These Violent Delights (1) (These Violent Delights Duet)
Description
An Instant New York Times Bestseller!A BuzzFeed Best Young Adult Book of 2020 Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Serpent & Dove, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River. The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang--a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love...and first betrayal. But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns--and grudges--aside and work together, for if they can't stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
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Community Reviews
I really loved this book. It was fast-paced and had an engaging group of secondary characters that really helped the leads shine. The end was extremely gripping. I was hoping for a little bit more from the 1920s setting. We heard a lot about the political strife, but I wanted descriptions of the fashion and technology. At times, I felt like the book could be set in the Modern era with a little more political tension sprinkled over China or in a f...read more
Slow start but loved from the middle on. Actually yelled out loud at one point. Neat take on Romeo and Juliette.
OK but too cliche. Literally Romeo Montague (Roma Montagov) and Juliet Capulet (Juliette Cai).
So you basically know the end before you finish it.
This book was not what I was expecting when I picked it up. But I enjoyed it one the less, but not without a couple hiccups. I thought the story line was frankly a little boring and repetitive. I read the audiobook which is the only reason I was able to finish it. I do not think I would have been able to finish it otherwise but I am glad I did. The moments that weren't repetitive were great and I loved them, but it was just too repetitive for me,...read more
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