One of the best books I've ever read. Our Violent Ends is the sequel to These Violent Delights, a Romeo and Juliette retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, and I'm not kidding when I say it is one of, if not the best sequel I've ever read. The story had already hooked me from the minute I finished the first chapter. I feel like this was better than the first book, as much as I loved it, for many reasons.

The plot for sure picked up a lot faster, there was always something going on and there was always a new conflict to solve. The plot twists though!! I definitely didn't see them coming, and I found myself gasping out loud while reading this at 2 am. This whole book was an emotional roller coaster, that is the best way to describe it. I found my heart pounding one minute, and then my cheeks hurt from smiling the next.

I have to say, the characters were definitely my favourite part of the book. Chloe Gong has the ability to write easily loveable characters that you get attched to. No spoilers of course, but let's just say Roma and Juliette fans will be pleased. I feel like a lot of the characters did a lot more growing this book in a way, they all found themselves along the way. I loved how the multiple points of views were used in this book, it was effective, and you will find that you get to learn more about some characters that you maybe didn't know a ton about before.

As far as the ending goes, I had no words. I think I sat there for a good minute or two processing what just happened, that's all I will say. And yes, I cried.

By far one of my facourite duologies. I'm just gonna sit here and wait until November for you guys to read it, and when I get my hands on a physical copy, I'm gonna annotate it so much.

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.

Oh my god. This book was absolutely amazing. I will admit my heart was breaking a lot but the plot twists, the development of Roma and Juliette’s love story , the characters development, everything was so amazing. It is so obvious to see Chloe Gong’s growth as an author in this book. It is so well written and I honestly didn’t expect it to end this well. Be aware that this book will most likely make you tear up once and a while but as Roma and Juliette would say, the ending gives hope that their story is still to continue. Out of “These Violent Delights” and “Our Violent Ends” I honestly preferred this one. The amount of romance in this book is on point and the overall fights in Shangai are extremely interesting. I honestly hope that this won’t be the last time Chloe Gong writes about Roma and Juliette but if it is then she did an excellent job in concluding this duology.

our violent ends has officially cemented this duology as in the top five of my favourite adaptations of anything ever---and this is coming from someone who has taken a shakespeare adaptation course in uni and was obsessed with the lizzie bennett diaries in 2016.

there are a lot of things i like about this, but what stands out about both books to me is the (genius) way that chloe gong weaves history, shakespeare and issues which are still present today and manages to keep things fun(ny), thrilling and intriguing. beyond the titular love story, gong explores the violent horrors of colonialism not only through a literal monster, but through the parties who behave as though shanghai is a thing to take and divide, rather than a breathing place full of existing people and cultures. as someone from a country that has been colonized twice, it really struck me to read the passages wrought with pent up human anxiety and the damning promise of monstrous blood. throughout the book, juliette and roma (but mostly juliette imo) fight to control their beloved city and keep the terror away for as long as they can. even at their best, it felt like watching water slip through their palms--yet the refusal to relinquish the right to a fight was as glorious as it was tragic.

imo the pacing for this was excellent; in many ways, it felt to me sharper and twistier than the first, perhaps because we were already familiar with the world and characters. the beginning was a little slower, but either way, i finished these 500ish pages in three days (!) and that's got to count for something.

juliette cai, once again, was an amazing lead and one of the best morally ambiguous characters in ya. roma was still not my fave, but he def grew on me, and the tender scene before everything goes down (redacted) made up for me not strongly shipping them in the first one. something about enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies just hits different idk. celia/kathleen continues to be the best (i'm so excited for her spinoff!), ben and (redacted) were absolute gold. also, idk if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but i felt for rosalind and i def sympathized for and understood her choices, even if they weren't always the cleverest. tyler, who i loathed in the first one, also made me feel some things, so kudos to gong for making me care.

there was definitely a lot going on, but i felt that the plot threads were mostly handled well. some parts did feel a little rushed near the end, probably because there was so much to resolve, but overall i thought it was an immensely satisfying conclusion.

basically: read this! it is worth it!

baz luhrmann would be proud. :)

Our Violent Ends is the sequel to These Violent Delights, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai. The Montagues and Capulets are reimagined as rival gangs, the star-crossed lovers as their heirs. With witty banter and incredible angst (not to mention vivid worldbuilding and nuanced, updated secondary characters), it's no wonder that These Violent Delights has been on every enemies-to-lovers recommendation list in the last year.

