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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
loved this book last time i read it. i seem to be in a sort of reading slump. i can't seem to get past 20% of the book. will try picking up another time.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. JUST AMAZING. I've been hearing about this book so much and how it was just the perfect enemies to lover book, but I hadn't had the chance to read it myself until now. This book is completely different from several other enemies to lovers books out there simply because of the relationship between the two MCs. Also, it spins the classic story of Romeo and Juliet in such a great way. I love how we start off by meeting Juliette and can already tell that she is strong and can easily take care of herself. All it takes is one scene for you to determine Juliette's character. Additionally, the prologue does its job and introduces the mystery of the story perfectly so you know the overarching mystery that will take place in this book. But getting back to the enemies to lovers trope present in this story, I absolutely love that Roma and Juliette already have a deep relationship that has been developed years prior. Unlike many enemies to lovers, this story doesn't rely on the main characters slowly falling in love with each other in addition to the frustration that occurs because they are enemies. No Roma and Juliette have already had their love story and Roma destroyed that. Juliette has every reason to hate Roma, but their relationship begins to change as they inevitably encounter each other while searching for a way to save the members of their gangs. Honestly, I've gotten obsessed with this book and can't wait to read the next one.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I quite liked the premise/ setting of this book but I feel like it fell flat in a few key places:
1. too much side character plot
2. not enough internal monologue (how were the main characters feeling/ what were the last four years of their life like, etc.)
3. connection- you simply cannot convince me that the main characters liked each other...there was no push and pull...no spark...no chemistry!
1. too much side character plot
2. not enough internal monologue (how were the main characters feeling/ what were the last four years of their life like, etc.)
3. connection- you simply cannot convince me that the main characters liked each other...there was no push and pull...no spark...no chemistry!
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was so not ready for the end of this book!!
I really like the setting and the characters and the plot was super interesting as well! Gave Lovecraft vibes tbh and I was here for it
Cannot wait for Book 2!
I really like the setting and the characters and the plot was super interesting as well! Gave Lovecraft vibes tbh and I was here for it
Cannot wait for Book 2!
Thought it was going to be gay. From some of the reviews I read, I’m pretty sure I won’t like the politics and morals of this book either.
In fair Shanghai where we lay our scene, two rival gangs rule - Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. Juliette Cai is the heir to the Scarlet Gang, run by natives of Shanghai. Roma Montagov is the heir to the White Flowers, a clan of foreigners run by his Russian family. Years ago, they were in love, but after he betrayed her, Juliette went to America alone. Now she's back, and some dangerous creature that has people tearing out their own throats our heirs relying on each other to save their people.
This was a fun time. I mostly enjoyed this as a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and loved picking out the little details Gong put in to pay tribute. I loved the reinterpretation and all the added nuance that came from setting it in 1920's Shanghai. She also got right that Roma/eo is definitely the softie of the two and Juliet/te is the metal one. The monster mystery was intriguing and kept me wondering. The greatest asset of this was the writing style. Right from the beginning, I was surprised by the prose and how it seemed to ground the story in its setting. While this was more based on the problems at hand and less so on their relationship, I would have liked to see more insight into what their relationship was like beforehand, what drew them to each other (we have a brief explanation of how they met). I liked what we saw of the current day, but for me, I always want to see the start of an attraction.
Overall, it's been a while since I started a new YA fantasy and this luckily did its premise justice. I'm really excited to see her other Shakespeare interpretations that she has published since, including the sequel.
This was a fun time. I mostly enjoyed this as a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and loved picking out the little details Gong put in to pay tribute. I loved the reinterpretation and all the added nuance that came from setting it in 1920's Shanghai. She also got right that Roma/eo is definitely the softie of the two and Juliet/te is the metal one. The monster mystery was intriguing and kept me wondering. The greatest asset of this was the writing style. Right from the beginning, I was surprised by the prose and how it seemed to ground the story in its setting. While this was more based on the problems at hand and less so on their relationship, I would have liked to see more insight into what their relationship was like beforehand, what drew them to each other (we have a brief explanation of how they met). I liked what we saw of the current day, but for me, I always want to see the start of an attraction.
Overall, it's been a while since I started a new YA fantasy and this luckily did its premise justice. I'm really excited to see her other Shakespeare interpretations that she has published since, including the sequel.