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Shanghai is under siege in this captivating and searingly romantic sequel to These Violent Delights, which New York Times bestselling author Natasha Ngan calls “deliciously dark.”

The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.

After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.

Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.

Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.

509 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2021

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About the author

Chloe Gong

18 books24.9k followers
Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in the New York Times, PEOPLE, Cosmopolitan, and more. She was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,030 reviews
Profile Image for Lia Carstairs.
513 reviews2,740 followers
November 17, 2021
I am an empty shell of my former self 😃
Chloe you're paying for my therapy bills <3


This is the 2nd time in my life that I’ve been this heartbroken over a book. Literally it was a full out sob-fest for me reading this.

I don't think I will ever truly recover and really I should've known better but of course I foolishly hoped. My heart has been stomped on, torn into pieces and thrown into an explosion. I actually wasn't expecting to be this heartbroken like WHY did I go ahead and fall in love with every single one of these characters?? I was literally setting myself up for pain *sobs* But oh, isn't that the beauty of reading? To fall in love only to have your heart broken.

Just the way I got trolled so badly, like some of the events actually had me thinking otherwise but oh no no🤡 I am now and forever depressed™

I can literally imagine this was how Chloe was when she wrote OVE:

The monster of Shanghai who?? I only know Miss Chloe Gong *sobbing*


(Warning: There will be spoiler from the 1st book, These Violent Delights!!)

═══*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*═══

"A rose is a rose, even by another name. But we choose whether we will offer beauty to the world, or if we will use our thorns to sting."

1927 Shanghai and the city is at the brink of complete chaos. Sightings of monsters have re-emerged, the Communists have grown more bold, and the two gangs ruling the city have gone at each other out for more blood than usual.

Meanwhile, Juliette Cai is having to watch her every step in the face of Tyler--her cousin just waiting to find reason to declare Juliette a traitor and become heir to the Scarlet Gang--and watch for Roma Montagov who is out for revenge after the death of Marshall Seo. Oh and also worry about the appearances of monsters and state of the city. Life is stressful for Juliette :(

I won't go into anymore details of the plot because ✨spoilers✨ BUT OMG THE WAY IT GRIPPED ME FROM THE START?? It took me a while to get into TVD but this!! Literally there wasn't a moment in this book I didn't love. I was a ball of anxiety the whole time. of course my heart was also dying because of the wholesomeness and very few precious scenes And like I actually dropped my expectations for this because I thought and feared it wouldn't be that good but oh how very, very wrong I was.

The characters were so much more fleshed out here?? I already liked them before in TVD but I was just so so in love with them all here to the point where I'd straight up be PRAYING they'd survive😭 Benedikt, Marshall, Kathleen... I didn't think it was possible to adore them all so much, my heart is so full of love. And don't even get me started on the two stars who went from enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies in TVD sdfsfgs THE ANGST.

"She was not fighting for love. She was protecting her own, everyone else's be damned."

THIS QUEEN. Did I believe it to be possible for Juliette to be even more of a queen than she already was? No. Did it happen anyways? HELL YES. All the pain she had to go through, making Roma believe that she had actually killed Marshall and subjecting herself to his hatred *sobbing* And it was all to protect him and the city. And then also having to deal with that bastard Tyler along with her own family and people having not so much faith in her ugh. Juliette hiding away any signs of weakness because people were always watching was so heartbreaking. She couldn't give her people any more reason to doubt her then they already do. Kathleen being the only one she could be herself with, always there for her🥺

You know that moment when you have so much to say that you don't know how to write it all out? That's me right now. Just know if you loved Juliette before, you will definitely love her even more now.

"And maybe he was a coward. He was a coward who wouldn't stop loving a wicked thing."

ROMA, MY LOVE. Oh my god, he's such a cinnamon roll that must be protected at all costs. The hatred and love he felt towards Juliette hurt my soul. Even after seeing Juliette "kill" Marshall, a small part of him believed that there was more to it AND HOW RIGHT THAT FEELING WAS. Of course, Juliette tried as hard as ever to extinguish that feeling but still sdfdgsgds THE ANGST BETWEEN THE TWO.

"Only he knew if he screamed I hate you, what he really meant was I love you. I still love you so much that I hate you for it."

Enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies at its peak😩
The first book's romance wasn't a really big focus BUT HERE?? God, the tension was literally killing me. So many times my heart stopped because of these two😭 The two heirs of rival gangs who dared to love one another <3

(credit: @polarts_)

"And if you are gunned down because you want to fight a war that doesn't belong to you, I will never forgive this city. I will tear it down to pieces, and you will be to blame!

When the ship is in a heated argument and then one of them breaks and yells "because I love you!" sdfsfgsgs MY HEART I LOVED THIS SCENE SO MUCH IT WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED.