If you've read These Violent Delights, you know how rich Chloe Gong's depiction of Shanghai is, how effectively she weaves the plot of Shakespeare's original tale with her own, how heart-wrenching Roma and Juliette's interactions can be. Though the book was strong (especially for a debut!), Gong's writing has greatly improved in Our Violent Ends. I personally struggled with the pacing at the beginning of the first book (as I know a couple of other people did), but Our Violent Ends had an incredible breakneck speed, making it impossible to put down. The complicated dynamic between the gangs was also further explored and I am very happy to say that all-new levels of angst were reached!

The chapters are frequently split into multiple POVs, a technique that I'm not usually a fan of but truly enriched the reading experience in this case. Since the novel has such a wide cast of complex secondary characters, the constant shifts allow us to keep tabs on everyone without getting bogged down by longer chapters focusing on less interesting characters. Because some of the shifts are so quick, they also build tension. Readers will be glued to the pages, desperate to find out what happens next.

I don't want to say anything regarding plot because of spoilers, but Our Violent Ends *will* be an immensely satisfying yet extremely emotional roller coaster. You will laugh, you will cry, and Gong’s tale will shock you. Given how much her writing improved from These Violent Delights, I can’t wait to see what the Foul Lady Fortune, her next book, will bring!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of this book!

I don’t want to say anything that may be an accidental spoiler so I’ll just tell you how this book make me feel. What a roller coaster, Chloe Gong did not give us one second to breath in this book, it was one twist after another. All loose ends were definitely tied up in this book, this book left me spinning. Even when you think you know the story of Romeo and Juliet Chloe’s spin on the story feels so innovative and new. Even knowing the ending or R&J, she is still able to add her own twist to it.
The characters were so amazing, each so fleshed out and individual. I loved every single character.
This book is beautiful and heartbreaking and really shows the tragedy that is Romeo and Juliette, I would argue better then the original play does tragedy.

This is the second installment of the "These Violent Delights" Duology by Chloe Gong. It was a great follow up to her debut novel. It's a retelling/reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai. I am not Chinese or Russian, but based on what I could tell it was well researched. Some of the plot points were very predictable, but that was made up for in loveable characters.

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. Chloe Gong is an amazing writer. Our Violent Ends is a well done, beautifully written wrap up to Our Violent Delights. I'm sad to see the series end but I promise you, this book will have you laughing, crying and wishing she could continue this series forever. I love this book, I love the characters and I love the author.

A must-read YA fantasy filled with love and war!

THIS BOOK!!! First, a MASSIVE thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me this arc of one of my most anticipated reads of the years! Boy did this book not disappoint!

Set in 1920s Shangai, the highly anticipated sequel to our violent delights really was, dare I say, delightful! The action-filled plot is beautifully constructed around themes such as colonialism, rivalry, family, and love. Chloe Gong also does a magnificent job at mixing facts and fiction, giving readers a taste of monsters, both real and not, through her depiction of the Chinese civil war.

Chloe's writing is also so beautiful and there are so many quotes that I can't wait to share with the world in all their poetic glory! The characters are so well written and their relationships towards one another are well woven with the plot of the book! Personally, Marshall has my whole heart because he's Marshall and he deserves the world! And Roma also holds a special place in my heart for "biggest simp Russian gangster ever"!

Overall, since I can't spoil anything, I'd say this book was almost everything I expected although a little more closure would have been nice! Maybe in Foul Lady Fortune? Coming Fall 2022!

5/5

My burning (and vaguely terrified) question going into this book was: What would Chloe Gong do with perhaps the most infamous plot point of Romeo & Juliet? I have my answer now, and while I won't spoil it for anyone, I will say that by GOD, did this book ever keep me on my toes.

So I won't delay here: my favourite thing about this duology has been the romance. I haven't read such good YA fantasy romance in a long time. There were times where I was giggling and swooning and times that I was Settling Down Rubbing my Hands Together in anticipation for what I knew was going to be a Juicy(TM) scene. Most of all, I was really just trying to relish the feeling of reading this for the first time. Gong knows exactly how to write those burning, pining, romantic dialogues and actions that we love, combined with the angst of these doomed lovers. What was done really well in this book in particular was showing just HOW tragic these two were, how the blood feud between their families truly was a real barrier to them ever being together. I've read R&J retellings where that didn't feel like the case—where the stakes didn't feel real, just made up—but this book made it brutally and violently clear what Roma and Juliette would have to do to be together.

