"They call this place the Venice of the East. Just as they call Shanghai the Paris of the East. When are we going to stop letting the colonizers pick the comparisons? Why don't we have call Paris the Shanghai of the West?"
isbn: 9781529344561 | pages: 494
publication date: November 16, 2021 | source: ebook/net-galley/tour
genre: young adult, historical fiction, retelling
rating: 6.3/10
A M A Z O N | G O O D R E A D S | B O O K S H O P *
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y | B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S
the tensions of political unrest
Our Violent Delights is the thrilling and heartbreaking conclusion to Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights duology. Picking up in the aftermath of book one's events, the story follows Juliette and Roma as civil unrest and the threat of madness continues to loom over Shanghai. The sequel truly takes all the tension from TVD and raises the bar to another level as the cast of characters grapple with their dividing loyalties and the shifting political atmosphere of the city. So much happens but there's also this underlying sense that time is running out which makes the reading experience unforgettable.
This duology takes the themes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette and offers a fresh new commentary on the changing political ties of Shanghai with the brewing war between the Nationalists and Communists. I particularly loved this aspect of the story because we're so often painted very black and white views of socio-politics that we don't often get to explore the heart of why these drastic shifts occur. Getting to see the struggle of the people, how power is manipulative and desperate, and also the racial roles that seemingly predetermined the victors from the start, were all aspects of the story that made it more than a retelling.
fighting for hope
I cannot talk about this sequel without mentioning my absolute love for the characters. As most of the internet is aware, Roma and Juliette have such a complex (and perfect) dynamic that walks the fine line between love and hate while managing to wring all the emotions from the readers. Personally, I knew I was going to adore the duo but it was the cast of side characters that captured my heart. Marshall and Benedikt, Kathleen and Rosalind, even Lourens and dare I say Tyler - every character was able to become more developed and fleshed out and together they really brought this story even more to life.
This is a story that I know I'll be able to revisit many times. As this is a highly praised and beloved duology, I did feel the hype getting to me at times - raising my already sky-high expectations and I would love to come back in a couple years and reread the story maybe with less pressure to absolutely adore this and see how it holds up in my memory (hands down think it will blow me away the second/third/etc. time around). Chloe Gong is an absolutely masterful writer and if this duology is any indication of her talent, I absolutely cannot wait for her future works.
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| Thank you so much Turn the Page Tours for allowing me to participate on this tour! Be sure to click the banner above to see all the other stops for Our Violent Ends! |
about the author
Chloe Gong is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, studying English and International Relations. During her breaks, she's either at home in New Zealand or visiting her many relatives in Shanghai. Chlose has been known to mysteriously appear by chanting "Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's best plays and doesn't deserve its slander in pop culture" into a mirror three times. You can find her on Twitter @thechloegong, check out her website at thechloegong.com, or email her at chloegongwrites@gmail.com.
giveaway
Up for grabs, we are giving away ONE (1) finished copy of These Violent Delights and ONE (1) finished copy of Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong. This giveaway will run from Nov. 1st through 20th at 11:59 PM CST and will be open to US residents ONLY. One winner will be chosen. To enter, click the link below!
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