The amount of pain I was in during this whole book like not only did I have suffer watching Roma and Juliette BUT ALSO BENEDIKT WAS SO BROKEN IT HURT. Believing Marshall to be dead completely destroyed him and the whole time throughout I was just screaming "he's alive Benedikt, he's alive!!" That was honestly just true torture knowing Marshall was alive. Benedikt being so reckless about his life like no Ben what are you doing😭

And meanwhile, there's Marshall -- AKA MY PRECIOUS BEAN -- who missed everyone, but of course Ben the most🥺 The two being apart pained me so much, like why can't everyone just be happy?? Is that too much to ask for??
Stan BenMars forever <3

(credit: @Kirisy_art)

Also let it be remembered that Benedikt is and forever will be the only sensible one of the whole group.

"Keep fighting for love. It is worth it."

ALSO LET ME JUST SCREAM ABOUT JULIETTE AND MARSHALL'S FRIENDSHIP. It was so beautiful, sweet, and just everything omg I loved it so so so much. Their banter was like one between siblings and the way my heart was about to burst😭 IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. Literally all the relationships between the characters were so so amazing, I can't choose a favourite it's impossible.

"And yet wasn't that the root of all hatred? Wasn't that what made it so vicious? There was never a reason. Never a good one. Never a fair one."

Kathleen Lang, please marry me. She's literally such a genuine and kind-hearted person just how?? Such a morally good character and the development she went through by the end of this book???🥺 I was actually about to cry. Also, Juliette and her just have the most wholesome friendship ever, there was moment between them that made me so emotional, get a friend like Kathleen😭

Also this is totally off-topic but I'm WHEEZING at how I said at the end of my These Violent Delights review how my loyalty will forever lie with the Scarlet Gang... HAHA no the Scarlet Gang can go to hell :)
Correction: My loyalty forever lies with Roma and Juliette <3 They are true leaders.


↓ MAJOR SPOILERS FOR OVE IN THIS SECTION ↓


═══*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*═══
"Keep fighting for love. Juliette had wanted to be selfish, had wanted to run. But this was their love⁠—violent and bloody. This city was their love. They couldn't deny their upbringings as the heirs of Shanghai, as two pieces of a throne. What was left of their love if they rejected that? How could they live with themselves, look at each other, knowing they had been presented a choice and gone against who they were at the core."

I legit can't even write their names without tears blurring my vision. LIKE I'M ACTUALLY STRUGGLING WRITING THIS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO SEE. It's so heartbreaking my heart physically hurts. All they wanted was to live happy, alone and free from the blood feud ohmygod AND THEY EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN AWAY, but oh Roma and Juliette were too noble for their own good and I both love and hate them for that. They just wanted to love each other freely. They just wanted peace, and they couldn't even have that. I'M SOBBING. They gave up their lives for the city that caused them so much pain. PLEASE HOW ARE ROMA AND JULIETTE SO GOOD??

And like obviously it shouldn't have been a surprise they were going to die considering it was a retelling of R&J. Like even the foreshadowing made it obvious BUT I STILL FOOLISHLY HOPED CHLOE WOULD SPARE OUR HEARTS. It wouldn't have been an accurate retelling if she hadn't followed through BUT STILL😭😭 It pains me so so much and I just want to crawl into a hole and die because those two so deserved all the happiness in this world.

I WANTED BENMARS AND ROMAJULIETTE TO LIVE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, HAVE KIDS, AND GROW OLD TOGETHER HAPPY THIS ISN'T FAIR, THIS PAIN IS ILLEGAL. I love that Roma and Juliette got to at least die together holding hands and knowing that both of their cousins were dead at least but omg I will never recover from this. And the gangs were disbanded because of their deaths so at least that's something😭

They were only married for one day before they died *sobbing* Chloe you're too cruel.
"In this life they had been born enemies. In this life they had blood for miles between them, wide enough to run a river, deep enough to forge a valley. In the next, maybe there would be peace."


═══*.·:·.☽✧ ❀ ✧☾.·:·.*═══


This review was a chaotic mess, so you can tell just how much this book destroyed me. It's been months since a book made me feel this way and I don't know if I should be thanking or cursing Chloe. Either way, STAN THIS QUEEN FOR MAKING ME FEEL LIKE THIS. I will forever remember each of these lovable characters and absolutely can't wait for Foul Lady Fortune which hopefully won't break me as much as OVE did. lies, the masochist in me hopes for that


Now, time to go through the stages of grief... except in this case, I'll never get to the 5th✌



Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All quotes in this review are subject to change upon release date.

✧*˚*✧

These Violent Delights: ★★★★

_____

Update [July 12th, 2021]: THE BOOK GODS LISTENED TO MY PLEAS IM SOBBING I GOT AN ARC😭😭

*excited* *scared*


Update: Feb.2nd, 2021:

ohmygod-

I was terrified before

and that cover/blurb SO ISN'T HELPING

Update: Dec. 19, 2020:

omg "Our Violent Ends" . . . OUR VIOLENT ENDS

STOP SCARING ME CHLOE

Update: Nov. 22, 2020:

To say that I'm freaking out over what's going to happen in this book is definitely an understatement.

