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).

I spent most of book one being a little confused and, unfortunately, spent a bit more time being confused during book two. Some of the magic seemed to be different in this book, and there was definitely a bigger background plot happening. It's an interesting concept, but I struggled to feel attached to the characters, possibly due to the body hopping, and that made it more difficult to move through the plot. This just might not be for me.

Thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I loved this book so so much!!

I always thought this series was a duology so I was so confused when the plot was not resolving itself towards the end. I kept looking at how far through the book I was, and I kept wondering how Chloe was gonna wrap it all up in less than 10% . This definitely contributed to my experience of the book though, I was so shocked at every plot twist and that ending??? Jaw dropped. gob smacked. everything you name it.

The tension between calla and anton was immaculate. I loved it so much, it was all very imgonnagetyouback coded. and the way he called her princess made me giggle every single time.

August and Galipei didn't get enough page time. I was rooting for them the whole time, I kinda dislike august but Galipei deserves better,

I loved the plot, i would arguably say i liked it more than the plot in IL. The whole lore about sigils and sinoa was mindblowing and i was left maing a permanent woah face.

I am a number one otta hater for life!!! Every time she opened her gob, I wanted to smack her into the next dimension to tell her to shut up. Chloe did a very good job of writing her character tho (as usual!!)

And as per usual, Mao Mao stole the show!!! I had to bookmark every scene that he was present because he's just that ✨ iconic ✨.

It took me a long time to get into Mortal Longings…Vilest Things was like the story digested speed…It was a quick pace, constant plot twist kind of story. We left off in ML’s when Calla took the podium with King August…only it wasn’t August. Now characters who had no depth to them in the first book explode alive in this second book giving way to a very different dynamic and story direction. Calla & Anton seem destine for ruin as his anger boils over for her decision to kill him in the games and his first love Otta reemerging. The plot twists Gong throws at you keep you on your toes and there is no down time to get comfortable with anything that is going on in the book. It was a devastating ride of betrayal, longing and character reveals I never saw coming tell it went straight through my heart. The ending sent me over the edge and she absolutely CANNOT leave us here on this cliff. Please Gong, I am holding out my heart…set a date for the next book!! 5 stars!

Warring politics, Ancient Gods, power, and betrayals. Book 2 starts off immediately from where book 1 left off expanding the compelling world building. We go beyond San-er and into the provinces as Calla undergoes the consequences of her actions killing the king.

I was hooked the entirety of this read no matter where I left off. Every character had motives, diverse personalities, betrayals, and their own loyalties. The intricate webbing of the plot alongside that created fascinating dynamics that would blow my mind the further we got. Plenty of action sequences I could follow and amazing reveals I could never have guessed.

Calla and Anton are just so in tune with each other it’s unbelievable. Starting off as enemies turning to lovers in book 1 created my love for their relationship. The plot twist turning them back into enemies was heartbreaking and I cried. The hatred and angst creates a push and pull between Calla and Anton that I couldn’t get enough of. Introducing Otta Avia into the situation was absolutely nerve wrecking. She was completely unpredictable the moment she woke up and I was here for it.

Chloe Gong has done it again! 1000/10 must read series and top read of 2024!

Well Chloe Gong knows how to write a cliffhanger, I'll tell you that.

First off - if you did not immediately read the first book, I suggest you do that or find a refresher video on Youtube before going into this. This book hops right back in and does not give much of an explanation of where we are or how we got there.

This book is all about character and not so much about plot. About 75% in I realized almost nothing had happened, but I was surprised how little this bothered me. That being said, the last 100 pages were jam packed with action that happened so quickly I sometimes missed things. The romance in this one was weird for me (according to my review for book 1, I felt the same before), and while I did get a little giddy during ~romantic times~ I didn't quite understand the relationship dynamics. Plus, Otta's randomness in the last book as Anton's first love is equally, if not more, random in this one. The jumping aspect was less of an emphasis in this book, which made it easier for me to suspend reality. (The concept of jumping as a whole had me thinking so many things in book one - how do you know who anyone truly is?!)

I'd give this 3.5 stars. This book had me excited to keep reading, but I felt like I wanted more. I don't know if I want book 3 asap because that cliff hanger was even more jaw dropping than the first one, or because I actually loved the book. Regardless, it's a fun time.

Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!