Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CHLOEEEEEE!!!! BABE. You have a new fan for life after this book. Are you actually kidding me?! 😮‍💨🫠😫 they could never make me hate Calla and Anton!!!! They’re my babies 🥹

I seriously love the world building and technology involved in this series. I loved the tech involved in this land and all of the advancements that have, while also feeling completely immersed in a fantasy setting. That’s a very fine line to walk on, and Gong did it with grace and badassery!!!

The ending of that book had me so hype! I can tell that the next book will be just as good, if not even better. I love to get so surprised by books and the sequence of events and information given. Ms. Gong KILLED IT. There is something powerful about a woman knowing her worth and strength and is confident enough to get the job done. Calla has been forced to be strategic about every decision she’s ever made for 15 years, and all of her choices have led to this moment in time. Everything that comes out of her mouth had me rooting for her. I love how unapologetic she is about herself. And Anton… he is enraged and rightfully so. Both he and Calla have been fighting for so long—for their own survival, for their plans for revenge. They need each other, but will they be able to work through what happened?

There were so many twists and revelations in this book that I legit had my hand fly to my mouth in shock!! There are more POVs in this book compared to Immortal Longings, which I absolutely loved. We get so many different angles of the storyline that I was eating up!!


CW: blood, death, murder, violence, injury/injury detail, war, sexual content

4.75⭐️3🌶️

Urban Fantasy
Multi POV
Eastern Asian Influence
Unique Magic System
Forbidden Love
Slow burn
Morally Grey MC’s
Political Intrigue
Betrayal
Rebellion


A Gripping Sequel that Delivers on All Fronts

This second book in the series is a fantastic follow-up! While the first book centered around the Games, this installment dives deeper into the political landscape, exploring how the kingdom teeters on the brink of civil war. With shifting power dynamics and secrets that keep you on the edge of your seat, I was hooked from the very beginning. The pacing was spot-on, maintaining a steady build of tension throughout.

The romance is another highlight. The forbidden love between the characters is filled with jealousy, denial, and longing, creating an irresistible “will they, won’t they” pull. I found the emotional conflict—the mix of fear, anger, and desire—between the two main characters to be incredibly relatable and engaging.

But perhaps my favorite aspect of the series so far is the magic system. It’s complex and thoughtfully developed, with new layers continuously being revealed. The system is constantly explored and explained, but it maintains a strong core that holds everything together. Even as the characters experiment with and question the magic, Gong skillfully keeps the essence of the magic system intact, adding depth and intrigue to the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I don't know how Chloe Gong does it -- but her world building is so unique that you can't help but want to read more. This one lost me a little bit in the middle, but I really enjoyed how she does political intrigue. I find her books continue to captivate my attention and make me want to read them over and over again. 4.5/5 for me.

DNF @ 20%. I really liked Chloe Gong's YA books and I felt very look warm about Immortal Longings but I thought i would continue the series anyway. Unfortunately, I could not get through this. I was even more confused during this book despite it being a book two and I do think the sophomore slump hit with this one.

This is the second book in the series and I do think it suffered a bit from the sophomore slump, but that might just be me. The first book is full of tropes that I DEVOUR (magical competition) and this book switches gears to cover some heavy world building that the first book didn't fully explore. That being said, while it did take me longer to get into it, I absolutely enjoyed the ride once the plot started going.

The ending was full of surprise after surprise, and I'm not entirely sure I know who ANYONE is anymore or who the bad guys are supposed to be.

I will say one of the big reveals in the end was lost on me as I am unable to figure out exactly who she is to our MMC and my friend group who read it also seemed undecided, so perhaps that could have been a bit more fleshed out instead of treated as a mic drop.

I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this series!

I wish there hadn't been such a long break in between the first book in this one. I found myself struggling to catch up and remembering everything important from book one, which is a lot in a completely new world like this one. With that being said, I enjoyed this book and with that cliff hanger I will definitely have to read book three. The chi and it's magic are very interesting and I really like the dynamic between Calla and Anton, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about their fate with these being an Anthony and Cleopatra retelling!

Vilest Things was such a great read and sequel. I loved the character development and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.

Overall, this book was a wild ride from start to finish. If you're a fan of political intrigue, complex characters, and slow-burn romances, you'll devour this book in one sitting. Trust me, you won't regret it!

I just struggle to get into this one. I feel like it was a bit of being too slow and also having too many moving parts at the same time. Just not a fan of this one!

Sadly, I had to DNF this. While the premise seemed interesting, I wouldn´t say I liked the characters. The FMC was such a manic pixie girl that I rolled my eyes more often than not.

this follow up to the first book in the flesh and false gods series was somehow even CRAZIER than its predecessor—which is, of course, miss gong’s brand, so i should expect nothing less. this was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and it certainly did not disappoint. calla and anton and all the other players in san-er got even more ruthless and conniving as the stakes increased, and we learned so much more about the world’s history and even the limitations (or lack thereof???) on the magic system. the cliffhanger has me screaming and i can’t wait for the final book in the trilogy.

I'm still in shock I was so lucky to get an ARC for this book. Thank you NG, Saga Press | S&S/Saga Press for the ARC of this title!

