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These Violent Delights: the fierce, heart-pounding and achingly romantic fantasy retelling of Romeo and Juliet Hardcover – 17 Nov. 2020

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,008 ratings

'Deliciously dark' Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens . . .

The brilliantly imaginative New York Times bestselling fantasy retelling of Romeo and Juliet set against the immersive backdrop of 1920s Shanghai.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city in the grip of chaos. At its heart 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.

Filled with romance, intrigue and betrayal, this heart-stopping debut is perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane.


'Heady, smart, and vicious' Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear

'Deliciously dark'
Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

'Dark and beautiful' Emiko Jean, author of Empress of all Seasons

'A terrific, deliciously unputdownable read' June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones

Popular highlights in this book

From the Publisher

Young adult fantasy, epic romance, natasha nhan, murder mystert, Chloe Gong, These Violent Delights

These Violent Delights, Chloe Gong, Shanghai, Rome and Juliet, Sheapespeare retelling, love story,

White Gang, Scarlet Gang, 1920s fiction, 1920s shanghai, young adult fantasy, young adult books,

Asian fantasy, diverse author, books set in shanghai, asian inspired fantasy, Ya fantasy, fantasy

The Last Magician, Descendant of the Crane, historical fantasy, scarlet gang, white flower, romance

young adult romance, murder mystery, gangs, Melissa Bashardoust, Girl, Serpent, Thorn, Good Reads

Product description

Review

A deliciously dark twist on Romeo and Juliet that feels vibrant, modern, and wholly exciting. Gong's writing brims with energy. I was swept away to her dark Shanghai from the first page and never wanted to leave!Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

Heady, smart, and vicious,
These Violent Delights strikes every note with precision, layering romance and politics into a roaring 20s Shanghai of both monsters and monstrous imperialism ― Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear

Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights plants a Shakespearean classic in the rich soil of 1920s Shanghai, allowing her characters to grow, flourish, and steal your heart while warring against their ownJoan He, author of Descendant of the Crane

Gong ensnares readers with a delicious tale of family rivalries and forbidden love all set against the glittering backdrop of 1920s Shanghai. Don't miss this dark and beautiful retelling of
Romeo and Juliet! ― Emiko Jean, author of Empress of All Seasons

Full of glitter, suspense and gore, These Violent Delights takes readers into the perilous world of 1926 Shanghai . . . Chloe Gong's debut is a terrific, deliciously unputdownable read!June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones

These Violent Delights combines strong characterisation, skilfully interwoven political insight and an atmospheric portrayal of a Shanghai in the throes of change ― Guardian

A lush, wholly original debut that will satiate Shakespeare aficionados and draw those seeking an engrossing, multifaceted historical fantasyPublishers Weekly, Starred Review

A must-read with a conclusion that will leave readers craving more ―
Kirkus Starred Review

The setting's brilliant, a city split by merchant colonies and divided into gang territories, in a country itself fractured politically and on the verge of revolutionSFX

Filled with Gong's lush prose,
These Violent Delights brings 1920s Shanghai to life, along with a romance that is weighed with history ― BookRiot

Stylish and engrossingPopsugar

A rip-roaring, magic-tinged epic of cabarets and speakeasies, dens and divas . . . Gong's vivid Shanghai is a place to get enjoyably lost in ―
Financial Times

Gong's darkly seductive YA debut transplants Romeo and Juliet to 20s Shanghai for a gripping story of rival gangs, forbidden love and a plague that threatens to tear the city asunderThe i

The Bard would surely approve ―
The New York Times, Book Review

These Violent Delights is a phenomenal book and a wonder of a debut . . . Chloe has written star-crossed lovers/lovers-to-enemies like I've never read before, and if you love yearning, then trust me: you'll love These Violent DelightsThe Quiet Pond

This is the kind of book where I sort of just want to open my mouth and let the words expressing my love tumble out with abandon . . . I truly loved everything about this book ―
The Elven Warrior

More than anything, These Violent Delights is a rich portrait of a seldom-depicted time and place NPR

An unforgettable reimagining of
Romeo and JulietALA Booklist, starred review

These Violent Delights is a superior fantasy novel; multi-layered, diverse and reflective in its themes, whilst at the same time offering up the kind of darkness, romance and emotion that leaves you yearning for more - not just more of this particular story and its endearing, complex characters - which we've already been promised - but more from Chloe Gong beyond her star-crossed lovers too Culturefly

