Title: These Violent Delights
Author: Chloe Gong
Genre: Ya fantasy, retelling, historical fiction/fatasy
My Rating: 5/5
Summary
The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.
A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.
But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
My Review
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒖𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔.”
The tension, the betrayal, the loving, the yearning. It was perfect. The characters' relationships are really well written, including the side characters. The dark shanghai is so beautiful. I was surprised by how much I liked the political drama. I love how it played into the story. The monster was this unknown horror in a place where violence was so common and people had already been desensitized. And not knowing if this was political or if for money or just Shanghai added to the mystery.
The way we see Roma from other povs, I loved that. Even the people closest to him call him manipulative and a compulsive liar. And the relationship Juliette has with her parents, you would think cold and distant but it is an ok, functional relationship and my heart breaks for Roma.
What made the lovers to enemies to lovers again so amazing was them being together before. The history of loving and trusting each other made all later enemies aspect perfect. Juliette trying to guard herself against Roma, feuling, feeding her rage. The way both of them tell each other that they are no longer the kids who once fell in love. Yes, just so beautiful.
These Violent Delights was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and I am so so so glad I got to read it before the year ended. I found a new favourite book and author.
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