4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vilest Things
Author: Chloe Gong
Fantasy

Thank you so much Netgalley and Saga Press for this ARC! I was super eager to read this since I loved the first book, Immortal Longings, so much! This book picks up right where the first one left off. Do not read the blurb unless you are okay with spoilers from the ending of book one. I’m not sure what was wrong with me but I had a really hard time getting into this one and staying focused throughout the book. So much was going on yet for some reason I wasn’t connecting with it at all! The ending truly saved the book for me. Friggin loved it and need to know what happens next. I talked to my other friends who read it and it’s clearly a me problem because they had no issues with the pacing or storyline at all. So don’t take my word for it. Still overall a great read.

When I was first approved for this, I didn't realize it was Book 2. I rushed to read book one-which, admittedly-was not my favorite. Still, I persevered to give this one an honest chance.

The story has a LOT of world building. Much of it seemed unnecessary and more like filler, so I didn't enjoy slogging through that. The characters, though, were more flushed out and it was interesting to see that there were strong "good guys" or "bad guys" but lots of flawed characters with multiple motivations. I liked that!

Towards the end, It became obvious that there would need to be [at least] one more installment to the story. Will I read it? Yes!

Overall: 4 stars (I really liked it)

**Thank you to NetGalley & Saga Press, S&S/Saga Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I thought this was a duology...at 98% I realized...this was definitely not the end haha.

I had a fun time with this book, but also had some issues with writing and pacing. The Calla and Anton bits were unsurprisingly my favorite and I think the tension between them is so good and interesting. I do like all the side characters and found myself really interested in them, but I feel like a lot of this book is just bogged down by so much unnecessary prose.

This book had a little *too* much worldbuilding for me, it felt like there was a lot of information dumps with little payoff for the actual plot and I was left wondering how a lot of it was relevant. The pacing was jarring, where nothing would happen for chapters and then I'd get to an action scene that felt rushed. I also do find the magic system confusing and not explained enough, also without any solid boundaries-- but maybe this is just a me thing.

Overall I did find this book entertaining and I *do* want to know what happens next! I just didn't feel as invested as I felt during Immortal Longings.

very much enjoyed Immortal Longings, but this just wasnt it. The best parts of the first book were left out and it felt like we were starting all over in a new series but with little explanation.
Nothing happened in the first 70% and then things got going, but that was too late. I never really cared for the characters, the romance was not there/came out of nowhere and the plot was all over the place.
This took me over a month to get through and I am just disappointed.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy.

Vilest Things by Chloe Gong is a gripping tale filled with dark twists and complex characters. Gong's vivid writing immerses you in a world of intrigue and moral ambiguity, making it a must-read for fans of fantasy and suspense. The exploration of human nature is both haunting and beautifully crafted!

3.5-Stars

Vilest Things by Chloe Gong is a politically charged fantasy that dives into the messy complexities of power, class differences, and how ambition can corrupt. The way it tackles the idea that fighting for the greater good can take you down some morally grey paths is super compelling, and the push and pull between the characters’ growing self-awareness and their tragic downfalls is really well done. The romance—full of angst and tension—had me wanting more, as their heartbreaking dynamic was definitely one of the highlights. The world-building really stands out too; the city feels so real, its anxiety almost contagious, and the elements of gods, genetics, and body jumping really add to the vibe of a cyberpunk-like society.

That said, even though I had a blast reading it, I did feel like the book didn’t quite measure up to its predecessor. I’m still invested in the story, but the pacing stumbled a bit when important revelations were zipped through too fast, which left some moments feeling a bit flat. The blend of YA elements with explicit scenes also felt a little off, and I found myself wishing for more depth after the strong wrap-up in book one.

The sequel to Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong is unlike any other sequel I've read before. I didn't even realize it was trilogy until it was almost over. If she writes the last book in this series like she has the other two, then it will be the most successfully written trilogy I've read since The Hunger Games.

I really enjoyed Vilest Things. The characters are all morally grey and I honestly loved the relationship between Anton and Calla. There's political unrest that does come with a jaw dropper. Vilest Things kept my interest from the beginning to the end. I always enjoy Chloe's world building and the pacing always had me wanting to read just one more chapter.