Chloe Gong does expertly what all the best retellings do. She doesn't simply transpose her source material into a new setting, she engages with the spirit of the original and in doing so crafts a story that is entirely and beautifully her own . . . I cannot recommend this book strongly enough ―
Chaipters

Gong's debut is not to be missed. With a dazzling setting, a mysterious series of murders, and diverse, unapologetically criminal characters, this novel ranks with the greatest YA ­retellingsSchool Library Journal, starred review

Top 10 fantasy reads: 'Reinvented and better than ever' ―
Belfast Telegraph

Gong combines classic Shakespeare with monsters and mayhem -- Kaitlyn Duca ―
Her Campus

Book Description

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodderscape (17 Nov. 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1529344522
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529344523
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.4 x 4.4 x 24.2 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,008 ratings

About the author

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Chloe Gong
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Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in The New York Times, People, Forbes, and more. She is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she double-majored in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Chloe is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.

You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok under @thechloegong, or visit her website at www.thechloegong.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4,008 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story captivating and engaging. They appreciate the diverse characters with complex backgrounds and motivations. The rich descriptions and storytelling add depth and realism to the story. Readers enjoy the Shanghai backdrop with its rich Chinese customs and cultural references. However, opinions are mixed on the writing style - some find it great and dedicated to the story, while others feel the characterisation is weak and don't connect with any of the characters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

17 customers mention ‘Retelling’17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the retelling of Romeo and Juliet. They find the story engaging with an imaginative twist that blends social history and horror elements. The characters are captivating and the ending is suspenseful. Readers appreciate the well-balanced action and romance, making it riveting and emotional to read.

"...In regards to the story I really enjoyed it, it dived right into the action and was easy to follow, there was little hidden in regards to the gory..." Read more

"...is the only drawback that comes to mind - however the romantic element is thankfully minimal, as readers are quickly wrapped up in the inner..." Read more

"...The action and romance are well balanced, which considering what is trending on booktok, proves is very hard to get right...." Read more

"...that is very much a ‘will they/won’t they’ situation worked really well with the storyline and never overshadowed the book or made the book feel..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Character development’9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging characters with diverse personalities and backgrounds. They appreciate the solid, grittiness, and soft underbelly of the characters. The supporting roles are beautifully written with complex backgrounds.

"...I liked being able to recognise the characters from the play, being such a big family on both sides I found it easier to keep track of each one and..." Read more

"...This is a great example of blending of characters with differing cultural backgrounds that doesn't feel contrived and fetish-esque...." Read more

"...to learn about the country at that time and has good characters with deep stories. Enjoyed reading." Read more

"It is fantastically written - it is engaging and the characters are so enthralling, and have the added benefit of being unapologetically morally grey..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Storytelling’8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling. They appreciate the rich descriptions, complex backgrounds, motivations, and diverse characters that add depth and realism to the story. The book has a good concept and interesting learning about the country at that time. Readers find the Shakespearean story creative and well-integrated with the storyline.

"...I found it informative without even realising, with the rich descriptions I felt as if I were there myself at times...." Read more

"...and the scheming & plotting within them, together with the fantastical elements, the mystery and the political atmosphere of the time frame &..." Read more

"...This is a testament to Gong's great writing and dedication to story telling...." Read more

"Good book. Interesting to learn about the country at that time and has good characters with deep stories. Enjoyed reading." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Atmosphere’5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's atmosphere. They appreciate the rich Chinese customs and cultural references in the Shanghai backdrop. The book creates a great sense of tension and draws them into 1920s Shanghai and the politics surrounding the story.

"...I was immediately drawn in to the 1920’s Shanghai and politics surrounding the story itself...." Read more

"...Honestly, I can't sell this enough. It's beautifully done" Read more

"...I loved the Shanghai backdrop with its rich Chinese customs and cultural references as well as the historical elements of the rise of communism and..." Read more

"...China is fascinating and These Violent Delights creates a great sense of atmosphere and tension." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Writing style’6 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the writing style. Some find it great and dedicated to the story, while others feel the characters lack depth and connection. The paperback quality is also criticized as poor.

