Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

These Violent Delights. Gwałtowne pasje by Chloe Gong

86 reviews

prashiie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

“A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred.”

It took me a while to really get into the story and the insects and how they are described deserve a trigger warning! At first it was disgusting to read about the insects and it grossed me out, but luckily it got better.

This story is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, set in Shanghai in the year 1926. The main characters Juliette and Roma are the heirs of feuding families and are expected to put their own family and gang first. But something weird is happening in Shanghai and it’s up to them to protect the city, together. However, from the start it is clear that there is some bad history between them.

“She could have reminded him of what he did four years ago, pushed the blade of guilt in until he was bleeding.”

As the story proceeds, we get to know what happened between them. They are both interesting and strong characters. I also really liked Marshall and Celia!

What shocked me the most is China’s political turmoil at that time and how much racism Chinese people faced by foreigners not only in America, but even in their own country. I could sense the resentment the author feels, rightfully so!

“Foreigners built parks and demanded the Chinese keep out. They poured funds into the city, and though China was never formally a colony, that was precisely what was going on in Shanghai: segment after segment being colonized.”

I’m glad to have read this book, because the background of this story was very educational! Now I’m curious to learn more about the history of Asia.

I’m so happy Marshall is still alive. I was ready to give up on this series when Juliette shot him… Great twist, Chloe Gong :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Xenophobia, Violence, Stalking, Sexism, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation

Moderate: Transphobia, Drug use, and Grief

Minor: War, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Beware of a detailed description of insects attacking humans!

akane_readsyt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Transphobia, Racism, Police brutality, Child abuse, Dysphoria, and Body shaming

fee_nix05's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I loved the setting and premise of the book, but the main character, Juliette was just insufferable imo. Another downside to this book was that I listened to the audiobook, and I just don't like the wat the narrator voiced the characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Drug use and Terminal illness

rae42's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Seems to be missing a pre quel and seems like the fantasy element was only added to try and fix a plot hole 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Blood, Classism, Gun violence, Death of parent, Gore, Violence, Drug use, Colonisation, Death, and Murder

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Death, Child death, and Self harm

Moderate: Body horror, Animal death, Classism, Blood, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Drug use, and Violence

thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition

3.5

Hey look, I finally read this! It wasn't quite my thing? A bit more horror-y than I expected. But I'll still read the sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Medical content, Grief, and Transphobia

Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Deadnaming

dianaschmidty's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Gore, Blood, Colonisation, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Child abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, War, Death of parent, and Drug use

karcitis's review against another edition

Just not in the mood, lots of gore.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Body horror, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Self harm, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death

Minor: Drug use, Addiction, War, Transphobia, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Xenophobia

ellenisntcool's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Body horror, and Death

Minor: Drug use

n0elle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, and Vomit