Our Violent Ends is the follow-up in the These Violent Delights duology. I honestly was not expecting to read this one as quickly as I did and thought it would be read over multiple days. As it turns out, I ended up reading this in a single sitting, as I wanted to see how it would conclude. The series as a whole is very engaging and a fantastic retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet without using a copy and paste method from the source material. There are pieces of the play in this series, but it feels like an original tale. As I read the duology back to back, it was very easy to follow along and stay in the mindset of the story. If I read them further apart, I could see the beginning being a little slower for some readers; however, the story is incredibly worth continuing, as it is very captivating.

The story returns the reader to 1920s Shanghai with our two main characters, Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, along with a group of secondary characters a couple of months after the first installment ended. It starts where the last installment ended with Roma dealing with his conflicting feelings for Juliette. She knows the truth about Marshall while Roma is seeking revenge for him. Additionally, the monsters from the first novel still pose a threat in this installment. This brings Juliette and Roma back together to try to work together.

In addition to Roma and Juliette, Benedikt, Rosalind, Marshall, and Kathleen continue to be excellent additions to the story. Each character is complex and it is difficult to choose favorites as they all bring something different to the story. As the main relationship, Roma and Juliette’s, of course, stands out; but I liked that it did not completely overshadow everything else going on in the plot and with the other characters. Their inner conflicts were very well done as each is torn between duty and romance. As Roma believes Juliette is responsible for the death of his best friend, there is a lot of tension between them. Gong did an excellent job at balancing this portion of the story with the multitude of other events going on. There were many plotlines and characters to track in this story, but they were all easy enough to understand and compelling enough to want to learn more.

Everything in this duology is well thought out from the characters to the events. I also like that this story was set up as a duology as it did not feel too cramped nor did it feel too stretched out. There are nods to the Shakespeare material, as this is a retelling, and to history, the Chinese Civil War, which began in the 1920s. It is not a straightforward retelling nor is it completely a historical novel, but there are inspirations from each. The ending of this story was excellent and fit the series well. Overall, this is a fantastic duology that is well worth the time it takes to read. It has definitely made me a fan of Gong’s writing and I cannot wait to read her next novel!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

“All that is good is gone, or perhaps it never existed. The blood feud kept us apart, forced us onto different sides. I will not allow death to do the same.”

I read THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS earlier this year and I enjoyed it! It was a solid 3.5-4🌟 read for me and I was looking forward to the sequel! But I wasn’t expecting the sequel to be THIS good! I was expecting it to take me a little while to get through because it’s such a large book, but I devoured it in two days!

My biggest complaint about the TVD was the pacing, and this one felt way more even! This novel’s plot is more focused on the politics of Shanghai in 1927 and I really enjoyed the shift of plot! If you loved TVD or just thought it was okay, I’m sure you’ll love this sequel!

I’m truly heart broken after reading this novel…. I mean we all know how Romeo and Juliet plays out so maybe I should have prepared myself better for what would happen😅

A continuation of These Violent Delights, another amazing adventure awaits.

Monsters have reemerged again and can threaten everyone again. I don't want to say anymore but go read it!

Star Rating: ★★★★★ (5)

Our Violent Ends is so freaking good! No spoiler ahead but go read it! It's so worth it. Again, I love the characters as they continue to grow throughout the story. It's definitely a book that stands out from the rest and I love it. It's one of my favorite retellings ever.

This story has made an impact on so many people and I'm so glad to be part of the tour to help promote this series. Can't wait for more books by Chloe Gong!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster **

Our Violent Ends starts shortly after These Violent Delights ends. So the wounds and emotions are still sky high, and the tension is palpable. Each of our characters are on the hunt for who could be releasing all the bugs, while also trying to navigate through their political world, while trying to stay alive.

Gong did not disappoint in the second installment to the Romeo and Juliette retelling. She brought all of the strengths in her characters, and political setting and adding a faster moving plot. The first 50 pages or so were a little slow, but I once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. I read 75% of the book in a few hours, and then read them again the next day. I couldn't get over the story that was crafted before me.

Specifically in this conclusion, I adored the characters and how each one responded to being thrown into a rocky political system. Trying to navigate not only between gangs, but also two fighting parties, AND trying to determine who's been siphoning information off was amazing. It's what I look for in my fantasy books. Not to mention how the characters are dealing with the events that took place in book one. Each one grieved and coped differently that it all felt real.

