A review by feliciarene
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? N/A

4.0

If you didn't already guess this about me, I was that huge nerd in high school that actually secretly enjoyed reading Shakespeare plays... And while Romeo and Juliet wasn't my all-time favourite, it's an undeniable classic that's gone through many adaptations in its time. However, in These Violent Delights, Chloe Gong brings something entirely new to the table that I think is magnificent.

Juliette "dagger-strapped-to-the-thigh, take-no-shit" is quite possibly the highlight of this book for me. However, I think there's a lot more to be said about how Chloe Gong almost effortlessly transposes traditional Shakespearean elements and symbols onto an Eastern stage. She brings up subjects such as race, culture, and identity, and tells the story through the lens of a blood feud and the rise of the Communist Party.

I loved this book! And I'm super excited to read the sequel, Our Violent Ends, which is to be published in the second half of this year.
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