Addicted to YA discussion

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I’m new to this forum so am trying to get my orientation for this space. Is this section for people who already have The Violent Delights in their BOTM collection but haven’t read it yet?! So, we all get to tackle the book at the same time and comment as we go along?!

I am really looking forward to reading this book! It has been on my TBR for a long time.

I only in the beginning but I really enjoy all the atmosphere of the gangs, Shanghai and I really love that the Juliette it is not the typical fragile girl. She is a ferocious girl that fights when it is necessary.

I was gonna start this weekend, but opened the book on my way out the door…standing by the door with backpack on, keys and wallet in hand, I ended up reading the whole Prologue. This already looks exciting! On my way to work and thinking about my deep dive over the weekend. :o}

I have the book sitting beside my bed...should I start it?

Imxlda…you should totally start it! It’s right there calling your name.

Alright, thanks! I'll start it after classes :D

i'm glad this is the BOTM - it's going to encourage me to finally read it! bought it late last year and just haven't gotten round to picking it up yet. finally finished my last book so will get started on TVD today or tomorrow :)

I’ve made it to Chapter 3 (I’m a multi-books-at-once reader, so I’m dividing my time across 4 other books; I’m trying to read 13-23 pgs/day of this book). I love that this Romeo and Juliet retelling is in such a completely different setting; Shanghai in the late 1920’s. And it has ‘monsters’. Honestly, I was a bit intimidated at first, thinking there would be a lot of Chinese that I don’t know how to pronounce, but the few words that have popped up are manageable and/or have a translation soon after.

Love it so far!!

I finished today. I really liked very much. A completely addictive narrative set in 1920s Shanghai, featuring two rival gangs as protagonists. It is a reconstruction of "Romeo and Juliet" in a more "dark" version and composed with a brusque atmosphere.


"These violent delights" was a pleasant discovery, I was completely submerged in the tension between the two protagonists as well as I loved getting to know the other members of their respective gangs. With special interest to Marshall and Benedik. Very curious to read the sequel.

I love the setting of this book. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard of the Romeo/Juliet retelling but the historical-fantasy mix is amazing

꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "I love the setting of this book. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard of the Romeo/Juliet retelling but the historical-fantasy mix is amazing"

I agreed with you. The setting is amazing. After read this book I fell that I have to visit Shanghai one day.

I was going to pick this for my thesis but i ended up picking up the chosen and beautiful for it, which, is also a historical fiction based on The Great Gatsby!!

I started this one yesterday and about 10% through. I'm liking it so far, Juliette is a badass

What do you guys think of the rivalry between the gangs and the families? I found it a little confusing at first, just trying to keep track of who was who but I feel like it’s making more sense now. And I like how they relate the family politics to the historical events of what’s going on in the city, with pressure from foreigners and other parties.

꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "What do you guys think of the rivalry between the gangs and the families? I found it a little confusing at first, just trying to keep track of who was who but I feel like it’s making more sense now..."

I love that part. I like books that explore family politics to the historical events. The gangs give "six crow" vibs in the begin. Besides the main characters, which characters did you find most interesting?

I really like Rosalind and Kathleen, they crack me up

Rebecca wrote: "I really like Rosalind and Kathleen, they crack me up"

I like they a lot. The next duolagy of this writer is about Rosalind. But my favorites are Marshall and Benedik, they are such good friends and so fun.

Sara wrote: "꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "What do you guys think of the rivalry between the gangs and the families? I found it a little confusing at first, just trying to keep track of who was who but I feel like i..."

Omg, it is SoC! I'm still making my way through the book but I'd say my favorite is Benedikt and Marshall. The two of them can be pretty hilarious

꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "Sara wrote: "꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "What do you guys think of the rivalry between the gangs and the families? I found it a little confusing at first, just trying to keep track of who was who but ..."

So good these too! You think in book two their friendship will envolve something more? They look so great together! I was a little sad with the end of Marshall. I hope that in the second he will have his happy ending.

I just finished it and I definitely think they will make Marshall and Benedikt a thing! At first I was thinking Marshall and Kathleen were going to be a couple, but now it's definitely Marshall and Benedikt. I did see Marshall's ending coming before it was revealed though, so that was disappointing. I liked this book, but wasn't obsessed or anything so I'll read the second part but it won't be at the top of my tbr

꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "What do you guys think of the rivalry between the gangs and the families? I found it a little confusing at first, just trying to keep track of who was who but I feel like it’s making more sense now..."

i think it's so cool how chloe gong incorporates real shanghai history into a work of fantasy - even cooler how the main storyline is based on romeo and juliet! i agree with you about the whole rivalry thing being pretty messy, especially with the snazzy politics and an overall really complex setting, but it's definitely a very creative take that i'm looking forward to seeing more of in her future books!

Quinty (Taylor's Version) wrote: "I just finished it and I definitely think they will make Marshall and Benedikt a thing! At first I was thinking Marshall and Kathleen were going to be a couple, but now it's definitely Marshall and..."

I also thought that Marshall and Kathleen would be a couple for a second as well, but I don't think I've ever rooted harder for a fictional couple as I did for Marshall and Benedikt

(I liked them more than I liked Romajuliette and just want both of them to be happy, especially Marshall, my favorite character)

꧁༺ L̴E̴X̴I̴E̴ ༻꧂ wrote: "I love the setting of this book. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard of the Romeo/Juliet retelling but the historical-fantasy mix is amazing"

The setting and the way Gong wrote it is absolutely beautiful! I think These Violent Delights was the first book where I truly felt like I was in Shanghai and really visualized the setting well, she does a good job at that

I'm waiting for June to start TVE for the BOTM, but I would have started it immediately after mostly to go back to the setting and to find out what happens next