Review: These Violents Delights by Chloe Gong
I don’t know how many I can say it, but I love retellings. We all know this by now, I’m a broken record! So when I learned of this Romeo and Juliet retelling, I knew I needed to add it to my shelf.
It’s actually the second Romeo & Juliet retelling I’ve read in 2021 but both stories were so incredibly different. It’s one of my favorite parts of retellings—the core story is the same, but the direction an author can take it is entirely different.
Synopsis: “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.”
What I Liked:
The Setting/World Building—This book is an urban fantasy, so it takes place in a setting (Shanghai) familiar to us but unfamiliar things happen. The world was so rich and decadent, truly a character in itself.
The Depth of the Story—This is the first book setting up a series, so the story is so BIG. There’s so much to it and while I could pick up on the Romeo & Juliet elements, Gong took the story in so many expected ways, it really held up on its own.
The Side Characters—I was really impressed with how all the characters were well fleshed out! All the side characters had full and rich personalities. I think we’ll see more from them as the series progresses.
What Didn’t Work:
Pacing—Things moved too fast and too slow for me at points. The end felt a bit rushed while there was so much set up in the middle of the book that I didn’t feel like we got the pay off for.
Details—Because the world was so rich, some characters and plot moments fell flat for me.
The Lack of Romance—I was expecting a bit more push and pull with the romance, given that it is based on Romeo & Juliet, but it was pretty light on the relationship! I think we’ll see more as the series progresses, but I definitely missed that story line.
TW/CW: Pandemic, gang violence, murder, gore
Character Authenticity: 4.5/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 4/5