Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of reading one of author Chloe Gong’s most popular novels, These Violent Delights, a young adult historical fantasy based in 1920’s Hong Kong. The novel is a retelling of Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, and is a part of a Duology. The two main characters, Julliete Cai and Roma Montagov, are both heirs to two rival criminal networks fighting for power in the city of Hong Kong, who share a complicated and tumultuous history together. But when an unknown disease starts spreading throughout the city, the two are forced to work together to stop it.
When I first started reading this book, I was surprised at how the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Immediately upon starting the book, the characters embark on an investigation that takes them throughout the city of Shanghai and beyond. Throughout the story, the author explores themes like loyalty and the cost of power.
One of the main things that I loved about the book is how real the characters felt. Although the story is set in a fantasized version of Shanghai in the early 20th century, each character had their own struggles and relationship dynamics that shaped their personalities, and ultimately made the story feel so much more authentic, despite the fact that it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling. The author doesn’t rely heavily on character arcs and ideas of the original, instead creating an entirely new story with new characters and relationships that will make you laugh and keep you turning pages.
The author does an incredible job in writing the tense scenes throughout the book, and does it in a way that isn’t predictable and keeps you guessing. Since this book is a part of a Duology, the book ends with a large cliffhanger, that is continued on in the next book, Our Violent Ends, which was released in November of 2021.
If you have any interests in historical fiction, fantasy, or retellings then I can’t recommend this book to you enough! The level of suspense and drama will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you’ll be reaching for the next book of the duology in no time!
