📚 𝕴𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘
✍️ Chloe Gong
💬 English

I was sent a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝕴𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 was my first ride with Chloe Gong's books. Since These Violent Delights were a phenomenon, I really anticipated this NA debut book.

𝕴𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 was a retelling of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. It is said that the story was a tragedy and went gloomy all the way. I prepared for the worst from the very first words (I have enough books to make me feel helpless and vulnerable)

The book was set in a fictional city called San-Er, a capital twin city of Talin. There was this princess, Calla Tuoleimi who seek for revenge against the King of Talin. On other hand, we had Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat who willing to did everything to save his dying childhood-lover. They met and fight in a survival game set by the Palace. Winner takes all.
I had to say it was a creative romantasy story. The writing was enjoyable and serves many things as a unity. We had this political intrigue, action-packed, and romance story collided in a beautiful strings of words.

The world building was hectic. I didn't grasped until the end (I personally blame my brain), so many things happen: the jump, the magic, the game rules, the violence, the never ending POV, and bunch of things I can't remember. Gong was patiently explained what happen in her books everytime she switched POV, but still, it was like a gray blurry picture for me.

I had so much complain with the Jump system. Like, what happen with the people whose Qi was rotten by the Jumper? What happen with those innocent people whose bodies got taken, and died at the end?

And what happen with all the intimacy scenes between our supposed-to-be hero and heroine? Anton was a jumper, the best one. He never stayed commit to a body. Everytime Anton and Calla were making out, I frowned. Calla was so calm despite Anton's different appearance. There was no complaint, no question, like girl? What if his body was a body of some criminal you yearned to kill? Will you let him inside you?

I don't have favorable characters, but Prince August might be the best out of three. He was the most consistent character. The vicious mastermind as well as a helper. His good and bad side were proportionally given. It was hard to hate him, as well as love him.

𝕴𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕷𝖔𝖓𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 is expected to be on shelves on July 25, 2023. Make sure you mark your calendar.

Thank you NetGalley, Chloe Gong and the publisher for the book.

Wow, I’m speechless…Chloe Gong does not disappoint in her adult novel debut. This book definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, and was utter perfection. The characters, the world building, the twists and turns absolutely delivered!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Chloe Gong is such a phenomenal writer. Her books are so intricate while being super readable. Her characters and world she builds are immersive and I absolutely loved this one. I didn't know that I needed a Cleopatra and Antony retelling in my life until I read this book. Amazing can't wait to see where she goes from here.

A retelling of Antony and Cleopatra!
Yes please!
This version was set in a fantasy/dystopian setting, and was so unique!

I'll be honest, I didn't think I would like, and was so glad to proven wrong!
The pacing of this book was so well done, and the world building wasn't overwhelming.
It has almost sci-fi vibes, but not quite. (Yeah I know that makes no sense)

It had romance
It had political intrigue
It had magic
It had my attention!

Everything, and I mean everything, that Chloe Gong writes is gold. With each book that she writes, her storytelling gets even better. I fell in love with this story and characters. The thought of having to wait to see what happens next is killing me!

Anton is probably my favorite "villain" ever written. From the first time he appeared on the page until the very end he had me captivated. That ending...chef's kiss! I CANNOT WAIT to see what he is going to do next. I didn't connect with Calla as much as I did Anton, but I think it is because her feelings don't appear as strong as Anton's. She also has a huge guilt complex that she never ever listens to.

The world building was a catch 22. The first few chapters were a lot of info dump, and I personally felt like there were too many "players" in the beginning. The overall world though-outstanding. I just wish I had a better time understanding from the get go. This is a wonderful world that fantasy lovers will enjoy, but it isn't going to hook someone that doesn't already love fantasy. I, however, will read anything Queen Chloe wants to write in this world (ok, any world).

Chloe's writing is always beautiful. One time I listened to her on a panel and she was telling us how she had this long description of Shanghai archetecture/a building that she had originally included in another book, but took out because she knew her editors would tell her it was too much fluff. But I would seriously read anything she writes. Anything. Her writing is one of the few that jumps off the page and sucks me in to the surroundings inside the book.

I can't wait for this book to come out so I can buy whatever fancy copy one of those book boxes are going to sell. It is going to look perfect on my trophy case...I mean book shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

Let’s start with the good! The plot was fantastic. I really loved the hunger game and a little bit of TOG in my opinion vibes. I liked the characters, well some of them. I liked most of the writing. It was very descriptive and I felt like I could really imagine what was going on. The plot twists…I really didn’t see those coming.

Now for the “okay” stuff. I want to start with the romance plot with Anton and Calla. Somewhere I got lost in the middle I guess. One moment they were enemies and the next lovers. While I love that trope; I love seeing it being built up. There was honestly just nothing written that made them fall in love so quickly. I’m not sure if it was just stolen moments in between their scenes together that wasn’t written but it was just weird that all of a sudden Calla is telling Anton she loves him. It was just out of nowhere since their relationship really wasn’t build up. I’m very curious about Otto. I know she’s in a coma like state but a lot of the book mentioned her but we hardly know much about her. I think maybe more should’ve been explained about her. I know this is going to be a series, so hopefully we get more back story on her as well.

Last but not least, the stuff I wasn’t a big fan of. It got a tad confusing keeping up when it kept swapping between all these different characters. I like multiple POV’s but only when it’s a few and I can easily keep up. Too much was going on as well. It was very action packed and it felt like so much was going on that it was hard to digest what’s actually happening, if that makes sense. I just felt like it needed to slow down at time or maybe just better explanations.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. I’m super excited for the next one because the way this one ended….man. Just man. I honestly didn’t see it coming and I’m so eager to know what’s going to happen next. I think this is going to be a fantastic series.

4 stars!

I really enjoyed this book! I have always liked Gong's style, but it's her characters that always draw me in. I love that they are flawed and imperfect, making them human and so much more relatable and likable. While the story has echos of the Hunger Games, it brings the even darker side of a country ruled by an oppressive monarch. The twists are also entertaining and keep you turning the pages. I brought my work laptop home just to finish reading it (I had only been reading it during my lunches!) I cannot wait for the sequel already.

ARC provided to me by NetGalley!!

Quick Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Chloe Gong has done it again! I’ve been following her journey as an author since I read These Violent Delights back in March of 2021. So far, I’ve adored every novel she’s put out. Her upcoming adult debut is no different. A rich and in depth world that feels so real while reading. Incredible main characters and a romance that tiptoes the border between love and obsession. A unique power of body jumping, which I’ve never seen before. A desperate and failing kingdom. A government thoroughly corrupt. A life or death game, arranged by said government. Love interest, destined to kill each other or be killed. The authors own cat written into the story. Plot twist the leave you flabbergasted, mouth on the floor with your head spinning. This book is IT.

My overall thoughts:

I adore this book. I highly recommend preordering it, especially if you’ve enjoyed Chloe Gongs books in the past. This book reminded me a lot of the Hunger Games, but not it a copying type of way. The use of body jumping as a power was brilliant and unexpected. I will say, however, this book did take me a little bit to get into. This isn’t the fault of the writing or anything, I just took some time to adjust to reading in present tense. Despite this, this is still one of my favorite books I’ve read so far in 2023

Characters:

This book follows a main cast of 3 characters. Calla, Anton, ans August.

Calla: “She could do nothing on a throne, but she could do everything with a sword in her hand.” I absolutely love Calla. If you want a book with a strong, morally grey fmc, this is for you. Calla might not be the most ethical person, but she sure is iconic.

Anton: “He wants the palace to tremble.” This man. THIS MAN. He’s the sunshine to Calla’s grumpy. He brings the sarcasm and the laughs. He had me absolutely in love with him, and I think he’ll have that effect on a lot of people. “In the face of danger, we might as well have fun.”

August: “I /am/ the monarchy.” August is willing to do anything to seize power. He believes he’ll be a better king than current monarch, King Kasa. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

The Romance:

This book has a romance that walks the thin like of love and obsession. Enemies to reluctant allies to totally engulfed in each other like the flip of a light switch. I loved reading about Anton and Calla’s relationship. The codependency they have was written so well. I’ll leave you will a few quotes I think encompass their relationship.

“This is tenderness. And she is more afraid of it than anything else in their forsaken kingdom”

“Forget your name and adopt the title instead. Calla. Soon, people will be saying it just as they whisper God.”


~ This adult Antony and Cleopatra retelling hits shelfs on July 25th, 2023. I cannot recommend you preorder it enough. This is a novel you wont want to miss out on!

Despite the fact that it is only March, I feel confident that Immortal Longings is easily going to be in my top five books at the end of the year, I loved absolutely everything about this book. Inspired by Shakespeare's Antony + Cleopatra, Immortal Longings tells the story of two individuals who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals - including entering a deadly competition.

The Setting
Immortal Longings transports the reader into San-Er,, a fantasy city inspired by Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong. A dystopian setting based on the 1990's, Gong expertly interweaves the overarching sense of doom that accompanies dystopian societies with the freshness of a society on the cusp of a technological revolution. The juxtaposition of individuals literally fighting for their lives while simultaneously embracing pagers and broadcast news is fascinating and uniquely captivating.