As for the other characters, some of them really DID surprise me. I enjoyed the side characters in general much more in this book than I had in the last. Plenty of things surprised me. This book was truly a roller coaster, I have to say.

I also want to comment on the worldbuilding—Gong's work in this regard is admirable. The atmosphere of 1920's Shanghai are so well set I had no trouble at all imagining the smoky and chaotic aesthetic. The amount of research must've been nuts.

So, overall? 5/5. A thrilling, romantic, explosive ride, and definitely one of my best reads of the year. Slightly overtakes my experience of TVD in terms of sheer enjoyment. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for Gong's next books.

Our Violent Ends once again sees Juliette and Roma teaming up to track down information. The monsters from the first book are still a threat, and this time the two are hunting down a blackmailer that will provide them with answers and hopefully help them stop the threat of the monsters once again. However, tensions run high between Juliette and Roma, and they are forced to work together by their families this time despite the bad blood between them.

I have to say I loved this take on Romeo and Juliet. The fact that it takes place in Shanghai AND involves two feuding gangs had me sold on reading these books immediately. From the first book I loved how strong Juliette is. She can take care of herself and frankly, she can be quite ruthless, which is actually something I really love in her character. This second book continued to prove what a strong person she is and I was not disappointed seeing how far she has come. And I can’t forget about Roma. Of the two of them, he is the one that tends to be more hesitant as far as the violent nature of their lives requires from them, but we also see him take on more of a ruthless role as he deals with the betrayal he was faced with from Juliette in the previous book. I also loved that this made him take a bit of a harsher turn because it made the dynamic between the two characters more tense and it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wanting to know how things will turn out between the two.

There were moment that I found moved a little slower but the end of the book made up for it with the sheer intensity. I also thought the ending was perfectly bittersweet and a very fitting ending for these books.

If you thought book one was good, you are in for the best news ever: BOOK TWO IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! I'm obviously going to keep this spoiler free because this book isn't out yet, but ooooh if you haven't read These Violent Delights yet, read it right away, or closer to the release of Our Violent Ends so you don't have to wait.

Shanghai is under siege in this captivating and searingly romantic sequel to These Violent Delights, which New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan calls “deliciously dark.”

The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.

After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.

Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.

Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.

CW: violence, death, murder

To start on characters, let's chat about our Scarlet queen, Juliette. Juliette's character trajectory is stunning. Every action she takes is one that makes sense with what we know of her. She's such a strong, badass character, and I truly loved reading from her perspective, and watching how her mind works. She's a very well rounded character, violent and ready to stab at any given second, but cares for her family and those around her fiercely. Seeing her growth from the start of book one, through the end of book two was incredible. I would lay my life on the life for Juliette Cai, not that she would ask me to.

Roma is such a good take on Romeo, its really so fun to see a well known character remixed, and my god do I love Roma Montagov. Much like Juliette, his character just makes sense. His motivations make sense, and it was really compelling to see him grow as a character. Roma is also a badass, but much like Juliette we also see his caring side with his love for his family. His re

Roma and Juliette's relationship had me on edge this entire book, heck this entire duoLOGY. Enemies to lovers to enemies to LOVERS AGAIN? Has that been done before? Who even cares, because Chloe Gong did that here. Knowing that this series is inspired by Romeo and Juliet had me worried about our main characters dying throughout this entire duology, and that tension was there in this book. 10/10 would die for Roma and Juliette.

The plot of this one picks up stunningly from the rude cliffhanger at the end of book one, and just takes off from there. With Shanghai on the edge of a revolution, the political tension in this book is unparalleled. We already knew and loved the tension between the gangs, and watching that grow and eventually reach its peak in this book was incredible. Everything in this book is absolutely on point, it was also so well done.

The writing of this book was so good. Chloe Gong recently tweeted about feeling herself improve with every book, and you can so see that in this book. These Violent Delights was an impeccable read in my opinion, really and truly an iconic debut. But Our Violent Ends? Somehow better, equally iconic, and we're all just out here watching Chloe Gong becoming more and more impressive with each book.

This book will keep you on your toes, and the ending was absolutely everything. I don't want to spoil it but it is a very well done ending. This is such a strong duology, and one I totally think everyone should read. The Romeo and Juliet vibes and references within were so beautifully done, and the story itself was unique and lovely. If you haven't read These Violent Delights yet, do so instantly, this series is one you do not want to miss!

I recommend this for fans of retellings with strong female leads like Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh, and Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron. For fantasy lovers who've enjoyed Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, and Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa.