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sunlit_music's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This is one of the greatest books I've ever read, and it nearly broke me emotionally.
Chloe Gong writes about colonialism and war so passionately and intelligently, and seeing how civil war was tearing Shanghai and other parts of China apart was just devastating.
The power shifts and politics are well set up, unpredictable and extremely clever. There's nuanced portrayals of racism, sexism and lgbt+ themes. Not a single word is wasted.
The prose is beautiful, brutal, energetic and flowing. Dialogue moves seamlessly and the characters' banter is witty and clever.
I just did not want to walk away from the characters, I love them so much.
All the characters are so layered and nuanced, and change over time like real people, I feel like I know them.
Roma and Juliet's sacrificed so much, I just wanted them to be happy together and alive, but the tragic ending for them made sense, even though it's heartbreaking.
Alisa is so lovable, she lifts my mood. I don't know if there's going to be a sequel about her, but if there is, I'd totally read it.
Benedikt and Marshall are so incredible and love each other so much. They risk their lives for each other and their friends and are so tender and funny with each other. I just can't express how much I love them.
Kathleen is selfless, fierce and unstoppable, and she is fantastic. She is so underrated.
Plotting was phenomenal, with triumph and tragedy stemming from the characters' actions. All believable, all heartbreaking.
Descriptions of Shanghai are so raw, heartfelt and sincere. Also loved the contrast the rural town of Kunlon presented, it sounded like such a beautiful and peaceful place.
The ending is devastating, but also hopeful in a way. All is not lost, and Roma and Juliette really did save many lives.
I love how tenderly and sensitively this book portrays grief and loss, and how Roma and Juliette are determined to end their families' toxic blood feud.
The ending totally wrecked me, but it was worth it. This book is a fitting conclusion to the 'These Violent Delights' duology and a worthy retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
Chloe Gong writes about colonialism and war so passionately and intelligently, and seeing how civil war was tearing Shanghai and other parts of China apart was just devastating.
The power shifts and politics are well set up, unpredictable and extremely clever. There's nuanced portrayals of racism, sexism and lgbt+ themes. Not a single word is wasted.
The prose is beautiful, brutal, energetic and flowing. Dialogue moves seamlessly and the characters' banter is witty and clever.
I just did not want to walk away from the characters, I love them so much.
All the characters are so layered and nuanced, and change over time like real people, I feel like I know them.
Roma and Juliet's sacrificed so much, I just wanted them to be happy together and alive, but the tragic ending for them made sense, even though it's heartbreaking.
Alisa is so lovable, she lifts my mood. I don't know if there's going to be a sequel about her, but if there is, I'd totally read it.
Benedikt and Marshall are so incredible and love each other so much. They risk their lives for each other and their friends and are so tender and funny with each other. I just can't express how much I love them.
Kathleen is selfless, fierce and unstoppable, and she is fantastic. She is so underrated.
Plotting was phenomenal, with triumph and tragedy stemming from the characters' actions. All believable, all heartbreaking.
Descriptions of Shanghai are so raw, heartfelt and sincere. Also loved the contrast the rural town of Kunlon presented, it sounded like such a beautiful and peaceful place.
The ending is devastating, but also hopeful in a way. All is not lost, and Roma and Juliette really did save many lives.
I love how tenderly and sensitively this book portrays grief and loss, and how Roma and Juliette are determined to end their families' toxic blood feud.
The ending totally wrecked me, but it was worth it. This book is a fitting conclusion to the 'These Violent Delights' duology and a worthy retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death
twobyy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Grief
packedjam's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
π΅βπ«π΅βπ«π΅βπ«π΅βπ«π΅βπ«
itβs better than the first book.
itβs better than the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.5
Review to follow. I just finished this book and I need to process my emotions. πππ
Two things I'm sure of: this duology is added to my favorite series and I realized I love fiction books that tackles politics (case in point: THG is also my favorite series).
Two things I'm sure of: this duology is added to my favorite series and I realized I love fiction books that tackles politics (case in point: THG is also my favorite series).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Retellingsradiodarkblue's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"It must feel safe."
Juliette glanced at him properly. "Safe?"
"Don't you think?" Roma shrugged. "There must be a certain comfort here. Cities can fall and countries can go to war, but this" - he raised his arms, gesturing at the rivers and the stone paths and the delicate ceiling tiles that decorated what were onces temples- "this is forever."
What a ride. What a story!
It almost took me three months too finish it (mostly because I was so scared to come to the end of this incredible story!)
Chloe Gong is such an amazing and talented author, she manages to create such a thrilling story filled with tension, rivalry, anger, sadness, secrets, monsters, humor, sarcasm and, of course, love! I thought I would have hated her by the end of the book (as if), but I can only love her more. Her words are so beautiful and, of course, made me so damn emotional.
Even if I feel kinda empty right now, I also feel so hopeful for all the characters and I think this is the best thing of all <3
Juliette glanced at him properly. "Safe?"
"Don't you think?" Roma shrugged. "There must be a certain comfort here. Cities can fall and countries can go to war, but this" - he raised his arms, gesturing at the rivers and the stone paths and the delicate ceiling tiles that decorated what were onces temples- "this is forever."
What a ride. What a story!
It almost took me three months too finish it (mostly because I was so scared to come to the end of this incredible story!)
Chloe Gong is such an amazing and talented author, she manages to create such a thrilling story filled with tension, rivalry, anger, sadness, secrets, monsters, humor, sarcasm and, of course, love! I thought I would have hated her by the end of the book (as if), but I can only love her more. Her words are so beautiful and, of course, made me so damn emotional.
Even if I feel kinda empty right now, I also feel so hopeful for all the characters and I think this is the best thing of all <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
eve_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.5
Overall Thoughts:
β Gong takes the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope and raises you enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-and-back-to-lovers-again FLAWLESSLY. She doesn't ignore the conflict between their families and political parties, but builds that tension into every scene between them. It's an agonizing slow-burn with the greatest payoff.
β This sequel was even more enriched with historical context than These Violent Delights. I've never read a book in this setting before and loved learning about/researching 1920's Shanghai.
β [spoilers] I love the small bit of hope that Gong concludes this duology with. She still honors the authentic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet but also makes space for the reader to explore other possibilities for her main characters.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
β Gong takes the beloved enemies-to-lovers trope and raises you enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-and-back-to-lovers-again FLAWLESSLY. She doesn't ignore the conflict between their families and political parties, but builds that tension into every scene between them. It's an agonizing slow-burn with the greatest payoff.
β This sequel was even more enriched with historical context than These Violent Delights. I've never read a book in this setting before and loved learning about/researching 1920's Shanghai.
β [spoilers] I love the small bit of hope that Gong concludes this duology with. She still honors the authentic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet but also makes space for the reader to explore other possibilities for her main characters.
To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Kidnapping, Colonisation, War, and Classism
psistillreadyou's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Blood, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt
boxalligators's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rep:
Chinese main character and cast
Chinese trans girl main character
Gay main character
Korean main character
M/M side relationship
Chinese main character and cast
Chinese trans girl main character
Gay main character
Korean main character
M/M side relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
sambashua's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
epsyphus's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I felt was a little repetitive, but I did like it more than the first one. I really enjoyed the side characters, maybe even more than the two main characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death