Chloe Gong is becoming one of my favorite authors. I was captivated by this world and the characters from book 1. It is such a unique world and I was both happy and nervous and be back in book 2. Book 2 did not disappoint. BUT NOW I'M DYING FOR THE NEXT BOOK.

immortal longings and vilest things were my first experience with chloe gong and i was not disappointed. she is such a gifted writer and it was a pleasure getting read her work. she weaves such beautiful stories with well written, developed characters and a story you cannot get enough of. i look forward to reading more from here!

i love chloe gong. and i've made this very apparent on all my social medias! chloe, just so you know, you could write dirt and i'd read it and rate it 5 stars xoxo <3
"vilest things* is a dark, gripping fantasy that explores the complexities of vengeance, power, and survival. set in a world of political intrigue and violent rivalries, the story follows a cast of morally gray characters, all of whom are grappling with their own demons and desires. gong’s world-building is rich and atmospheric, with vivid depictions of a society teetering on the brink of collapse. while the plot moves at a fast pace, the emotional depth of the characters is what truly stands out, especially as they confront their worst instincts and make impossible choices. it's a thrilling, intense read that keeps you on edge until the very end. her writing is so special to me because it'll always bring me out of a slump! for any readers looking to get back into the fantasy world, try the immortal longings series :)

This has a different vibe than the first book but I really enjoyed them both! This one has a lot of political and power struggles. I personally liked the pace of it.

I love Calla so much. I really like all the characters though. You’re constantly finding out more and more about them as you read. They’re all a bit morally grey and flawed. I love it.

One thing about both books is that I never knew what was going to happen. I was just along for the ride and there were so many twists and turns. I still really love the magic system. It’s kind of creepy 😂 but it’s really interesting to me. It was so much fun!

And the ending?! Eeek, I’m so excited for the next book!

Can chloe gong write anything that I won't love? Not sure honestly and this book continues to be a winning streak. In classic Chloe fashion this book is FULL of fantasy that grips you and the plot twists are out of this world but if you re read it, there's just incredible fortelling signs. IT'S ALL THERE. She lays down the groundwork like she's being paid by the city to fill plot holes. I cannot wait for the ending of this incredible series.

This book was everything ! I don’t know how I can go on without the third book in my life. The world expanded in this book and I was even more hooked. And the twist at the end … jaw on the floooooor

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an this ARC of Vilest Things by Chloe Gong! This was a sequel I was very much looking forward too after reading Immortal Longings last year (especially with that cliffhanger), and I found it to be well worth the wait! This series is an adult fantasy/sci-fi that's inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. I often am wary of retellings, but honestly Chloe Gong does really have a knack for doing a good job with telling stories inspired by other stories. If you're going to try a retelling, I'd definitely recommend one of hers. And after reading this second installment and finding it pretty enjoyable, my first suggestion would be start specifically with this series!

This book is very plot driven, which I have to compliment because I found the plot very fascinating. The twists kept me on the edge of my seat. Vilest Things is a book that I think most people will find difficult to put down. I know I did. I think the thing I liked best was the phenomenal pacing. And I can't believe I thought the cliffhanger from the first book was bad. The cliffhanger for this one is so shocking and again I find myself needing the next book!

Though on the other hand I will say that because I found it to be very plot focused, I thought some of the character moments were lacking. Which ultimately wasn't a big deal for me, but I do think the romance didn't click as much for me as it could have a lot of the time. I still liked it, but I felt like some potential for me to really connect to the characters and especially to believe the chemistry between them was a little lost in that sense. The characters are definitely an area I'd like more development with in future books because they are really interesting and I'm pretty invested at this point. I was genuinely surprised that there is going to be another book, I started this one thinking it was the last book in a duology. But really the best decision for the story and the characters!

This is a book where you have to have read the first one I think, but it's absolutely my recommendation that you do pick up both! Especially if you're a fan of the genre. Or even if you aren't, I found this book (and series) unique enough that I would say give it a try anyway!

A major improvement over Immortal Longings (which received a 2.5 from me).

We pick up after Longings where Calla has enacted her plan to remove Kasa and place August on the throne, only one thing is wrong- it's Anton, not August. We also discover Otta miraculously recovers and makes her way into the palace council and quickly begins to try and assert her power.

The intrigue and the lore behind the gods and foreshadowing the abilities of jumping are much more expansive in this novel which was a welcome improvement for me. The stakes seemed higher and the political intrigue was done fairly well in my opinion.

I am curious how the final book will go, but as someone who was a tad disappointed in IL, I give VT a 4/5 for being able to expand on this universe.

Thank you NetGalley and Saga Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Wow! This book really made you go through it. The tension between Anton and Calla was so intense. I kept rooting for them to communicate and the punches kept coming.

You could feel the stress that Calla went through realizing she killed Anton and what that decision meant. I enjoyed seeing her growth and problem solving skills. She really never sits still which made reading her scenes fun. The political background and foreshadowing was done really well.

Anton truly embodied rash acting before thinking. I enjoyed watching him try to bully his way through things. You could see how much he was hurt by Calla’s decision and how much he was trying to ignore that hurt. Overall enjoyed his storyline and how when Calla said jump, he jumped.

Overall this book was so fascinating and so much more than a love story. The political intrigue and factors are so well done. The ending had me slack jawed with the pieces I missed (too busy smiling about Anton and Calla).