One thing's for sure

Chloe is going to destroy us.

✧*˚*✧
Profile Image for Cait Jacobs (Caitsbooks).
315 reviews15.5k followers
October 9, 2024
I'm going to need some time to emotionally recover from this

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC to review

Our Violent Ends is a beautiful conclusion to an emotionally devastating series. This book will stick with you long after you put it down. It is an atmospheric journey, with characters that will embed themselves into your heart, and relationships that will have you crying at 2 am (... totally not speaking from experience here).

The plot in this book is gripping and will have you on the edge of your seat. We all know Romeo and Juliet, but Our Violent Ends surpasses even Shakespeare. I had to put the book down several times just to breathe and prepare myself to keep reading. I also had to put the book down a few times in order to let the beautiful writing style sink in. There are some passages in this book that I would reread again and again because of how beautifully they were written, and how well they were crafted.

In the end, Our Violent Ends is the perfect sequel and has cemented this series as one of my all-time favorites.
Profile Image for Tashie Bhuiyan.
Author 6 books2,301 followers
November 28, 2020
If you thought THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS was incredible, then Book 2 is going to blow you out of the water. I'm incredibly lucky in that I am one of the first people to read an early copy of this book, and I genuinely treasure this experience beyond words. I can't wait for everyone to read this masterpiece. I am in such awe of this book and am certain all of these characters will live in my heart long beyond the completion of this story. I cried, I laughed, I screamed, I loved. And truly, what more can you ask for in a book?

More than anything, this book reminded me that at the heart of it all, daring to love is bravest thing we can ever do. Chloe Gong has built a tale wondrous enough to rival Shakespeare. (He's been real quiet since THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS came out...)
Profile Image for christy.
206 reviews63 followers
April 7, 2022
shakespeare wishes he was chloe gong
April 4, 2023
Alexa, play The Great War by Taylor Swift.

SHAKESPEARE WISHES HE WAS CHLOE GONG. HE COULD NEVER WRITE THIS MASTERPIECE.

So, it took me a while to finish this book (more than a fucking year) and it was because I knew what was going to happen... And honestly I wasn't ready. As I said in my review of These Violent Delights , Romeo and Juliet was my first book, and Roma my very first crush, like ever. Holy shit, my mum had to see me cry for him like for 3 hours...

Book 1 made me cry slightly, but book 2 broke me like a fucking promise. I said what I said.

I knew how this was gonna end. I knew it was gonna break my heart and shatter it into million of small pieces. I knew I was gonna cry like a bitch because I'm a cancer with pisces moon, which means I cry a lot, lmao... And still, I read this book.

I'm a masochist, I can see it now.

Dear Chloe, please let me live like a delusional and let me have my happy ending, pretending that my Juliette and Roma lived forever happy.
Profile Image for Mel.
149 reviews12.7k followers
November 27, 2021
now wait a minute… i need to know if the price of this book includes a therapy session because… i am UNWELL😭
Profile Image for Lisa of Troy.
808 reviews6,771 followers
January 19, 2024
Will Roma and Juliette have a new fate in this updated retelling of the classic?

Set in Shanghai in 1927, there are two feuding families, the White Flowers and the Scarlets. Roma Montagov is the heir to the White Flowers while Juliette Cai is the heir to the Scarlets. These star-crossed lovers are determined to find a way to protect the city from various forces - the monsters, politics, and even their own families. What fate lies in store for these two?

Our Violent Ends is the second book from Chloe Gong following her debut novel, These Violent Delights. Although I did read the first book about a year ago, Our Violent Ends heavily referenced to some events from the first book that I regretted not rereading it before diving into the second book.

Ms. Gong is oozing with talent. She has such a vast vocabulary and a very strong command of verbs. When I started to get bored, I would highlight the words that we all know but don't use very often in our everyday language. In this book, Ms. Gong went beyond the traditional fan fiction and crafted a new story.

The book could have benefited from better pacing, and the book was overly long at nearly 500 pages. There were too many different sub-plots going on. There were multiple power struggles, multiple love stories, and multiple battles and enemies. The ending was also a huge disappointment, not very memorable. It almost felt like the author ran out of steam by the end.

Overall, although Our Violent Ends dragged at times, Ms. Gong's prose was quite delightful, and it was refreshing to see the author craft an original tale.

2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities

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Profile Image for jessica.
2,595 reviews45.7k followers
March 31, 2024
i mean, given the title and knowing how the story of romeo and juliet ends, i shouldnt be so mad about how everything plays out in this… but i am.

and im probably just bitter about it because i wanted a strong, happy ending to offset how meh i felt about the rest of the book. mainly because i couldnt care less about the historical revolution happening in shanghai at the time. the communists vs. the revolutionists is not a subplot i care about, especially when the book is as long and drawn out as this one is. give me more gang fights, give me more monsters, give me more betrayals. basically, just give me the first book again. lol.

but i suppose i cant complain that the story sticks to the heart of the story of romeo and juliet and does so in a very unique way. i have no doubt many readers will love this conclusion to a very entertaining duology. i just wish i personally cared about it more. :/

thanks, simon and schuster, for the ARC!

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Robin.
473 reviews3,514 followers
December 11, 2021
↠ 5 stars

It's 1927, and Shanghai stands divided by blood. Allied to the Scarlet Gang through family ties, Juliette Cai gambles the safety of those around her to protect those she loves from the inevitable fallout. Having chosen a necessary betrayal over her own heart, Juliette is completely undone, possessed by an impossible need to prevail against the White Flowers and her own family. Roma Montagov believes her cruelty for the supposed murder of his comrade, but Juliette must keep up the game if she ever hopes to keep her cousin from ousting her as the Scarlet Gang's heir. Deep within the city, something far more dangerous lurks primed to strike. It brings with it great evil, a final chip in the marble that could bring Shanghai to its knees. A betrayal may have torn their reunion asunder, but Juliette and Roma will have to shed the hatred binding them together to become something far greater to each other and to the city that they hold dear.

The thing about Our Violent Ends is that I didn't want the ends to be violent. I spent most of my time reading this denying that the duology was in fact a Romeo and Juliette retelling and instead choosing to focus solely on vibes. Right from the start, Chloe Gong does not hold back, amping up the action and drawing an exquisite picture of betrayal and intrigue. The complexities arising from the conclusion of the previous book stay strong, give or take some added angst that set my soul ablaze. There's just something about the betrayal trope that drives forth this finale into something dark and tragic. A foreboding atmosphere that seeps into every crevice of the story, threatening to fracture apart growing relationships and the fate of the characters. Much like the previous book in the series, the politics, and complicated alliances play against the emergence of an outside threat, but one far greater than before. Roma and Juliette really excelled here, as they ultimately reach the tipping point for compromise and a search for power amidst the blood feud that has fueled the city for decades. Seeing all of these complex feelings play out, especially after the events that concluded the last book, was simply delightful. Gong has a talent for keeping the emotions of her characters in check until the last second, which drove me completely insane. By the time that the inevitable reconciliation came around, I was utterly ruined by it. Roma and Juliette have this passion mixed with a tenderness that is so rare to read about. I certainly won't be getting over their journey anytime soon. With so many allusions to the original text, I was afraid of how this was going to end, but Chloe Gong crafts a compelling and bittersweet ending that simultaneously tore my heart to pieces and restored my faith in love. In this explosive finale set in the chaos of a city divided, two people find their way back to one another and must fight against the bonds determined to destroy them both.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review

Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, gun violence, death, murder
Profile Image for She-who-must-not-be-named .
180 reviews1,511 followers
January 29, 2022
“I will fight this war to love you, Juliette Cai. I will fight this feud to have you, because it was this feud that gave you to me, twisted as it is, and now I will take you away from it.”

Our Violent Ends brings rivals Roma and Juliette together once again to save their city from monsters. But monsters aren’t the only threat to Shanghai. Communists are competing against the Nationalists for control of the government, workers are organising strikes and a mysterious blackmailer gets a hold of the insects. As Shanghai faces deep political unrest and a potential civil war, it is upto Roma and Juliette to save the city TOGETHER that is if they don’t rip each other apart first.

CHLOE GONG IS A SADIST. My heart is still recovering from what I’ve read- a heavy weight resting across its walls. I have an unfathomable amount of pent-up energy inside me and I’m trying not to fall apart crumb by crumb.

This book isn’t for everyone, especially not the light-hearted. It is dark and gory and deals with heavy descriptions of war, violence, physical abuse, bloodshed and self-mutilation.


I absolutely inhaled this book and the writing style played a huge role in it. Chloe Gong’s writing is suffused with such evocative imagery and an intense sense of resolution and urgency as if anything can happen at any moment; Everyone’s life is at stake. Her ability to point at the brutality and heartlessness of people made the reading experience so much more real and painful.

I loved that this book didn’t just focus on Roma and Juliette’s viewpoints alone. It also brought Rosalind, Kathleen, Tyler and Alisa’s povs into the spotlight. I remember hating Tyler in the first book but this book made me view things in his perspective and my heart warmed for him a little. Each character had a different essence and I developed a deep bond with them. No wonder my heart feels so pulverised at this moment.

The romance in this book was well-executed and was an amalgamation of the slow burn and the forbidden love trope that made it all the more electric and tantalizing.

