I received an Advance Reader's Copy of These Violent Delights by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also received a digital review copy for my participation in Caffeine Book Tours. My many thanks for giving me the opportunity to spotlight this wonderful debut!

"In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens."

This wonderful opening line made me shudder, and immediately told me all I need to know about this book - particularly that this book is going to be violent, cruel, and frighteningly excruciating. True to the promise she offers in her premise, Gong's writing makes sure to cut deep at every opportunity it gets.

These Violent Delights dives straight into the action as it introduces its main threat: a monster in the shadows spreading highly contagious, suicidal madness to every inch of Shanghai. Very little detail is spared in the progress as the gory deaths and ensuing mass panic set up the high stakes for the people of Shanghai; as well as both the rival gangs (Scarlet Gang and White Flowers) ruling its streets. Juggling between the blood feud between the two gangs, the secrecy of their alliance, complicated old feelings, presence of foreign governments, and the power struggle Shanghai faces with the rise of communism, both heirs to the rival gangs Juliette and Roma soon discover that they may be in over their heads.=

Gong's eloquent, evocative writing perfectly brings a vividly imagined 1920s Shanghai to an existence teeming with life. Not only does her writing bring to life the details of 1920s Shanghai in its glittery glory, it also excellently fleshes out the silent but nonetheless vicious power struggle within Shanghai between the many forces occupying it native or foreign. Carrying a rich, deeply layered history as part of the package, These Violent Delights has the rise of communists, foreign traders, and Chinese nationalists on top of gangsters running the streets in Shanghai - and all these factions are actively involved in the storyline

I noticed that the writing was pared-down compared to the Shakespearean style I initially expected given that it's a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but it definitely worked for the better as it allowed the book much breadth and appropriate focus to each new element it was introduces. While fast-paced, Gong effortlessly fleshes out every element of her story (the intrigue, the horror, and the angst-filled romance filled with yearning) and integrates them together to craft an intensely suspenseful finale that leaves readers wanting more.

Juliette Cai is probably one of the best characters written in 2020. Driven, tough, and ruthless, she isn't one afraid of making hard choices. Even though she has her fair share of doubters (chief among them her viscous cousin Tyler who wants her place as heir to the Scarlet Gang), she always makes sure that she is a force to be reckoned with. A strong-willed heir sharp as a knife, fitting of her gang's violent legacy. Despite her all-empowering qualities, however, Juliette also feels very much human with her own vulnerabilities and emotions (as much as she suppresses them). Fresh out from America, she finds herself grappling with the experience of "losing touch" with her heritage and struggling to find a sense of belonging in either side of her upbringing - an experience I believe will resonate with many diasporic readers.

Roma Montagov, on the other hand, is the calmer, more level-headed half of the main lead. Although he puts on a tough, ruthless mask, he’s very caring and gentle underneath which beautifully contrasts with Juliette's sharp nature. Although he is reluctant to resort to violence, he also is not one afraid to make hard decisions. I greatly enjoyed reading his side of the story and found it as compelling as Juliette's half.

I did mention earlier that enemies-to-lovers and much angsty yearning are guaranteed as this is a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet retelling. This is exactly what you get (well, more like lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers but my point still stands) along with the thrilling mystery of Shanghai's madness plague. Throughout their investigation, they are forced to deal with their shared history of unresolved conflict. Their tension is highly palpable in every interaction; and their yearning and longing that would not be suppressed despite their turbulent past make for a painful, yet tantalizingly impeccable romance.

These Violent Delights also delivers compelling side characters who get involved in the fray and partake in the grisly scenes. Juliette's cousins, Kathleen and Rosalind, and Roma's righthand men, Benedikt and Marshall get a few of their own chapters. Their stories are equally fascinating to read as Roma and Juliette's, and their distinct personalities greatly add to the story.

There are multiple antagonists in These Violent Delights, but this book primarily focuses on the monster lurking in Shanghai's shadows. I have to say, in perfect honesty that the monster's chapters are actually my favourite parts of the book. I attribute this to Gong's chilling writing and perfect depiction of an unknown, potentially supernatural horror. I really hope this aspect of her writing returns in the sequel.

As much as I love the disquieting portrayal of the monster, however, I found myself as horrified by the way Western imperialism seeps into the city. It is as much of a threat to Shanghai as the monster lurking in its shadows, yet its more subtle workings arguably make for a more horrifying force. There is something viscerally alarming in seeing Juliette and other Chinese people being helpless to do anything about foreigners making a home in a city they have no business carving a place into. Gong spares no prisoners showing even more of the insidious workings of the deeply embedded Western influence in this city and many other non-Western places (there are, of course, more ways this can happen e.g. occupation of Native American and First Nation lands, but I think there are other works that would better illustrate such instances). In fact, one could argue that Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights can be considered, in a way, a socio-cultural horror.

