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These Violent Delights
These Violent Delights | Chloe Gong
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 Ganga 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, Juliettes first loveand 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 gunsand grudgesaside and work together, for if they cant stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Readers in the wild! Starting the tagged on my phone because I forgot my earbuds 😫

#Soccer these parents yelling are going to make my nerves bad! 😂🤣

54 likes1 stack add
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AroundTheBookWorld
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AroundTheBookWorld
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“No,” she whispered hoarsely. “No, he couldn‘t have.”
The bells along the streets began to ring, seven times for the hour.
And in the distance, a chorus of screaming tore through the city.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #bookhoarder #bookhaul #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #YoungAduktFantasy 💓💓💓

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AroundTheBookWorld
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SconsinBookyBadger
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A little book splurging therapy after enduring a chaotic work week. I ordered all of them online since they‘re listed as out of stock at my B&N. And now I wait for the Shanghai star crossed lovers and their gang to arrive in the mail. Except Our Violent Ends. That‘s a pre-order to a June release.
#TPRC
@Yuki_Onna

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Nessavamusic
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Bailedbailed

This started strong, but I wish it had been allowed to not lean into e youth of the main characters. At times they were very strong, brave and intelligent, then the next chapter whining about not being trusted/believed. I respect this as a well written YA book, but I am bailing at 50%. A #roll100 pick off the TBR!

PuddleJumper I felt similarly. Got a bit frustrating after awhile 9mo
54 likes1 comment
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AroundTheBookWorld
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AroundTheBookWorld
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LitLaur
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Panpan

Mehhhh, I was looking forward to a Shanghai-based modern Romeo & Juliet. This unfortunately incorporated a monster, vermin, and too many unanswered questions.

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thestarlesscasea
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books finished in may 2023 📚
started out the month DNFing the rakess; ended the month giving these violent delights five stars...we love to see that growth 📈
i read gay shit all year so pride month doesn't change my reading much, but i'm always excited to see others reading more queer lit.🌈
happy june, happy pride, happy reading ✨️

12 likes1 stack add
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PuddleJumper
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Panpan

This is not a well written book. Its tone is sulky and melodramatic, it's all tell and no show, and there is no depth to it whatsoever.

The pace is so possibly slow that I could read several chapters and nothing happened. I had to force myself to come back to it.

PuddleJumper #trappedonanisland @Pigpen_Reads @aperfectmjk Glad to have read this and got it off my list. It's been haunting me for ages 😂 2y
5feet.of.fury Oh no! I just read Foul Lady Fortune and I know it‘s loosely connected to that Duology so I was curious… maybe a borrow not buy situation then 😬 2y
PuddleJumper @5feet.of.fury It was mostly the writing style and pace I didn't get on with. The ideas were great. She might have improved with the newer books 2y
28 likes4 comments
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KittenColossus
This post contains spoilers
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Was so not prepared for insect induced body horror. 😖

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monibookishnerd
Pickpick

This is my first attempt of reading a Romeo & Juliette retell. It is quite dark, twisted and does not follow the typical tragic, romantic theme of the Shakespeare's drama.
The romance wasn't dominant in the story but rather the mystery around the monster, the violence on the streets and between the gangs, and Rome's and Juliette's investigation.

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VioletMoonBooks
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In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens.
It eyes snap open in the belly of the Huangpu River, jaws unhinging at once to taste the foul blood seeping into the waters.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #firstline #openingline #book #books #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #bookhaul #bookholic #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction 💞💞💞💞💞

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melzen
Pickpick

⭐3.6
an interesting retelling of juliet and romeo, with intrigue and moster lurking around the cirty and causing havick and death upon it's wake set in 1920s Shangai. This book felt slow at the beginning but picked up the pase quickly, which was enjoyble for me personally.
#chloegong #theseviolentdelights #fridayread

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Gissy
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Pickpick

This book was not what I expected. I knew was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet so I thought would be a romance story. Loved it. In some parts I didn‘t see it as a YA. It is about betrayals, revenge between these two gangs and that impossible romance. It has this element that I don‘t know if it is fantasy with a touch of sci-fi? Something is killing people from both gangs and both gangs are trying to investigate the origin of it, the cure⬇️

Gissy Cont. the eradication of it. Who created it? Why? And that ending, was perfect. I couldn‘t put it down, I almost finished it in one day. 4⭐️Ready for the sequel.