Having said that, I felt like the last few chapters were rushed. It felt as if the monster and the insect-spread madness was a minor setback as other issues like rising communist sentiment and new alliances were highlighted more. There were relatively fewer graphic descriptions of the insects inflicting madness that resulted in people killing themselves so it all felt a little less raw. But I admit it is insanely difficult to deal with so many conflicts in a 500 page book so props to Chloe for attempting it.
Profile Image for toointofiction.
269 reviews380 followers
July 1, 2023
“These violent delights have violent ends, you have always known this.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (no joke)

This is a spoiler-free review from Netgalley

Can someone please explain to me how this is even better than the first one? How is that possible? I can't understand!! I am left so utterly wrecked by this, there are tears still streaming down my eyes and I look like my face has been attacked by bees. I will never be the same again.

Firstly, this book is spectacularly written. Chloe Gong literally paints with words! The plot is fantastic, just as action-packed, mysterious, and suspenseful as the first book. The plot twists are staggering. The whole experience is a wonder. It is bad enough to render me a heaping pile of tears and despair, but to blow my mind so utterly as well? I bet Chloe Gong is cackling over tea and cookies with the devil right now. So much of this book is devastating I don't know how I am still alive. It isn't as if I ever were mentally stable, but this book mercilessly tipped me over the edge. So naturally, I highly recommend it. It's not like I need a heart anyway.

Moreover, the characters are predictably wonderful. They have an authentic, natural quality to them that almost feels as if they are real people. Juliette is as sassy as ever, with that delightful cunning, and trigger-happy attitude have me crushing on her badly. She made some harsh, yet necessary, choices in the first book that still haunt her. She faked killing Marchall, then hiding him away from everyone, even Roma, for both their safety. It made Roma believe she had never had any feelings for him in the first place, even if something inside of him tells him otherwise. However, in that classic Juliette Cai attitude, she regrets nothing, no matter how much it hurts her or the love of her life. Besides, my poor boy, Roma is going through some shit right now. He is as dreamy as ever, but with more trauma than before. It makes him hotter, to be honest. He is reeling over Juliette's betrayal, completely consumed by fury and despair, while also trying and spectacularly failing to fall out of love with her. It's just not happening.

Furthermore, while Roma and Juliette have gone from enemies to lovers to enemies again, no one is fooled into thinking it lasts for long. The tension between them is thicker than ever. The fact that Juliette had seemingly killed Marshall, effectively destroying everything between her and Roma did nothing to deter their feelings for each other. They might be enemies again, and they might fight one another, but that only makes their interactions even hotter.

Lastly, Benedikt and Marshal are still the best part of an already incredible series. Their story is just as spectacular as Roma and Juliette's. While there aren't as many moments between them as I would have liked, given that Marshall is in hiding, those moments they do have together are so pure and wholesome, I cried every time they talked to each other. Nonetheless, even though Marshall and Benedikt are kept apart out of necessity and Roma and Juliette are on the outs, there is another blossoming relationship, that of Marshall and Juliette. Their friendship is so wholesome, it is as if they have been friends for years. To be fair, they are the sassiest, most unhinged characters in this series, so it was only a matter of time until these two menaces joined forces. It is glorious, obviously!
Profile Image for Eva B..
1,472 reviews438 followers
Want to read
July 4, 2021
My desire for a Romeo and Juliet retelling that commits to the ending and my desire to see all of these characters safe and happy are warring in my head.
Profile Image for Zoe.
338 reviews2,111 followers
Read
January 5, 2022
Hi Miss Gong

Zoe here, ya know, the unstable teenage girl who uses books as a means of escapism.

I trusted you with my fragile little heart, and you broke it
Profile Image for literarylesbian.
226 reviews2,819 followers
October 13, 2021
(4.5, rounded up)

This book was just--wow. Probably one of the most stressful books I've ever read, but in the best way possible. When reading These Violent Delights, it took me a good chunk of the book to get into the story, but Our Violent Ends had me utterly hooked from the start. The writing made me feel as though I was in 1920s Shanghai right along side Roma and Juliette.

One of the things that truly sets this book apart from other Romeo and Juliet retelling is its unique ability to reshape the borrowed characters and make them anew. While this book maintains a high stakes conflict, the characters still drive the book. The balance of plot and character development was extremely well done, and if I thought I loved the characters after reading the first book, I was proved completely wrong. Our Violent Ends had me so insanely invested in this characters I was holding my breath every time something seemed to go wrong.

In a way, Our Violent Ends felt like a completely different book then These Violent Delights. The author's substantial growth as a writer became abundantly clear from the get-go. Our Violent Ends truly takes you into the heart of Shanghai, and the switch in point-of-views was utilized much more effectively, giving the reader a greater understanding of each side involved.

The ending of this book just absolutely crushed me. Chloe Gong threw my heart down the garbage disposal and ran away. This book was more than just a retelling, it truly managed to create an entirely new narrative that is both as beautiful and heartbreaking as its source material.

