Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review!!

This book was an insane read!
Oh my god, i’m still shocked because of the ending and will need a few days to recover hahahaha.

I had very high expectations for this book, after finishing Immortal Longings, and it was even better than I expected.

These characters are my roman empire. I love them so much and even though the (kinda toxic) romance aspect isn’t the main focus, I was giggling and kicking my feet at most of their interactions.

The universe is very fascinating, and I really like how it was expanded on this book.

I still have many questions, and I can’t wait for the third book!!

i am so incredibly disappointed to say that i did not enjoy this as much as i expected to. the writing was very dry and stilted, feeling more like a screenplay that a display of characters’ feelings, emotions, and motives. i never felt like i connected with any of it, and being a sequel i should have been more invested in the story/characters. but i would say i prefer chloe’s YA to this series

I loved being back in the world of San-Er! Chloe’s character dynamics were amazing as always, and there were so many twists and turns. I read this right after a reread of Immortal Longings, so that may be part of why I felt like the plot was moving a lot slower than I was expecting. This was definitely more politics-focused, though Calla & Anton remained as delightfully stabby as always! I’m very excited to see how Chloe wraps things up in book 3, and for everyone to read Vilest Things!

Chloe Gong is unstoppable, and VILEST THINGS is proof of her one-of-a-kind talent for writing books and crafting worlds that compel you to get lost in them. Gong’s latest tour de force is brimming with intrigue, romance and mystery, and what’s better than that?

this book is insane. <i>flesh and false gods</i> is chloe gong’s first trilogy, but she the sophomore slump curse to be entirely unfounded. the vibes were unmatched, the plot twists unpredictable. in fact, my wildest and most unfounded theories going into this book turned out being more accurate than any planned out ideas i had. this book is like a rollercoaster that never ends… and when the final page comes, you’re still stuck at the top of a loop, unprepared for whatever might be next. i need the third book to be released like yesterday thank you !!!!!

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @sagapressbooks for an early copy of Vilest Things by @thechloegong. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: September 10th, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207298442-vilest-things?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=SIfoeOk90s&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Vilest Things is one of the best sequels I have ever read! Unlike most sequels, VT lives up to its predecessor, and I could argue it’s even better. Gong expands the magic system of jumping from body to body and qi from the first book, and it’s much easier to understand now; the world-building was less chaotic and easier to follow this time. The storytelling flows even more smoothly and dives deeper into politics and history, giving more questions than answers. Though there’s less action than in IL, there were a lot of revelations and plot twists, especially with the awakening of Otta Avia and her causing chaos over the kingdom.

I honestly don’t know how to give a just review for VT without spoiling anything but know that I enjoyed this far better than IL, most especially because this focuses more on the history and the characters rather than just King Kasa’s games and the budding romance between Calla and Anton. I mentioned that there were a lot of revelations, leaving far more questions than answers that made the book difficult for me to put down until the very end.

I thought this was the final book in the series but spoiler alert – there’s more to come apparently! After finishing VT it made me more excited to know that there’s going to be a next book because there’s still a lot more to the story and I honestly think I couldn’t wait another year for the next book. 🫠

I really enjoyed the first book, Immortal Longings, but without the structure of the competition and the reveals from the end of book one, this story feels like it lost its driving force a bit. I put this down at chapter 14 and I’m not sure if I’ll keep going with this series.

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, for the free copy for review.

Actual rating: 4.25 (rounded to 4)

Let me start off by saying this was very good. It took me about a week to finish and, considering how busy I am, that’s pretty fast. I found myself thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it until I just carved out an hour and a half of my Friday afternoon to finish. However, I will say I did find the beginning a bit slow to get into because I unfortunately remembered almost nothing from Immortal Longings having read it over a year ago and having the memory of a goldfish. Anyway, onto the review (beware, by nature of being a sequel this review will likely contain spoilers for book 1 in this series).