#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash
Readathons: #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaOfBooks
#Spookoween @TheSpineView
#Pointsathon @Dieareader @Ghabi4Roses
#Witchaton @mdm139
#Scarathlon (#4 scream)
#BodyCountBingo (creepy character) @puddlejumpe
⬇️
(edited) 2y
Gissy #OctoberBookBingo (black cover the background is black) @rachelsbrittain
#LittenListenBingo (longer than 10 hours) @aperfectmjk
#AutumnBingo2022 (orange on the cover well, there are some parts with orange color) @Ann_Reads
#TheForgottenBookClub
#OutstandinOctober Readathon (5th and last book read for this Readathon) @Andrew65
14 reading hours x 10 points=140 points x 11 readathons=1,540 points + 15 genre book + 15 #ScarathlonDailyPrompt
⬇️
2y
Gissy + 5 points photo + 1 point post = 1,576 points

@Staycurious
2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
43 likes4 comments
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melzen
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Finally getting around reading this book, heard many good things about it. I am I late to the train 🚂?
So far half into the book, and the characters seem a bit bland to me i don‘t know if I don‘t get them.
#theseviolentdelights #mondayreading #crocheting #octoberread

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APLitlife
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Pickpick

Good story, but hard to get into the setting of early 1900s Shanghai when all names are Western.

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VioletMoonBooks
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Sparklemn Amen to that!! 👍 (edited) 2y
31 likes1 comment
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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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Pickpick

This was not what I expected. It was an interesting story line but I had a hard time following along with some of it. Overall it was a pretty good story. Hopefully I will be able to better understand the sequel to it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookmark #bookmarks #bookmarket #bookmarkets #bookmoment #bookmoments #bookquote #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery 💛💛

TheBookHippie I liked the sequel better! 2y
28 likes1 comment
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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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5feet.of.fury “Doesn‘t it gladden you that the rain won‘t be dripping on us in the wee small hours?” 2y
Meshell1313 “My throat is weeping.” 🤣🤣🤣 I‘m literally dying of laughter. 🤣🤣🤣 2y
DPgirl "Thw sun was setting over the mountains, and Ben felt as if it was taking another precious chunk of time with it" ?? 2y
19 likes3 comments
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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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Tera66 Oh no😂 2y
31 likes2 comments
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VioletMoonBooks
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writerlibrarian
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#weeklyforecast

This is day 2 of my summer break. 3 weeks of nothing but reading. 😁
August is also ARC challenge month.
Let's see how many I can knock off the 📚

#AugustARCs

Cinfhen Ohhh, I forgot all about ARCs 🫢 Enjoy your next 3 weeks!!! I better go check my #NetGalley shelf 2y
Cinfhen Thanks for the reminder 💜 2y
Susanita Reading break! Sweet! 2y
Andrew65 Enjoy your reading fest! 2y
33 likes4 comments
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writerlibrarian
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#threethings make a post.

Thing 1 : Finished another ARC
Thing 2 : Started book 1 of a duology book 2 is the next ARC
Thing 3 : Reading with a sleepy cat

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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Our story centers around Juliette Cai, a former flapper girl who‘s returned from her time in America to reclaim her place as heiress to the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, the mistreated and belittled heir of the White Flowers. When they were fifteen, Juliette and Roma defied the blood feud in a moment of mutual peace and fell in love.

But we wouldn‘t have a story if their love was allowed to grow and flourish, right?
#TheseViolentDelights 💕💕

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cwarnier
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Pickpick

#LMPBC @shadowfat @mklong @magyklyXdelish
#Bookspin #doublebookspin #June
I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. This is not a book I think I would have picked up on my own, but am glad I read it.
The story line was just interesting enough to keep in me engaged and having to know what comes next.
The end not at all what I expected, and I have the audio of #2 on hold with the library.

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cwarnier
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#summer
It is hot out, but bearable in the shade by the river.
Great place to read.