It is now time for me to sit and wait--laughing maniacally--for you all to get a chance to read this show-stopping sequel to These Violent Delights. Our Violent Ends was an amazing conclusion to new top duology of mine. It won't disappoint.

Be aware that like the source material, Our Violent Ends does feature suicidal ideation and actions. As always, be kind to yourself.
Profile Image for Nicole.
709 reviews16k followers
November 25, 2022
3,5/5
Lepiej bawiłam się na pierwszym tomie, ale nie mogę wyjść z podziwu jak złożone YA stworzyła autorka. Niby zwykła fantastyka, niby tylko retelling Romea i Julii, a jednak coś więcej.
Bardzo dobra dylogia.
Profile Image for Irene.
79 reviews9 followers
February 7, 2022
it’ll take 7-15 business day to recover from this
my favourite quote will always be:
”it was only that it had to be marshal,it had always been marshal”
kinda of a spoiler HEHWJQJ
hoping this time it’ll put spoiler warning
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
587 reviews1,735 followers
November 30, 2021
Now a Goodreads Choice finalist in Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction!

Welp. I’m done. It’s over. Chloe Gong has succeeded in ruining my life. I hope you’re happy now, Chloe!!!!!



I’m not going to include any spoilers for either this book or These Violent Delights, so nobody needs to worry about having this duology ruined for them accidentally. But that probably means that it will be a little shorter, a little more vague than my usual reviews. So bear with me here as I try to unpack all the ~feelings~ I’ve been floating around in for the past few days since I’ve finished Our Violent Ends.

The biggest difference I noticed between the first book and the sequel has been the focus of the plot. There’s a lot more attention on the politics of Shanghai in this time period, eventually leading up to the Shanghai Purge of April 12, 1927 (you can google if you wish). While These Violent Delights had a supernatural monster terrorizing the city, the monsters of Our Violent Ends are the men pulling the strings. They’re the ones starting conflicts they won’t have to join the frontlines for, and who will do anything to grasp on to power for as long as possible. In that way, they’re even scarier to consider because they aren’t simply a figure of the author’s imagination, but fictionalized versions of real kinds of people.

The pacing of this book also felt a lot more even, possibly because there wasn’t as much background that had to be introduced in a follow-up. More time is spent with the supporting characters and we get to understand their motivations outside of ‘how do we support Roma and Juliette in whatever schemes they’ve cooked up?’ And in my limited Shakespeare experience, the influence of Romeo and Juliet was much more pronounced in this novel than the previous. I noticed more parallels and direct references than I did with book one, though I still think both are fully their own stories.

If you’ve been following Chloe Gong on social media (highly recommend fwiw), you may have seen references to her next book Foul Lady Fortune and how the main character of it is someone we already know.



Happy to report that when you finish Our Violent Ends you will know who this character is (probably). I’m hesitant to say much more about the ending other than it’s bittersweet, explosive and mostly definitive. After reading both of these books almost back-to-back, you can see how Chloe Gong has progressed as a writer, and I can’t wait to pick up with this imaginative world and character(s) in the future. That said, I’m fully satisfied with how this duology has progressed and am actually dying to talk about it with someone.


*Thanks Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon Teen & Netgalley for an advance review copy!

**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
Profile Image for solanne.
208 reviews508 followers
December 20, 2021
say what you will about shakespeare, nothing will ever top marshall seo

—☆—

i just know this will end in tears
Profile Image for Liz♡.
40 reviews169 followers
November 29, 2021
screaming crying throwing up hitting my head against the wall biting my arm
Profile Image for may ➹.
516 reviews2,440 followers
December 27, 2021
— find this review and others on my blog!

objectively I know I was supposed to be sad or feel literally any emotion at all but unfortunately I think I am just heartless

—★—

2.5 stars *contains spoilers for book 1, These Violent Delights

I truly wish I’d loved this book as much as I was hoping to, especially after enjoying the first one and finding myself excited to see how tragically Juliette and Roma’s story came to a close. But while this sequel was a disappointment for me, there’s no doubt that Gong is a skilled writer and I’m sure bigger fans of the series will find themselves more satisfied than me.

Our Violent Ends sees Juliette and Roma grappling with their feelings for each other yet again as Shanghai crumbles around them to the conflict between the Nationalists and Communists, as well as the return of the monsters they thought they eliminated. Both must make drastic decisions in their fight against—or perhaps for—love that may or may not change the fate of the city forever.

“In this life and the next, for however long our souls remain, mine will always find yours.”

Our Violent Ends was written to be especially angsty and emotionally destructive, after setting up a possible happy ending in the first book only to have it fall apart. But unfortunately, I genuinely just did not care enough to feel tormented in the way I was supposed to. Specifically, I felt extremely indifferent about Juliette and Roma, as well as their romance, which made it so difficult to feel invested in the book as a whole.