The Magic System
This universe has some of the most unique magic I have ever read - individuals with magic have the ability to jump bodies at will. As a result, you can never truly know who you are speaking to - as it could be another's consciousness within the body of your brother/aunt/best friend/wife. This was so different from anything else I've ever read, and I was utterly entranced the entire time.

The Characters
Calla and Anton deserve the WORLD. I love them both so, so much. They are both absolutely ruthless in pursuit of their goals, regardless of who or what they may need to betray in order to accomplish said goals. The supporting characters are just as intriguing and unpredictable, which kept me on the edge of my toes from start to finish.

The Romance
This is enemies to begrudging allies to lovers done RIGHT. I got giddy each and every time these two interacted. While I love Roma+Juliette, Calla+Anton may take the cake as my favorite CG power couple.

The Writing
IL is immersive and atmospheric and absolutely entrancing. Between the writing style, the pacing, and the overall plot, this was a book I was unable to put down after wholly losing myself within the pages.

If Immortal Longing's isn't already on your TBR, you need to add it now. You won't regret it.

-----5/5 stars!

Thank you to netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is a thrilling and romantic epic fantasy inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Set in the kingdom of Talin, the story follows Princess Calla Tuoleimi who is in hiding after killing her parents and emptying the palace of Er five years ago. She plans to finish the job by winning the games held at the palace of San-Er every year and killing her reclusive uncle who always greets the victor.

To win the games, Calla needs the help of Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat who is deep in debt trying to keep his childhood love alive. Anton is one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, which means he can jump between bodies at will. Calla and Anton form an unexpected alliance, and with the help of King Kasa's adopted son, August, they embark on a dangerous journey to win the games and achieve their goals.

The story is full of power plays, spilled blood, and romance, which makes for a thrilling read. Gong has created a fascinating world with a unique magic system, and her writing is both vivid and engaging. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships are complex and compelling.

One of the highlights of the book is the romance between Calla and Anton. Their partnership spirals into something all-consuming, but their different goals and motives create tension and conflict. The love triangle between Calla, Anton, and August adds another layer of complexity to the story.

Overall, Immortal Longings is an excellent debut novel from Chloe Gong that is sure to please fans of epic fantasy and Shakespeare. The book is fast-paced, full of action, and has a satisfying ending that leaves room for a sequel. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

3.75 ⭐ rounded up
I enjoyed this book, but it took me a second to feel connected to any of the characters. Once I did start to connect to the characters (mainly the two main characters) I really started to enjoy the book more. I have always enjoyed Chloe Gong's writing and this book was not any different.
My biggest issue is that it took me such a long time to start to care for the plot of the book. It is an interesting premise, but until 60% in I didn't feel interested in it.
I however enjoyed the development of the two main characters, and was excited to read about there interactions with the other.
I know this book isn't out yet, but I am already starved for the sequel.

3.75🌟

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

This is what I thought the whole book 😂



"There are no good kings, but there are fair ones."

I thought this was fairly good for Chloe Gong's first Adult book. This novel was like a hopped-up version of the Hunger Games. It also gave Mistborn vibes that I quite enjoyed. The most interesting thing about this book is a person qi. Qi allows people to jump between bodies and deceive other people or, in this case, other players. I LOVED that the twin cities were inspired by 1990 Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City. It was so much fun exploring the twin cities with Anton and Calla. There wasn't one character that wasn't morally gray and I found it refreshing that all the characters did what they felt they needed to accomplish their goals.

"Calla has never claimed to be good. She has never wanted to be good. But she seeks it in every corner of the twin cities; a sign that goodness is something Talin is capable of."

I did enjoy this book. However, I was able to figure out the plot twists very early on, so sometimes, I had a hard time staying engaged. The pacing was all over the place for me as well. The one thing I struggled with was the relationship between Calla and Anton. For some reason, it felt unnatural and forced. I felt more chemistry between August and Galipei, which I hope there is more of in the next installments.

After finishing this book, I was unsure if I would want to continue with this series. After a couple of days, though, I found myself wanting to be back in the twin cities. I am excited to see where Chloe Gong takes this world next!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of Immortal Longings in exchange for my honest review!!

Literally SO grateful I got an early copy of this because it was exactly what I needed to pull me out of a book slump. It was enthralling, violent, delicious, and terrifying all at the same time. I love the story of Cleopatra and Mark Antony so I expected to enjoy this, but my expectations were fully exceeded.