If These Violent Delights was Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet, this Act 2 did a stand up job. One that I am happy to have read, and recommend to everyone. Even if you aren't a Shakespeare fan. And no need to fear, you may know the story of Romeo and Juliet, but you definitely don't know this take.

After seeing so many rave reviews for the These Violent Delights series, I don't know why I waited so long to pick up a copy! I am so glad that I was chosen for this tour, because it gave me an excuse to finally read my next two five-star reads of the year! I loved the tension between Roma and Juliette. Their chemistry was palpable in every scene, and propelled the story forward at a breakneck pace. After the way that These Violent Delights ended, I could not wait to start reading Our Violent Ends, and Chloe Gong did not disappoint. The stakes were even higher in this sequel, as the blood feud rises to a peak and the madness continues to spread. These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends are two of my all-time favorite retellings, and I am so excited to see what Chloe Gong will write next!

My Recommendation-
If you love dark, harrowing retellings, you absolutely need to pick up copies of both These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends! I would especially recommend this series to anyone who likes books full of twists, betrayals, and forbidden love!

I love this series. I'm so sad that it's over and this second book is literally putting me in a book hangover.

Roma and Juliet continue to have the inner struggle of loving each other while being true to their respective families. The push and pull of their relationship was well done and their group of family and friends is chef's kiss good.

I will read anything Chloe Gong writes!

My official rating is 4.5/5 stars. Why Julia, why not 5 stars? Well, faithful reader, I will tell you. If Our Violent Ends had not followed the masterpiece that was These Violent Delights, it probably would be five stars for me. However, this one did not quite reach the same level in my opinion, and so 4.5 stars it is. This book came to me in a very difficult time in my life. I’m not even joking. I had just arrived home after leaving college due to mental health struggles, and this book was waiting on my porch when I got there. I was so unbelievably happy to have it, and was lucky enough to receive a physical arc from the publisher. So thank you to them for sending it to me.

Our Violent Ends was everything this sequel needed. My heart was broken and mended over and over again. The pages are riddled with evidence of my tears (no, I am not being dramatic). I literally cried at least 3 times. OVE had even more allusions to the original Romeo and Juliette, and I so enjoyed discovering them all. And I’m sure I missed a few which will make my unavoidable rereads even more fun.

This book was more political than the first one, for sure. I even had to look up a brief history of China during this time to be sure I was understanding everything right. As an American student, this was never something I was required to study and it was fascinating to me. I absolutely loved how the story of these star crossed lovers was intertwined with the real violence and turmoil that occurred during these years.

I am, of course, a fierce lover of Juliette Cai, and this book only deepened my love for her. It also made me love Roma even more. I always liked Roma for his love for Juliette, but in this book we were able to see much more of his character without her and I loved that. Roma, I am very sorry I ever called you boring. But, to be fair, was I wrong? Lol, just kidding, I do really love both of our main characters.

Also can we talk about how Roma calls Juliette “dorogaya”? If you don’t know it means darling in Russian and omg. I am a total sucker for my ships having pet names for each other and I wanted to burst into tears every time he called her that.

Now let’s talk about my favorite characters of the bunch, Marshall, Benedikt, and Kathleen. For those of you who are fans of Mars and Ben, this book will not disappoint you. I promise. I love those two with all my heart and OVE gave me the moments between them that I was so upset not to get in the first book. It was so worth the wait. We also spend a lot more time with Juliette’s cousin, Kathleen in this one. I loved Kathleen from the first book, but she really takes on more independence in this book. I enjoyed her arc maybe even more than Juliette’s (*gasp*).

The setting of Shanghai takes on a different façade in OVE. It is no longer the glittering city of These Violent Delights. In Our Violent Ends, we see more of the undercurrent that accompanies the blood feud, even for those who are not involved with either gang. I absolutely loved the exploration of all of the politics of the city, and everything our characters have to do to find their places within it. I am trying to say my thoughts without giving too much away from either book and it is so hard!

Anyway, just trust that I absolutely loved this book. I will be rereading this duology over and over, I am sure. It is absolutely one of my favorites, and my go to recommendation for everyone. So, if you haven’t read it, what are you doing here?? Go get your hands on a copy and start reading!! It won’t let you down.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
What a ride!! I enjoyed book two much more than book one in this duology. I loved seeing Roma and Juliette together as they worked to save Shanghai. The politics in these books is pretty heavy and very much a big part of the story, but sometimes it just felt like way too much. The ending was pretty intense and while I knew what was coming, it still hurt! Overall, a decent Romeo and Juliet retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions shared here are my own.