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Dcueto
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Why did I leave this duet on my TBR for so long???? Love love love Shakespeare, Shakespeare retellings, and this particular spin on Romeo and Juliet. DEVOURED the two books

32 likes1 stack add
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cwarnier
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#JoysOfJune
So I am almost completely caught up on #BIbleBuddyRead. I am only behind by 3 days! Better than my goal.
I finished Forever Pucked- Better than my original goal.
I didn't quite make it to chapter 10 of These Violent Delights, but I am made it to chapter 5.
Overall I am pleasantly happy with how well I did! Usually I do horribly with goal setting and over set.

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cwarnier
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Gorgeous afternoon for pool sitting and swimming.
Maybe I will get through chapter 10, aka my #joysofjune goal.

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cwarnier
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#lmpbc
Look what arrived today. I will try to get in this shortly.
@Shadowfat @mklong @magyklyXdelish

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Shadowfat
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Pickpick

This was a little long for me but it picked up towards the end. I enjoyed that it wasn't your typical take on Romeo and Juliet. Sorry it took so long to read! I mailed this out yesterday @cwarnier . @mklong @magyklyXdelish #lmpbc group Q

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VioletMoonBooks
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staci.reads
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Mehso-so

It is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, but set in 1920s Shanghai and involving a monster, a mystery, and the two heirs to their family-gangster-empire. It has gotten a lot of rave reviews, but I was underwhelmed and had a hard time making myself come back to it each time. I just couldn't get into it or care that much. I feel bad because my oldest daughter loved it and went right out to get the sequel. She's been on me to read it, but 🤷‍♀️

thereadingpal I'm reading mixed reviews about this book x) now I really wanna see for myself 2y
58 likes1 comment
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ClairesReads
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Panpan

This book has absolutely no right to be as boring as it is. Shakespeare re-telling, Shanghai in the 1920s, an epidemic of madness which has people literally ripping their own throats out. It has so much potential to be an exciting story. But. It‘s. Just. Not.

CoverToCoverGirl I was uncertain about this one but your review has help me to decide. Off the shelf is comes, not interested in the ripping out of throats. 😬 2y
batsy Oh, that's disappointing. I was intrigued by the description but it also seemed like the type of book that would be either hit or miss. 2y
ClairesReads @CoverToCoverGirl glad to have helped! 2y
ClairesReads @batsy I was disappointed too- lots of people seem to have liked it but I just could not get invested 2y
35 likes4 comments
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VioletMoonBooks
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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.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #YoungAdultFantasy #Mystery #Audiobook #book #books #TBR #ToBeRead #TBRBingo #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia 💛💛💛

29 likes1 stack add
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ilyssa.g
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Pickpick

Haven‘t read much lately because I‘ve been busy with grad school but I did finish this one! It had a slow start but I ended up loving it! It was original, well-written and so interesting! I liked both Roma and Juliet and many of the side characters. I don‘t like most retellings I‘ve read: thus, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It also had a great amount of diverse representation! I am so excited to read the next book!

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VioletMoonBooks
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
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Mehso-so

I was excited about this Romeo & Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with a heavy dose of fantasy, but ultimately, it fell short for me. There were interesting plot points, but the fantasy/science fiction elements and worldbuilding were very weak. The writing was choppy and I didn‘t connect with any of the characters. This could have been a lot shorter (and not a duology), but it ended on a cliffhanger, so I‘ll give the finale a shot. 2.5⭐️

19 likes1 stack add
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Saknicole
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Pickpick

I cannot express how exceptional this novel is. As someone that teaches R&J on a yearly basis- THIS IS THE ADAPTATION THAT THE WORLD NEEDED. It is a MUST read. 1920s, Shanghai opposing gangs. In the R&J adaptation, this is more post teen love (19/20 now), full enemies after assumed teenage betrayal. I am already LOVING the sequel. Also, yes, I keep a planner mostly just to past pictures of book covers in. #shakespeareadaptation #teachersoflitsy

Kimberlone I will definitely check it out! 3y
18 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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sept_scribbles
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Meshell1313
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Pickpick

You had me at Romeo & Juliet meet 1920‘s Shanghai. Add in some supernatural fantasy and this kept me immersed in the story. I loved meeting old, familiar characters in new ways! My favorite is what Gong did with Friar Lawrence! I can‘t wait to check out the next book in the series.

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VioletMoonBooks
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PaperbackPrincess19 I love it 😂 3y
36 likes1 comment