Throughout the book, Juliette's struggle to stay in touch with her heritage and her sense of belonging, a result of regularly having to push down parts of herself just to fit in the Western culture during her time in America; this aspect of her character arc perfectly segues into exploring the tensions and silent power struggle between the East and the West in Shanghai - particularly how the West has shaped the rest of the world. Numerous times, Gong laments the gross power imbalance the Westerns hold from their influence and the sense of entitlement that results from it. Many times people who do not fit in the pre-dominantly Western mold are forced to push down parts of themselves be it culture, language, or even how they interact with the "mainstream" culture. One wrong look, and the possibilities are endless - most of them usually leading to quite ugly consequences. Juliette has some pretty strong opinions about this in These Violent Delights; and believe me, so do I.

Overall, I came in with high expectations for These Violent Delights, and it totally signed, sealed, and delivered. Angsty lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers with much yearning and longing, a chilling mystery with highly gruesome stakes, a violent blood feud coloring the glittery streets of 1920s Shanghai, and a thoughtful portrayal and commentary of Western imperialism set in a rich, layered historical setting? It's an excellent combination for me through and through.

These Violent Delights is an intricate and sophisticated story filled with thrilling action and excitement, tinged with violence, pain, and heartbreak set in an exquisite blend of richly layered history and fiction. Gong's gritty yet heartrending re-imagining of the Shakespearean classic has viciously carved its place in my heart as her captivating writing slices deep every chance she gets. A violent delight this book truly is.

Per the famous Shakespearean quote, These Violent Delights do have violent ends indeed…. and Chloe Gong's superb debut masterfully sings their tune to the pandemonium of 1920s Shanghai where malice both monstrous and human swirl together in vicious harmony.

Magical, romantic, effervescent - those are the best words I have to describe Gong's debut novel, set in an alternate Shanghai. Gong weaves together prose and plot into a heady, atmospheric love story. Can't wait to see what she writes next!

A delightfully violent, heartwrenching, and thought-provoking reimagining of the classic play with compelling characters who are as much a page-turner as the plot.

I have a huge soft spot for retellings, especially if I am a fan of the original tale/myth/material. While retellings take different shapes and forms, the most fun ones are always the books that follow the original template pretty closely – especially in terms of plot. Romeo and Juliet especially seems like a story that’s been told and retold to death (no pun intended) but in Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights, the play gets a special spin, not just because of its luscious, mysterious setting, but also because it pays homage to the general story and backdrop of the original play, instead of centering itself on just the idea of star crossed lovers.

These Violent Delights is set in a truly cosmopolitan Shanghai in 1926, where crime, debauchery, and political conflict runs rampant. We are introduced to the Scarlet Gang and White Flowers, the former comprised of ethnic Chinese members of high society, and the latter made up of Russians who’ve fled the Bolshevik Revolution. Gong’s Shanghai is a divided city, with various political parties and gangs fighting for dominion, and in the middle of it all is a monster that preys on its members left and right. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov – lovers turned enemies and heirs of the two reigning gangs – set out to uncover the mystery of the city and save itself from doom, and in the process stand to lose themselves and everything they hold near and dear.

Shanghai is a living breathing character in this story. Gong manages to transport the reader to the crime filled streets and inside the scheming gatherings, and gives us a taste of the time and place so vividly. The political implications and conflicts of the time provides such a concrete backdrop for the mystery and the tension of the overall story, and definitely raises the stakes for the main characters’ actions. There’s also an underlying exploration of ideas of colonialism and foreign occupation, and I really appreciated how in Gong’s world things were not always black and white, and there was no clear right and wrong, or superior moral judgement.

The characters were fantastic. I was taught Romeo and Juliet in college by a feminist professor who drilled into my head how badass Juliet is, so meeting Gong’s Juliette made me so happy. Juliette is toughened by a past betrayal and her constant need to prove right by her status as a heir, and I was scared of her at times as much as I loved her. Roma provided a great balance with his steadiness and softness, and the chemistry between them was breathtaking. Because they share a past history – unlike in the original tale – the stakes are high and the tension is even higher, and I appreciated how tender and beautiful their relationship was, especially with the surroundings literally being on fire almost all the time.

The supporting characters were terrific. The book employs a close third POV, and though we spend most of our time with Roma and Juliette, the supporting characters often get chapters of their own. I loved how the book fleshed out throwaway characters from the original – especially Rosalind – and I adored the banter and chemistry between Benedikt and Marshall. Also I would kill for Kathleen.

These Violent Delights is getting a lot of buzz, and it deserves all the praise. Chloe Gong’s original, seductive, captivating Romeo and Juliet retelling is an instant recommendation for any fantasy fan, especially if you like fast paced and dark mysteries woven in magical, mysterious settings. I would give content warnings for gore and violence.

