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A review by starkov
Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
I LOVED THIS BOOK. In my review of These Violent Delights I said that it took me a while to get into it, but that was not at all the case here. By now I already knew and loved these characters so I was invested from the very start. This book was, like the first one, incredibly well-written and well-researched. I still wished that Chloe Gong would have explained some non-English sayings a bit more but that is really the only complaint I have. That's literally it.
The plot was really captivating but the characters were really the best part of this duology for me, they were so complex and lovable and very well-written. And the relationships were sooo fun to read, both the platonic and the romantic ones. I was already rooting for Roma and Juliette but Marshall and Benedikt surprised me a little bit I won’t lie. That said, I WAS ROOTING SO HARD FOR THEM TOO. THE MUTUAL PINING!!! MY POOR HEART COULDN'T TAKE IT.
”How mighty you are,” Marshall whispered quietly. “I am grateful that our roles are not switched, for I would have dove headfirst into the Huangpu should I be left in this world without you.”
and then later:
“What, Benedikt? What could I possibly not get—“ [said by Roma]
“I loved him!”
I was screaming — SCREAMING — in my head begging for Marshall to reveal himself to Benedikt and for them both to confess to each other. And the moment when they finally did and we got an abrupt “Because I love you!” in the middle of a fight between the two… Oh my god. I was holding my breath waiting for the reaction.
Roma and Juliette’s relationship also had me on edge. Enemies to lovers? Pfft. How about enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers again?
“Because—“ Juliette said. Her voice was no louder than a bare whisper. Yet in the quiet of the alley, with only Tyler’s gasps, she was all that could be heard. “I love him. I love him, Tyler, and you tried to take him from me.”
This book was devastatingly good. And as a Romeo and Juliet retelling, I really think Gong did a wonderful job. Knowing the end of Shakespeare’s story made me really nervous for Gong’s, but she nailed it. I’m actually really happy about it, no matter much I cried. This duology is definitely being added to my favourites.
The plot was really captivating but the characters were really the best part of this duology for me, they were so complex and lovable and very well-written. And the relationships were sooo fun to read, both the platonic and the romantic ones.
”How mighty you are,” Marshall whispered quietly. “I am grateful that our roles are not switched, for I would have dove headfirst into the Huangpu should I be left in this world without you.”
and then later:
“What, Benedikt? What could I possibly not get—“ [said by Roma]
“I loved him!”
I was screaming — SCREAMING — in my head begging for Marshall to reveal himself to Benedikt and for them both to confess to each other. And the moment when they finally did and we got an abrupt “Because I love you!” in the middle of a fight between the two… Oh my god. I was holding my breath waiting for the reaction.
Roma and Juliette’s relationship also had me on edge. Enemies to lovers? Pfft. How about enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers again?
“Because—“ Juliette said. Her voice was no louder than a bare whisper. Yet in the quiet of the alley, with only Tyler’s gasps, she was all that could be heard. “I love him. I love him, Tyler, and you tried to take him from me.”
This book was devastatingly good. And as a Romeo and Juliet retelling, I really think Gong did a wonderful job. Knowing the end of Shakespeare’s story made me really nervous for Gong’s, but she nailed it. I’m actually really happy about it, no matter much I cried. This duology is definitely being added to my favourites.