Both their individual arcs and romance felt repetitive, a rehashing of their struggles in the first book without enough new developments to keep things interesting. Gong knows her audience well and there are several scenes in this book that other readers will adore—sadly, though, I felt little over them, which was especially a disappointment after loving Juliette and Roma’s dynamic in the first book. But I did love how the tenacity of love was threaded throughout the book, the beauty of this idea only emphasized by the numerous conflicts in Shanghai that should stamp out love but somehow make it burn brighter.

I actually cared more about the side characters than the protagonists! The angst of Benedikt and Marshall’s relationship hooked me, and I felt much more invested in their romance than Juliette and Roma’s. And though I would have loved to see much more of her, Kathleen’s arc of growing into herself as her own person with her own choices was so beautiful. These characters’ chapters were a wonderful reprieve from the monotony of Juliette and Roma’s chapters and actually made interesting contributions to the plot.

Who cared about values when the history books were being written? What did it matter if the history books rewrote everything in the end?

A focal point of this duology is the subtle (to a certain extent) yet destructive nature of Western imperialism in China, and though I would have loved to see this explored more deeply, it was still heartbreaking to see the ramifications of Western exploitations. I also found it interesting to see how tensions between the Nationalists and Communists continually rose and stressed relations between the Scarlets and the White Flowers, as well as relations within the gangs. This sequel cemented that this series is a story of revolution, from literal political upheavals to the revolutionary idea of love persevering despite.

Unfortunately, though, the gripping politics were not enough to completely sustain my interest. I thought that Juliette and Roma were passive throughout the book—which makes sense since an overarching, tragic theme of the series and a major point of their characterization is that they are powerless against the unmoving walls of history and politics. However, it felt as if the two were running around in the beginning, chasing one thing after another without accomplishing much, which failed to engross me.

Overall, it felt as if this sequel’s plot was less cohesive the first book’s, made even more prominent with the continued inclusion of the monsters. One of my issues with the first book was that I was more interested in the politics of the story than the monsters, which I still felt with this sequel. But this time, the monsters played such a small role (and honestly, only played that role when convenient to other plot points) that they felt even more out of place. With so many things going on already, the monsters felt unnecessary and somewhat distracting.

“A rose is a rose, even by another name,” he whispered. “But we choose whether we will offer beauty to the world, or if we will use our thorns to sting.”

As a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, it is expected that the ending of this book is dramatic and tragic. While I’d hoped that the ending might elevate the book for me, especially since near the end I just wanted to be done reading, I sadly found myself mostly unmoved by it. Despite this, I thought it was a well-written, fitting ending, with some open-to-interpretation aspects that I honestly loved—but it was disappointing that I didn’t feel any of the intense emotions I’d expected to hit me.

My indifferent experience with this book is one I think will be in the minority, though. Fans of the series will find a lot to delight in, from fiery confrontations between Juliette and Roma to Gong’s ever decadent prose. While I was disappointed to find myself detached from the story and its characters most of the time, Gong’s writing is nevertheless impressive and I do love her exploration of politics alongside romance. I’m looking forward to seeing what she brings to the table in the future.

—★—

:: representation :: Chinese MC, mlm Korean character, mlm character, trans woman Chinese character, Chinese characters

:: content warnings :: murder, gore, death, self-harm & suicide (not of own volition), disease/sickness, racism, body horror-ish type of things with insects, depictions of blood, depictions of grief


// buddy read with rain and lauren !!

Thank you to Simon Teen for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

All quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in final publication.
Profile Image for chev ۫ ꣑ৎ.
496 reviews360 followers
August 17, 2024

these violent ends.
I am devastated. I need answers. I need therapy.

I guess when you see the word "end", you can kinda guess how this book will turn out. for the unacquainted, chloe's writing is packed with vivid portrayal of scenes and excellent world building I am so invested in Juliette and Roma and having that ending... I would never recover.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

the quotes that broke me
“To have and to hold, where even death cannot part us,’ Juliette whispered.
‘In this life and the next,’ Roma returned, ‘for however long our souls remain, mine will always find yours.”

“These violent delights have violent ends, you have always known this.”

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

juliette
I'm really scared of spoiling this book for you, so I am going to be pretty brief here.

omg juliette. to say she is a strong fmc is such an understatement. she has gone through so much, with her relationships being tested, and with chloe putting her in such difficult situations, she has my entire admiration.


in closing... this book just broke me. it is such a good series that I have increased my expectations (welcome, 4 star reviews)

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

read my first review: these violent delights
pre-read ✨🎧


second br with my bestie saisha 💓 thank you babes for doing this with me again ♡
Profile Image for CW ✨.
720 reviews1,802 followers
April 10, 2021
My full review is now up on my book blog, The Quiet Pond.

I finished it. I read it in one day. I'm numb. I'm numb.

This is a phenomenal sequel and it won't disappoint if you loved These Violent Delights. Stressful, satisfying, terrifying - but you will be fed.
Your heart may be in pieces but you'll thank Chloe for it.

