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anna_333'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
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Body horror, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Physical abuse
creolelitbelle'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Emotional abuse, Blood, Classism, Violence, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Gore, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Cursing, Terminal illness, Racism, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Transphobia, Sexual content, and Drug use
jeyjeyyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I really liked the historical references and it did teach me a lot about society in Shanghai at that time. However, the fantasy plots did not make a lot of sense to me. I also did not particularly care about what was happening. The romance also felt a bit bland, it was really great at the beginning but I found its ‘resolution’ a bit too easy. Kind of felt like the characters lost most of the fun aspects of their personality about halfway through… What I wanted was angst upon angst and enemies and hatred and tensionand a LOT more romance. I did not really get that. This sounds iind of bad but I wnated it to be more… toxic? I mean this is Romeo and Juliet !!
Not to say I didn’t like the book, it was just not my favourite.
Also REALLY loved the side characters, especially Kathleen and Marshall and Ben. Excited to see more of them.
Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, Murder, Sexism, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
bergha1998'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
3.75
Dark Romance, LGBTQIA+ Representation, Friends to Lovers to Enemies
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Body horror, Murder, Drug use, Death of parent, Blood, Torture, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Grief, and Death
jessiereads98'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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Classism, Blood, Colonisation, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Medical content, Racism, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Police brutality, Child death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Trafficking, and Xenophobia
dianaschmidty'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: 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
ecarpenter06'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? It's complicated
5.0
These violent delights have violent ends.
Roma and Juliette: the heirs of rival gangs with a vendetta against each other, forced to work together to save Shanghai. The recipe for a perfect novel.
This is one of the best YA books I’ve ever read. It was thrilling, riveting, and had me fully invested in the characters. The world building was fantastic and believable, the descriptions made the entire city come to life as I read.
The ending made my heart ache, I’m relying on the sequel to give them at least a moment of actual happiness. They deserve it, they deserve each other.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcohol, and Murder
hiraeth_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Personally I would've preferred it if there was a little bit more clarity in the different storylines and mysteries, but I guess that is also the appeal of this book. Still, at times it felt a little bit all over the place. I also wished we knew more about Juliette's and Roma's relationship before she left Shanghai. That would've made their story even more interesting and authentic.
Also, for the ppl who want to read it bc it is marketed as a romeo and julia retelling: there are many elements that are similar, but i would say it is a very loose and vague retelling :).
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Violence, Torture, Sexism, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Colonisation, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Misogyny
viireads'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Gore, Blood, and Colonisation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Physical abuse
Minor: Misogyny and Torture
lily_kruse'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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, Gore, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, and Gun violence
Minor: Bullying, Vomit, Suicide, and Alcohol