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.

You can be a good writer and not connect with a reader. That's what happened with me and These Violent Delights. I struggled to connect with the story. In fact, I kept thinking while I was reading, "This prose is strong, and I really like the description here, but man I'm struggling with the story." In the end, I did not finish.

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens.✝

This was a lovely debut! The writing does feel a bit unpolished at times, and over-polished at others (sometimes one metaphor for the same thing in the same paragraph is enough, ma'am), but was otherwise very well-written. The descriptions were wonderfully atmospheric. The language, the fashion, the settings! I really felt like it was in 1920s Shanghai in the thick of a gang war. "This city does not know itself; it will not feel the parasites that grow upon its skin until it is far too late. This city is a miscellany of parts smashed together and functioning in one collective stride, but place a gun to its head and it will only laugh in your face, misunderstanding the violence of such intent."✝ <- I mean, just LOOK AT IT. Absolutely stunning.

I am OBSESSED with Juliette. She’s everything I want from a leading lady: highly intelligent, badass, ruthless, and super chic. Roma is alright, I guess. But, Juliet deserves better... which I suppose holds true with the original play so I'll allow it.

Really, my only complaint here (reason for 4 stars and not 5) was the pacing. It was a bit tedious at the start, which really slowed the progression of the main couple. This is a R&J retelling and I just really needed their story to be more central earlier on. It took a majority of the book to even see them come together. There were also few too many "pointless" scenes, as in they did nothing much for moving the plot forward and were bit of a chore to get through. This is probably why it took me almost a month to finish this book, despite loving the subject, setting, and my queen JULIETTE.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read. I will definitely be picking up a finished copy for my shelves. I really liked Gong’s writing style and plan to keep tabs on her future work. I can’t WAIT to see what she does next.

✝check against final text

This book is a retelling of Romeo and Juliette with monsters, gangsters and outside political rivals trying to take over. It is a very untraditional version of the classic tale, which I find refreshing. The relationship between our two main characters is only a part of the main plot of the book. I think high school readers would probably like the monster/contagion aspect of the story, as well as the rival gangs angle. For me, it was a little convoluted because there were a lot of characters introduced, some more developed than others, and this made it hard to really care about what happened. I think the book could have a strong teen audience for those who like fantasy.

What is there not to love about a modern, yet not modern, retelling of the classic love story to end all love stories?

A tale so very different, it might not be similar at all and yet, so reminiscent of the original that I can't help but think Shakespeare would be proud.

Full of the fantastical, the mystical, the historical and all the awesomeness in between, this truly was so much fun to read, I devoured each page and couldn't get enough.

I had no idea going into this that it would be a series and I'm so excited after that explosive ending, where this will go next.


Truly something different, something fun, something dark and yes, something addicting. You are going to love it!

Juliette, the heir to the Scarlet Gang, has just returned to the city at her family's request. She's spent 5 years in America, trying to forget the lover who betrayed her: Roma Montagov, the heir the White Flowers, a rival clan made of White Russians who fled the Bolsheviks to Shanghai. So, inevitably, their paths cross immediately at a burlesque club, where they both witness a strange event: a man tearing out his own throat. As deaths mount and family politics become more deadly, Juliette and Roma have to set aside their grudges in the hopes of solving the murders and saving Shanghai.

These Violent Delights is nominally a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai, but there's very little of that other than that title, the existence of two rival families/gangs, some names, and occasional references. Instead, it's a sort of B monster movie set in a fascinating time in Shanghai where vampiric Western imperial interests are throwing their weight around while the Kuomintang face off against the rising Communist tide.

It's an utterly fascinating time period, but the lack of history beyond the barest of scene-setting is my main issue with the novel. Not every YA reader is a history buff and wants to read about the influence of Chinese communism and Western colonialism, and I get that, but we also get so few descriptions of the sumptuous dresses and settings that would have surrounded Juliette.