These Violent Delights is definitely one of the most hyped books in my twitter timeline. Almost everyone I know who’ve read this book gave it 5 stars, which is why I’m a bit afraid diving into this one. I’m afraid that I set my expectations too high, thus I won’t enjoy it as much. Turns out, I shouldn’t have to worry, since These Violent Delights deserves every single star.

“Was the line between enemy and friend horizontal or vertical? Was it a great plain to lumber across or was it a high, high wall–either to be scaled or kicked down in one big blow?”

Set in 1920s, These Violent Delights follow two rival gang’s heirs–Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov–as they reluctantly work together to uncover the secrets behind the madness that’s wreaking havoc upon Shanghai. Easier said than done, for working close to each other means they have to confront the past that set them apart four years ago.

Eventhough These Violent Delights is loosely based on Romeo & Juliet, doesn’t mean that the story is predictable in any way. Chloe Gong does incorporated themes and characters from the original tale–including famous scenes like the dancing scene and the balcony scene–into the book, but These Violent Delights is a story that stood by itself. It blends fiction and reality, from gangster that roamed the street and the political unrest that happens in Shanghai at that time, to the monster that appear out of nowhere and shook Shanghai to its core. The whole time I was reading it, I felt like I really was transported back in time.

“The lover and the liar, the liar and the lover. They switched those roles between themselves like it was a game.”

The romance in this book complete the already interesting and engaging plot. I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the romance in the original tale. Personally, I think it was amusing at best. By making Roma and Juliette as former lovers, though, it made me love the book more. Trapped somewhere between enemies and lovers, we get to see Juliette and Roma struggle with their feelings to each other and their loyalty to their respective gangs. I had not realized it back then, but now I’m 100% sure that enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies is the superior romantic trope. I also love the friendships that were portrayed in this book. They are all unique and interesting in their own way.

All in all, These Violent Delights has the perfect mix of love, family, and betrayal. In addition to that, Chloe’s writing is absolutely gorgeous, that I’m honestly tempted to highlight like half of the book. If you’re looking for a book that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotion, this one’s for you.

There’s been a huge amount of hype surrounding this book, and I’m thrilled to say that it was absolutely well-deserved. I’ve had to read my fair share of Shakespeare in high school, and Romeo and Juliet was one of the few that I actually enjoyed. So when I heard that there was a Romeo and Juliet retelling, but in Shanghai, with gangsters and a monster, how could I possibly resist?

There was so much to love about this book, even though it made me incredibly … itchy. The original setting is updated from Renaissance Italy to Shanghai in the 1920s, which makes it feel a lot more relatable right from the start. Add in the diversity of the characters, the gritty feel of having the main characters as heirs of rival crime families, the lovers to enemies and back to star-crossed lovers trope, and a monster sowing chaos in a city that’s already divided by political factions warring for control, and you’ve got a recipe for a gripping story.

While high school was a very long time ago for me, I don’t remember much about Juliet having an actual personality in the original play. However, Chloe Gong has infused Juliette Cai with a fierce personality, brains, and loyalty to her family, gang, and city. She was hands down my favorite character of the entire story, and it didn’t hurt that she was certainly no damsel in distress — she was the heroine of the story. She’s got a vicious streak and knows exactly how to get what she wants from just about anyone, except Roma Montagov. He’s another intriguing character, and I so wanted to see them wind up together.

Even in the midst of all the action, of which there was so much, I never lost sight of the romance simmering in the background. There was so much tension between the two characters, and they’re both dealing with so much complicated baggage. I honestly felt for these two characters, and while I struggled to really empathize with Rosalind, I liked Kathleen a lot, and absolutely adored the dynamic between Benedikt and Marshall. I also really liked the clever twist on the original names.

I only figured out one of the plot twists while reading, but I really didn’t see any of the others coming. And just when I thought the book was going to end with everything wrapped up in a nice neat package, the author threw in a hell of a cliffhanger! What the heck was that?!?!

What a delightful debut! The details woven about the city really allowed my mind to visualize it, along with the politics and gangs. The familial relationships and tension and what drives them is a whirlwind of an adventure where Romeo and Juliette go head to head with a river monster in 1920's Shanghai? Yes. This retelling was engaging and thrilling and breathtaking and the last pages nearly had me toss the book across the room. I cannot wait for book two!

So there are some really good bits in Chloe Gong's retelling of Romeo And Juliet, set in 1920s Shanghai and featuring the scions of two rival gang families needing to team up to defeat a supernatural threat to the city. First and foremost is the lived-in character of Juliette Cai, heir to the Scarlet Gang, whose position is threatened by her brash and, more importantly to some, male cousin Tyler. Repeatedly sent away to America for her education, Juliette adopts a Westernized persona as her signature pose, even as she bitterly resents the Western European interests that seek always to undermine local rule.

