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A review by booksandbarbara
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
• Plot;
- Disappointing. The story has way more promise than what is executed. Quite frequently characters remember something from the past which then gets delved into for what feels like an age. It becomes disorienting and takes me out of what is supposed to be happening at that time. It feels very drawn out and filled with fluff where nothing substantial happens until the last 80 pages. None of the twists or turns is surprising, which isn't wholly bad, it's just frustrating how long it takes to get to the conclusion, especially when you consider how slow the pacing of this book is. Which is very slow. The end is done superbly though, I just wish the rest was written out like that. Even though this all sounds negative, it's not all that bad, it's just the rest felt okay. I struggled to fully connect with this one.
• Characters;
- The two main characters are a little lacklustre, although they are written out perfectly fine, they just don't stand out as wholly original nor seem to be thoroughly thought out. Seeing their softer sides is nice, though some of the scenes give me second-hand embarrassment. The same applies to the other characters too, but I do find myself preferring them and rooting for them & their storylines more.
• World Building;
- I have to give this book credit where it's due, the world-building is beautiful, describing the scenes to a certain level that you can almost picture yourself right there at the moment. I wasn't getting 1920's though, but that could just be due to me being unable to throw myself into this thoroughly.
• What I Like;
- I will say, the LGBTQIA+ community is represented fantastically here. They are written in so relaxed without that forced narrative, and I really appreciate it when authors do this. The multiple points of views give us a chance for us to get alternative opinions and give it more depth, which personally, I think is what saves this book to be honest.
• What I Dislike;
- I feel like I've discussed enough of what I dislike so what I will say, is that I don't particularly dislike this book, it's just that all I feel about it is that it was just a little bit meh.
• Overall;
- It is just okay. Although it sounds like I have a lot of negative things to say about this, it's easier to pick those out, but it's because I don't know how else to explain it other than it was just okay. This may be because I'm not used to this style of writing, or maybe it's because this novel isn't all it's cracked out to be. I'm not particularly fond of "gangsters" either, I find them cringe. But what do I know?
- Disappointing. The story has way more promise than what is executed. Quite frequently characters remember something from the past which then gets delved into for what feels like an age. It becomes disorienting and takes me out of what is supposed to be happening at that time. It feels very drawn out and filled with fluff where nothing substantial happens until the last 80 pages. None of the twists or turns is surprising, which isn't wholly bad, it's just frustrating how long it takes to get to the conclusion, especially when you consider how slow the pacing of this book is. Which is very slow. The end is done superbly though, I just wish the rest was written out like that. Even though this all sounds negative, it's not all that bad, it's just the rest felt okay. I struggled to fully connect with this one.
• Characters;
- The two main characters are a little lacklustre, although they are written out perfectly fine, they just don't stand out as wholly original nor seem to be thoroughly thought out. Seeing their softer sides is nice, though some of the scenes give me second-hand embarrassment. The same applies to the other characters too, but I do find myself preferring them and rooting for them & their storylines more.
• World Building;
- I have to give this book credit where it's due, the world-building is beautiful, describing the scenes to a certain level that you can almost picture yourself right there at the moment. I wasn't getting 1920's though, but that could just be due to me being unable to throw myself into this thoroughly.
• What I Like;
- I will say, the LGBTQIA+ community is represented fantastically here. They are written in so relaxed without that forced narrative, and I really appreciate it when authors do this. The multiple points of views give us a chance for us to get alternative opinions and give it more depth, which personally, I think is what saves this book to be honest.
• What I Dislike;
- I feel like I've discussed enough of what I dislike so what I will say, is that I don't particularly dislike this book, it's just that all I feel about it is that it was just a little bit meh.
• Overall;
- It is just okay. Although it sounds like I have a lot of negative things to say about this, it's easier to pick those out, but it's because I don't know how else to explain it other than it was just okay. This may be because I'm not used to this style of writing, or maybe it's because this novel isn't all it's cracked out to be. I'm not particularly fond of "gangsters" either, I find them cringe. But what do I know?