5/5

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 tear them both apart.

Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, gun violence, death, murder

Review will be posted on my blog on 11/17/21

Yeah, this is how you nail a series, friends. Everything about the These Violent Ends duology completely slayed, from start to finish. If you haven't started it yet, read my review on book one so you can. I am keeping this purposely vague because there is just so much exciting stuff happening that I have no plans to spoil anything, even for book one.

As its predecessor sets up, we follow the lives of the presumptive heirs to rival gangs, Roma and Juliette. Also as its predecessor reminds us, nothing is quite as black and white (or in this case, scarlet and white) as "us versus them". Things in Shanghai are rough, perhaps even more so than the first installment. I think especially because now people know exactly what they are dealing with, yet they still splinter into factions of factions of factions, over and over, and fight for power and wealth and ego instead of peace.

The best part of this sequel is that we get to spend even more time with the characters we grow to love in book one, and in fact see them grow and develop even more as they attempt to navigate the rather garbage hand they've been dealt. They face even bleaker, more unbearable choices than ever before. And the stakes are immeasurably high at every turn. The author also does an incredible job of not only providing amazing twists and great pacing, but makes sure you know that nothing and no one is sacred in this book. I was flying through the pages, on the actual edge of my seat, both excited and scared for what came next. There was a perfect blend of action and slower, character driven moments.

Speaking of character-driven, the relationships (not just romantic, but familial and friendships as well) are a huge focus too. I loved seeing how the characters' relationships developed in such dangerous times, especially when one simply cannot be sure who they can trust.

Bottom Line: From start to finish, These Violent Delights and These Violent Ends provide complex characters in a very dark and well-developed world, with morally ambiguous choices, love, betrayal, and ultimately, hope.

In a way I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first book, These Violent Delights. If I remember right, it took a bit to get into the story and the monster with the first book. But this one maybe because we had all that and I needed to know what was happening now that the man who had controlled the monster was gone, I was able to dive right back in. And this is a long book, as the first was, but it flew by every time I picked it up to read. I could barely put it down.

In this second book, the historical time we were in almost became more of the story and the monster was a little less important. Even though every time one of the now 5 monsters showed up it was a horrible scene for those who were stuck in the path. And honestly, once again, as with the first book, I really enjoyed the historical aspect. It isn’t a time period or at least not in that location, that I know that much about. So I always find books that teach me about history I haven’t learned to be some of my favorites.

Of course I also loved the Romeo and Juliet retelling aspect of the story. I actually really liked the way the author re-did some of the details of the story. Making us think that our star-crossed lovers might actually get a happy ending, that the suicide of this Juliet might not be real this time, and they might get to live on. And the ending, well I won’t tell you how it goes. You have to read it and decide for yourself about how the author has left our two lovers.

As with the first book, the descriptions of everything were so vivid and really got me into the world I was reading about. Now, usually, I will speed past those types of things in a story just to get to what is actually going on. And there were a few times maybe I did that, but quite often with this book I had to slow down and absorb all of the details so I could picture the scenes to perfection in my head as the author so completely drew a picture with her words.

This is an author I cannot wait to read more of in the future, and will definitely be sharing these books with my students.

The biggest difference I noticed between the first book and the sequel has been the focus of the plot. There’s more attention on the politics of Shanghai at the time. While These Violent Delights had a supernatural monster as the antagonist, the monsters of Our Violent Ends are the men pulling the strings. Its scary to think this kind of thing happened (and still does)

The pacing is great. It flows nicely and it didn't have a lot of background and "retelling" of book 1. I also felt more reference to Romeo and Juliet in this one which I loved being a huge Shakespeare fan. As always the characters are vivid and lovely. I felt this truly could have been a somewhat standalone which I enjoyed.

Wonderful job to Chloe! Thank you to Netgalley and Chloe for my copy!

A richly descriptive and original retelling of Roma and Juliette set in 1937 Shanghai. This is the second book in the series and picks up with a new monster terrorizing the city. Roma and Juliette are now working together to take down the mysterious creature and trying to bring control back to their families. Creative and with a horror like feel, this is a gangster fantasy that is both disturbing and alluring in its ability to describe the decadent underworld of organized crime. A romance with lots of imagination!