What worked: I think the pacing was much better in the second book. Through the first 60-65% or so I felt this mounting sense of dread, trying frantically to put all the pieces together (I failed, mostly). The first book left us on this massive cliffhanger and the second picks up immediately from there. The tension is there from the beginning, wondering what’s going to happen now that Anton wears the crown and Calla has been pardoned. The tension builds even further when Otta Avia awakes and becomes a general menace. This through line carried the plot nicely. I also loved the writing in this book, it was truly stunning at times. The metaphors were creative and tasteful, not overdone, and once again San Er became this writhing beast of a living creature. It was so visceral in a way I really enjoyed. The political intrigue was also done quite well, as was the development of Anton and Calla’s relationship. A character I particularly liked in this book was August, which is ironic (iykyk) but his internal dichotomy in his few pov chapters was so fascinating.

For what didn’t work so well: I found this book a bit confusing. Again, maybe this is my fault because I didn’t remember enough from IL but I found it hard to follow at times. In the climactic scene in the mountains (that’s all I’ll say) I truly couldn’t figure out what was happening on a physical level or why. I couldn’t get a complete grasp on Calla’s motivations (Anton’s I could somewhat), and I didn’t understand Otta at all. I understand that this is because of the povs through which the book is told, but as the driving force behind the plot, I wish I could’ve understood a bit more her motivations and her history. I kind of have a big question mark when it comes to Otta and I wanted more clarification. The last 15% or so seemed to take a wild turn that didn’t fit entirely with the rest of the story, given that Calla’s drive up until then had been solely to counteract Otta. As for the twist at the end, I didn’t fully guess it, but I did suspect it. Finally, I wanted to see more of Calla’s conflicting emotions in her internal monologue. /Slight spoilers - She tells Anton several times of her mountainous guilt but as far as I could tell, we don’t see that reflected in her internal monologue./

Overall, this was a really solid second book! As far as I understand it, this is a trilogy, and I think it’s only going to keep getting stronger. Looking forward to the third and whatever else comes from Chloe Gong.

Thank you again to Saga Press!

This may sound weird to anyone who’s read Immortal Longings, but this book was just so <i>fun</i>. I felt compelled to keep reading, to know more about the mysteries underpinning the story; not just in this book, but the trilogy as a whole. The trilogy title is starting to make sense! The stakes are pretty different from Immortal Longings as well, enemies-to-lovers takes more of a backseat (but is still there, rest assured) while we go on an adventure quest.

One of the special things about this series is the concept of jumping, how people can wear others' bodies and not be who they appear as. We saw it already in Immortal Longings, but Vilest Things takes it to a new level. There are many fun scenes where the characters interact while occuping the bodies of others, and it's a mission to communicate in code so that those they're around remain unsuspecting. It really makes you think as well about what makes a person unique if not their physical appearance; figures of speech, mannerisms, <i>attitude</i> (if you know, you know).

The case of this book is spectacular. Our main new blazing figure is Otta Avia, who wreaks havoc wherever she goes. She's a schemer through and through; I'd admire her for it if I wasn't Team Calla all the way. In act two, even more drama ensures between the characters and I'll just say that one particular scene stands out.

I touched on this a little at the start of the review, but I just really love the world this story is set in, with its magic and gods and culture. It's set up so well to have a nice mystery undertone, which is developed in this book and I suspect will play an even larger role in the next. The threads that begun in Immortal Longings are starting to be woven together, but the tapestry is far from complete yet.

Vilest Things does give middle child vibes a little in that it's a bridge between the beginning and end; nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed the book and all the shenanigans that ensued. The ending promises book three will be explosive; until then, join me in chanting "Gallipei deserves better".

Chloe Gong is allergic to not serving, and I am convinced this book rewired my brain chemistry.

I had been convinced that this was the conclusion to the series, so I was both devastated [I want answers now!! Chloe Gong I'm in your walls!!!] and delighted to know that there would be more to come. It was so hard to believe that the stakes would feel so much higher and more intense than in the first book, but VILEST THINGS pushes everything to new limits, and is bound to have readers turning page after page unable to put the book down.

What a wild ride.

!!! This series. Each installment with its reveals is more exciting than the last, and I cannot wait until the final one.