Her nemesis/true love is Roma Montagov (which is a totally nonsense name,) heir to the White Flowers, a gang descended of Russian refugees who fled the Bolsheviks and assimilated to Chinese life. I honestly loved how the White Flowers were considered native Shanghainese compared to the British and French, primarily because they weren't there to colonize but to survive, and understand that that means respecting and absorbing local traditions and mores. Unfortunately, Roma is wildly underbaked as a character compared to Juliette, or even to her maternal cousin Kathleen Lang. Honestly, if this book had been about Juliette and Kathleen running around having adventures and defeating bad guys, as well as grappling with what it means to be a cis woman and a trans woman respectively in a patriarchal society, I'd have loved it a lot more, but I guess you can't have an R&J retelling without Romeo. So there Roma is, and he's... fine. He's a pacifist, a cinnamon roll who has to be tough in order to preserve his place as heir to the White Flower leadership. I just found it silly towards the end that he didn't quit when faced with the quandary that originally divided him from Juliette, but teenagers are a lot more tied to their parents than they want to admit.

And that's honestly the main trouble with this book, that it's about teenagers, none of whom are too bright, running around being violent. Whereas the original play was teenagers being melodramatic and self-destructive, These Violent Delights has them dial down the drama -- it honestly is far more sensible about the romance than its inspiration -- but turns the violence outward and amps it up. Which is fine, if you're into having protagonists that aren't particularly clever, in a plot that doesn't particularly make sense, with, barring Kathleen, awkwardly written supporting characters who often serve more as plot devices than actual people, running around killing others with little to no consequence. The occasional paraphrasing of Shakespeare is neat, but doesn't make up for the atrocious grammar that I'm hoping gets edited more stringently in the finalized version of the book (I read an ARC, natch.) While I can forgive the overuse of the verb surge, I'm pretty sure Ms Gong has never broiled anything in her life, given the way she constantly uses the word as a cross between "boil" and "roil" when it is like neither of those things. I get wanting to expand the limits of language, but words have meanings. Don't even get me started on the use of exhale and inhale as nouns, in just another egregious example that seems to be endemic to the YA genre recently. Ffs, editors, do your jobs.

Language aside, TVD is really good when it comes to discussing East-West political theory, tho less so when considering class struggles. I rolled my eyes when Juliette expressed surprise at the Communist-incited riots turning violent. Ms Gong skirts around the issue of the gangsters being no better than the oppressive capitalist class, which is at least marginally more accountable to law and retribution than the blood-feud-obsessed mobsters who shrug off collateral damage like latter-day feudal lords. Perhaps I'm asking too much, but Ms Gong's takes on assimilation and femininity and colonialization were so excellent that I wanted her to apply that keen eye to the rest of her manuscript. The idea of a contagion overtaking Shanghai was also prescient, especially in the way most people preferred to pretend it didn't exist if it meant curtailing their everyday activities, even if the actual depiction of symptoms and assorted epidemiology was dubious at best.

The book does end on a cliffhanger which will excite some readers but honestly had me exercising my overworked eye muscles in another roll; needless to say, I won't be seeking out the sequel. I am interested in seeing how Ms Gong's career progresses with time, however: she shows real promise as a thinker, even if fiction doesn't seem to me to be her forte at present.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong was published today, November 17th, 2020, by Margaret K McElderry Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster Teen) and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781534457690">Bookshop!</a>. Want it now? For the Kindle version, <a href="https://amzn.to/2IIj1rc">click here</a>.

I had some pretty high expectations for this book, but I never expected it to fly above all of them.

These Violent Delights is a refreshing take on Romeo and Juliet, taking place in Shanghai, in 1926. It follows Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, the heirs to two rival gangs, locked in a blood feud. But when their city is overrun by madness, they must work together to stop it.

The first thing that amazed me about this book was the writing style (this was only the first of many things). The writing in this book is beautiful, and includes so much depth in every line, without feeling extremely dense and too-flowery. It sets the tone for the book, creating a dark atmosphere with a bite.

Speaking of the atmosphere- the setting is absolutely astounding. I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into creating such a vibrant and grounded world. While there are some fantasy aspects, they are so well developed that it only made the world feel more real.

I will admit, it took me a minute to get fully into the book (maybe 50 pages or so), but once I was invested, I was obsessed. You would think an almost-500 page book might take some time to read, but I couldn’t put it down. There was always something interesting happening, and those last 100 pages??? Yeah, there was no chance I was stepping away from that.

