Week 3 Review: These Violent Delights

From Goodreads:

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.

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:
I really enjoyed reading this book! It's easy to see how it's a Romeo and Juliet retelling, from the names to the fact that they're from opposing families. I loved the setting, of 1920's Shanghai! We really got to see history in this book, and it was so atmospheric and amazing!

The story does diverge from the play, in that they met, fell in love, and things went bad, and she's been in the US for a little while now, and their paths are crossing again. So maybe it's more of, what if they hadn't gotten away, hadn't died, but kept living. That would make a lot of people bitter! 

Watching these two working for the same ends-figuring what's going on in their city, sometimes interacting, sometimes not, I loved gathering all the different pieces, that needed an explanation, and just spending this time with these characters. It was just so entertaining to read! 

That ending, wow! I mean, it was set up for it, but I was totally mislead to thinking things were going in a different direction! It was so clever! And I'm really interested to see where this series is going to go, because now there are a few new secrets, but that can't be all that happens in the next book! I can't wait to find out!

This was such a great book, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here! 

Author: Chloe Gong
Series: These Violent Delights #1
Read: January 16th, 2021
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book, Historical Fiction 2021 Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book! 
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: November 17th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars