Book Review | These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

my first book of 2022 was an absolute rollercoaster-what-am-i-reading, why am i living and reading, what the heck was i doing, why the * curse word * didn’t i read this sooner read.

I am pleased to inform you that no, I haven’t forgotten my schedule exists to post on monday and fridays. And yes, I do realise that today is a tuesday. I knew, that the next post I would write would have to be a review for this masterpiece, and I completed it at 1 in midnight.

Well that’s that. Here we go.

These Violent Delights~ Chloe Gong

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

CONTENT WARNINGS: This book contains mentions and descriptions of blood, violence, gore, character deaths, explicit description of gouging self (not of their own volition), murder, weapon use, insects, alcohol consumption, parental abuse.

Now that’s done. Let’s get on to what I have to say about this book.t

These Violent Ends was a book that hooked me from the very first page. Why was the madness happening? Who was behind it? Was it a human? Could they do anything? I had so many questions at the start. But like a good fantasy book, these violent ends put a solution for all my questions, and at the perfect time.

I could personally relate to Roma and Julliette albeit the book is set in the past. The way their feeling were put down on the papers, the emotions, the rage, the description of feelings is probably one of the best I’ve read. Chloe Gong is a very talented writer, the way she is beautiful, simple and elegant in her words is something I haven’t seen since The Queen’s Rising. There were points I would be shocked at such a simple sentence, but so meaningful.

The nervous tension between Roma and Juliette was a huge part of the book, and the romance we got after all that waiting was done well. But the thing that turns ‘These Violent Delights’ from a good fantasy book to an epic fantasy book is the side characters. In most fantasy ya books we have characters who are morally black and white. In this book, each and every character had their secrets which made them gray. I loved that. The side characters were all elaborated with such a finesse that isn’t normally seen in ya books.

One of the things I liked about it was the pages a little bit before the end. A minor plot twist, which wouldn’t have affected most people but I was gobsmacked. There is just something so amazing about a plot twist when you least expect it. An answer to a mystery you never knew existed. The building up of suspense was on point.

A forbidden romance, a city with madness, two friends, once lovers and now rivals. For Juliette, finding her actual identity, who is somewhere deep within, lost after years and years of facades. For Roma, sticking to his resolve, bargaining in the game of bloodshed.

A ‘Romeo and Juliette retelling’ doesn’t do justice for this book. I was previously in a slump, before reading this book, now I can positively say I’m not. Do yourself a favour and immerse into Shangai-the city above water.

that felt amazing. I haven’t written a review like this in ages. I honestly loved reading this book. That’s all for today bloggers (and the world beyond). Have you read ‘These Violent Delights’? Did you like it?

tell me in the comments below!!

Signing out for now,
Sep.