Reviews with content warning for Murder - These Violent Delights. Gwałtowne pasje

This is a very dynamic book, both the characters and the plot. I knew it to be a Romeo and Juliet retelling in China between gangs. What I didn’t realize before reading it was how much of it revolves around an outbreak. That part of the book feels very fantastical. I also really liked that Roma and Juliet were older and had past history set before the book.

Dark Romance, LGBTQIA+ Representation, Friends to Lovers to Enemies

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ppppaula's review against another edition

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I really tried with this one but now I know why it’s stayed in my TBR pile for 2 years. I was excited to read a young NZ author, writing a dark tale based on Romeo and Juliet. Unlikeable characters - Juliette is just a horrible person, seemingly without a single redeeming feature. I found the writing style overdone too - every little thing was described in so much unnecessary detail - too many mouths and eyebrows ‘quirking’ in every scene, along with nostrils flaring and ice running through veins. Just not for me.

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lira_the_recluse's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

I loved the setting, the noir feels, the monster, and how the characters from the play were changed to fit the worldbuilding.

The technology of the time mostly seemed to fit. However, I am begging the author to put in some time at a gun range to understand how those actually work. Numerous times a gun is described as kicking/firing with nothing coming out.

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shelvesofivy's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

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raven_readss's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

“Killer,Violent, Ruthless, all those and more that was who she was now”

Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are of rival gangs and were once lovers

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kimseokjinschild's review against another edition

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I was so excited for this book and it was on my book list as well. I struggled to get hooked on it from the beginning, I tried to read more and give a chance but..it just kept dragging, sometimes boring and I didn't enjoy as I wanted to.

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emilywemily6's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book and bought the rest of Gong’s work because of it. This story is such a unique retelling with little hints of Shakespeare while being entirely its own thing. I loved the combination of gangster blood feuds, political intrigue, a mysterious madness sweeping the city, and a touch of romantic tension. The characters are vibrant yet morally grey and very interesting. Although it was on the longer side, I enjoyed every minute of it.

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