Member Reviews
Chloe Gong has done it again!!! The world she has built is so dark and gritty with action packed fights and morally gray characters I adore. I love the ride Chloe took us on - the twists???? So good!! This might be my favorite book from this author and one of my favorite dark fantasies. The cyberpunk inspiration is artfully done and unique in its execution. I won’t stop thinking about Calla and Anton for a long time. The angst was top notch and the slow reveals had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I am in DESPERATE need of the third book. I cannot wait to see how Calla’s story unfolds and I’m going to rave about Vilest Things for the foreseeable future.
Thank you so much to Saga Press and the author for sending me an early copy!
#VilestThings:
Thank you @sagapressbooks and @simon.audio #SagaSaysCrew for my gifted book!
My very most, tippy top, most anticipated, number one stunner book that I had to read immediately released today. Just when I thought Chloe Gong couldn’t rip my heart out even more with another cliffhanger, I read Vilest Things.
Our girl Calla is back with vengeance! She’s ready to take over the world with August/Anton. But, Otta finally awakes from her coma. Dun dun dun. Who is going to take over the world? Who is the rightful heir to the throne? Who is actually in their real body?!
I will say the second book in the series was very slow paced for me. I felt like we were setting additional foundation down that was already lain. About halfway through the book, I did feel like it kind of dragged. There were no revelations, fights, reveals, action. Just.. dialogue.
But then, we hit towards the ending. That ending was so good, omg. I think the last 15% or so had me absolutely gagged with pearls being clutched. Monarch of the cliffhangers did not disappoint.
Jeena Yi is back as the voice for the series, and it was fine. I did end up reading more than listening, but that was just personal preference. I’m thankful narration stayed the same between books.
Overall, I had the highest expectations. I am excited for what’s next, but I do hope there’s more resolution and action (not just physical fighting type either).
Out today!
QOTD: What book are you reading today?
Honestly, I can’t even begin to describe the rollercoaster that Vilest Things took me on. If you thought the cliffhanger from the first book was devastating, just wait until you finish this one. The way this book ended on with that cliffhanger with no release date for the next book in sight, it feels almost criminal!
Let’s talk about what I loved, the plot twists, the shocking reveals, and the betrayals. Also loved learning more about the world, politics and magic system which goes into much detail in this book. And if you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers-back-to-enemies-back-to-lovers trope (with some serious slow-burn vibes this time), this book will have you screaming “Ah, shit, here we go again!” in the best way possible.
Vilest Things picks up right where Immortal Longings left off with the same intensity and strained relationships which makes getting absorbed back into the story easy. Unlike Immortal Longings, there is more of a focus on politics and the lines between hero and villain become more defined. In this book, the characters’ ability to “jump” leaves me with conflicted feelings. I want to see more of certain characters but their storylines feel repressed because they’ve become someone else or vice versa. Luckily for me the story isn’t over yet and I’m hoping to see more of them in the next book.
Regardless, Chloe Gong always does an amazing job of connecting her characters to one another in various ways and sharing the story through different points of view. Unlike its predecessor, Vilest Things left me with a strong feeling of anticipation for the next book. It is more than a sequel. Things are just getting started for the Flesh and False Gods series.
Recommending to those who aren’t opposed to mass sacrifices for mysterious, unknown gods and out of body experiences.
Power has a certain taste to it. A hot, golden tang slinking down the throat and trailing smoke in its wake, like seared meat or aged liquor. Something to settle the body, soothe the heart. It is the answer to every type of hunger, an addictive luxury that requires little else in accompaniment, some salve solely made to take up every bit of space it can find.
Chloe Gong’s Vilest Things is an absolutely masterful continuation of the Flesh & False Gods trilogy, filled with political intrigue, morally gray characters, and an angsty romance that blurs the line between love and power. Picking up where Immortal Longings left off, this sequel shifts from the battle royale of book 1 to the complex fallout of Calla Tuoleimi’s actions—dethroning her uncle and putting August Shenzhi (invaded by Anton Makusa) on the throne. The result is a richly woven tale that blends political machinations with tense personal dynamics, all while raising the stakes to ridiculous heights.
One of the most compelling aspects of Vilest Things is the relationship between Calla and Anton. Their bond, much like that of Cleopatra’s and Antony’s, is dark and twisted, driven by a devotion that borders on obsession, in my opinion. I mean—
“I loved you,” he spits, “and you chose to kill me.”
“You have so quickly forgotten,” she says quietly, “that I would have razed the twin cities for you.”
“Is this a death warrant?” He curls a finger around a strand of her hair. It slithers like water, glides like silk. “Mutually signed, mutually enacted?”
“I will swear myself to you here, if that’s what it takes. From this moment onward, I am your follower. Your acolyte. Whatever it is you need, as my ruler or my deity.”
The utterance sinks heavily into the room, like ingots in water. What a terrible promise. What a beautiful promise.
The tension in their dynamic is palpable, both emotionally and politically. They are a pair “on the precipice of falling off the very world,” and the push-and-pull of their complex relationship, in which they are simultaneously in love and rivals vying for power, had me stressing and will keep you constantly on edge. As they attempt to navigate the chaos of a kingdom on the brink of anarchy, it’s impossible to look away from their battle to either save or destroy each other until there is nothing left.
Beyond the romance, Gong’s skill in building a politically charged, dystopian historical fantasy world shines in this book. Where Immortal Longings focused on the deadly games, Vilest Things digs deeper into the actual implications of book 1, very reminiscent of The Folk of the Air series (but in a way I relished much more). The pacing is smoother here—more so than in the first installment—and the stakes are impossibly high with the threat of the old gods, new qi/magic manipulations, and Otta’s awakening after her seven-year coma. Every twist is crafted with nuance and delivered perfectly.
Look you sad, friends?
The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings
To wash the eyes of kings
—Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra
Another fascinating part of reading this trilogy that I’ve already alluded to in my reviews of both books thus far is how carefully Chloe Gong threads Shakespearean themes into her work. I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but the title of this book, Vilest Things, was cleverly foreshadowed in the quote from Antony and Cleopatra at the beginning of Immortal Longings. Similarly, I can’t help but wonder if the title of the final installment will be either Gods Rebuke or Eyes of Kings—both phrases from the Shakespeare quote at the beginning of this book.
Calla’s teeth are gritted so hard that her jaw hurts.
“Bitch,” she manages under her breath.
Continuing on, the moments of humor sprinkled throughout provide some nice relief from the intensity of the plot. Calla’s deadpan delivery here—
“We put her in the most secure cell under the palace for a reason. She is dangerous.”
“I wasn’t put there.”
“You weren’t considered enough of a risk to warrant it.”
“Oh. Oh, wow.”
“Are you . . . offended by that?”
“I murdered the king, Galipei. What else did you want from me?”
and exchanges like—
“Your Highness, you’re not dressed correctly.”
“Oh, fuck off.”
and
“What’s wrong with a little dearest of my heart?”
“Tyrant of my heart is far more fitting.”
offer levity that I personally loved without detracting from the weight of the narrative. These bits help balance the grimness of the plot, adding another layer of enjoyment to the read.
Overall, Vilest Things is a brilliantly layered sequel that surpasses the first book in its complexity and depth. The political intrigue, high stakes, constant plot twists, and the intoxicatingly dysfunctional romance between Calla and Anton make it such a good read. Chloe Gong’s ability to mix humor, tragedy, and romance within such a dark, twisty framework is impressive, leaving me eagerly awaiting the final book in the trilogy. If you’re a fan of retellings, star-crossed lovers, morally gray characters, and fantasy worlds where the price of power is steep, this one is a must-read.
Final verdict? Vilest Things is an excellent, angst-ridden sequel that sets the stage for a truly explosive conclusion.
