Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

154 reviews

thegreatelise's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

This book was absolutely incredible, I loved every single page, I was hooked, it was almost overwhelming from how much I felt while reading it, I still have troubles thinking straight and putting my thoughts into words.
The writing was amazing, Chloe Gong is incredible, the plot was super interesting and the tension so well displayed.
I love the relationship between the characters but not just the main couple but between every characters.
This duology truly was an adventure.

I don't know why I was not expecting them to die at the end, it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, of course they would die, but it still somehow surprised me. But I like the fact that it is still a bit blurry wether they are dead or not.
Their improvised wedding got me kicking my feet, Roma's vows?? What a man.
Marshall and Benedikt own my heart, I've been waiting for them to confess for so long and it didn't disappoint.
I love how in love Roma and Juliette are and how they are everything to each other, it made my heart beat so fast, they are my fav book couple for a reason.
When it was near the end and they were trying to escape I almost forgot about the madness until the final scene when the insects came out, because their romance and despair was all I had in my mind.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Genocide

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

ameydireads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

4.0

"These violent delights have violent ends."

This story too shows similarities with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I don’t want to spoil it, so you’ll see when you read it. Just read it…!

The tables have turned and there’s so much chaos. In the previous book, Roma kept a secret from Juliette and protected her whilst Juliette held a grudge against Roma for betraying her. Now it is Juliette who is trying to protect Roma. So to sum it up: lovers turned enemies turned lovers turned enemies again.

It was a little frustrating, because I felt like she should have told Roma and they could have figured it out together. Like he said:

“You think so intently of protecting me that you did not consider whether I wanted to be protected. I would have rather died knowing you are as you are than lived a long life thinking you cruel.”

But of course as soon as Tyler notices Juliette’s misstep, he would swoop in and take over everything. The frictions were already escalating between the gangs, so Juliette is forced to pick a side.

There were so many emotional moments: Benedikt’s grief,

Rosalind’s and Tyler’s fate. Juliette did what she had to do to save Roma, but it broke my heart when she looked back to her past interactions with Tyler.

On the other hand, there were some very adorable moments as well, for example

when Roma and Juliette get married in secret! And the cute nicknames they have for each other! Oh, my heart…
“I take you, Juliette Cai,” Roma whispered in concentration, ”to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, until…” He looked up as he finished the knot. Paused. When he spoke again, he did not look away. "No, scratch that. To have and to hold, where even death cannot part us. In this life and the next, for however long our souls remain, mine will always find yours. Those are my vows to you.”

"Together or not at all, dorogaya," Roma whispered back. "I'm with you if we run. I'm with you if we fight."

No, I’m not crying. You’re crying!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

caseythereader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Body horror, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

cyndi1966's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Colonisation and Classism

jaja_1212's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

jessiereads98's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

3.75

This was a great ending to the duology. It strays enough from the original Romeo + Juliet while maintaining the themes to create the perfect balance for a retelling. 

Chloe Gong once again nailed it with the setting and atmosphere of 1920s Shanghai. I loved how she tracked the shifting the politics and atmosphere of change. The pacing in this book is great. I also just love a fantasy novel set in or based on 1920s East Asia.

The characters were well done and compelling for the most part. I feel like we got a good amount of time with all the side characters to experience the world outside the view of the two main characters, without it feeling like it detracted from the story or was a waste of time. I actually wish we had gotten more time with Rosalind. I think the story would’ve felt more complete, and she would’ve been a great counterpoint to Juliette had she been more fleshed out. I was left with questions at the end around her character and motivations.

I know she’s the focus of the next duology in this universe. However, her character and POV still should’ve been explored more in this book, especially given the important role she plays here.

Once again, this book is a bit overwritten. There’s metaphors and heavy handed setting descriptions that are unnecessary. Some of the dialogue feels forced rather than natural for the characters and their setting. There are a few moments of cringe, but it isn’t enough to make the entire book off-putting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, Suicide, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ashbreadin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War