Trying to uncover the mystery of the monster to save their city and protect their loved ones would be gripping enough, but this tension is deepened by the all-encompassing nature of their families’ blood feud. The central conflict of “These Violent Delights'' is quite literally a life-or-death matter for Roma and Juliette. This equilibrium is aided by the high stakes built up over the course of the entire novel. Each plot point is given equal care and is delivered with a powerful punch, well underscored by the encapsulating nature of Gong’s writing. Thankfully, these detailed depictions also never come at the sacrifice of the pacing of the novel. The descriptions of the settings and aesthetics of the novel are beautifully written, giving readers vivid and compelling imagery of the glitz and gore of gang-run Shanghai and perfectly accentuating the story.

Gong masterfully balances gorgeous prose with an engaging, fast-paced plot. Roma and Juliette, along with a brilliant ensemble of supporting characters, are forced to work together to hunt down a monster that has begun to terrorize their city before everyone they love falls victim to the monster’s viral madness. A “Romeo and Juliet” retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, “These Violent Delights” follows sometime star-crossed lovers, sometime mortal enemies Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, the heirs of two rival gangs in an ever-changing city. Chloe Gong’s young adult fantasy debut “These Violent Delights,” already a New York Times Bestseller, is well-deserving of the tidal waves of praise it has received since its release.

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