"...The thing that really captured me was the writing style. I was immediately drawn in to the 1920’s Shanghai and politics surrounding the story itself...." Read more

"...I really needed more in that regard. The characterisation was weak. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters...." Read more

"...This is a testament to Gong's great writing and dedication to story telling...." Read more

"It is fantastically written - it is engaging and the characters are so enthralling, and have the added benefit of being unapologetically morally grey..." Read more

The Romeo and Juliet retelling we all want
5 out of 5 stars
The Romeo and Juliet retelling we all want
I was kindly gifted a copy of this ebook by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you so so much!When I initially heard about These Violent Delights, all I knew was that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a 1920’s Shanghai. For me that was enough to get excited and immediately pre-order. I have always been a huge fan of the forbidden romance/enemies to romance tropes, so Romeo and Juliet was always up my street.I didn’t know much more about this one until I received the ARC, so I was extremely pleased to find that not only was it an R&J retelling but also containing a murder mystery, monsters, and gangsters.The thing that really captured me was the writing style. I was immediately drawn in to the 1920’s Shanghai and politics surrounding the story itself. I found it informative without even realising, with the rich descriptions I felt as if I were there myself at times.In regards to the story I really enjoyed it, it dived right into the action and was easy to follow, there was little hidden in regards to the gory deaths and that made it all the more exciting. Although we immediately knew the cause of these deaths it was still surrounded in mystery and remained that way until the very last page, being 464 pages (according to Goodreads) the expectation would be that we would get an early reveal or after some time it would become a little predictable or even dare I say it a bit boring. But I was still as hooked as I was when I first started. The one thing I love about the mystery's is trying to predict the killer, but I had no chance with this one. Characters were introduced so intricately that you didn’t question their motives until everything became clear at the end.Throughout the book various plot holes arise, mentions of the past we do not know about but so desperately want to, they are revealed neatly at the end in a way which fits the story, rather than simply info dumping.I loved the ending, it was suspenseful, everything came to together and set up book 2 perfectly. My only issue is that by reading this ARC I now have even longer to wait for the sequel!I liked being able to recognise the characters from the play, being such a big family on both sides I found it easier to keep track of each one and their relevance to the plot. I felt we saw more of the Cai’s rather than the Montagov’s, so although I feel I have a pretty good idea of Juliette’s family with Roma I still feel a little unsure. But I am hoping this is something that can be looked into more in the sequel. However I do have to say that this replicates their relations to their family perfectly.We become immediately aware that although both are in line to take over from their family only one is more comfortable doing so. Only Juliette was trying to fit into the role which was almost being taken from her, whereas with Roma, I can’t recall more than a single instance that he was actually at his family home, unstinting to continue on with the reigns being passed onto him.Speaking of characters, I enjoyed the diversity. I will admit I did get a little confused with Kathleen’s past, when they spoke about the death of a sister, I assumed it referred to Kathleen in her being transgender. However when another sister was mentioned I did get a bit lost. I am planning to re-read this once the book is released, and since I have a physical copy I think it will make it easier to keep track of what may have happened.I loved the closeness of both families, Roma with his cousin and friend, and their slow building romance between them. And also Juliette and her cousins. Aside from Roma and Juliette I think Marshall and Benedikt’s relationship was a big favourite of mine, I loved the friendship and the banter they had, but also when it was suggested there was more to it.Ultimately the build up between Roma and Juliette was so frustrating, but at the same time I don’t think it could have happened any other way. I loved how long it took for them to trust each other fully again, with the combination of not knowing what had happened between made it all the more interesting to read on.Overall I loved the book, I felt it was executed perfectly and was more than I was hoping for in every way. I do have some theory regarding book 2, there was a mention of a traitor but nothing more was said so I am hoping this is going to be a bit plot point in the sequel. I have an idea on who I think it may be, so time will tell!My only issue that I had, and it was a relatively small one considering was with the bugs. Naturally we don’t know a lot about the bugs however, I wanted to know how they knew that by killing the host the bugs would also die. There was a lot of talk of killing this monster to save everyone (which was pretty important) but no one really thought about what they would do if the bugs weren’t affected, or even if they couldn’t kill it.Again its not a bit issue at all, I am pretty hopeful we will find out more in book 2!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2020
    I was kindly gifted a copy of this ebook by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you so so much!

    When I initially heard about These Violent Delights, all I knew was that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a 1920’s Shanghai. For me that was enough to get excited and immediately pre-order. I have always been a huge fan of the forbidden romance/enemies to romance tropes, so Romeo and Juliet was always up my street.

    I didn’t know much more about this one until I received the ARC, so I was extremely pleased to find that not only was it an R&J retelling but also containing a murder mystery, monsters, and gangsters.