The world building was so vibrant in a world that was horribly bleak. I felt as if I was walking along the filthy streets alongside Calla. I genuinely felt as if I gained a good understanding of what Chloe Gong was intending with the world she created.

The characters were all dark, no one is really the good guy throughout this book and I loved that because morally grey characters tend to be more intriguing. We also got star-crossed lovers who started out as enemies, then reluctant allies before becoming wholly obsessed with the other. One of the characters mentions how it isn’t love, it’s obsession and I can’t agree more. Seriously, it’s DELICIOUS.

I can’t say much else without spoiling, but the last two chapters are insane!! I was completely hooked and can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released.

Immortal Longings is available on July 25, 2023 and you better RUN to pick this one up. An easy 5 stars.

Thanks to @netgalley @simonandschuster and @sagasff for the opportunity to read this galley.

Chloe Gong weaves an intricate, urban fantasy setting, the likes of which I’ve never been immersed in before.

San-Er is a city full to bursting, its citizens starving and desperate while its monarch resides in ultimate luxury in the Kingdom’s palace, willfully deaf to the needs of his people.

Each year, a dangerous game takes place on the city’s dark and winding streets — 88 players fight to the death in a gruesome parody of hide and seek over a period of weeks.

Only one survivor can win the gold that could pull them out of their debts and into a new life — though some players, like Calla, have more sinister reasons for seeking the grand prize.

When Calla unexpectedly teams up with Anton, a long-exiled noble, they both have to decide whether their growing feelings for each other warrant giving up on their own hidden agendas.

I loved the setting, characters and romance in this book, and can't wait for the second one to come out!

Higher fantasy hunger games vibes. If you enjoyed The Hunter Games, you’d probably enjoy this book too.

I loved the Hunger Games esc. plot along with the dynamics between Cala and August as cousins. While I was a bit confused in the beginning, once the game began it became clearer. I loved Chloe Gong's writing as always. I love how she creates political issues, drama, and conflict. Along with how she writes conflict, Chloe Gong writes enemies to lovers romances extremely well, as seen with Cala and Anton.

Wow! There are so many great books coming out in 2023 but I think this one just stole first place on my list! Chloe Gong's Adult Debut is not one to be missed.

The world building is exquisite, inspired by 1990's Hong Kong's Kowlook Walled City I've never experienced a city like San-Er before. It is amazing how you can see smell, and feel what it is like to live in the dystopian world Gong has created.

All of the characters are deliciously morally grey. And while they can be infuriating they are so well developed you understand where they are coming from. Did I mention the body jumping? That was a fun twist, especially when it comes to how the characters view themselves and play the game.

I wasn't expecting a book that is based on a high stakes game where players battle to the death to have a romance plot but I was pleasantly surprised by a masterfully crafted enemies to lovers trope that brings the heat!

I can't say enough good things about this book, for me it was perfection. I can't wait for book two!

(Social post will be posted closer to publish date)

This was an interesting concept; I got ready player one/hunger games/I’m not even sure what else from this. In an overly urban city, a yearly ‘game’ to the death is held. Calla is entering the games to encore change, Anton needs the cash prize, but what they don’t expect is an unlikely alliance and for many outside forces working against them.

The aspect of this that I’m hoping will be further developed in coming books is the ability for one’s qui (basically your soul/consciousness) to jump to new bodies. This is outlawed in the city, but not all follow those rules and the players of the game are given free reign to jump. I think there was some more background needed for this ability, I felt that I didn’t have the whole story there(which might be the whole point)

I’m also hoping a few of the open-ended things that happened come up in the next book as I have questions!

I did enjoy this, and gave it four stars because I do think there are some parts that felt too long, but overall I was still very invested in the story/characters!

"There are no gods in this world. Only kings and tyrants."

Give me book 2 now !!!!
It's not a surprise but once again Chloe Gong did not disappoint. Her first adult book is a masterpiece, so well written with a thrilling plot and a sexy romance. The cliffhangers leave you speechless. The quality of this book is of another planet!

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games.

Tropes :
- enemies to allies to lovers
- knife to the throat

In her New Adult debut, Chloe Gong gives us a sprawling and intricate world where lies and power are the preferred currency. Immortal longings is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat with daring plot twists and characters who are as dangerous as they are deceiving. It’s more than just a fantasy with a badass female lead, it’s page after page of enthralling world building and high stakes. You’ll find yourself falling more and more in love with this dystopian retelling with every page. Between it’s power driven characters with shaky morals and rich plot, this is guaranteed to be one of my top reads this year. Chloe Gong is a true genius with this Machiavellian fantasy.