Enemies to lovers trope is strong in this one. Seriously, the ending from the first left me jaw dropped. Not that the ending in this book ended any worse. But the love trope continues and it is strong. I loved how strong that connection and emotions get in this book. I also loved the inclusion and evolvement of the Gods and their manipulations. I hope this is fleshed out even more in the third book,

This book is a bit more hopeful and adventurous than the first. There's much less end of days kind of feeling. And I liked it more, the uplifting energy, the fact that there is something to now look forward - not just a way to die.

I still wish for more world building and explanation of the magic system. But I guess this book is more of a character study than a flushed out fantasy world. And it works, as the characters and their relationships are just blossoming, even if it is little by little.

Overall a great second book, that I think didn't suffer from the second book syndrome.

Vilest Things is book two in Chloe Gong’s Flesh & False Gods Trilogy. It picks up immediately where Immortal Longings left off. I will do my best in this review not to spoil the ending of book one. But if you haven’t yet finished reading Immortal Longings, please proceed at your own risk.

The King’s games have ended, Calla Tuoleimi has accomplished her goal, and now she’s been sent to the far reaches of the kingdom in a Councilmember’s delegation. Mysterious attacks and the revelation that the true crown of Talin is hidden in the Borderlands keep the story’s focus largely outside of the city.

Vilest Things greatly expands on the physical world building of Immortal Longings with a greater focus on the land and the history of the provinces outside of San-Er’s walls. The magic system built around Qi energy (and the ability to jump from one body to another) also expands. The generally understood limits on jumping don’t appear to be true. Is anyone who they appear to be?

Vilest Things centers itself on the history, politics, and religion of Talin. It’s not until about two-thirds into the story that we return to the passionate connection between Calla and Anton Makusa. (Which is fitting after the hit their relationship took at the end of book one. I mean, that’s not something easily forgiven.)The way the two work together as a team is this trilogy’s strength, so I really hope it carries over into the final installment.

Throughout Vilest Things, we’re never quite sure of anyone’s motives. Why publicly announce that the King wears a false crown? What does the Crescent Society want from Calla? Who is behind the Dovetail? Why was Talin’s history re-written after the war? In the final pages, however, we get a peek at who has been pulling the strings of revolution and what they aim to achieve for themselves. It’s a great set-up for the trilogy’s resolution.

I have to admit being a little disappointed in this sequel. The ending of Immortal Longings was a jaw dropping set-up for major conflict between Calla and Anton. But they were rarely alone together for the first half of the novel. I also missed the vibrant chaos of the San-Er cityscape, along with the energy of the games. Instead of returning comfortably to a world I enjoyed, this felt almost like initial world building, not the continuation of a series. I’ll still read book three, but it won’t be at the top of my TBR.

Vilest Things delivered a masterful sequel with higher stakes and interesting character dynamics.

We pick up almost immediately after the events of Immortal Longings. Calla Tuoleimi is now advisor to King August, and the only one that knows his secret, that Anton Makusa is in fact not dead.

Despite their strained relationship, Calla and Anton start to piece together the mystery of odd qi deaths in the outer regions. But when Anton’s old flame Otta Avia wakes from her coma, the strange events start appearing closer to home. There is a race to capture the crown before it falls into wrong hands.

The political intrigue had me in its clutches! What a complex tale of fighting for power and where an epic fantasy could begin. I loved uncovering the various layers of different religious factions and buried secrets, just getting to scratch the surface of Calla’s history.

The tension between Calla and Anton was really like no other, testing the fragile alliance they created in book one. I very much enjoy the strong female voices in this story. Besides Calla, Bibi and Otta are new characters introduced in this book and I’m very curious to see how the story unfolds with their addition.

What I loved originally about the first book was its world building, and it expanded in this sequel. The intricacies of the magic system have been embellished and I cannot wait for the next book to see it come to a head.

Thank you to Saga Press for the review copy.

3.5/5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of the book. This is the 2nd book in a trilogy, so be aware of that going into any review as there will be spoilers.