One thing I really enjoyed about the plot of this book was all of the unique twists on the classic Romeo & Juliet plot. I loved how all of the original characters were adapted, and I especially loved how These Violent Delights differed from the original while still having great references to it.

Okay, but can we talk about some of these characters for a moment? Forget Roma and Juliette (we’ll get to them later)- but Marshall, Benedict, Kathleen, and Rosalind??? 1) I loved seeing all of the representations in this book 2) They’re just so well-developed and I love them all. Even when I may not like a character, their beliefs and motivations are incredibly realistic and interesting, so I love them anyway. … but also I do really like most of them.

Now, let's talk about Roma and Juliette. Roma is our Romeo, he seems cold and cunning but secretly cares so deeply about those he loves. Then there’s Juliette. She’s ruthless and violent and dedicated to her people. They are great protagonists, and I adore them so much.

But also let's talk about them as a couple, because this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling so that’s kinda important.
One worry I get with Romeo and Juliet retellings is that it’ll rely on insta-love. But this book most certainly does not. Not only is the main relationship enemies-to-lovers, but childhood sweethearts-to-enemies-to-lovers, so we get a whole extra level of angst. If that isn’t enough to make you want to read it, I don’t know what is. I absolutely love them together and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

These Violent Delights is a book you cannot miss. This novel is astounding in every way and I can't recommend it enough.

5/5 Stars

These Violent Things is one (of many) books that I had on my personal most anticipated reads of the year. This is Chloe Gong’s debut novel, and I think she has an incredible writing career ahead. I feel that this was written with great planning and research of the times, cultures, and people. Although this is fantasy, she remained true to the themes she chose to represent. The plot felt well planned and paced, so that story was constantly moving forward. Her writing style allows the reader to enter her world, to see and know the characters, while creating various emotions with her details.

As a Romeo and Juliet retellling, I say she did an amazing job recreating the world and events. I love Juliett’s character! She is a strong, intelligent female protagonist. There is ownvoices for queer representation and is a beautiful addition to the story.

As a debut, I am giving it four stars for creativity, themes, representation, and writing. This is a strong debut and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I have never been happier to have a platform that could potentially reach an author than I am now. Because I need to tell Chloe Gong this…

How very dare you?! How dare you have the audacity to write a book this devastatingly good. I lost nights of sleep staying up to read These Violent Delights and then I lost even more sleep after finishing because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Now, I understand that These Violent Delights literally came out today, but can you please hurry up with the sequel? I currently have the biggest book hangover that I’ve ever had.

**WHAT I LIKED**

I understand that saying everything isn't the best review, so let’s dive in to why this retelling is even better than the original.

*GASP* Romeo and Juliet was written by Shakespeare himself, so how dare I say that??

I find a lot wrong with the classic, and I know in this modern age, I’m not alone in thinking that. So, Chloe Gong came in, shook some things up, and just made it better.

- It’s a slow burn romance. Which is just *chefs kiss* perfect. It happens to be my favorite kind of romance, and it completely fits the story since they’re rivals.

- Juliette is a bad ass. Juliette is described as being a killer who is violent and ruthless with questionable morals. While that might not seem like everyone’s cup of tea, her morals are still there – they’re just questionable. Not only is she a female in the 1920s, she is also trying to control a gang of men who would drag her down the moment she came into power if they were not fearful of her. She does what she does in order to protect the only three things she cares about: her city, her gang, and her people. And she does it all in a pretty dress (and a garrote wire necklace, of course).

- There is so much diversity. So much. There is a trans character, which Gong handles impeccably in both letting us know that the character is trans and not using her gender as her only (or even primary) character trait. There is a queer relationship which I was honestly rooting for more than Roma and Juliette because they characters are so freaking adorable with each other. And again, Gong didn’t make their relationship or their sexual orientation their main character trait. I’m fairly certain she even gave one of the characters OCD, but it’s not definitive, because again… it’s not their main trait. She created real dimensional characters that just so happen to be diverse. Of course, there were also powerful females and POC, being as it was set in Shanghai.

- Ooh, so mysterious. Chloe Gong did something that I absolutely love in novels and is one of the biggest factors that cause me to devour books. She added mystery, but not just on the large scale of the main plot (“is there a monster and what is causing the madness?”). She added small mysteries (like why do Roma and Juliette hate each other so much?) throughout the entire novel, and answered them along the way, just pulling me along for the ride chapter after chapter.

- Call backs to the original. One of my favorite things about retellings are the small call backs to the original story, and Gong did this in such a fun way. There was of course a masquerade ball (which was so exciting!), she has a Rosalind and a character with the last name Voronin, which I just can’t accept is coincidence with Rosaline and Fair Verona in the original.

