happytaxday's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Enjoyed the book, but definitely violent. I couldn’t help but think of the Hunger Games novels as I was reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
honuzbubbles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Murder, Child death, Colonisation, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicidal thoughts
yilliun's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
The COPIOUS plot twists at the end gave me whiplash. Everything felt wholly original and completely unlike anything else I’ve read this year. I’m not interested in Fae type fantasy worlds right now so this was a perfect solution.
There are certainly plot holes that I hope Gong will address in later books, but for me nothing really detracted from the story enough. The beginning 100 pages were certainly a drag and difficult to understand, however, I see that as a necessary step when getting into a new fantasy series. I think once the games begin in earnest the plot really picks up.
There are certainly plot holes that I hope Gong will address in later books, but for me nothing really detracted from the story enough. The beginning 100 pages were certainly a drag and difficult to understand, however, I see that as a necessary step when getting into a new fantasy series. I think once the games begin in earnest the plot really picks up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content
mindsplinters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You know you're in for one hell of a ride when a book is mentioned in the same breath as Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games. It's going to be bloody and full of paranoia and alliances and betrayals and just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not out to get you and... Well, Chloe Gong is going to give that to you with this first installment of her new trilogy. The world of San-Er is gritty and crowded and assaults the senses fully through her words and you cringe away at anybody living the way the citizens do. You also wonder why anyone would leave the country and deliberately move to the walled city. Then you remember that, throughout history, people have done an awful lot of things that go against their well-being and interests. Suddenly, the poverty and grind and docile acceptance of a never-seen tyrant and his deadly games makes perfect sense.
The facts of this world also go a long way to explain how there really aren't many "nice" people in this book. Fascinating, conflicted, determined, Machiavellian? Oh, sure. But nice? Maybe Yilas and Chami. But the rest, oh no. Not even amiable bodyguard Galipei can fit the word because he sure as hell does what his prince tells him do to - even if he feels a bit queasy about it. The main three - Calla and Anton and (to a slightly lesser extent) August - are outright messes who have long since given up more tender ideals for cold practicality with 95% of their empathy surgically removed (by both nature and nuture, I suppose). They each have their own Higher Purpose that they hold as justifiable and "good" but they don't shy away at the cost in lives, trust, and love to get there - Save the kingdom, save the lost love, save the monarchy. Whatever it is, they are all very very focused.
And downright obsessive. When Calla and Anton transfer a portion of that obsessiveness onto each other, you know things are going to get even messier. After all, only one victor can emerge from the games and, as a reader, I was not quite sure who I wanted in that spot because they were both deeply flawed and neither saw the bigger picture or the "afterwards, now what"
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the two nasty cases of whiplash the author gave me towards the end. Really, Ms Gong, how could you? (Please do it some more) However, I did err on the side of high when rating based on her previous work, her skill with words, and the layered characters. I hope the next two books build on this and add to the weaker spots - the occasional info-dump that threw you from the story, the abbreviated arc from grudging allies to obssessed lovers for Calla and Anton (I could have done with a bit more there to make it feel more organic), and the loose ends (what, how, light-less jumping, what was Crescent Society doing?).
The facts of this world also go a long way to explain how there really aren't many "nice" people in this book. Fascinating, conflicted, determined, Machiavellian? Oh, sure. But nice? Maybe Yilas and Chami. But the rest, oh no. Not even amiable bodyguard Galipei can fit the word because he sure as hell does what his prince tells him do to - even if he feels a bit queasy about it. The main three - Calla and Anton and (to a slightly lesser extent) August - are outright messes who have long since given up more tender ideals for cold practicality with 95% of their empathy surgically removed (by both nature and nuture, I suppose). They each have their own Higher Purpose that they hold as justifiable and "good" but they don't shy away at the cost in lives, trust, and love to get there - Save the kingdom, save the lost love, save the monarchy. Whatever it is, they are all very very focused.