There's some promise here, especially with the nuanced portrayal of Juliette feeling like a foreigner in her own country. I also really liked a few big reveals toward the end and some LGBTQ+ characters. Nevertheless, I probably won't seek out the sequel.

4 stars! Couldn't wait to buy my own copy! Loved it! Romeo and Juliet retelling, Shanghai? That was all I needed to know!

A breathtaking, fast-paced whirlwind of a book! Ingeniously plotted with so much unique atmosphere that I felt like I was actually in Shanghai. The characters are all multi-layered and the Romeo and Juliet romance was perfection.

These Violent Delights is everything you want in a retelling. The retelling of classics can be tricky, and one of such a famous and beloved story as Romeo and Juliet even more so. However, I feel that this book elevated the story to new heights. It takes place in the 1920s in Shanghai and having this be the setting and era was a unique experience for me. I didn't have any framing for what this time and setting would look like and I was completely astonished about how much I enjoyed this book purely for the setting and era. The world-building is phenomenal and I was so captivated by the rich characters and interesting mystery of the plot.

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Set in Shanghai in 1925, this is the story of two rival gangs who control the drug trade. Told through the eyes of Juliette and Roma, who were friends and lovers before blood feuds tore them apart, they work together to find a monster that is ravaging the city. A sequel is planned. I found the casual violence and murder quite disturbing.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book</i>

This book... would make a fantastic movie.

One of my favorite romantic tropes is "hate to love," so when I picked this up I was absolutely here for it. But after reading the book... this is <b>actually a second-chance/star-crossed trope</b> which I love EVEN MORE. I don't see a lot of second-chance romances in young adult, so that was a welcoming change.

<u>The Setting</u> : Shanghai 1926. There are two rivaling gangs and two heirs to each empire: Roma Montagov, who's an heir to a Russian gang called White Flowers, and Juliette Cai, who's an heir to a Chinese gang named Scarlet Gang. There is a lot of history with not only these two gangs, but with their heirs as well. And as they are constantly at war over territory with each other, there is an outside force trying threatening to take it all.

There is so much going on with this book. The first confusing thing to me when I first read some blurbs about it was that there is a monster... but there is no magic. I will tell you that it makes sense after the first three chapters or so. The next thing is that there is so much representation as well as inclusivity in this book, which just made my heart so happy to see. And thirdly... there are so many words. I felt as if I was being told what was happening instead of actually seeing what was happening, if that makes sense (seeing while reading is a thing, right? Use your imagination!). That is why my rating is cut-down. I could not stand how much detail there was and how many side-stories I was told that ended up not even playing apart in the main story.

I may try to do this an auidobook and see if that translates better for me. I love audiobooks and sometimes when there is a lot of details between the lines like this, hearing the story instead of seeing the story in words helps me. Overall, I did like it and I am super excited for what comes next!

<b>Trigger and Content Warnings by @meltotheany</b>: lots of blood depiction, lots of gore, violence, death, murder, loss of a loved one, general plot around a disease that is contagious, talk of drug use and addiction, self-harm and suicide because of the “monster” in the book, colonization, racism (and lots of microaggressions), lots of talk of communism, brief mention of human trafficking and kidnapping, brief mention of loss of a pet, brief transphobia microaggression in the past (regarding choosing a name/identity), and just in general I think this book could be a tough read for you if you experience entomophobia (a fear of insects) so please use caution!

I loved loved loved loved these violent delights! What a rich amazing ride 🥰🥰🥰🥰. I can’t believe that I didn’t read this the MOMENT, the SECOND that I received it

Shanghai, 1926

The streets are ruled by two rival gangs. The Scarlet Gang and The White Flowers have been ensnared in a blood feud for years leaving the city divided.

Suddenly, people are found dead, having what appear to be self-inflicted wounds. Sightings of a strange monster by the river and more attacks wreak havoc on the city. When this strange “madness” leaves both the Scarlet Gang and White Flower members dead, two young enemies must work together to save their city.