    The thing that really captured me was the writing style. I was immediately drawn in to the 1920’s Shanghai and politics surrounding the story itself. I found it informative without even realising, with the rich descriptions I felt as if I were there myself at times.

    In regards to the story I really enjoyed it, it dived right into the action and was easy to follow, there was little hidden in regards to the gory deaths and that made it all the more exciting. Although we immediately knew the cause of these deaths it was still surrounded in mystery and remained that way until the very last page, being 464 pages (according to Goodreads) the expectation would be that we would get an early reveal or after some time it would become a little predictable or even dare I say it a bit boring. But I was still as hooked as I was when I first started. The one thing I love about the mystery's is trying to predict the killer, but I had no chance with this one. Characters were introduced so intricately that you didn’t question their motives until everything became clear at the end.

    Throughout the book various plot holes arise, mentions of the past we do not know about but so desperately want to, they are revealed neatly at the end in a way which fits the story, rather than simply info dumping.

    I loved the ending, it was suspenseful, everything came to together and set up book 2 perfectly. My only issue is that by reading this ARC I now have even longer to wait for the sequel!

    I liked being able to recognise the characters from the play, being such a big family on both sides I found it easier to keep track of each one and their relevance to the plot. I felt we saw more of the Cai’s rather than the Montagov’s, so although I feel I have a pretty good idea of Juliette’s family with Roma I still feel a little unsure. But I am hoping this is something that can be looked into more in the sequel. However I do have to say that this replicates their relations to their family perfectly.

    We become immediately aware that although both are in line to take over from their family only one is more comfortable doing so. Only Juliette was trying to fit into the role which was almost being taken from her, whereas with Roma, I can’t recall more than a single instance that he was actually at his family home, unstinting to continue on with the reigns being passed onto him.

    Speaking of characters, I enjoyed the diversity. I will admit I did get a little confused with Kathleen’s past, when they spoke about the death of a sister, I assumed it referred to Kathleen in her being transgender. However when another sister was mentioned I did get a bit lost. I am planning to re-read this once the book is released, and since I have a physical copy I think it will make it easier to keep track of what may have happened.

    I loved the closeness of both families, Roma with his cousin and friend, and their slow building romance between them. And also Juliette and her cousins. Aside from Roma and Juliette I think Marshall and Benedikt’s relationship was a big favourite of mine, I loved the friendship and the banter they had, but also when it was suggested there was more to it.

    Ultimately the build up between Roma and Juliette was so frustrating, but at the same time I don’t think it could have happened any other way. I loved how long it took for them to trust each other fully again, with the combination of not knowing what had happened between made it all the more interesting to read on.

    Overall I loved the book, I felt it was executed perfectly and was more than I was hoping for in every way. I do have some theory regarding book 2, there was a mention of a traitor but nothing more was said so I am hoping this is going to be a bit plot point in the sequel. I have an idea on who I think it may be, so time will tell!

    My only issue that I had, and it was a relatively small one considering was with the bugs. Naturally we don’t know a lot about the bugs however, I wanted to know how they knew that by killing the host the bugs would also die. There was a lot of talk of killing this monster to save everyone (which was pretty important) but no one really thought about what they would do if the bugs weren’t affected, or even if they couldn’t kill it.

    Again its not a bit issue at all, I am pretty hopeful we will find out more in book 2!
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    The Romeo and Juliet retelling we all want

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2020
    I was kindly gifted a copy of this ebook by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you so so much!

    When I initially heard about These Violent Delights, all I knew was that it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a 1920’s Shanghai. For me that was enough to get excited and immediately pre-order. I have always been a huge fan of the forbidden romance/enemies to romance tropes, so Romeo and Juliet was always up my street.

    I didn’t know much more about this one until I received the ARC, so I was extremely pleased to find that not only was it an R&J retelling but also containing a murder mystery, monsters, and gangsters.

    The thing that really captured me was the writing style. I was immediately drawn in to the 1920’s Shanghai and politics surrounding the story itself. I found it informative without even realising, with the rich descriptions I felt as if I were there myself at times.

    In regards to the story I really enjoyed it, it dived right into the action and was easy to follow, there was little hidden in regards to the gory deaths and that made it all the more exciting. Although we immediately knew the cause of these deaths it was still surrounded in mystery and remained that way until the very last page, being 464 pages (according to Goodreads) the expectation would be that we would get an early reveal or after some time it would become a little predictable or even dare I say it a bit boring. But I was still as hooked as I was when I first started. The one thing I love about the mystery's is trying to predict the killer, but I had no chance with this one. Characters were introduced so intricately that you didn’t question their motives until everything became clear at the end.

