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sabrinz's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
After These Violent Delights I was intrigued by yet another Shakespear retelling.
The story and the mystery and lore of this neon-drenched world is more than fascinating, this book lost me a bit with how jumpy some of the story seemed to be. The tournamet Calla and Anton participate in is the main device to get them both closer to their respective goals and each other, but it seemed more like a story device to move things along rather than something that was really intigrated into the world.
Nevertheless, I was hooked by the world-building and glimpes of the characters we got along the way as well as some sneak peeks at things that may be relevant later on.
I am still not quite certain if I'm on board with how unhinged all the characters seem to be, but it was enjoyable to read and shake my head at them.
I will definitely read book 2 to see where this is going, esp. with that ending :)
The story and the mystery and lore of this neon-drenched world is more than fascinating, this book lost me a bit with how jumpy some of the story seemed to be. The tournamet Calla and Anton participate in is the main device to get them both closer to their respective goals and each other, but it seemed more like a story device to move things along rather than something that was really intigrated into the world.
Nevertheless, I was hooked by the world-building and glimpes of the characters we got along the way as well as some sneak peeks at things that may be relevant later on.
I am still not quite certain if I'm on board with how unhinged all the characters seem to be, but it was enjoyable to read and shake my head at them.
I will definitely read book 2 to see where this is going, esp. with that ending :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Trafficking and Death of parent
teddy_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Writing: 5⭐️/5
I love Chloe Gong’s writing. I think she has immaculate control over her language. I love her descriptions, even when they’re dark or gory. In this novel, her writing really brought the world to life. I felt like I could see the city, see the participants running about, could smell the food and the stink in the alley. I enjoyed reading this novel thoroughly.
Characters: 4.75⭐️/5
Now again, I’m a big Chloe Gong fan, so maybe there’s a bit of bias here, but Gong writes characters incredibly well. Specifically, she writes morally grey characters with pure ease, crafting their motives, their situations, and their desires into the story with ease. I would’ve loved a touch more from our side characters – as well as to not have our background characters feel so background – but these are small gripes.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
Alright, Antony and Cleopatra retelling. How does Chloe Gong just reimagine Shakespearean tales in the most interesting way possible? I don’t know, but I do love. The longing, the love, the competition, the forced trust, the game: all of it is so brilliantly written, you can’t help but love it. My only gripe is with the ending, with her twist which leaves us wondering how are two main characters will move forward in love (because they will, right?). I felt like it didn’t need to happen in the way that it happened, strictly for the sense that I knew exactly what had happened to Anton, and I don’t know why that wasn’t a plan Calla and him created, instead of it being a betrayal. I understand that it echoes the betrayal Antony goes through at Cleopatra’s hands, but it felt forced the way it happened – and a little obvious. All in all though, this is a small complaint for a brilliant plot.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of Chloe Gong
- Fans of Shakespeare and fantasy novels
- Fans of enemies to lovers
- Fans of Hunger Games, but want it magic
Content Warnings?
- Death, murder, blood, injury, injury detail, gore, child death, sexual content, death of parent, cursing, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationship
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Hi, Chloe. Um, I need the next one pretty, pretty please.
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received this as part of my FairyLoot subscription.
"Immortal Longings" is the first book in a new fantasy series from Chloe Gong. Princess Calla Tuoleimi has been hiding in plain sight for five years. Her entire family was murdered, and she was the one to do it. Now she has one last family member to bring down, and she has one shot to be able to do so. Every year, the kingdom of Talin hosts a competition in which people who can jump bodies are invited to come and compete to the death to win unimaginable riches. The winner also gets to meet the elusive king, Calla's uncle. Through unexpected alliances, Calla finds herself fighting to win this game, but she learns quickly that everyone has their own motivations, and they all might not align.
I had heard about this book, and was interested because it was another Shakespeare retelling, but I honestly was not going to pick it up because I did not enjoy Chloe Gong's previous duet, "These Violent Delights". However, since I did receive a copy of it, I figured I would give it a shot. Overall, I did enjoy this book more than "These Violent Delights", but I am still not a huge fan of Chloe Gong's writing style.
This novel felt very futuristic with its technologies and characters fighting in this game, which is typically not a setting I really enjoy; however, I think it was executed well. The characters seemed fleshed out, but I just did not connect with them. There is something about them that feels standoffish, and it makes it difficult for me to read and become invested in their story. I think it might be because of the jumping bodies plot point. Since characters can jump, their physical descriptions are always changing, and it felt kind of messy to me. I really had to pay attention to whose perspective I was reading from.
I likely will not continue with this series, but I will happily recommend this to people who ae interested in this type of fantasy.
"Immortal Longings" is the first book in a new fantasy series from Chloe Gong. Princess Calla Tuoleimi has been hiding in plain sight for five years. Her entire family was murdered, and she was the one to do it. Now she has one last family member to bring down, and she has one shot to be able to do so. Every year, the kingdom of Talin hosts a competition in which people who can jump bodies are invited to come and compete to the death to win unimaginable riches. The winner also gets to meet the elusive king, Calla's uncle. Through unexpected alliances, Calla finds herself fighting to win this game, but she learns quickly that everyone has their own motivations, and they all might not align.
I had heard about this book, and was interested because it was another Shakespeare retelling, but I honestly was not going to pick it up because I did not enjoy Chloe Gong's previous duet, "These Violent Delights". However, since I did receive a copy of it, I figured I would give it a shot. Overall, I did enjoy this book more than "These Violent Delights", but I am still not a huge fan of Chloe Gong's writing style.
This novel felt very futuristic with its technologies and characters fighting in this game, which is typically not a setting I really enjoy; however, I think it was executed well. The characters seemed fleshed out, but I just did not connect with them. There is something about them that feels standoffish, and it makes it difficult for me to read and become invested in their story. I think it might be because of the jumping bodies plot point. Since characters can jump, their physical descriptions are always changing, and it felt kind of messy to me. I really had to pay attention to whose perspective I was reading from.
I likely will not continue with this series, but I will happily recommend this to people who ae interested in this type of fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death