EXCERPT: “[Chloe] Gong’s prose is almost always a winner, with its beautiful, incisive structure and way of phrasing things. As a writer, Gong also knows how to execute twists well and in the most thrilling fashion, creating emotional havoc for the reader, all in a positive way … [w]ith all those commonalities come moments when it feels like Gong’s already done so much with her previous books that there’s not much new coming to the table.”

Full review published online at Asia Blooming.

I'm rating this five stars from now because I got a physical copy, and I'm already so sure I'm going to love this as much as I loved Immortal Longings!

Chloe Gong is a master at her craft! Her ability to totally transport readers to a new world is absolutely breathtaking, and Vilest Things is no exception!

After rating Immortal Longings 2 stars, I thought there'd be no hope for me enjoying this story moving forward. However, this book pleasantly surprised me. It wasn't a perfect read--I still feel no emotions toward the characters or Calla and Anton's relationship--but the sequel kept me engaged and I loved all the twists.

I was on the fence about continuing this series last year but now I think I will definitely stick it out to the end.

Chlor Gong is so talented at weaving intricate storylines and layered characters that leave you wanting more and more! This book is no different. It picks up right where the first one ends and starts off with a bang. I liked that we got more world building and got to understand qi a lot more than we had before. Not to mention getting to know the Malissa!

What a fantastic follow up to Immortal Longings. This book is jam packed with court intrigue, mysterious scientific or perhaps spiritual events, angry gods, angry women, star crossed lovers, and notes on war and class that of course parallels real life. An absolutely incredible sequel. The pace was great, the twists knocked me off my feet, and the small amount of spice had me giggling and kicking my feet. The social commentary was not in your face but was done so well, and especially well in terms of having seemingly rational POVs that make you question your reality. And of course, some lovely Mao Mao moments.

This book was an amazing read, that took you places you didn't know you were going to go. I was fully absorbed in this book right off the bat and flew through it in one day. The author did an amazing job with the plot and making the characters unique but relatable. I will be recommending this book to all of my patrons, family, and friends. Great read!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

This was an incredible follow up to Immortal Longings, and just like the first book, I could not put it down, and I am going to be DYING until the final book is released!!

This picks up immediately after the end of the games, with King Kasa dead and August declared the new ruler of San-Er… but we know it’s not really August. The sequel really dives more into how qi works and the history of Talin as a whole, as well as the background of our main characters.

Chloe Gong has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this series does not disappoint.

Blood, Betrayal, and Burning Empires: A Look at "Vilest Things"
This sequel to the acclaimed "Immortal Longings" dives headfirst into a world of political machinations, vengeance, and a love that could consume everything. Fans of the first book will find familiar themes inspired by Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" woven into a richly imagined, futuristic Asia.

Power Struggles Take Center Stage

Calla, having secured a precarious victory, now walks a tightrope as advisor to the seemingly docile new king. However, a shocking twist reveals a familiar face – or rather, a stolen one – beneath the crown. Anton, fueled by rage over Calla's betrayal, has seized control of the king's body, setting the stage for a complex dynamic between the former allies.

The Past Rises from the Ashes

The arrival of Otta, Anton's presumed-dead love, throws another wrench into the already volatile situation. Her awakening from a coma unveils a secret that could shatter the fragile peace. As tensions escalate, Calla and Anton are forced into an uneasy truce to quell a potential rebellion.

A Story with Room for Growth

While the core concept is intriguing, the world-building and character development don't quite reach the full potential established in the first book. The breakneck pacing left me wanting a deeper exploration of the characters' motivations and the intricate political landscape.

A Must-Read for Fans of the First Book

Despite its shortcomings, "Vilest Things" is sure to enthrall those who enjoyed "Immortal Longings." With its high stakes, complex relationships, and a dash of forbidden romance, it offers a thrilling continuation of the story. However, those new to the series might find themselves struggling to grasp the intricacies of the plot and characters.

Overall, "Vilest Things" is a worthy successor, delivering political intrigue, shocking revelations, and a love story teetering on the edge of a knife. Readers who enjoyed the first book will likely find themselves captivated, but newcomers might want to start with "Immortal Longings" for a richer experience.