    Throughout the book various plot holes arise, mentions of the past we do not know about but so desperately want to, they are revealed neatly at the end in a way which fits the story, rather than simply info dumping.

    I loved the ending, it was suspenseful, everything came to together and set up book 2 perfectly. My only issue is that by reading this ARC I now have even longer to wait for the sequel!

    I liked being able to recognise the characters from the play, being such a big family on both sides I found it easier to keep track of each one and their relevance to the plot. I felt we saw more of the Cai’s rather than the Montagov’s, so although I feel I have a pretty good idea of Juliette’s family with Roma I still feel a little unsure. But I am hoping this is something that can be looked into more in the sequel. However I do have to say that this replicates their relations to their family perfectly.

    We become immediately aware that although both are in line to take over from their family only one is more comfortable doing so. Only Juliette was trying to fit into the role which was almost being taken from her, whereas with Roma, I can’t recall more than a single instance that he was actually at his family home, unstinting to continue on with the reigns being passed onto him.

    Speaking of characters, I enjoyed the diversity. I will admit I did get a little confused with Kathleen’s past, when they spoke about the death of a sister, I assumed it referred to Kathleen in her being transgender. However when another sister was mentioned I did get a bit lost. I am planning to re-read this once the book is released, and since I have a physical copy I think it will make it easier to keep track of what may have happened.

    I loved the closeness of both families, Roma with his cousin and friend, and their slow building romance between them. And also Juliette and her cousins. Aside from Roma and Juliette I think Marshall and Benedikt’s relationship was a big favourite of mine, I loved the friendship and the banter they had, but also when it was suggested there was more to it.

    Ultimately the build up between Roma and Juliette was so frustrating, but at the same time I don’t think it could have happened any other way. I loved how long it took for them to trust each other fully again, with the combination of not knowing what had happened between made it all the more interesting to read on.

    Overall I loved the book, I felt it was executed perfectly and was more than I was hoping for in every way. I do have some theory regarding book 2, there was a mention of a traitor but nothing more was said so I am hoping this is going to be a bit plot point in the sequel. I have an idea on who I think it may be, so time will tell!

    My only issue that I had, and it was a relatively small one considering was with the bugs. Naturally we don’t know a lot about the bugs however, I wanted to know how they knew that by killing the host the bugs would also die. There was a lot of talk of killing this monster to save everyone (which was pretty important) but no one really thought about what they would do if the bugs weren’t affected, or even if they couldn’t kill it.

    Again its not a bit issue at all, I am pretty hopeful we will find out more in book 2!
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2023
    These Violent Delights is a kindle book I picked up in one of their 99p Daily Deals offers over 2 years ago and then never got round to reading; the dreaded "TikTok made me buy it" was placed proudly next to the title for a while and that instantly put me off from reading it, plus I've never found Romeo & Juliet romantic in the slightest. However the gang rivalries and the scheming & plotting within them, together with the fantastical elements, the mystery and the political atmosphere of the time frame & culture in the setting of the story is something that is new to me in books, and intrigued me enough to finally sit down and read...

    Going into this post; I'm trying to be firm & think more critically about the plot, and me not being a fan of YA romance in general is the only drawback that comes to mind - however the romantic element is thankfully minimal, as readers are quickly wrapped up in the inner structures of the gangs, the overarching fantastical elements, the mystery and the political atmosphere of 1920s Shanghai.

    I love stories set before mobiles and the Internet, because we get to experience old-school problem solving without Google to rely on for quick fixes, plus it really builds up the suspense whenever people need to contact each other but they can't just pull an Iphone out of their pocket.

    I didn't want to get specific about the plotlines and possibly spoil anything in either book [I like going into books knowing little about them beforehand, don't you?), meaning that this review/rambly thoughts is far away from the best summary available, so thanks for bearing with me 😳
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 January 2025
    Fresh and vivid writing meets the vintage backdrop of memories past.
    This is a great example of blending of characters with differing cultural backgrounds that doesn't feel contrived and fetish-esque.
    These are simply well fleshed out characters that happen to be of different origin.
    The action and romance are well balanced, which considering what is trending on booktok, proves is very hard to get right.
    This is a testament to Gong's great writing and dedication to story telling.
    If you crave reading a novel that will effortlessly transport you into a new world sans the trash of most YA novels, I'd strongly recommend this duology.
    The second installment is also a blast to read!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2025
    Good book. Interesting to learn about the country at that time and has good characters with deep stories. Enjoyed reading.

