This is the best sequel I have read in 2021. The monsters took a backseat to the revolution happening in Shanghai. The gangs vs the communists and nationalists created a lot of action which was so well done. The tension between Roma and Juliette was exactly what was missing from the first book. The ending was perfect in keeping true to the play but also leaving open so people can choose their own version of what happened to Roma and Juliette. I have already recommended these books to everyone and have pre ordered a hard copy of this book for my shelf.

Listen, I new what I'd signed up for when going into Our Violent Ends. Still, the ending utterly and completely broke me to pieces. I'm telling you, prepare tissues and your emotional support kitty, dog or whatever it is that'll keep you from falling apart.

Chloe gong has a knack for weaving a story together so immaculately. She definitely set a darker, angstier tone for this conclusion. Throughout the whole book, the atmosphere feels very heavy and dreadful. She slowly prepares you mentally for what's about to go down up to the last page. I was pretty on edge nearing the end.

I thought the plot was expertly handled considering that I was kind of unsure as to where this book was supposed to go in the beginning. As things unfolded, I was afraid that Our Violent Ends would turn out following the same plot template as the first instalment, which was not the case.

I absolutely adored the romance. This series is one of the very few that left me wanting more romance out of a fantasy book, if you can believe it, since I generally hate romance. Juliette and Roma are such a power couple.

All in all, reading this felt like reading a tragedy. Though I don't possess much knowledge on Shakespeare's works, I believe this is a pretty solid retelling of Romeo & Juliet, very remiscent of its source material. It had all the right vibes even thought it ended up breaking my heart. But I loved it.

First off, I wanna give a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers from Simon & Schuster, for providing me with an early copy of ‘Our Violent Ends’ in exchange for an honest review! <3

This is officially one of the best books I have ever read, and it will forevermore have a special place in my heart. This sequel to ‘these violent delights’ takes place in Shanghai, where a new monstrous danger appears in the city. Even though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat to the city.

‘Our violent ends’ was absolutely amazing, it had me crying in one chapter, then smiling like an idiot in the next. I don't think my heart has ever raced so fast in anticipation while reading a book before. I love Roma and Juliette so much. Our violent ends definitely picked up faster than these violent delights, it had me hooked from chapter 1. The queen herself miss chloe gong is absolutely incredible, she is literally a genius. I think that our violent ends is really one of my favourite books.

If you are a sucker for an enemies to lovers romance, you will absolutely love this.

Reuniting with my favourite Shanghai gangsters after the explosive ending to These Violent Delights had me anticipating two things above all else: Roma and Juliette trying to kill each other attractively (premium enemies to lovers content) and Benedikt and Marshall finally, you know, communicating. (kissing).
I’m lying, there’s a third thing: KATHLEEN!! I love her so much.

Alas, Chloe Gong is an evil genius and I was not spared. The plot was a lot more exciting in Our Violent Ends, whereas it kind of went in circles with the monster hunt in book 1. The stakes were much higher than before; I found myself far more attached to the protagonists, fearful of the danger they would inevitably face.

Gong does a masterful job retelling Romeo & Juliet while also crafting an undoubtedly unique story. I loved the “ohhhh” moments when making connections back to the source material; the plot twists were so cleverly thought out!

Our Violent Ends was an amazing conclusion to this duology. It takes everything from the first instalment and amps it up a few notches. Such a breathtaking ending, I can’t wait for it to be published!

this book was just absolutely incredible. it surpassed all the expectations i had and left me speechless. i don’t even have any words, this is definitely one of the best books i’ve read this year. chloe wrote an absolute masterpiece. each chapter ended with you immediately wanting to start the next one until you reached the end, it was just impossible to put down. chloe gong is a phenomenal writer, every part of our violent ends was intriguing and riveting. this book was beautiful and now i’m going to go cry for the rest of the day, wishing i could erase this book from my memory just to reread it again.

our violent ends has to be one of the best sequels I've ever read in my life. this book was amazing. it was so intense I could not put it down and the pace was perfect in my opinion. this book was much better than these violent delights, in terms of writing, the relationships between the characters and basically everything. i haven't been able to top thinking about it since I finished it two weeks ago.

i thought I could not fall more in love with roma and juliette's relationship before this and I was SO wrong. they were so intense and so beautifully written and they had me engaged the whole time. i love them so much. the relationship between marshall and benedikt was also much more explored in this book and I could not have asked for more. now onto the characters themselves, kathleen has been my favourite since the first book and her character development was so good and enjoyable to read. i obviously also loved having more povs of her and mars and ben since I love them all. juliette's struggles were also very well explored. honestly, all the different povs in this book were all so interesting to read, unlike many other books where I had to force myself to read from a character's pov who wasn't my favourite and that i found boring. then i also liked getting the "outsider's pov" from time to time because of how beautifully it was written.

moreover, the plot was so so good and very interesting and it was so full of tension i could not put this book down. i loved every second of it and some of the plot twists really had me shocked because of how unexpected they were and really it was just so intense, which i loved (but which also had me very stressed out, in a good way though). furthermore, chloe gong's writing is so amazing. i am not sure whether i can share quotes from this book or not so i won't but i am so excited for everyone else to be able to read this book and be able to freak out over it with them. lastly, that ending was PERFECT. yes it broke my heart, but it was so smart and i could not have asked for a better one.

i feel so privileged to have been able to read this a few months before its release date so thank you to simon & schuster canada and netgalley for providing me with the arc. now i'm going to have to wait for this to be released so i can get a physical copy and be able to freak out over everything but this time alongside everyone else.

my Goodreads review is posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4074517734?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

A phenomenal sequel.
This book had everything necessary to keep the readers at the edge of their seat. The first book seemed to have very similar feedback of how it was more plot driven rather than character driven. I can assure you Our Violent Ends contained both in the most amazing way.
This duology has easily become one of my most favorite reads ever. The plot was neatly carried out, with the devouring enemies to lovers romance between Roma and Juliette that caught my heart in shackles. Chloe Gong is one of the most talented authors of this generation, a huge thank you to her for creating such an amazing story that has left me stressed, heartbroken and immensely satisfied.

Anyone thinking of writing an enemies to lovers story, go take notes from the queen, her royal highness Chloe Gong because this book was let’s just say eventful. It was amazing, leaving my jaw on the floor. It took me a while to read for all the times I had to put the book down since everything was exciting and unreal. I had too much hope for the characters which really broke me by the end, but the overall story was a rollercoaster of emotions.

One of the best things in the second book compared to the first was the enemies to lovers content. I mean dramatic shootouts, knife to throat and gun to head, “I hate you” and then not even two lines later a whole make out scene before they realize what’s happening. (small tiny spoiler: it had a missed opportunity with a one bed trope). Other than that, the drama and the events were perfect.

In my opinion, Roma and Juliette exist, them being the symbol of love and full offence to Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliette are nothing.

Holy smokes, this was amazing. Gong really pulled out all the stops to write this sequel and I was so enthralled the whole time. While I enjoyed “These Violent Delights”, I felt as if there were elements that could have been refined, specifically: characterization, pacing and writing voice. However, I had faith in Gong as she was a debut author who, I believed, with experience would hone her craft in a way that was well balanced but unique to her. I was not disappointed. So much happens in this book and yet reading it doesn’t feel like a chore. Every chapter, Gong weaves in more tension and the stakes become higher; you just have to know what happens next. Unlike the first book, I didn’t feel a lull in the story nor did I feel like anything was stretched longer than it should have. In the calm between the storms, Gong’s romantic prose shined, making me wish that the first book had more moments of tenderness. Not only did she improve upon pacing, Gong really fleshed out the characters in this novel. I, as a reader, began to care more about Kathleen, Benedict and Marshall. I was invested in their own struggles and enjoyed the moments where Gong let us slip into their perspective. The characters became more dynamic and, more importantly, you could see their evolution from the start of the duology up until its final pages. The ending is bittersweet, but one cannot expect anything less in a Romeo and Juliet retelling. More importantly, the ending fits the characters and I couldn’t be more satisfied with how Gong chose to close this chapter in these characters lives.

Personally, I’ve already been recommending this series to friends and customers alike, I think everyone is sick of me talking about this series. I can’t wait for this sequel to be out so that I can urge people to binge it like I did and for newcomers to discover this duology. Gong deserves all the hype that has been circulating Booktok and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.

4.5

Many authors face underwhelming sequels, but this did not disappoint. In fact, I found this better that These Violent Delights. Chloe Gong's development as an author is clear in this book as she manages to mesh the politics, and relationships and fantasy elements together seamlessly. Not only that but she manages to handle multiple point of view changes throughout each chapter and throughout the entire book in an organised manner, none of it felt forced or unnecessary.

The first book took me a while to get into, but this one, as I've seen other people say, had me hooked straight from the beginning. Maybe it's because I was anticipating the sequel, maybe it was because I was already invested in the story, but either way, this story starts quickly and drags you along for the ride.

The characters in this book are *chef's kiss* I loved them so much. Yes I loved them in the first book, but as with any series, they get better over time and learning more about them made me love them so much more. After the way things ended in the first book, most of the characters we see are going through it. The way that their relationships were broken down and rebuilt and the ways that these characters were emotionally wrecked and reformed throughout the sequel was done impressively well (but also emotionally wrecked me). With such a large cast of characters it can be hard to make sure each character gets enough screen time (page time?) to show their full development, but Chloe Gong used those almost 500 pages to do it, and she did it well.

