These Violent Delights

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong is a brilliantly imaginative retelling of Shakespeare's classic tale Romeo and Juliet set against the immersive and tumultuous backdrop of 1920s Shanghai. This gripping fantasy novel weaves together elements of romance, intrigue, and betrayal, creating a vividly atmospheric and unforgettable reading experience.

In glittering Shanghai, a hidden monster awakens, spreading terror across the city's streets. The heart of this chaos is driven by a violent blood feud between two rival gangs: the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. Eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper, returns from America to assume her role as the proud and fierce heir of the Scarlet Gang, a powerful network of criminals operating far above the law.

Opposing the Scarlets are the White Flowers, led by their own heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love and first betrayal. Their long-standing rivalry has turned the city into a battleground, with neither side willing to yield.

However, as gangsters from both sides begin showing signs of a mysterious affliction—clawing their own throats out in fits of madness—the whispers of a contagion and a lurking monster grow louder. Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Juliette and Roma must set their deadly grudges and weapons aside to work together. Failure to quell the spreading mayhem will mean the total destruction of Shanghai, leaving neither gang anything to rule.

Filled with riveting romance, intense intrigue, and dark betrayal, this heart-stopping debut novel is perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane. Chloe Gong captivates readers with her vivid depiction of 1920s Shanghai and the complex, emotional ties binding her characters.

Reviews:

Tessa Gratton, author of The Queens of Innis Lear, praises the novel as "heady, smart, and vicious".

New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan describes it as "deliciously dark".

Emiko Jean, the author of Empress of all Seasons, calls it "dark and beautiful".

June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones, hails it as "a terrific, deliciously unputdownable read".