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • GZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Innamorata!
    Reviewed in Italy on 7 January 2023
    Titolo acquistato in sconto e pagato in flessibile solo 5€, ma lo ricomprerei anche se ne costasse 30!
    Ho adorato ogni pagina, ogni riga di questo romanzo: mi ha tenuto compagnia durante la mia vacanza estiva tanto da non riuscire a staccarmi per sapere come andasse avanti.

    Roma Montagov e Juliette Cai sono gli eredi di due gang antagoniste (Scarlet - White flower) che gravitano da sempre l'uno intorno all'altra: il loro rapporto subisce uno strappo profondo, che li porterà a cadere nel turbinio di vendette e scontri che da sempre affligge le strade di Shangai.
    Dopo 4 anni di lontananza, emotiva e geografica, nel 1926 Juliette torna in città e il suo percorso si intreccerà di nuovo a quello di Roma, portandoli a lavorare fianco a fianco per risolvere il mistero che avvolge la loro città. Riusciranno a superare ciò che lo ha divisi per arrivare insieme alla soluzione dell'enigma?

    Un romanzo storico-romantico con accenni fantasy utili al fine della trama, seppur non indispensabili perché non sono questi il fulcro.
    La storia prosegue scorrevole, il livello di inglese è un B1 e vorrei che Chloe Gong mi scrivesse la vita.
    CONSIGLIATISSIMO!
  • Yaëlle Vinçont
    5.0 out of 5 stars An original retelling of Romeo and Juliet
    Reviewed in France on 28 November 2021
    I love the story of Romeo and Juliet, have read the book, watched the movie... even got to be Benvolio in the play.
    This is what lead me to picking this book up (that, and Booktok reviews xD). This is not what made me unable to put it down.

    While keeping many ties to the original, this is a refreshing take on the age-old story.
    Here, we don't see Romeo and Juliette fall in love. We see Roma and Juliette navigate what happened to their relationships, 4 years after they fell in love and everything blew up and Juliette left. They're adults. They grew up. Now what?
    Those familiar with Shakespeare's version will easily recognize their favorite (and less favorite) characters, Malvolio, Benvolio, Friar Laurence, Tybalt... as well as a more fleshed out Rosaline, who now has a twin sister, Kathleen, and more Montagov family members. Those new characters perfectly slot into the story along the old ones, creating new twists to the plot.
    Add to that the fact that those characters are Chinese or Russian or Korean, and some of them LGBT+, and now this story from 400 years ago has representation.

    All in all, the story was new enough to keep me completely captivated, while having enough references to make me very happy (I might have giggled at several quotes' reinterpretation)
    Definitely recommend it!
  • Aristanae VanHofen
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most thrilling 'Romeo and Juliette'
    Reviewed in Germany on 6 July 2021
    I loved it from the begining to the end. Diving into the streets of Shanghai, traveling back in time, walking the streets with gangsters and madness. The plot was well written, the characters deep and deeply motivated to kill one another. So much love, so much hate! And the amount of work and research that must have gone into this book. Brilliantly written. My favourite 'Romeo and Juliette'
  • Sree
    5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best Retelling ever-written and defintely best romeojuliette retelling.
    Reviewed in India on 20 May 2021
    This book people is EVERYTHING. THE STORY, THE CHARACTERS, THE MYSTERY, THE ROMANCE, EVERYTHING IS SOOO GOOD.I cannot believe how good this book is . Chloe gong is such a good writer , I am going to buy anything she writes from now on.

    These violent delights is set in 1920's Shangai, with two rival gangs in the center of madness , that is out of their reach.This book deals with some real-life events that occurred in shangai at the time with colonialism and capitalism blooming in china at the time.

    Roma and Juliette are such engaging and strong protagonists, both of their characters are soo complex ,and interesting . I really loved how chloe gong built roma and Juliette as characters and their romance is to DIE FOR.(no pun intended).They have a lot of conflicting feeling for each other due to their gangs rivalry and them being the heirs doesn't make the matters easier.

    RECOMMEND THIS BOOK 100000% . CANNOT WAIT FOR OUR VIOLENT ENDS (That cliffhanger and the twist at the end though)
  • Moerat
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good world building
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 25 February 2021
    Good enemies to loves story, but it wasn't my favorite. I would recommend it mainly because of the world building