Draft:These Violent Delights (novel)

These Violent Delights is a young adult fantasy novel by Chloe Gong, first published in November 2020. It is the first book in the These Violent Delights duology, followed by Our Violent Ends.

Setting and Premise:

Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the novel is set in 1926 Shanghai, a city gripped by a blood feud between two rival gangs: the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. The story follows Juliette Cai, the heir of the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, the heir of the White Flowers, who were once childhood lovers but are now sworn enemies. A mysterious monster rises from the depths of the Huangpu River, threatening both gangs and forcing Juliette and Roma to work together to save the city.

Themes:

The novel explores themes of love, duty, revenge, family, and the power of choice. It also incorporates elements of Chinese mythology and folklore.

Critical Reception:

These Violent Delights received positive reviews from critics, praising its strong characters, fast-paced plot, and unique setting. It was an instant New York Times bestseller[ ] and won numerous awards, including Sir Julius Vogel and nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards – Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction of 2020.