Juliette Cai, heir to the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir to the White Flowers were once forbidden lovers, but after a brutal attack that left many dead, Juliette was sent away to America. Now she’s back and the two realize that they must lay down their hatred for one another in order to stop this ‘madness’ or monster that is slaughtering their people.

Touted as a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, this book surprised me by offering so much more than a love story. I loved the whole twist of the gangster families at war, especially in the atmospheric city of Shanghai. Gong also brings in a hefty dose of politics into the mix. It adds an interesting perspective into the mystery, as to who is behind the contagion causing this madness and what their motive may be. The characters are well-developed, and though the plot progresses slowly, it is clever and calculated.

If you’re looking for a unique forbidden love story that isn’t all roses and kisses, think more guns and gangsters, then grab this one.

Thank you to @simonandschuster @thechloegong and @netgalley for this advanced copy for review.

Publish Date: November 17, 2020

Let me start out by saying W O W. I really, really loved this. A masterful piece of YA fantasy.

CW (from the author's website): "Blood, violence, gore, character deaths, explicit description of gouging self (not of their own volition), murder, weapon use, insects, alcohol consumption, parental abuse."

The writing is beautiful, very dark and atmospheric. I really felt like I was in 1920's Shanghai. Great dark and foggy fall vibes. I don't normally highlight in ebooks but this has so many beautiful lines/passages that I found myself highlighting something at least every other page.

The beginning world building started off a bit slow for me and at chapter 3 I was questioning how intimately we would get to know Juliette and Roma. I was also very confused about the timeline of when Juliette was in America versus Shanghai and how old they were until a bit later in the book but this was all resolved within the first half. I don't think this necessarily took anything away from my reading experience but I did find myself wondering about it fairly often (or maybe I'm dumb and just didn't connect the dots soon enough).

The characters are *chefs kiss*. I would literally die for Roma and I respect Juliette more than I respect my own gd self. You really get into their heads as the book progressed and I still find myself thinking about them often. R+J especially are expertly fleshed out into multidimensional characters. The side characters are as equally well written and entertaining and provided a lot of diversity in their race, sexuality, background, as well as just general personality type.

I assume this book was conceived well before the Covid-19 pandemic began which made it even more eerie for me given the similarities in how a contagious and deadly disease was handled by the people in charge as well as the general population. This was definitely a little too real for me at times even though we're talking about monsters and insects and not just normal viral pathogens. I was also not expecting such graphic depictions of people tearing at their own throats so I was quite taken aback at the first instance and was only slightly unsettled afterwards.

I had one issue with the plot, but it's a major spoiler so I won't say much about it, just that I wish this one particular aspect of the original Romeo and Juliet was done slightly differently here, though I do appreciate what the author did to make this one particular point new and fresh. Other than that, I found the story to be incredible and I was on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. I did not guess any of the big reveals but at the same time they actually made sense and were not cheapened by "coming out of nowhere."

All of this being said, I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS A MULTI-BOOK STORY AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT MORE. But this is an excellent problem to have :)