General Description: Calla successfully finds herself after the games of Immortal Longings; however, so does Anton. But Anton is in August's body. Also, when Otta comes back to the world of the living and reveals the true crown is hidden in the world, Anton (as August) and Calla must work together to get to the crown before anyone else. However, as Calla learns more about her true self, can she trust August with everything she's learning?

What I liked:
- I do like the multitude of perspectives you get, it keeps you in the world.
- I really enjoy Calla as a main character
- The concept of the world is still unique and I liked that we got to see more of it in this book, however...

What was too much:
- The world building...I feel like we have been building this world brick by brick, page by page, and it doesn't really end. I am hopeful the 3rd book doesn't have as much world building.
- The main point of finding the crown felt very lackluster and I feel like I was left with a lot of questions on the crown. With it being the main point of the book, I thought more would be clarified. But I was wrong.

Overall, if you liked Immortal Longings, you should read this book. I definitely can see the 3rd book being an ABSOLUTE banger.

I loved it! I think it was even better than the first book. I liked that the romance was not the only plot. There was anticipation as I looked forward to how Calla and Anton's relationship would develop from the betrayal that went down in the first book. There were some new characters and some revelations. This book was hard to put down. I had to buy a copy of this book so I can read it again. I definitely did not expect the ending! I thought I figured out who was who but I was wrong. I can't wait for the next book!

A great sequel to Immortal Longings!

Vilest Things picks up where Immortal Longings left off (thank goodness).

I loved seeing the characters again (although in a much different way). I will never get tired of reading about the body-jumping activities and how it plays such a fun part in the world.

I really enjoy Anton and Calla’s complicated relationship, I feel like it gives the story great tension while not being overbearing.

The first book had a lot of information dumping but I felt like I could keep up, however the sequel alright feels like it has more info dumping and world building that should be unnecessary at this point since it should have been covered in the first book.

Without the games and big plot points in the first book, I felt like this one didn’t carry the same energy and seemed a bit aimless.

Other than the next book, I’ll be needing a map and a family tree ASAP.

Overall I’m very happy to have read this and I’m excited for the third book!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

3.5 Stars

It's rare when I enjoy a sequel as much as its predecessor, but I definitely felt that way about VILEST THINGS! Because I had a better idea of what to expect before diving into this book (and coming fresh off a reread of the first one as well), I had a more favorable reading experience with this installment in the series.

Granted, this could also be because I live for Chloe Gong chaos in her storytelling, but I digress.

When it comes to this series, it's the plot that takes the driver's seat in capturing my attention. It's really quite rare for me to read a book where I can't really predict what's going to happen next, but many things happen within the pages of Vilest Things that I just didn't see coming. I was content to let the narrative carry me along for the reading experience; there were a lot of things that made me mentally screech, gasp out loud, do a double take and drop my jaw along the way to the ending... which pretty much had the same effect.

I felt more familiar with the setting this go around, but it was certainly interesting to see the world expand and get some more insight into the lore (which was one of my favorite things about this installment, actually). It was equally interesting to see the ways that the events of book one have shaped our two main characters, as well as getting a few new additions to the cast and exploring the relationships (most of which are precarious and balanced on a knife's edge, let's be real) too.

This is definitely a strong installment, and one of the most entertaining sequels I've read in some time. Very much looking forward to seeing how things wrap up in the finale!

I think this is one of the most unique Shakespearean retellings I’ve ever read. The way Gong weaves plot elements, themes, and lines from Antony and Cleopatra while still remaining wholly fresh and original is brilliant, and I adored the complex characters, unpredictable plot, and slow-burning romance.

There’s something about Chloe Gong’s storytelling that pulls me in from the start, and I was eager to go back to this dark and dangerous world. We witness the aftermath of the shocking chaos that occurred at the end of Immortal Longings and are thrust back into a high-stakes, politically charged, and immersive setting. I like how the story delved deeper into the political intrigue and social upheaval. I also think the author did a great job of fleshing out the magic system more because that aspect of the story is so fascinating!

