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A review by pamshenanigans
These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It’s that what we call ‘love’ is actually letting your identity fill in around the shape of the other person — you love someone by defining yourself against them. It says loss hurts because there’s nothing holding that part of you in place anymore. But your outline still holds, and it keeps holding. The thing you shaped yourself into by loving them, you never stop being that. The marks are permanent, so the idea of the person you loved is permanent, too.”
A jarring and disturbing story about two boys extremely attracted yet equally repulsed to/with each other. These Violent Delights dabbles on the horrible effects of a toxic and obsessive relationship between Paul and Julian, plus how this destructive relationship was also greatly affected by their homophobic families which led them to spiral out of control.
As I discover how deeply flawed Paul and Julian are, it’s also quite easy to understand the motivations behind their actions - how, intrinsically, they just want to belong somewhere with someone and navigate this cruel world together. Alas, the more I read the book, the more obvious it is that the relationship is doomed from the very beginning. It says a lot about the writing when you can really feel how delicate Paul and Julian’s relationship is and how it could snap at any second, at any page.
While I had a bit of expectation because of the thrilling and mysterious prologue, it was easy to adjust for me, and keep thinking that this isn’t the typical mystery/thriller book I usually pick up.
These Violent Delights is slow and can get a bit dragging, but you’ll definitely stay for the stunning and charged writing. The ending will also have you reeling! I had to reread the last few pages just to check if I understood it correctly. lol
Trigger/Content Warnings: violence, murder, homophobia, gaslighting, suicide, suicide ideation
A jarring and disturbing story about two boys extremely attracted yet equally repulsed to/with each other. These Violent Delights dabbles on the horrible effects of a toxic and obsessive relationship between Paul and Julian, plus how this destructive relationship was also greatly affected by their homophobic families which led them to spiral out of control.
As I discover how deeply flawed Paul and Julian are, it’s also quite easy to understand the motivations behind their actions - how, intrinsically, they just want to belong somewhere with someone and navigate this cruel world together. Alas, the more I read the book, the more obvious it is that the relationship is doomed from the very beginning. It says a lot about the writing when you can really feel how delicate Paul and Julian’s relationship is and how it could snap at any second, at any page.
While I had a bit of expectation because of the thrilling and mysterious prologue, it was easy to adjust for me, and keep thinking that this isn’t the typical mystery/thriller book I usually pick up.
These Violent Delights is slow and can get a bit dragging, but you’ll definitely stay for the stunning and charged writing. The ending will also have you reeling! I had to reread the last few pages just to check if I understood it correctly. lol
Trigger/Content Warnings: violence, murder, homophobia, gaslighting, suicide, suicide ideation
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide