Welcome to Litsy!

A little book splurging therapy after enduring a chaotic work week. I ordered all of them online since they‘re listed as out of stock at my B&N. And now I wait for the Shanghai star crossed lovers and their gang to arrive in the mail. Except Our Violent Ends. That‘s a pre-order to a June release.
#TPRC
@Yuki_Onna

This started strong, but I wish it had been allowed to not lean into e youth of the main characters. At times they were very strong, brave and intelligent, then the next chapter whining about not being trusted/believed. I respect this as a well written YA book, but I am bailing at 50%. A #roll100 pick off the TBR!

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#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #Fantasy 💗💗💗

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#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #Fantasy #Romance 🧡

Mehhhh, I was looking forward to a Shanghai-based modern Romeo & Juliet. This unfortunately incorporated a monster, vermin, and too many unanswered questions.

books finished in may 2023 📚
started out the month DNFing the rakess; ended the month giving these violent delights five stars...we love to see that growth 📈
i read gay shit all year so pride month doesn't change my reading much, but i'm always excited to see others reading more queer lit.🌈
happy june, happy pride, happy reading ✨️

This is not a well written book. Its tone is sulky and melodramatic, it's all tell and no show, and there is no depth to it whatsoever.

The pace is so possibly slow that I could read several chapters and nothing happened. I had to force myself to come back to it.

This is my first attempt of reading a Romeo & Juliette retell. It is quite dark, twisted and does not follow the typical tragic, romantic theme of the Shakespeare's drama.
The romance wasn't dominant in the story but rather the mystery around the monster, the violence on the streets and between the gangs, and Rome's and Juliette's investigation.

In glittering Shanghai, a monster awakens.
It eyes snap open in the belly of the Huangpu River, jaws unhinging at once to taste the foul blood seeping into the waters.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #firstline #openingline #book #books #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #bookhaul #bookholic #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction 💞💞💞💞💞

⭐3.6
an interesting retelling of juliet and romeo, with intrigue and moster lurking around the cirty and causing havick and death upon it's wake set in 1920s Shangai. This book felt slow at the beginning but picked up the pase quickly, which was enjoyble for me personally.
#chloegong #theseviolentdelights #fridayread

This book was not what I expected. I knew was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet so I thought would be a romance story. Loved it. In some parts I didn‘t see it as a YA. It is about betrayals, revenge between these two gangs and that impossible romance. It has this element that I don‘t know if it is fantasy with a touch of sci-fi? Something is killing people from both gangs and both gangs are trying to investigate the origin of it, the cure⬇️

Finally getting around reading this book, heard many good things about it. I am I late to the train 🚂?
So far half into the book, and the characters seem a bit bland to me i don‘t know if I don‘t get them.
#theseviolentdelights #mondayreading #crocheting #octoberread

Good story, but hard to get into the setting of early 1900s Shanghai when all names are Western.

#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #bookhaul #bookhauler #bookholic #bookholics #bookheaven #bookjunkie #bookjunky #bookjacket #bookjackets #bookjacketdesign #bookjacketdesigner #bookjunkies #bookkeeper #bookkeeperlife #bookkeeping #bookloot #booklist #booklust #booklove #booklover #booklovers #bookloversunite #Fantasy #YoungAdult #HistoricalFiction #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery 💖💖💖💖💖

These Violent Delights series 📚📚
#TheseViolentDelights #OurViolentEnds #book #books #bookjunkie #bookjunkies #bookjunky #bookjacket #bookjackets #bookjacketdesign #bookjacketdesigner #bookkeeper #bookkeeperlife #bookkeeping #bookloot #booklist #booklust #booklove #booklover #booklovers #bookloversunite #bookz #bookzesty #bookzilla #bookzine #bookzone #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery ❤️‍🔥

This was not what I expected. It was an interesting story line but I had a hard time following along with some of it. Overall it was a pretty good story. Hopefully I will be able to better understand the sequel to it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookmark #bookmarks #bookmarket #bookmarkets #bookmoment #bookmoments #bookquote #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery 💛💛

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The sound of bones being crushed rang out from the ring, and the woman shouted for another contestant to take on the “godly Dimitri Voronin.”
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookart #bookartist #bookattitude #bookaholic #bookaholics #bookshelf #bookshelves #bookshelfie #bookshelfies #shelfie #shelfies #bookstack #bookstacks #stack #Fantasy #YoungAdult #Fiction #HistoricalFiction #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Mystery #Audiobook

#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #booksoflitsy #bookobsessed #bookobsession #bookoholic #bookoholics #bookperson #bookpeople #bookpassion #bookpicture #bookpictures #bookphoto #bookphotos #bookphotograph #bookphotographer #bookphotography #bookart #bookartist #bookattitude #bookaholic #bookaholics #bookshelf #bookshelves #bookshelfie #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #reading #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendations #recommendation #recommendations #bookreport #bookreports #bookreview #bookreviews #bookriot #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #bookunicorns #bookunhaul #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction 💓💓💓

Currently Reading 📖
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #WhenNightBreaks #JanellaAngeles #book #books #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishlife #booksoflitsy #bookobsessed #bookobsession #bookoholic #bookoholics #bookperson #bookpeople #bookpassion #bookpicture #bookpictures #bookphoto #bookphotos #bookphotograph #bookphotographer #bookpicture #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retelling #Historical #Fiction #Mystery 🤍

#weeklyforecast

This is day 2 of my summer break. 3 weeks of nothing but reading. 😁
August is also ARC challenge month.
Let's see how many I can knock off the 📚

#AugustARCs

#threethings make a post.

Thing 1 : Finished another ARC
Thing 2 : Started book 1 of a duology book 2 is the next ARC
Thing 3 : Reading with a sleepy cat

Reading by: Berthe Morisot 📖
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookdesign #bookdesigner #bookdeal #bookdeals #bookdealer #bookdragon #bookdragons #bookfeature #bookfeatures #bookfair #bookfan #bookfandom #bookfever #bookfanatic #bookfrenzy #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #Mystery 💘💘💘

Our story centers around Juliette Cai, a former flapper girl who‘s returned from her time in America to reclaim her place as heiress to the Scarlet Gang, and Roma Montagov, the mistreated and belittled heir of the White Flowers. When they were fifteen, Juliette and Roma defied the blood feud in a moment of mutual peace and fell in love.

But we wouldn‘t have a story if their love was allowed to grow and flourish, right?
#TheseViolentDelights 💕💕

#LMPBC @shadowfat @mklong @magyklyXdelish
#Bookspin #doublebookspin #June
I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. This is not a book I think I would have picked up on my own, but am glad I read it.
The story line was just interesting enough to keep in me engaged and having to know what comes next.
The end not at all what I expected, and I have the audio of #2 on hold with the library.

#summer
It is hot out, but bearable in the shade by the river.
Great place to read.

Why did I leave this duet on my TBR for so long???? Love love love Shakespeare, Shakespeare retellings, and this particular spin on Romeo and Juliet. DEVOURED the two books

#JoysOfJune
So I am almost completely caught up on #BIbleBuddyRead. I am only behind by 3 days! Better than my goal.
I finished Forever Pucked- Better than my original goal.
I didn't quite make it to chapter 10 of These Violent Delights, but I am made it to chapter 5.
Overall I am pleasantly happy with how well I did! Usually I do horribly with goal setting and over set.

Gorgeous afternoon for pool sitting and swimming.
Maybe I will get through chapter 10, aka my #joysofjune goal.

#lmpbc
Look what arrived today. I will try to get in this shortly.
@Shadowfat @mklong @magyklyXdelish

This was a little long for me but it picked up towards the end. I enjoyed that it wasn't your typical take on Romeo and Juliet. Sorry it took so long to read! I mailed this out yesterday @cwarnier . @mklong @magyklyXdelish #lmpbc group Q

And in the distance, a chorus of screaming tore through the city.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookgeek #bookgeeks #bookgeeky #bookgang #bookgasm #geek #geeks #geeky #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #bookhaul #bookhauler #bookholic #bookholics #bookheaven #bookjunkie #bookjunkies #bookjunky #bookjacket #bookjackets #bookjacketdedign #bookjacketdesigner #bookkeeper #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult 💟💟💟💟

It is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, but set in 1920s Shanghai and involving a monster, a mystery, and the two heirs to their family-gangster-empire. It has gotten a lot of rave reviews, but I was underwhelmed and had a hard time making myself come back to it each time. I just couldn't get into it or care that much. I feel bad because my oldest daughter loved it and went right out to get the sequel. She's been on me to read it, but 🤷‍♀️

This book has absolutely no right to be as boring as it is. Shakespeare re-telling, Shanghai in the 1920s, an epidemic of madness which has people literally ripping their own throats out. It has so much potential to be an exciting story. But. It‘s. Just. Not.

This heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.
#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #YoungAdultFantasy #Mystery #Audiobook #book #books #TBR #ToBeRead #TBRBingo #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia 💛💛💛

Haven‘t read much lately because I‘ve been busy with grad school but I did finish this one! It had a slow start but I ended up loving it! It was original, well-written and so interesting! I liked both Roma and Juliet and many of the side characters. I don‘t like most retellings I‘ve read: thus, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It also had a great amount of diverse representation! I am so excited to read the next book!

#TheseViolentDelights #ChloeGong #book #books #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendations #recommendation #recommendations #bookreport #bookreports #bookreview #bookreviews #bookriot #TBR #ToBeRead #TBRBingo #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #bookunicorns #bookunhaul #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishlife #booksoflitsy #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult 💟💟💟

I was excited about this Romeo & Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai with a heavy dose of fantasy, but ultimately, it fell short for me. There were interesting plot points, but the fantasy/science fiction elements and worldbuilding were very weak. The writing was choppy and I didn‘t connect with any of the characters. This could have been a lot shorter (and not a duology), but it ended on a cliffhanger, so I‘ll give the finale a shot. 2.5⭐️

I cannot express how exceptional this novel is. As someone that teaches R&J on a yearly basis- THIS IS THE ADAPTATION THAT THE WORLD NEEDED. It is a MUST read. 1920s, Shanghai opposing gangs. In the R&J adaptation, this is more post teen love (19/20 now), full enemies after assumed teenage betrayal. I am already LOVING the sequel. Also, yes, I keep a planner mostly just to past pictures of book covers in. #shakespeareadaptation #teachersoflitsy

You had me at Romeo & Juliet meet 1920‘s Shanghai. Add in some supernatural fantasy and this kept me immersed in the story. I loved meeting old, familiar characters in new ways! My favorite is what Gong did with Friar Lawrence! I can‘t wait to check out the next book in the series.

#TheViolentDelights #ChloeGong #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Retellings #Historical #Fiction #YoungAdultFantasy #Mystery #book #books #TBR #ToBeRead #TBRBingo #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #bookunicorns #bookunhaul #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishlife #booksoflitsy #bookobsessed #bookobsession #bookoholic #bookoholics #bookperson 🖤🖤🖤

I stand by my initial thoughts. (See my previous post.)

It only got interesting for me at the 80% mark. Even then, I still think it could be shorter - too much unnecessary details. Dialogues are flat. None of the characters are truly interesting.

And perhaps the biggest crime of all: no quotable quotes or none resonated with me, at the very least.

Still going to read book 2 because of that cliffhanger + I already have it, so might as well.

This was okay. The plot was interesting but I have to say I was more invested in the side characters than the main couple. Onto the sequel after that ending, though! #audiobook

This book was wack. I mean, putting 1920‘s China with the Opium Wars, gangster blood feuds, a Romeo and Juliet retelling, and a murder lice monster all in one book is just wack. I was very confused most of the time and greatly disappointed at the cop out that was the actual murderer. The characters confused me as to how they could go from “woo-hoo unnecessary murder” to “oh no I have caused so much blood to be shed” in like 2 pages. Also ⬇️