Scan barcode
packedjam'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
4.25
it’s better than the first book.
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Torture, Genocide, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Gore, and War
Moderate: Trafficking, Xenophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
btwnprintedpgs'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Body horror
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.25
From what I gathered, Gong seems to be working on another Shakespeare retelling, and I look forward to what she’ll come up with next.
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Violence, War, Death, Blood, and Gun violence
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Body horror, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia
nodogsonthemoon'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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Torture, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Mass/school shootings
elmewhy'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: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, War, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
appsa'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
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
ireallyshouldsleeprn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: War, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Minor: Xenophobia and Suicidal thoughts
eddine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Suicide attempt, and War
sarahna'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
3.0
It's been a few days since I've finished the book and I still can't wrap my head around the ending. I knew going into this that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920 Shanghai and that the main characters, Roma and Juliette, were heirs of their gangs who happen to be rivals. The outcome would of course result in them having to kill each other because their love wouldn't be acknowledged by their families and violence filled city. Still, it was kept somewhat open. They died saving the city in order to destroy the disease from becoming a bio-weapon yet again but their bodies weren't found. Thombstones exist with their names on it, romantically placed next to each other, but did they actually die? Did they manage to escape the explosion somehow and live happily ever after? Who knows and honestly, I didn't care as much as I thought I would.
Their chemistry in the first book was electric and the enemies to lovers trope worked because they were equals and actually had valid reasons to hate each other but in the second book it all felt flat in my opinion. Juliette saved Mars and staged his murder in front of Roma to make him hate her again and protect him this way but at what cost? They both still pine for each other but in an infuriating way. I kept hearing Ne-Yo's -I hate that I love you in my head. Why wouldn't they just communicate with each other??
Mars and Ben on the other hand though were done so well and I was extremely invested in them. How Mars kept in the shadows and watched over Ben while he mourned the loss of his 'friend'. In turn he wondered why he couldn't get over his death and why he wanted to kill everyone in his sight in the name of Mars. When Juliette was held at gun point by Ben she was forced to confess that Mars was still alive and their reunion blew me away. The way he was angry at him at first for not contacting him and how he had to fight back the urge to confess his love not knowing if it'd be reciprocated by Mars. It felt real and vulnerable and their first kiss made me feel like i was intruding due to how intimate it was.
Meanwhile Roma and Juliette's dyi wedding felt cheesy and rushed. Granted, the political intrigue, Katherine's side plot and the gang's slowly being rot out while the Nationalists and Communists rioted didn't give them much space to be emotional. Speaking of which, I thought the political intrigue was done well and I really hated Mars' father and what he stood for. It's always a good sign when a story makes you feel many emotions, albeit bad ones.
Overall I liked this duology and would love to read a short story about Mars and Ben's live after the events in Shanghai. It made me turn the pages, there were unexpected plots and when going into this retelling not mainly for the romance it's a fun read!
Graphic: Grief, Death, War, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
lynnrahm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
end of story.
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, and Hate crime