These Violent Delights
These Violent Delights duet #1
by Chloe Gong
Adventure
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Romance
Suspense
Thriller
Review #1
* * * * * Stars (Amazing!)
Based on Shakespeare’s classic, “Romeo and Juliette,” “These Violent Delights” by Chloe Gong is set in Shanghai during the 1920s. The story follows Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov, heirs to rival gangs, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. When they were fifteen, they were deeply in love. Now, their relationship is blemished with bloodshed and betrayal. When a mysterious contagion is introduced to Shanghai, it turns its residents into monsters. This leads Juliette and Roma to confront their past and work together despite their feud. Will Juliette and Roma make up? Will they defeat the mysterious contagion? Read the book to find out!
I absolutely loved Chloe Gong’s writing in this book. The descriptions are interesting to read. Juliette and Roma are interesting protagonists whose complex relationship drives the story forward. The romantic tension between Juliette and Roma keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The supporting cast of the book is also well-developed. The supernatural element, the mysterious contagion, adds an interesting twist to the classic story. For middle and high school readers + adults.
