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A review by olivialandryxo
These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I understand now why sapphics love Juliette Cai. As a sapphic with a tendency to love fictional girls with weapons, I also love Juliette Cai. Woah. š
Okay, got that out of my system. Let me just say that the hype for this book is absolutely deserved. The first 100 pages were kind of slow, but I loved the protagonists instantly and never stopped. I also grew to love most of the side characters, especially Kathleen, Benedikt, and Marshall. I do like Rosalind, but Iām not sure I trust her. I know that I definitely donāt like Tyler. If anyone does, I seriously question their tastes. I want to steal his socks and shoes and leave him with a pair of slippers made entirely out of Legos, duct taped to his feet so he can never take them off. (Iām not sure if duct tape existed in 1926, but whatever.)
Roma also really grew on me. I love that boy almost as much as I love Juliette, just in a different way. And the whole lovers to enemies to lovers thing he and Juliette had? Absolute GOLD. I loved the vibes between them from the start, and the more I read, the more I shipped them. Every chapter they didnāt kiss drove me a bit more up the wall, but itās fine. Iām fine.
The ending was so intense and left me with more feelings than I know what to do with. Iām now part of the ādesperate for but also terrified of the sequelā club. :))I was so worried that Tyler was going to kill Alisa. I hate him so much. And I really thought Marshall was dead. I didnāt expect for Juliette to use that temporary death serum on him. I wonder if thatās going to come back into play in the sequel, given that something similar was in the original story. I also wonder how Juliette is going to use Marshall being alive to her advantage. Lastly, the last interaction between Juliette and Roma was quite painful. I donāt even know how to describe my feelings. I just have so FREAKING many of them. š©
Favorite parts:
Okay, got that out of my system. Let me just say that the hype for this book is absolutely deserved. The first 100 pages were kind of slow, but I loved the protagonists instantly and never stopped. I also grew to love most of the side characters, especially Kathleen, Benedikt, and Marshall. I do like Rosalind, but Iām not sure I trust her. I know that I definitely donāt like Tyler. If anyone does, I seriously question their tastes. I want to steal his socks and shoes and leave him with a pair of slippers made entirely out of Legos, duct taped to his feet so he can never take them off. (Iām not sure if duct tape existed in 1926, but whatever.)
Roma also really grew on me. I love that boy almost as much as I love Juliette, just in a different way. And the whole lovers to enemies to lovers thing he and Juliette had? Absolute GOLD. I loved the vibes between them from the start, and the more I read, the more I shipped them. Every chapter they didnāt kiss drove me a bit more up the wall, but itās fine. Iām fine.
The ending was so intense and left me with more feelings than I know what to do with. Iām now part of the ādesperate for but also terrified of the sequelā club. :))
Favorite parts:
- Roma telling Juliette to hug him so that he could shoot the guy tailing her. Possibly one of the most iconic things Iāve ever seen in a book.
- Roma not being able to hold his alcohol and basically falling over when he stood up. And Juliette teasing him about it.
- Juliette and Roma kissing!!! Of course this is on the list. Iām a hopeless romantic, and these two are now in the list of couples that live in my heart rent free. :))
Representation
- Chinese protagonist and side characters
- Chinese trans girl side character
- Korean queer side character
- side character with OCD (possibly queer??)
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Transphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Without spoilers, the madness referenced in the synopsis drives all infected to tear their own throats out. There are graphic descriptions as main and side characters witness this happening. If youāre squeamish like me, beware.
As for other tags, parent death is included because Romaās mother died prior to the story and thatās mentioned a few times. Transphobia is included because thereās a trans side character, and in her perspective, there are a couple of flashbacks that mention people less willing to accept her transition.