Many thanks for NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

These Violent Delights is the Chinese, gangster Romeo and Juliet retelling I didn't know I needed. In 1926 Shanghai, debauchery reigns surpreme, and power is fought for by several different factions, none so bitterly as the White Flowers and the Scarlet Gang. Scarlet Gang Heiress Juliette Cai has returned from America after four years abroad, and she's determined to prove to her father, and her people, that she is fit to lead, but a complication arrives in the form of Roma Montagov, heir to the White Flowers and her ex. Juliette must face Roma, the boy who betrayed her, and even more difficult--to trust him--as a monster spreads madness across all of Shanghai, taking down White Flowers and Scarlet Gang Members alike as it spreads like wildfire. As Roma and Juliette get closer to the truth, they uncover a sinister scheme motivated by greed, imperialism, and vengeance that could turn the entire city upside down, and they must put a stop to it all before they lose their own minds.
These Violent Delights was more or less a 4.5 read for me but I have no issue bumping that up to a 5 star rating. I think the most impressive part about this book is just how well researched it was. Gong effortlessly transports the reader into the social context and political landscape of not just late 1920s Shanghai, but of China as a whole, as western powers attempted to take advantage of the lands vast resources and in effect attempted to erase the vestiges of Chinese society altogether. I loved how Gong portrays the resistance to imperialism through Juliette and the rest of the members of the Scarlet Gang. I also really enjoyed the plotting and all of the twists and turns in this story. This stabby Romeo and Juliette retelling has all the yearning, muder and betrayal between these two trademark characters. Gong's writing style is refined and flawless, in my opinion, and she manages to bring out a new and refreshing interpretation of Romeo and Juliette that is just so much fun. These Violent Delights is a story about lost love, greed, and imperialism, and I absolutely recommend it!

This the best re-telling of a Shakespeare play I have encountered. I love the story of Romeo and Juliet and These Violent Delights does it justice while bringing new life into the story. I am THRILLED to see this is going to be a series. Even if you don't like Shakespeare, this book just might help change your mind.

The fated romance of Romeo and Juliet takes to the streets of 1920s Shanghai for this fantasy retelling filled with mobster rivalries, political intrigue, and dangerous monsters. Juliette and Roma are both heirs to the most notorious gangs in the city; and who happen to be blood rivals. They live by a code of an eye for an eye and put the legacy of the gang above all else. But, after four years apart and a tragic event that caused an even bigger rift between their gangs, they have to work together to find out who or what is murdering the people of Shanghai.

Overall, I loved the premise of the book. I adore a good tragic Romeo and Juliet story, and I liked how this one kept the star-crossed lovers pretty down to earth and more realistic. Juliette is definitely the star of this book. She’s fierce, strong, and not afraid to get her hands dirty.

For me, I struggled at times with the density of the book, and it took me a while to get into the story. However, I did love how the author set up the storyline for the next one! I’ll be interested to see what’s in store next for Roma and Juliette.

3.25/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Native Chinese Juliette Cai and Russian Roma Montagov are the heirs to dueling gangs in a 1920s Shanghai that is splintering into fragments so disparate that it will only take the slightest nudge for society to collapse into utter chaos. The secret ingredient to speed up that collapse? A river monster that emits brain-eating bugs that make people rip their own throats out. Obviously. Through terrible circumstance, Roma and Juliette (yes, this is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet) are forced to come together to save their city, an alliance that may in and of itself bring ruin to both their gangs.

I picked this up because "1920s Shanghai gang war" seemed like a good time, and totally missed that it was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. And I'm glad I did - because although I'm not a fan of the original, this retelling is absolutely stellar. While the plot is twisty with a surprise at every turn, the real reason this is a gem is because so much of it is unapologetically Chinese. The impacts of European colonization on the Shanghai people and culture are delivered intermittently, and primarily from Juliette's scathing point of view (even as she struggles with her identity as a Chinese girl who primarily grew up in America), which prevents the narrative from becoming a lecture. Similarly valuable is the clear absence of those details during Roma's point of view, which heightens the tension in his delicate alliance with Juliette more than once. This political conflict sets the scene for - and is ultimately entwined with - the sudden emergence of the river monster with its brain-eating bugs, which is a plot device so unique it's impossible to predict. There are so many pieces in THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS that it seems like it must be clunky or overwhelming, but Gong does a fantastic job of pulling everything together in a way that's compelling and easy to understand for the reader.

This genre-bending novel is peak historical fantasy and an excellent choice for readers of all stripes. However, those drawn by the promise of tragic romance may be disappointed by its lack of prominence in the book as a whole. Strongly recommended for fans of THE DIVINERS looking for their next Jazz Age fix.