This is a spoiler free review.
These Violent Delights
Written by Chloe Gong
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Pages: 449
Source: Bought
Source: Bought
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
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.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
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.
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
"The year is 1926 and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery."
These Violent Delights is the debut book of Chloe Gong, which is a YA retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai with rivaling gangs and a river monster. So far, this was one of my favorite books of the year.
COVER
COVER
The cover definitely accurately portrays the overall vibe of the book. I love how the roses cover the sword which are a nod to the classic Romeo and Juliet story.
WORLD-BUILDING
Chloe Gong managed to make the world of Shanghai in the 1920s a really immersive experience that I felt as if I could see myself walking along the streets alongside the characters. The city of Shanghai is unofficially divided into two territories. One of which belongs to the Scarlet Gang and the other belongs to the White Flowers. These two rival gangs have been ruling Shanghai, however, a madness is now spreading throughout the city with members of both gangs dying by clawing out their own throats. These Violent Delights also commented on and portrayed Western imperialism. Chloe Gong showed the various foreigners coming into Shanghai and making a home in a city that was not theirs, and showed how helpless the Chinese people felt. It also showed how embedded Western culture was in the city of Shanghai, as well as other cities and places not in the Western world.
Then there are the characters. (This book is told in three POVs)
JULIETTE CAI
Juliette Cai was a strong character who immediately became my favorite character. She was the badass, fierce, take no prisoners character of the book and was not afraid to do what she had to do to protect her people and her family. She frequently questions and struggles with her identity as she was sent to live and grow up in the U.S. for a large part of her life which makes her feel out of place in Shanghai. She is far more Chinese than the white foreigners around her, however, she feels out of place with her gang and her family due to the way she dresses, the way she speaks, and even her own name which she changed in the U.S. because she was made fun of for her Chinese name.
JULIETTE CAI
Juliette Cai was a strong character who immediately became my favorite character. She was the badass, fierce, take no prisoners character of the book and was not afraid to do what she had to do to protect her people and her family. She frequently questions and struggles with her identity as she was sent to live and grow up in the U.S. for a large part of her life which makes her feel out of place in Shanghai. She is far more Chinese than the white foreigners around her, however, she feels out of place with her gang and her family due to the way she dresses, the way she speaks, and even her own name which she changed in the U.S. because she was made fun of for her Chinese name.
ROMA MONTAGOV
Roma Montagov is the heir to The White Flowers gang who are Russian, however he doesn't like violence and isn't sure he wants to be the heir to the gang. He appeared to be rough and ruthless however, that seemed to be a mask he put on in order to assume the role as heir to gang. He also was caring and tender to the people he loves.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
The families in this book are the rival gangs which are definitely important to the book. The complications of these families is showcased pretty front and center. The loyalty to your gang/family and how it is challenged by who you dare to love was a large theme in the story.
PLOT
These Violent Delights is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with two rival gangs: The White Flowers and The Scarlet Gang. When a monster which is lurking in Shanghai causes multiple people to get sick and tear out their own throats, Juliette (the heir to The Scarlet Gang) while Roma (the heir to The White Flowers gang), have to put aside their rivalry in order to figure out what's going on and stop it. While the plot wasn't fast-paced the entire way through, it had many twists and turns that kept my interest throughout.
ROMANCE
Despite this being a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the romance in this is very different. I know there are quite a few people who didn't enjoy the romance between Roma and Juliette however, I enjoyed it, but I do wish that we had gotten flashbacks. Roma and Juliette's romantic history was referenced a lot but there were never any real flashbacks which would have provided a lot more context. Roma and Juliette come from two rival gangs however they also seemed to be childhood best-friends before they were anything romantic. However, before Juliette went to the U.S. they had an extreme falling out having to do with their families, which leads us to their relationship now. Their relationship was full of a lot of angst and was a definite enemies to lovers relationship.
WRITING
Chloe Gong's writing really brings 1920s Shanghai to life. She makes it seem as if the reader is walking down the streets or sitting in a crowded nightclub with Juliette and Roma. I love the descriptive writing she uses as it flows easily and keeps the reader immersed but isn't overly flowery so it isn't hard to get through.
FINAL THOUGHTS
These Violent Delights is an amazing book about rival gangs in Shanghai who's heirs have to put aside their differences in order to solve a mystery of a monster roaming the streets. I especially loved the plot, the writing style and the complex characters. I highly recommend it.
Quotes from the Book:
"That is what this city is. The party at the end of the world."
"The stars incline us, they do not bind us."
"I was raised in hatred, Roma. I could never be your lover, only your killer."
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
