Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

185 reviews

ellenisntcool's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Minor: Drug use

amweber's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual content

julswk's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The relationship between Juliette and Roma does not have much buildup in the book, rather it relies completely on what happened 4 years prior which we only get slight snippets of, but not enough to make me care for the characters.

We are told they're in love but not really shown.

Because of that their relationship falls quite flat.

Juliette's character also relies heavily on the implication that she is ruthless and has a reputation, but I wish the author let her be more violent and unhinged throughout the book. Especially during her fights.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Police brutality, Stalking, and War

askirmishofwit's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and War

jinx_mars's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It would be a great read for someone who has time for it! it was just really slow-paced for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol

ppixxie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This take on Romeo and Juliet is so fun and refreshing! I really loved all the characters, the setting, and the mystery in the book. The romance and tension between Roma and Juliette was fun to read too. Definitely gonna read the second book when I can 😌

I loved the body horror + gore in this book but definitely check people's cw beforehand if you need it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Torture, Transphobia, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Drug use and Homophobia

sweetpea4's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

Chloe Gong stuns in this Romeo & Juliet inspired fantasy story set in the 1920s in Shanghai, and shows the very tragic reality of blood feuds; a never ending circle of hurt. Juliette Cai is the cruel and heartless heiress, newly returned from New York to take her place in the Scarlet Gang, her family's criminal enterprise. Much has changed since she has left, and Shanghai is now caught in a power struggle between foreigners, Russians, Nationalist's, and more. The biggest threat is the Scarlet Gang's blood feud rivals, the White Flowers. But the river is unsettled, something is stirring in the waters of Shanghai. A madness is spreading, with no qualms about what gang you belong to, or how rich or poor you are. Juliet has no choice but to work with Roma, the White Flower's heir, and the man who broke her heart and betrayed her years ago. Will they be able to stop the madness before Shanghai overflows with bodies? 
 I am not sure which I enjoyed more in this book; the beautiful descriptions and imagery, or the mystery that unraveled a little more as I turned the pages. The cut throat world that Juliette and Roma live in kept me on the edge of my seat, and their chemistry and banter was so organic and wonderfully done. It is no wonder that this is the book that put Chloe Gong on the map! It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger however, so please bear that in mind when you read it. Also! There is LGBT representation, several characters are queer and one is trans! 
The cover I didn't mind, but I found it pretty unoriginal. You can walk into any bookstore and see hundreds of book covers with the same layout, I find it doesn't convey the story well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent

praaliine's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

3.0

i actually don’t think i’ll continue with the duology because i don’t really care for it. first of all, i HATE the method of how the madness spreads, absolutely revolting, it made me itch. also this was hardly fantasy (let’s call it historical fiction instead) and fell a bit flat for a romeo and juliette retelling. there was also a lot of info dumping of things we already know from previously in the book, and it felt like a short plot was stretched out over 300+ pages. also points off for being hard to find in paperback (i don’t like hardcovers). other than all of that, it was alright i guess.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Transphobia, and Classism

Minor: Sexual content