who let me read this when I have to wait until October for the sequel?
This book was exactly what I was hoping it would be. I never wanted to put it dowho let me read this when I have to wait until October for the sequel?
This book was exactly what I was hoping it would be. I never wanted to put it down!! I loved the writing (which is no surprise considering my love of Kerri Maniscalco), I loved the depiction of grief and our main character's journey, and I loved the magic and this world. And Wrath? I'm obsessed.
Quick Stats: Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: I had some pretty high expectations for this book, but I never expected it to fly above all of them.
Release Date: 11/17/2020 Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Page Count: 464 Premise:
These Violent Delights is a refreshing take on Romeo and Juliet, taking place in Shanghai, in 1926. It follows Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, the heirs to two rival gangs, locked in a blood feud. But when their city is overrun by madness, they must work together to stop it.
- Writing & Setting -
The first thing that amazed me about this book was the writing style (this was only the first of many things). The writing in this book is beautiful, and includes so much depth in every line, without feeling extremely dense and too-flowery. It sets the tone for the book, creating a dark atmosphere with a bite.
Speaking of the atmosphere- the setting is absolutely astounding. I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into creating such a vibrant and grounded world. While there are some fantasy aspects, they are so well developed that it only made the world feel more real.
- Plot -
I will admit, it took me a minute to get fully into the book (maybe 50 pages or so), but once I was invested, I was obsessed. You would think an almost-500 page book might take some time to read, but I couldn’t put it down. There was always something interesting happening, and those last 100 pages??? Yeah, there was no chance I was stepping away from that.
One thing I really enjoyed about the plot of this book was all of the unique twists on the classic Romeo & Juliet plot. I loved how all of the original characters were adapted, and I especially loved how These Violent Delights differed from the original while still having great references to it.
- Characters - Hello, yes, I would like to form a Marshall Seo fan club.
Okay, but can we talk about some of these characters for a moment? Forget Roma and Juliette (we’ll get to them later)- but Marshall, Benedict, Kathleen, and Rosalind??? 1) I loved seeing all of the representations in this book 2) They’re just so well-developed and I love them all. Even when I may not like a character, their beliefs and motivations are incredibly realistic and interesting, so I love them anyway. … but also I do really like most of them.
Now, let's talk about Roma and Juliette. Roma is our Romeo, he seems cold and cunning but secretly cares so deeply about those he loves. Then there’s Juliette. She’s ruthless and violent and dedicated to her people. They are great protagonists, and I adore them so much.
But also let's talk about them as a couple, because this is a Romeo and Juliet retelling so that’s kinda important. One worry I get with Romeo and Juliet retellings is that it’ll rely on insta-love. But this book most certainly does not. Not only is the main relationship enemies-to-lovers, but childhood sweethearts-to-enemies-to-lovers, so we get a whole extra level of angst. If that isn’t enough to make you want to read it, I don’t know what is. I absolutely love them together and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
- Conclusion -
Pros- Amazing characters, beautiful writing, fascinating world, seriously everything about this book is amazing Cons- Can take a second to get into Overall- 5/5 stars. These Violent Delights is a book you cannot miss. This novel is astounding in every way and I can't recommend it enough.
This book was absolutely stunning. I am in love with it. It was so much more than I thought it would be, and I don't know what to do with my life now This book was absolutely stunning. I am in love with it. It was so much more than I thought it would be, and I don't know what to do with my life now that I've finished it.
This is definitely my favorite book I've read this year, and it might just be my favorite book of all time.
I can't stop thinking about it. It broke me, completely. I don't know how to move on from it.
I'll probably write a more coherent review soon, but until then, if you're debating whether or not to pick this book up, do it. Please. You won't regret it....more
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