This was a very satisfying sequel to a wonderful first book and I cant wait for other people to get their hands on this book so I can yell at them about the entire thing (but mostly the ending :') As I said, I was emotionally wrecked.)

4.5 Stars

"These violent delights have violent ends."

We all know how the play Romeo and Juliet ended so it was a given that I was a nervous wreck long before picking up Our Violent Ends. I loved These Violent Delights (see my review here) and I care too deeply for the characters that I wouldn't and couldn't think of how will I manage if Chloe Gong choose to end this duet the same way the original play by William Shakespeare did. (For the record, you will not get a confirmation from this review whether Chloe Gong followed the same ending or not.)

Our Violent Ends was a wild and beautiful ride from start to finish. Chloe Gong didn’t bother with pleasantries and just jumped into action from the very start which was an amazing way to keep the readers alert and paying attention. I may or may not have had multiple heart attacks while reading this - the violence, gore, hate, tension and angst was through the roof!

Like the first book, the story relied heavily on politics and monsters and was written with beautiful metaphors. The political intrigue was more apparent with more players on the board vying for power and control. The plot was full of substance and was very close to the reality of Shanghai's history in 1927. Racism, homophobia, colonization, blood feuds and civil war were some of the topics in addition to the romance. Bring out google translate, you would need it.

The dialogue was wonderful and some of my favorites were between Juliette and her Dad - although I wouldn't want to have their kind of relationship personally, I still found it entertaining that made me laugh.

"I said I wanted you dead, [...] I never said I didn't love you."

The romance - chef's kiss! Roma and Juliette's wheel of enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies kept on turning but it never gets old. There's so much intensity and angst compared to book 1 and I must say this is an enemies to lovers done so well. The side character's romance was also beautifully done and I wished there was more.

"Keep fighting for love. It is worth it."

My favorite character development in the duology is defintely Kathleen's. I was rooting for her eversince These Violent Delights and she made me so very proud. Her storyline was inspiring, she's one hell of a character to watch out for.

Our Violend Ends was a great ending that I would highly recommend. I shed a lot of tears and emotions reading this story, I would warn you to brace yourself but nothing will ever prepare you for this ride.


Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for providing me an advanced digital copy to review.

This sequel to "These Violent Delights" is a worthy finale to the "Romeo and Juliet" retelling. Building on what she's established in the first book, Gong expands the themes of imperialism while smartly incorporating elements from the beloved Shakespeare play. The characters are well fleshed-out and interesting, even when difficult to love. There is no doubt that Chloe Gong has a brilliant career in front of her.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars!!

This was such an action-packed and enjoyable read! When I first read the first book in Chloe Gong’s duology, These Violent Delights, earlier this year, I was left a little disappointed as it fell a little bit flat for me (even though I still enjoyed it). However, I was overjoyed when I received an ARC for the sequel, Our Violent Ends, because I saw so much potential in the story and Chloe’s writing. & my faith was not misplaced! Our Violent Ends had me hooked from the very beginning. The action started and didn’t stop once! Chloe’s writing showed significant improvement in this book, and I continue to be impressed by her beautiful prose and character work. I’m so excited to read more of what she writes in the future.

Even if you think you know where the story is going, I promise you definitely don’t. Chloe Gong keeps the reader on their toes the entire time.

I love retellings, and the story of Romeo and Juliet will always have a special place in my heart. This book took this classic story and twisted it in such a new and refreshing way. I don’t want to give anything away, but you will definitely be satisfied with this book if you loved These Violent Delights. You will laugh, and you will cry! I’m so excited for everyone to read this incredible book when it comes out on Nov. 16.

Holy emotions.

This highly anticipated sequel to These Violent Delights did not disappoint. While I found this book to be very different from the first, I absolutely loved every minute of it. Because of the unique change of pace in the second book it prevented the series from being repetitive and kept me on my toes on every chapter. I swear there was at least thirty times where I gasped out loud because I could not believe the direction she was taking the book in. Yet somehow, it all still tied together beautifully and came full circle. I really don't know how Chloe Gong was able to pull it off.

The politics, the romance, the characters, everything was a masterpiece. Juliette and Roma continued to have amazing and utterly unique banter all throughout this book, which I often find to be rare in the second book of an enemies to lovers romance. The side characters all remained fantastic and I enjoyed reading about every single one of them, and loved reading about how all of their separate stories intertwined throughout the novel.

Overall, this book is going to keep you on your toes, and hopefully be everything you hope for in the conclusion of the these violent delights series (I know it was for me!)

Overall: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5

I loved These Violent Delights and was so excited for the sequel, and it absolutely did not disappoint! Chloe Gong is such a talented writer. And what a great way to end this duology! I cannot wait to see more of her work!

The monster is back and this time there is more of them!