Y'all should be very, very scared. Pain is coming - and you're going to love this. 😌

I received an early copy of this book from the author.
Profile Image for Antje ❦.
163 reviews8 followers
May 24, 2023
What was love if all it did was kill?

THIS HAD ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT AND THE ENDING HAS ME ON THE FLOOR!

WHAT A FINALE TO AN AMAZING DUOLOGY, A 50TH BOOK OF THIS YEAR'S CHALLENGE TO REMEMBER FOREVER!

YES, I'm not even exaggerating when I say that I'm writing this review from my bedroom floor. SO MANY THOUGHTS and suddenly no words? (and this, as you know, doesn't happen to me often). Let's skip the official part and make this a rant (affectionately)

I'M IN SHAMBLES! This is a retelling but the fact that it's a retelling of a story with a well-known ending didn't take away from the story in any possible way. I was STILL so curious to know what will happen, the ending WAS NOT predictable and I'M SO INTERESTED in reading the spin-off series. For me, when I love side characters, that means that I'm reading an AMAZING book. This is one of those cases, I have so much affection for all these side characters. The protagonists were very loveable, but HONESTLY, props to Chloe Gong for devoting so much time and thought to making good side characters. AND THEY GET THE STORY GOING. Once again, I'm 22 and this series is YA, so I guess that I'm not the intended audience, and I've read a TON of fantasy series, so I WAS able to guess the main plot twist early on, but hey, don't let that convince you not to read this, cuz TRUST ME, you're missing out on something great. THE WRITER IS SO YOUNG, I mentioned that a few times last time around, when I was reviewing the first installment, such beautiful writing, complex characters, character development, amazing setting, just beautiful.
Like many others, I'm not the biggest fan of the fantasy element in this, it's so subtle that it almost feels not needed, BUT, it makes the story more realistic and the stakes higher! You know, there isn't a chosen-one that can just walk in and save the day with a flick of fingers (I'm seriously so tired of that trope). The lack of „actual“ fantasy and some predictable parts of the plot still couldn't make me give this less than 5 stars, the duology as a whole is so good that I don't want to be cheap with stars.

The romance is beautiful, very subtle and youthful, truly makes your heart ache. I'm so sad that I have to say goodbye to these characters.
Also, I love how these two installments were so different from one another. The first part was politics, history, racial issues, relationship build-up, the second one is more romance (and some politics). It almost feels like as these characters developed, their interests and things they noticed in the world around them changed and (I don't know if that was intentional) BUT IT WAS SO GOOD. Listen, I'm always the book 1 girlie, iykyk.

God, this review is a mess, i might edit it later. (When I stop panicking over this)
Profile Image for emma ⚘.
133 reviews838 followers
May 3, 2024
★★★★☆ - 4.5 stars

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

“What are you afraid of?”

“The consequences of love in a city ruled by hate.”

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

this book was incredible, but PAINFUL.

this whole series earned itself a solid 4.5 stars. i really enjoyed the incorporation of politics, and paired with chloe gong’s amazing writing, this series was incredible. she’s definitely one of my favorite authors.

juliette cai, the mastermind that you are. how do people hate her? people say she’s stuck up, but i say she knows her place. she knows the value of power and will not hesitate even for a second to use it.

and roma!! under his tough exterior is the biggest, sweetest heart. loved his character development!

romajuliette had earned their place in my heart for sure. they are such a powerful couple and the enemies to lovers trope was perfect, the slow burn was so worth it. that ENDING? i dont even know how to feel. i think im in shock. it was beautiful though.

benedikt and marshall get a VERY honorable mention because their dynamic was everything. they provided the much needed comedic relief. im so happy for them. i will be reading the novella for sure!!

the first 200 pages started off a little slow. the politics were also a tiny bit confusing, but everything after that was great. it picked up really fast and there were occasional plot twists and a lot of scheming! really enjoyed overall.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

quotes
“I hate you.”
And when Juliette didnt recoil, Roma kissed her.
(p. 140).

He wanted to scream Juliette until his lungs grew hoarse. He only knew that if he screamed, I hate you , what he really meant was I love you .” (p. 141).

“I love you. I have always loved you.”
“I missed you, dorogaya,” he whispered against her ear, “I missed you so much.”
(p. 314).

“I will fight this war to love you, Juliette Cai. I will fight this feud to have you, because it was this feud that gave you to me.” (p. 321).

“Keep fighting for love, it is worth it.” (p. 373).

“I love you. I need you to know. I love you so much, it feels like it could consume me.” (p. 406).

“They had always been two mirrored souls, the only ones who understood the other in a city that wanted to consume to me whole, and now they were joined, mightier when together.” (p. 407).

playlist
▹ the great war
▹ my tears ricochet
▹ if the world was ending
▹ hoax
▹ mastermind
▹ timeless
▹ grenade
▹ nothing without you
▹ i should hate you
▹ born to die
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