Roma despises Juliette because he thinks she betrayed him. And even though their families hate each other, the two are now being forced to work together to find out who is controlling the new monster. The question is, will the two of them be able to set their feelings aside and work as a team to bring about the identity of their newest foe?

The best part of the second book is the forced proximity between Roma and Juliette and the growing anger of Tyler and Demetri. The tension is rife, adding to the destruction and chaos that mounts into an explosive conclusion. Massively entertaining and beautifully written, this is a fantasy unlike any other.

What a fun and intense sequel to These Violent Delights. I was very much looking forward to reading it, and I was not disappointed!

“She would rather die at Roma’s hand than be the cause of his death.”

Our Violent Ends brings us back into the world of Roma and Juliette, and the blood feud that’s tearing Shanghai in two. After the events of These Violent Delights, the tension and hatred between Roma and Juliette is stronger than ever as Roma seeks revenge on Juliette. However, whilst all hope seems lost for the couple of young enemies-lovers, the appearance of new monsters and a country on the brink of a Civil War will force them to work together again.

In the second and final installment, Juliette and Roma’s relationship has this constant push and pull dynamic between them that’s just immaculate, more so than in the first book. There really is an equal chance for them to kiss or kill each other and one can’t never truly know which one it will be and Chloe Gong wrote this ever so brilliantly heightening the overall narrative of the story. As for the rest of the characters there’s not a lot that can be said without spoiling the book but everyone’s arcs and character development are extremely well done. And whilst the conflict plays a huge part in the story, the characters are truly what drive the book.

With this being the conclusion to the story, there was anticipation to see how the author would create a new danger after the one from the first book and the result did not disappoint. The unveiling of new monsters and the intrigue behind who was controlling them this time was definitely interesting. But there’s also the danger that comes with Shanghai being overrun by colonials who just want to gain control over everything and everyone in the city.

And the truth is that in Our Violent Ends it’s just solidified that 1920s Shanghai is the perfect setting for this story. Once again, the politics, the imperialistic colonialism critique and the socioeconomic aspects are very well written and portrayed. This setting is very culturally specific and very important in terms of political conflict. The fight between Communists and Nationalists supported by foreigners just heightens the tension between the rival gangs in this story which find themselves intertwined in this political war. And out of their own interests, Montagovs and Cais alike will have to join forces or else there will just not be more people left to rule over. However loyalties are ever changing and they keep being tested throughout the book. Every single character can be doubted and the reader can never place where a character truly stands until the truth unfolds.

Gong really knows how to keep her readers hooked from the start. The fast paced and action packed plot, intriguing storyline—although messy at times—and the way the character’s arcs unfold are truly captivating and will keep the readers guessing until the very last page. What’s also great about this re-telling is that it honours the source material without being an exact copy of it, and while you definitely get the main aspects of Romeo and Juliet, it’s also a story that stands on its own and a version of the Shakespeare tale that can’t possibly be anticipated by looking at the original. The twists and turns that this conclusion offers will catch everyone off-guard.

With Our Violent Ends, Gong offers the perfect conclusion to this Romeo and Juliet retelling that will destroy everyone emotionally. An epic, urgent, and dynamic finale that overall reminds us that daring to love may just be the bravest thing we can ever do.

This was excellent! Chloe Gong may be a debut author (okay, this is the second book, but this is her first series), but it was clear to me that this was a labor of love. This was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but it was set in Shanghai in 1927, during the time of Chiang Kai Shek and the struggle between the Communists and the Nationalists. Roma and Juliette are from two rival gang families who basically control Shanghai in territories, many of which flip back and forth between the two families. I KNOW the original play, so I KNOW how this has to end, but still, I felt my heart absolutely breaking by the end. Chloe Gong made me care about these characters and she did an incredible job weaving real history into her tale. This was such a rich story and while there were moments where things felt a bit slow, every time I put the story down, I couldn't wait to dive back in again. If anything, I thought this second book was better than the first, but perhaps that was partly due to the author getting into a groove with practice. But I really felt the characters come alive in this book, and not just Roma and Juliette, but also Benedikt and Marshall, and Katherine and Alisa. Even the thread with the monsters, which initially felt unnecessary to me, ended up being used well by the author. If it hadn't been for the monsters, this book could have been historical and realistic fiction. And yet, it felt both like a nod to our own struggles with the pandemic, as well as a metaphor for what made Juliette and Roma such star-crossed lovers. As heartbreaking as the ending was, it was so perfect. I am so grateful I was able to read this before the publication date! I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved These Violent Delights, so I was excited to read the sequel.

