These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

I got a copy of this book through Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

About the book (Below is The Blurb)

“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.”

What I thought.

This book is a wonderful debut novel, written by someone who is still young (I’m imagining the potential) It’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Shanghai in the 1920s.

The story is a fantasy infused with politics and race issues. In a world of gangsters holding onto a ‘blood feud’ … that they will not let go of.

I really liked the fantasy elements in this novel. It kept my attention and had me wanting to read more. The writing is wonderful and the characters are strong and well developed.

It didn’t make me think too much about Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette as I read it, but I did wonder sometimes what parts of the story would be similar and what parts would be different, which, for me, added to the enjoyment of the book.

I think anyone could enjoy this book…but be aware the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger.