volition), murder, weapon use, insects, alcohol consumption, parental abuse.” Check below in the content review for more in-depth details.

This will be one of my top reads of the year. The fact that it is Gong’s debut novel is astounding! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing through NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.