If you like a morally grey character, then you should totally check this series out because there isn’t one character I can think of who isn’t morally grey. lol Having the different POVs added so much to the plot and character development, and gave such interesting perspectives, sometimes complimentary and sometimes contradictory. I also liked seeing the story from major and minor characters, some new and some old. They all have a story to tell and each perspective is unique and compelling. Of course, my favorites were Calla and Anton.

Anton and Calla. Calla and Anton. They. Are. Everything. That is all.

Ok, maybe not all. lol But their story is my favorite part of the whole book. It’s complicated and messy, and I wasn’t sure what would happen between these two considering what happened at the end of Immortal Longings. The chemistry and sexual tension are off the charts. I adored their slow-burning romance – the banter, the longing, the angst, the way they know each other even though they don’t know each other at all – I just adored every part of it. So much of the story is intense and ominous, but watching Calla and Anton and their incredibly complicated feelings add hope and light in a dark and deadly, high-stakes world.

Like the multitude of relationships and characters explored, the plot is intricately woven and complex.. So many twists and turns and shocking revelations kept me on my toes and fully engrossed and entertained. I love stories that are unpredictable, and this one really surprised me more than once. And like the first book, this one left me with my jaw hanging open.

A fantastic sequel to Immortal Longing, Vilest Things is a wild ride from start to finish!

I thought the cliff hanger from the first book was big but the second book tops it 100%!

Vilest Things resumes with our favorite pretenders, Calla and Anton, stationed in positions of power within the palace. You might think things will settle down and this book might take you on the journey of August trying to fight for his body back…but alas, Chloe Gong has a better idea. A hostile takeover is happening and even more deaths similar to the ones seen in the first book are happening. Except, these deaths are mass deaths and like nothing San-Er has seen before. We learn that some people can use qi in different ways and it makes them more powerful. We also learn that the previously established rules of qi are old news.
Lots of scheming, enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers, and old lore are packed into this book. Book three is going to be wild!

Immortal longings was a book where I was interested in it, but not super into it if that makes sense? I think the same feelings came with this book, but I definitely enjoyed Vilest Things better than Immortal Longings I felt I understand more about the time period that San-Er is living in and more about the history as well.

Calla Tuoleimi is no longer just a subject under the rule of Talin’s king. She is now one of the elite and she will do everything to make changes in the kingdom. Anton Makusa, still smarting after Calla’s betrayal, is no longer just a figure from the past. He is the present. He takes over August’s body, making him the next king after Kasa’s death. But he doesn’t fool Calla. And then strange and deadly things start happening in the kingdom and it is up to Calla and Anton to determine the shape the kingdom will take in the future.

Thank you Chloe Gong and Saga Press for the eARC of the second book in the Flesh and False Gods series. All opinions expressed here are mine.

My first thought of this book is that I did not expect it to be so political. The whole book until the very end was about the different groups in the kingdom that wanted their views to be the most important. It was difficult to keep up with who everyone was and what exactly the characters wanted. From reading the first book in the series and then reading this one months later, I definitely forgot some of the politics of the world. Sometimes a repetition of world building and occurrences are necessary in the second book of the series even if it might seem repetitive. I definitely needed it and I spent the whole book trying to play catch-up.

If you really loved the first book, then I definitely recommend you read the second even though the premise of it is very different than the first. I just did not care very much for this book even though I liked the first book. I found it difficult to pick the book up and continue reading.

I think this was everything I could have wanted from the second book in the series. We discover a new conflict that keeps up guessing until the very end and get the same fast paced plot that we had in the first book. I cannot wait to read the next one!

Calla, Calla, Calla…has a more perfect character ever been written? I love her brain and her attitude and her vulnerable little heart when it comes to the people she loves. Obviously, this book is more than just Calla, but she’s easily my favorite thing about Vilest Longings.

I thought the pace was great, more on the fast side, which works well for the story. The writing is very good, straightforward when it needs to be and pretty prose when the story allows. I love the sharpness of the dialogue between everyone because it highlights what a cutthroat world they all live in.

Overall, this was great. No second book syndrome here. 5/5 from me! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Vilest Things. All thoughts and opinions are my own.