I loved Our Violent Delights - drove to 3 bookstores to find a copy during the week it released love, so when I got the notification telling me that I was being given an ARC for this sequel I immediately got imposture syndrome. Me? I am not worthy, did they get me confused with Oprah or Reese Witherspoon?
There is no greater gift than being able to read a sequel early after the incredible debut left me on a cliffhanger.

Picking up where Our Violent Delights, the threats and extortion come quickly at the start of Our Violent Ends as the two rivals gangs fight to protect their city.

The will they/won't they slow burn romance between Juliette and Roma continues, and just knowing that the story was based on Romeo and Juliette had me on edge the entire story, but this was not just Juliette and Roma's story. The side characters continue to be heavy involved with their own side plots. Gong is not a hot and heavy romance style writer, what this story lacks in romance is made up for by the intricate plot and detailed lives of all the main characters.

A complete emotional rollercoaster.

Before reading Our Violent Ends, I had high hopes, as I loved These Violent Delights and that became my favorite read of July, and Chloe certainly met, and exceeded my expectations on OVE. I can assure you that OVE will make you cry, laugh, and smile so bright your cheeks start to hurt, ( in a good way of course ).

There are a lot of things that stand out to me in both TVD and OVE. To start, the frequent switch through multiple POVs. I think it was incredible to read through not only the lead characters Roma and Juliette, but also the supporting characters like Kathleen, Benedikt and Alisa. I think the frequent change of POVs helped with the suspense and pace of the book. Also, Roma and Juliette's love story. I would say I enjoyed reading about Roma and Juliette's story more in Our Violent Ends than These Violent Delights. That is because, I feel it was more complex and detailed while keeping within the YA category. Of course I need to talk about the ending. It will definitely keep you thinking all night, wondering and creating multiple possible outcomes. It kept me rereading the final few chapter and desiring for more.

The These Violent Delights duology were the first books I've read that are retellings. I didn't know what I was going into when reading the books, but I'm definitely glad I read them!
Thank you #Netgalley and #SimonSchusterCanada for an ARC of Our Violent Ends exchange for an honest review!

Everything about this was beautiful. I was hooked from the first chapter and loved every minute till the end. Thank you Chloe Gong for writing this masterpiece!!!

How dare you Chloe Gong! That ending. What did I ever do to you?!?!

I may have squealed in delight when I received the email saying I was approved for this ARC and then promptly pushed aside my very large TBR to read this immediately. And by immediately I mean in one sitting it was that delicious.

The pacing was on point. The book constantly shifts POVs between Juliet and Roma and other secondary characters which helps to keep the story moving. Book two picks up shortly after where we left off in the first. The things I love about the first book are evident in the sequel, including the way Chloe seamlessly integrates history, by including issues of colonialism, race and economics in 1920s Shanghai).

My dislike of the fantastical element continues more so in this book. There just weren't enough moments where I was really afraid for our characters' well-being because of said monsters (not the individual(s) and/or group(s) that controlled them. I know they served the purpose of acting as a catalyst for bringing two warring parties together but it still remains my least favourite aspect of this duology.

That being said, I still absolutely LOVED this book.

The dynamics between the two gangs made for an emotional rollercoaster and a lot of unexpected surprises. The romance between Juliet and Roma was much more compelling in this book than the first. Particularly because Juliet has to deal with the consequences of her actions at the end of the book and how that affects both her family and Roma. On the flipside we watch Roma grapple with what Juliet did. Roma really comes into his own and steps up in terms of being worthy of such a badass heroine.

Nevermind the fact this may crack the list for my Top 5 favourite books I’ve read this year, I think this may be my favourite Romeo and Juliet retelling I’ve ever read. Do yourself a favour, if you like YA romantasies be sure to pick this duology up!

I look forward to reading what Chloe publishes next (fingers crossed for more historical-type fiction!!!).

My thanks to #Netgalley and #SimonSchusterCanada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Publishing for providing me with an eARC of “Our Violent Ends” via NetGalley for me to read and review honestly.

Our Violent Ends is a beautifully written conclusion to the "These Violent Delights" duology. The sequel takes place in late 1920s Shanghai, where our beloved characters are once again faced with a river monster that has only evolved since their last encounter. The book is well-paced; it had me hooked from the start and eager to keep reading. I loved so many aspects of this book - from the rich culture to the fantastical elements, to the ever so intriguing historical politics. The plot and character development were done so well, I've grown more attached to these characters than I had after reading the first book. I especially loved how Gong was truly able to set her book apart from other Romeo and Juliet retellings through the reshaping of the play's characters and making them her own. I was not prepared for this emotional roller coaster but I sure hope you are.

Chloe Gong has outdone herself with Our Violent Delights and has only made me more excited for her upcoming duology in 2022, Foul Lady Fortune.