- And my favorite thing about the entire book… her writing. Oh, Chloe Gong, I will forever pick up any book that you write, because your writing style is immaculate. I take a lot of notes while reading because my memory is quite awful, and I have note after note about how much I love her words. Mostly, I love how she describes characters. She doesn’t describe their looks, but more so their emotions and personalities in such a beautiful way. For example, in describing Juliette’s cousin she wrote “A boy with steel skin and a heart of glass.” I just… I have no words to describe how HER WORDS make me feel. Who… the AUDACITY CHLOE GONG!

** WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE **

For a review to be good, it has to mention what you didn’t like about the book right? But, I mean, what is there to say against These Violent Delights?

“Oh, it’s unrealistic that a female would be in a position of power in the 1920s.” Well, GONG ADDRESSES THAT.

“Oh, it’s unrealistic that LGBTQA+ characters wouldn’t be harassed in the 1920s.” Well, GONG ADDRESSES THAT.

Anything that remotely crossed my mind as “suspending belief” (of course, outside of the realm of a monster existing and causing madness), Gong addresses fully and reasonably, taking away any doubt that this story could definitely exist in the real world… again, despite the monster.

So, while I mentioned it already, my only true beef with this book and Chloe Gong is the audacity to create such an amazing story that it caused me to lose many hours of precious sleep, to the embarrassing point that my husband had to remind me that the next day would be hell if I didn’t just put the dang book down. And this book hangover is harsh. I’m not quite sure there’s another book out there that’s going to be able to pull me out of this one.

** FINAL RECAP **

YOU HAVE TO READ THIS *violently throws the book in your face*

These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated releases of this year from the moment I first read the summary. Now that I read it, I can certainly say that it exceeded my (very high) expectations, and it definitely had the most original premise for a release of 2020.

The book takes the reader to 1926 in Shanghai, where Madness is sweeping the city and leaving death, violence and horror to its wake. In order to stop the horrible deaths (please beware of the trigger warnings while reading the book, as some scenes might really sensitive to some), gang heirs and sworn enemies Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov must team up. They have a story behind them, being lovers from the past, which makes things even more (exciting!!) tense between them.

Now give me a minute to talk about the two main characters, both individually and as a couple. Juliette is fierce, she’s fearless and smart as hell, and will kill you with no hesitation. I LOVED HER. She’s not only ruthless, but calm and methodical and won’t do anything by mere impulse, which is a lethal combination that ended up creating my favorite female protagonist ever. Roma, on the other part, is more emotional and has to put up a cold front in order to keep “being worthy” of being the heir to the White Flowers. He constantly feels that he doesn’t meet his father’s expectations of an heir, and his more peaceful ideals bring tension between him and Juliette.

As a couple, they quickly became one of my favorite ones. Their emotions transcend the page and steal your heart; Gong did an amazing job at making Juliette and Roma’s feelings tangible to the reader. Each time they were together, my eyes were glued to the page, and when they weren’t, I yearned for their next interaction. Roma and Juliette quickly joined the ranks of Feysand and Jessa as one of my favorite fictional couples of all times.

There were three strong points on this book, the madness mystery, the political element, and the romance. Gong aced each and every one of these points. The political element wasn’t dense and merged perfectly with the rest of the story, also adding diversity to the book, giving us the chance to know Chinese, Russian, American and French characters. I found especially interesting how the author showed Juliette’s experiences as a Chinese girl that was shipped to live in the West in the early years of her life, and how that shaped her in a way.

The Madness, and how Juliette and Roma embarked on a mission to figure out the cause and put a halt to it, added a mystery element to the book that got me making theories all along. On her review, a fellow book blogger noticed how Gong possibly took inspiration from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet quote “A plague on both your houses” and I found that mindblowing, how the author was able to create a whole plot based on those six words. The Madness is a type of virus that doesn’t care if you’re a White Flower or a Scarlet Gang member, it’ll reach you and destroy you, and that was such a raw reflection of real life and more especially the current global situation (which I’m sure wasn’t intentional, but it comes on the perfect time to reflect on it).

Overall, this book took my heart and destroyed it (in a good way). If you like stories with intriguing and dynamic plots, spooky mysteries with fantasy/sci-fi elements, and breathtaking romances, please go read These Violent Delights right now. I promise you won’t regret it.

A mesmerizing and vivid retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in the gangster world of Shaghai during the roaring twenties. A unique and utterly enthrawling fantasy filled with forbidden romance, underground clubs, uncivilized negotations, and a mysterious creature spilling forth bugs. A crazy and altogether different work of fiction that is completely transportive!

Blurb: The Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers have been at odds with each other forever, but when an evil force overtakes the city, killing White Flowers and Scarlets alike, Juliette and Roma decide to put their pasts behind them and join forces to find a cure for the madness.

