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graceheartsbooks's review
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
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
Parasitic lice-like insectscnaccarato'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: Death of parent, Blood, Body horror, Medical content, Misogyny, Classism, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Gore, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Sexism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Drug use
Minor: Police brutality, Outing, Bullying, Sexual content, and Homophobia
shelvesofivy'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent
emilywemily6'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Blood, Child death, Classism, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Violence, Body horror, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Homophobia
prashiie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
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!maddognews'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Death
Minor: Homophobia
amelias_library_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Suicide, Gun violence, Death, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, War, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Classism, and Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
jenna2234'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
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Death
Minor: Homophobia
ppixxie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the body horror + gore in this book but definitely check people's cw beforehand if you need it!
Graphic: Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Alcohol, Murder, Misogyny, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Racism, Police brutality, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Colonisation, Terminal illness, Torture, Addiction, Death of parent, Classism, and Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia and Drug use