Content warnings include violence and death.
Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free copy for review.
Fantasy • Romance • Corruption
Pub Date • 10 September 2024
The long anticipated sequel to Immortal Longings is finally here and I felt so lucky to be able to get my hands on the ARC in advance of publication - thank you so much @sagapressbooks 🫶🏽 #sagasayscrew
I loved the first book of the Flesh and False Gods series, which centered around a hunger games style winner-take-all urban competition featuring guerrilla warfare fighting techniques, body jumping, as well as plain old sword ⚔️ fighting [picture katanas].
⚠️There will be book 1 spoilers below this point.⚠️
At the beginning of book 2, Calla Tuolemi is winner of the games and has succeeded in cutting down King Kasa, with August Shenzhi newly installed as the ruler of San-Er. However, there is much turmoil brewing in the outer territories.
Strange killings involving large amounts of qi threaten the new paradigm’s stability. The paradigm that Anton Makusa has made a farce of by escaping death into the vessel that is August’s body.
Queue power struggles and tension between star-crossed lovers Anton and Calla. A love triangle emerges when Anton’s ex shows up with her own unknown motivations and aspirations. And then there are the gods and the secret societies. The book got a bit confusing in the second half as the rules of the magic seemed to constantly be changing, and there are a lot of character names, history, and places that made having a map handy.
In this reader’s opinion, this was entertaining while lacking the total obsessive allure of Immortal Longings. However some of my buddy reader pals felt the opposite. I look forward to the final installment!
TW: Death, Violence, Gore
Vilest Things, the sequel to Immortal Longings, picks up shortly after the first book's cliffhanger, once again plunging readers into the complex world of Talin. In this installment, unexplained deaths ravage the upper echelon and soldiers of San-Er, setting the stage for a story steeped in political intrigue and fantasy.
Having read both books back-to-back, I found this helpful in staying connected with the intricate plot and the rich world Chloe Gong has created. One of the standout elements is the concept of qi, which brings a fascinating layer of fantasy to the story. The world-building is ambitious, with a complexity that requires attention to even the smallest details.
The central characters—Calla, Anton, August, and Otta—are layered and morally ambiguous, each fighting for what they believe is the greater good. However, the question of whether their approach is right remains a driving tension throughout the book.
That said, I did feel the story could benefit from more depth, both in character development and world-building. Some events and character introductions felt abrupt, leaving the reader to piece together the “why” and “how” on their own. A bit more fleshing out of these elements could have provided a more immersive experience.
Still, Vilest Things ends on yet another major cliffhanger, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next book to see how the story unfolds.
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing both the physical and e-galley copies of this book.
I loved this! It's full of political intrigue, forbidden love, and morally Grey characters. I found it extremely gripping, and it never failed to keep my attention. I thought the pacing was fantastic and kept the story moving. There was great character growth and development. It has a unique magic system, but I do wish something were explained a little more thoroughly. And the cliffhanger ending had me absolutely shocked. I can't wait for the next installment.
Vilest Things is the follow up to Chloe Gong’s Immortal Longings. This book picks up soon after the conclusion of book one. While the first book is focused on our main characters and the violent game at play, book two really opens up the world, the magic, and the politics. Our main characters are grappling with the repercussions of their actions from Immortal Longings while trying to move forward in their current situation.
Tensions are high, there’s no one to trust, and people are dying left and right!
I really enjoyed learning more about the world, its history and the political figures involved. I also feel like the series title, Flesh and False Gods, starts to show itself. Like ok, I see you. There are many twists and turns, and I seriously didn’t trust anyone! My side eye was strong throughout! 👀
I definitely recommend continuing this series if you want to delve deeper into this world and the bigger plot unfolding. But hold on tight, it’s a wild ride!
I was so excited to jump into Vilest Things after the intense cliffhanger in Immortal Longings! Chloe Gong continues to impress me with her intricate world-building and compelling characters, especially Calla, who’s quickly become one of my favorite heroines.
This book is definitely the bridge between book 1 and book 3, with a heavy focus on court politics, the magic system, and a more in-depth look at the history of San-Er. Because of all the info-dumping, the book starts off pretty slow, but once the story gets going, it stays intense. The tension between Calla and Anton is still there, and the stakes are higher than ever with secrets, power struggles, and new threats emerging.
Vilest Things didn’t have the same punch as Immortal Longings, but it feels like a crucial setup for the explosive finale coming in book 3. The twists, cliffhanger, and high-stakes drama left me wanting to run straight to the next book... but sadly, I’ll have to wait.
If you’re into complex fantasy worlds with court politics and a unique magic system, this series is a must-read.
Huge thanks to Saga Press Books #sagasayscrew and the author for the amazing gifted book.
This book is the second installment in the Flesh and False Gods series. After being captivated by Immortal Longings, I eagerly anticipated finding out what's next for Calla and Anton. This book not only delivered on that but went above and beyond.
Although the pacing was slower, the author used this time to intricately develop the magical system, delve into the history of the lands, and explore the political structure. I encountered some confusion with the magic system but found it worthwhile to persist. Unexpected character developments involving Calla, Anton, August, and Otta added depth, and the power struggle for political control was enthralling. The introduction of new characters with hidden agendas further enriched the narrative.
The twists in the conclusion left me speechless and craving more. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
Miss Chloe Gong DELIVERED with this sequel!
You know the fear that a sequel is not going to live up to the bar set by first book? Or that it's gonna be those where you end up with a "this could've been an email" feeling? You have nothing to fear with Vilest Things because I can confirm that it does NOT suffer from "filler episode" syndrome. Quite the contrary, actually! I can see the ways in which this book is setting up for something grand with the conclusion of the series, and I appreciate that Chloe did so in a way where everything that happens in this book still feels like a key element to the story.
I can never get enough of the intoxicating push and pull between Anton and Calla, where the lines between passion and hate, love and obsession are so blurred that they start to become indistinguishable from one another.
Chloe Gong definitely upped the ante on the political intrigue and worldbuilding with this book and she did so spectacularly! I particularly enjoyed learning about the gods and the lore that predates the twin cities and what their society might've looked like prior to their establishment, as well as getting a more in depth exploration of qi and the ways that it can be used, manipulated and exploited.
IN CONCLUSION, Chloe Gong is an evil genius, Calla is, has been and always will be THAT bitch, and I cannot recommend this series enough!
Book two continues the snarky, sassy game of powerful by clever women ruling politics and fates with lots of sarcasm and interesting worldbuilding. (A Roman and Chi-inspired novel). You'll appreciate it more if you read the first one, what happened in the arena is very important to this plot.
I read the first book in this series a year ago. While I liked the book, I wasn’t totally wowed. I felt like the book had pacing issues, and I struggled to follow parts of the plot. The magic system in this series is difficult to depict {kudos to Chloe for the effort!} The world is fascinating, and I enjoyed diving deeper into it in book two.
I almost didn’t continue this series, but I am glad that I did! I enjoyed Vilest Things more than Immortal Longings. Although, I think I’m the outlier in our buddy reading group. 🤭
In Vilest Things, Gong’s world expands significantly as the story leaves the urban capital of San-Er and travels into the borderlands. I loved the political intrigue, expansion of the world, and deeper dive into the magic system and history. I also made more connections to the story of Antony & Cleopatra.
While I still struggled to understand some of the scenes {a problem I shared in book one}, I deeply enjoyed this one. Overall, this was a great set-up for the final book in the trilogy. I cannot wait to finish this series.
𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴
Immortal Longings 3.25⭐️
Vilest Things 4.25⭐️
Thank you @netgalley @sagapressbooks #sagasayscrew for the advanced reading copy. Opinions are my own.
“𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Book 2 in the Flesh and False Gods trilogy!
Immortal Longings was in my top 10 favorite books of the year last year, so obviously I was excited for Vilest Things. I’m pleased to announce it did not disappoint 🙌🏻 the world building continued to blow me away in this one, and San-Er will go down as one of the most well written fictional worlds in my book. Do yourself a solid and start this series if you haven’t already!
Thank you so much to @sagapressbooks for my #gifted review copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own. Vilest Things is out 9.10! #sagasayscrew @thechloegong
~4.5~
"A life is short. Legacy is forever."
With the cliffhanger that was Immortal Longings, Vilest Things follows Calla post tournament now that August is on the throne. But when doing her advisor duties and going to beyond the San-Er wall, there are mysterious deaths and phenomenons not easily explained. As she furthers her investigation, it also brings more questions of qi, the gods, and the history of their entire nation.
I'm actually obsessed with this world, these characters, and I was NOT aware this was going to be a trilogy?! I was fully prepared for a nice wrap-up and then getting closer to the end brought more and more questions. Calla and Anton have me in a CHOKEHOLD. Their reluctant allies to lovers to enemies is just beautiful because the tension is SO strong as the novel progresses.
"I will swear myself to you here, if that's what it takes. From this moment onward, I am your follower. Your acolyte. Whatever it is you need, as my ruler or my deity."
The complexities of San-Er's history gets more and more intriguing and the fact that Mark Antony and Cleopatra's story didn't have a happy ending makes me terrified for what's to come in book three, if we're still sticking to it...
Thank you Netgalley, Saga Press, and Chloe Gong for an advanced eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
I like the quick recap at the beginning of the book, if you haven't read book 1, Immortal Longings you will not be lost.
I honestly enjoy the way Chloe Gong's mind works. There were mixed feelings with both Immortal Longings and Vilest Things but I have enjoyed my time in this world. The storm system that is Calla and Anton is insane! This book is a mind screw!
I wish it were longer to go more in-depth into character development. Whenever something new was discovered it happened and then we were on to the next situation. This made it feel as if it was just placed in as a filler when it could have been used to immerse the reader more into the character conflict, situational conflict, or the magic system. I would have sat through an extra 100/150 pages for that.
I still enjoyed reading this book and Chloe's writing style.
I was so happy to get back to Calla, Anton, August, and this newest edition to the False Gods trilogy! Vilest Things picks up right where it left off which I am always thankful when that happens. While the previous book Immortal Longings gave us the introduction to the characters with the action packed deadly games, Vilest Things gives us more back ground and history behind the characters, political aspects, and connections. It was great getting this background but also kept me questioning and guessing the entire time. We get introduced to some newer characters and find out how they fit into the story which made the story a bit more complex in a good way! While sometimes the story was mind wrecking, I do enjoy the fact that it made me think putting the pieces to this world’s puzzle together. Just when I did get little tid bits of answers to some of my questions, Ms. Chloe ends with a cliffhanger. I need book 3 now to find out more!! AHHHH!
Calla has always been a favorite bad A** female character from the beginning for me. While some of her antics were questionable, I can see great things coming in book three with her Anton, August, and (insert other characters), again…I cannot wait.
You all know that Chloe Gong is a favorite of mine and an auto-buy author, so I am telling you, go pick this series up if you have not already!
Vilest Things was probably more of a 3.5/3.75 read for me. It took me longer to read than I anticipated. There was a chunk of the book that felt like not much was happening yet at the same time, the whole qi jumping was fascinating and again I found myself building theories the whole way through, as I did in book 1. This had a fantastic ending that really starts to give meaning to the Series name of “Flesh and False Gods”.
4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed this one, I think even more than Immortal Longings. It was much more fast-paced, and the plot was more enjoyable. There was less slow world building which made this a fast and fun read. I really liked learning more about the backstory about these characters. I couldn't stop reading because the suspense was so good. I had to find out what happened next. As always, Chloe Gong left us on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read book 3!
Thank you Saga Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC. I loved this one :)