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mwineinger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, Death, Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
bookswithca'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? No
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Death, and Violence
blueberry0531'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
4.5
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content, Death of parent, and Racism
rediswriting'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, Self harm, Death, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Gun violence
Minor: Transphobia
anniereads221's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Gore, Transphobia, Alcohol, Blood, Deadnaming, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
dxisymitch's review
- 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
These Violent Delights is a stunning retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The novel echoes the original story through cleverly named characters (Roma instead of Romeo, Tyler instead of Tybalt, Benedikt instead of Benvolio...) and similar themes of love amongst death and tragedy, while paving its own path through the unique complexities of war, colonialism, loyalty, and betrayal. Amidst this is an intriguing supernatural mystery surrounding a monster and a contagious madness that causes the deaths of many across the city.
Chloe Gong's style of prose is beautiful, and wonderfully suited to a story that constantly juxtaposes beauty and violence, love and betrayal. Juliette struggles with the love she has for her gang and her city, and the hideousness that exists within them. In fact, Shanghai is as much of a character as Roma and Juliette, looming over their heads as they grapple to keep it out of the hands of foreigners.
"This is what this city did to lovers. It tossed blame around like a slick coat of blood, mixing and merging with everything else until it had left its stain."
While These Violent Delights does center around Roma and Juliette, I hesitate to identify it as primarily romance. Most of the book depicts them investigating the madness and putting an end to the death it causes. Overall, I give this book a 4.5/5, only because I found the beginning a little slow and difficult to get into.
"Hope was the most vicious evil of them all, the thing that had managed to thrive in Pandora's box among misery, and disease, and sadness - and what could endure alongside others with such teeth if it didn't have ghastly claws of its own?"
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Transphobia
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
yaelaed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Death of parent
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, War, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Murder, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
vicwaltz'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: Blood, Violence, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Transphobia