It’s hard writing a review because this book picks up a few months after These Violent Delights ends, so in order to understand what’s going on you have to read the first book.

It’s 1927 and the city of Shanghai is on the verve of a revolution. Roma and Juliet must join forces to save the city all the while dealing with the “monsters,” politics, their families and their love for one another.

Told through alternate POV’s, it’s a jammed pack book filled with tension and emotions. It’s beautifully written and the character development is amazing. You might think you know the story of Romeo and Juliet, but this one is completely different and it’s a wild ride. And the ending!!! ☹ I’m so sad the series is over.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

LISTEN UP: This is how you end a duology beautifully. I couldn’t have asked for a better end and even though it shattered my heart, I did kind of know how this was going to end. This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling so I think we should all know how it’s going to end. I really enjoyed how we got the same feel from the first book with the characters and plot, but we also got so much more in Our Violent Ends. I loved how we really learned more about the side characters and got so much more of their perspective throughout the entire book. I am a huge fan for the plot of this book and how it is historical fiction. I was so intrigued with the history of 1920’s Shanghai and with the added fantasy dealing with the monsters, AND having this be a Romeo and Juliet retelling made this phenomenal.

I laughed, I cried, I smiled, and I wanted to throw the book more than once. Chloe Gong actually created such a beautifully written duology that will always hold a special place in my heart. It was just absolutely amazing and I don’t really have any other words. I am honestly just at a loss of what to say besides it’s incredible and I love it.

“These violent delights have violent ends, you have always known this.” Chloe Gong has ripped my heart from my chest with no remorse. Logically, I knew how it was going to end, but akin to the moral of the story, I had hope. Hope that it would end differently. Like These Violent Delights, I thought Our Violent Ends was a little slow to start, especially because of the cliffhanger that we were left with in book 1. It took me about a week to get through the first half, and then I spent all day one Sunday reading the entire last half of the book because I couldn't put it down!

Most of the story is set between Roma & Juliette's POV, although Gong occasionally switches between some side characters and an outside perspective as well. This doesn't always work, but Gong makes is seamless and it helps give more suspense to the story when we know what is going on while many of the characters are in the dark. There were a few times that I literally gasped or yelled as I was reading this book. The high stakes in this book are insane, made even more so that it is set in 1927 Shanghai.

The characters in this story are written so well that I was completely emotionally invested in them, and I feel like I could be talking about my friends when raving about the book to someone. Juliette, heir of the Chinese Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, heir of the Russian White Flowers, are the perfect star-crossed lovers set up for a tragedy. Their secret friendship turned romance has been put through the test since they met 5 years ago. At the end of book one, Juliette made a choice that would save Roma's life, but it also made him hate her (mirroring an act that Roma has done to her in the past). Now in Our Violent Ends, Juliette has to tread carefully around Roma - he's out for revenge.

Fellow White Flowers Benedikt (Roma's cousin) and their best friend Marshall are my favorite side characters! I love their banter and genuine love for each other and their friends. Benedikt was pretty laid back in the first book, but an event at the end caused him to really have some character development in book two. Marshall is a Korean badass. That is all. Roma's little sister Alisa is such a great character and brings a great dynamic to the story.

The setting of 1920s Shanghai is incredible. It really felt as though I was walking the people-filled streets along
with the gangsters in the midst of the power struggle. There was too much politics in my opinion, and somewhat hard to keep track of. While I know it is integral to the story, especially during this time period, I think losing some detail on the politics would improve the flow of the story, rather than making the war an entire subplot in itself.

This is the only Romeo and Juliet retelling I've read, but it has certainly set the bar high! While there are definite parallels to the original play, it's a unique story with characters all her own. Chloe Gong's writing visibly improved from her debut to this novel, and let's just say she is a brave writer for what she did to our hearts and emotional well-being at the end of this book.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book!

Our Violent Ends is the second book in These Violent Delights series by Chloe Gong. A historical young adult fantasy that is full of mystery and intrigue with an unexpected ending that is sure to take you by surprise.