This book is dark, twisted, and empowering. I didn’t expect the supernatural elements caused by a mysterious monster or the second chance romance aspect of Juliette and Roma’s relationship. Both characters are strong, loyal, and likeable, despite their association with the mob. There were also a lot of feminist undertones and I love that the author created such heroic Juliette and a softer Romeo. This book is unlike any retelling I’ve ever read. A dark and refreshing take on the most famous forbidden love story of all time

I love a retelling, and this one doesn't disappoint. The world is vividly painted, the characters are compelling, and I love the idea of teaching this alongside the traditional Romeo and Juliet.

1926. Shanghai. Debauchery. You hooked yet? I was. The premise for this book was beyond outstanding, and wow did it deliver! I'll get the only minor flaw I had with the book out of the way: It took me a hot second to get into the story. I think that is maybe more on me, and my own trouble wrapping my head around complex situations. But it didn't take long for me to fall into this world and these characters wholly and completely.

As if warring gangs killing each other in the streets wasn't treacherous enough, a plague has befallen the city, and neither group is immune from its wrath. So to say the least, the stakes are sky high. Juliette has just returned from overseas and is poised to lead her family's Scarlet Gang, and is of course hoping to help them live through this plague. Her rival (and former lover) Roma's family are leaders of the White Flowers, a Russian gang, and neither group is feeling like playing nice with the other, even for the greater good.

But Juliette and Roma are a bit more sensible than their older counterparts, and are at least willing to try to defeat the problem together. Joining them is a wonderfully developed cast of characters from their individual families (and Families, of course). I loved the complex relationships that each character had with their respective groups, and obviously with each other. I felt so invested in them, and hoped of course that they'd survive to see another fight.

I'll say no more for fear of spoiling anything, but if you are like me and find the premise fascinating, you must give it a try. It's dark, deliciously so, and the atmosphere for exploring the city in such harrowing times is completely on point. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, as I cannot wait to see if the fates of our beloved characters will match those of their characters of inspiration.

Bottom Line: Between getting a glimpse of 1920s Shanghai, a very high stakes situation for not just our main characters but the city at large, and wonderfully complex and equally flawed characters who will own your whole heart, These Violent Delights mustn't be missed.

These Violent Delights - a Romeo and Juliet retelling set to the backdrop of 1920's Shanghai - is ripe with rival gangs, grudges, betrayals, lost love, angst, and something sinister slowly taking over the city.

Roma and Juliette step into the Romeo and Juliet roles here and were standout characters to me. They are beautifully broken, frustratingly stubborn, and your heart with crack with each hard decision they have to make.

Not gonna lie though, reading this during the COVID-era was ironic. There are a lot of similarities here given today's real landscape and that I can now (unfortunately) connect to - mass panic/paranoia and mask wearing (what a concept!), but it never overwhelmed the story and still kept me firmly on the edge of my seat.

These Violent Delights is a slow burn into a race against the clock cliffhanger that will leave you begging for book 2. Absolutely worth every bit of your time!

3.5, rounded up. This is a compelling retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai; it's filled with thrills, romance, and monsters (both real and figurative). Gong sets up a strong plot with the two rival gangs; she touches on so many important subjects, including colonialism and identity politics, and the viscera and gore lend themselves to the vibrant world she has created.

While Gong's descriptions are rich, however, the dialogue could have been incorporated better; because of this, I was less invested in the romance and the relationships between the characters than I was with the other aspects of the world. Overall, though, this is a strong debut, and I look forward to seeing what Gong does with the sequel. (For those who are hoping for a standalone, this one ends on a cliffhanger. Proceed accordingly.)

Chloe Gong’s debut These Violent Delights is a rollercoaster mashup of Romeo and Juliet, 1920s gangland Shanghai, and a fantastical “There’s a monster at the end of this book.”
The story centers on Juliette, daughter and presumptive heir to the Scarlet Gang, one of Shanghai’s most powerful and most ruthless gangs fighting for control of their homeland. The Romeo to her Juliet is Roma, the son and somewhat ousted heir to the White Flowers, a Russian gang made up primarily of those fleeing the Bolsheviks in Russia only to find Communism once more on the rise in Shanghai. Juliette and Roma, their close friends, and members of their rival gangs are fighting for control of drug trades, against encroaching British and French imperialism, and struggling to contend with the rising tide of Communist sentiment. All the while, lurking in the waters surrounding the Paris of the East, may be some strange monster releasing a dangerous and deadly plague.

A Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers: As far as the adaptation goes, I had more flashes of Baz Lurhman’s Romeo + Juliet than remembering my high school English class reading this play. Juliette hits the pages with guns blazing, carrying a very take-no-prisoners, consequences-be-damned attitude right along with her assortment of weapons. She is NYC chic and sleek, but truly in her element being back home in Shanghai, a city and people she clearly loves and fiercely wants to protect.
The story is told in alternating points of view between Juliette and Roma, which is not a personal favorite style of mine, and here seems to be oddly weighted. I’d have to go back and check or do actual math, but it felt like I read much more from Juliette’s point of view than Roma’s, with some occasional POV from supporting characters. It felt as though the POV shifted too easily to meet the needs of the story, making it at times a little uneven. This, though, remains a personal preference for me, and something I think I'm often in the minority opinion for.
Roma, at least for this first book, feels a bit underdeveloped, though perhaps that is simply because Juliette has such high-energy fierceness that jumps off the page. “Roma,” too, as a name, took a bit of getting used to. He is quieter and more cautious than his counterpart, though I'm curious to see how he may change, based on some end-of-book climactic moments.
Seriously, though, I'd love for someone to get a bullet count for this book. Because wow - lot of gunfights.

That Which We Call A Rose...: It took me a bit of time to finish reading this one, and I think in part that’s because many passages felt like a monologue. The prose was occasionally heavy on the exposition and with small interludes of musings over the past, over the city, and waxing over the mysterious plague.
But a beating heart of this book is a love of place and a love of language. Juliette, who spent years abroad, adopted a western identity to protect herself, but now, back in her home city, she is struggling with her sense of self and doesn't know exactly who the real Juliette is.
There is also such a focus and love of languages - who's speaking what language, how the sounds form and shape in mouths - that both adds complexity and depth to the historical basis of the setting as well as serving the practical function of demonstrating people speaking multiple languages while being written (and read) in English.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: These Violent Delightsis going to be a duology, a rather refreshing deviation from so many trilogies. It also makes me wonder what to expect from the sequel. Would it be titled Violent Ends? And would Juliette and Roma find themselves as star-crossed as their namesakes? Already, though, Chloe Gong has taken an inventive, twisting, delightfully deadly reimagining of her source and made it something wholly her own.

A blood feud exists between two rival gangs in 1926 Shanghai. Juliette Cai has returned to assume rule over the Scarlet Gang, and her main rival is Roma Montagov, leader of the White Flowers. Gangsters on both sides soon are clawing out their own throats, and there are whispers of a contagion or madness spreading. Juliette and Roma have to combine forces, or there will be nothing left to rule.

We're introduced to the gangs right off the bat, as well as our Romeo and Juliet. Some lines are borrowed from the Bard, but this isn't a West Side Story rehash located in a different place. We have the culture of 1920's Shanghai, the different underworld figures, and the supernatural all in the prologue.

From there, the novel is addictive, with so many details about the city, its politics and the gangs that I feel like I'm there. Juliette is trying to get to the bottom of the madness while she's also fighting misogyny and the subtlety of familial relationships and piety inherent in her Chinese culture. Roma has a Russian background, but the White Flowers progress more by merit than bloodlines. Either way, the tension between them and their families is a palpable thing. That distracts them from the monster in the river and the insects; reading about it makes me want to scratch my scalp as well, it's so vividly described.

There is so much action in the second half of the book, with shifting loyalties and the weight of the past between Juliette and Roma as they try to figure out the truth of the monster and save Shanghai. It doesn't help that they can't openly cooperate and that there are those willing to bring them down in the name of advancement within their gang. I turned pages so fast and groaned in frustration when it hit the end. Then there was another twist I wasn't expecting that made perfect sense, and another groan with the last few lines. There's going to be another book following this one, which is wonderful, but it was the end of this one and I wanted more book to read!

Romeo and Juliet fighting a monster in 1920s Shanghai works so well, even when it looks like it shouldn't. Trust me, you want to read this one.

Gong's novel is a well written, fascinating adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, only much bloodier and much grittier. Told from a variety of perspectives, this story mainly follows Juliette and Roma in their never-ending quest to stay on top within their gangs, as the heirs to their parents' power. Unlike in the classic story, this pair have become enemies, based on a bloody event and further fights between their gangs, but they're brought together again to stop the rampage of a monster.

I enjoyed the prose and the story is steeped in history and full of '20s era slang, and Chinese and Russian words thrown in. I really enjoyed this diverse retelling.

The only thing I didn't care for was the constant brooding from Juliette. She redeems herself in the end, but it was a bit of a slog listening to her through some parts of the book. Roma doesn't get nearly as much page time from his perspective, but by the end I feel like I know him much less than I do Juliette. I think that 400+ pages was enough time to really get a sense of their characters, but I'm not really sure I enjoy either of them and I don't know exactly where this story is headed, as it ends in a major cliff-hanger. I'm not fond of it ending in that way, and I'm curious to see how many books are to be in this series, but I will read the next when it comes out, which hopefully will be soon, since I don't want to go so long without knowing what will happen!