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alibrarymouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It’s also super gory, so it was a little gross to repeatedly hear about
Maybe these get cleared up in the sequel? However, I wasn’t moved enough by anyone or anything to have much interest in the next and felt the ending was satisfactory enough to just call it a day after this one.
Worth reading for the world and the commentary on colonialism/imperialism, but the slow burn, friends to enemies to lovers and twist at the end wasn’t my favorite.
Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Murder, Self harm, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
angel__'s review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Most characters I didn't like, including the main character Juliette.
And it's quite brutal, so check the trigger warnings before reading!
Rep.: trans, gay
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Blood, Racism, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
erikaraz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Body horror
brookeimcfeely's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Gore, Cursing, Death, Violence, War, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Grief, and Medical content
graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
All I’ve ever heard about this book is it’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling but I honestly think that does it a disservice (or maybe it’s just the fact that Romeo and Juliet retellings have to bring something interesting to the table since a story that’s been retold many times). I’ve never seen anyone mention that this story involves a supernatural monster and if I had known that I would’ve read it sooner lol
I’m amazed that Chloe Gong wrote this during college—writing/doing the research process to make the story authentic to 1920s Shanghai while also studying as a student. Especially since I’m around the same age she was.
Anyway, the story is much more about Roma and Juliette’s relationship and the mystery surrounding the ‘Larkspur’ which is the monster that is killing Shanghai plus the struggles between current residents and the foreigners that have taken over the area’s local businesses. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the world that Chloe Gong set up. I can’t wait to read the second book.
I was going to rate this 4.5 stars initially but I got into a reading slump so had gap between when I last read a chapter and when I finished the book so it’s getting a 4.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism and Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Drug use, Transphobia, and Death of parent
cdoubet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Genocide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Death
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Medical content, Police brutality, and Mental illness
mblanke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, Death, Classism, War, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Grief, and Violence
falibat's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, and Racism
bo0ks_are_cool91's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Gore, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Alcohol
tell_them_stories's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Colonisation, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Body horror, Classism, and Medical content
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Misogyny
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