And downright obsessive. When Calla and Anton transfer a portion of that obsessiveness onto each other, you know things are going to get even messier. After all, only one victor can emerge from the games and, as a reader, I was not quite sure who I wanted in that spot because they were both deeply flawed and neither saw the bigger picture or the "afterwards, now what"
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the two nasty cases of whiplash the author gave me towards the end. Really, Ms Gong, how could you? (Please do it some more) However, I did err on the side of high when rating based on her previous work, her skill with words, and the layered characters. I hope the next two books build on this and add to the weaker spots - the occasional info-dump that threw you from the story, the abbreviated arc from grudging allies to obssessed lovers for Calla and Anton (I could have done with a bit more there to make it feel more organic), and the loose ends (what, how, light-less jumping, what was Crescent Society doing?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
raiimundo97's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
axel_p's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can't wait for the sequel. I couldn't keep up with all these plot twist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, War, Sexual content, Trafficking, Death of parent, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Blood, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, and Xenophobia
laurenleigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This didn’t quite do it for me. I haven’t read Gong’s other works, but I know this is her first Adult fantasy novel. There were times the violence felt a bit gratuitous, like she was trying to prove this wasn’t YA. It’s billed as a retelling of Antony and Cleopatra, but I barely see the connection. I struggled the most with trying to picture this world. It felt like it wanted to be historical fiction with fantasy mixed in, but then there’s this weird semi-primitive computer technology motif woven in that never made sense to me. The body jumping element was interesting as concept (i.e. you are not your body, your Self transcends a physical self), but it opened up so many potential plot holes in my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
azrah786's review against another edition
3.5
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, murder, death, child death, death of parent, genocide, war, colonisation, classism, kidnapping, suicidal ideation, medical content, terminal illness, grief, sexual content
--
Another Anthony and Cleopatra reimaging, another let down.. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy aspects of this book but this now happens to be the second time I’ve been disappointed at the outcome of a retelling around these figures despite the fact that the dynamic they evoke interest me SO MUCH.
Now I’ll admit I’m not as familiar with Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra as I am with Romeo and Juliet so maybe that is what put me at a bit of a disadvantage. However, I do think that Chloe Gong may have been a bit too ambitious with how much was actually thrown into this first book more than anything else if we set aside the fact that I wasn’t able to appreciate all the nuances to the original play it was inspired by.
Down to the bare bones it is a story surrounding a handful of individuals wanting to overthrow a king, each for their own reasons and there is a tournament to the death involved in which two of the main protagonists are participants. I think where things got a bit flimsy surrounded this tournament as though all the action and tension was written quite well the games themselves sort of felt a little disconnected from the rest of the story for me.
The setting of San-Er gave glimpses of Ancient Rome but I believe it is inspired by the Kowloon Walled City (Hong Kong). However, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Shanghai of These Violent Delights and how the city there shone as its own character.
I felt in Immortal Longings the story didn’t really capture the feel of the setting maybe until halfway through and again I feel like this came down to how Gong was also trying to bring this dystopian Hunger Games vibe in for the games on top of everything else. Don’t get me wrong Gong’s writing and descriptions of the atmosphere were great I just feel like they didn’t link up to the narrative straight away so it all felt like a separate thing.
What I was most looking forward to in the book was the reluctant alliance dynamic. It is one trope that I really enjoy reading about and the one that formed between Calla and Anton was great, full of the right amount of banter and camaraderie (if it can be called that) that comes about when two opposing forces have to team up. Where their relationship fell short I believe is with the romance side of things or at least the fact that it came around too quickly.
In fact this can be said to be the case for a couple of things in the book for instance coming back to how much was going on, for an adult fantasy it was too short. Certain scenes and developments could have been given more room to breathe in the narrative with a couple more pages. I think why the romance didn’t immediately work for me was because Anton’s motive for winning the games was to save “his ex” but then romance rapidly ensued with Calla and we didn’t really get enough time showing them working together to justify it.
More than the games I was intrigued by the wider politics that were happening in the background and the mystery that it brought about. But the best part of the book was without a doubt the power/magic system. This whole idea of people having the means to jump out of their body and take over someone else’s was so compelling and made for some great twists in the book. I caught onto a few of them but they were honestly written in so well I was still impressed. Also the whole idea of autonomy and morality and identity that comes in was really interesting especially when you have characters constantly jumping around and others who refuse to do so.
So despite not loving this one as much as I had hoped, it has still left some fascinating questions behind which have me super keen to get my hands on book two as well as that killer ending! It was one twist I saw coming but am super excited to see develop.
I plan on trying to get my hands on Shakespeare’s work if I can before book 2 releases and then give this one a reread so I can catch all the call backs that I am sure are there because that was one big highlight I had with These Violent Delights!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, murder, death, child death, death of parent, genocide, war, colonisation, classism, kidnapping, suicidal ideation, medical content, terminal illness, grief, sexual content
--
Another Anthony and Cleopatra reimaging, another let down.. Not to say that I didn’t enjoy aspects of this book but this now happens to be the second time I’ve been disappointed at the outcome of a retelling around these figures despite the fact that the dynamic they evoke interest me SO MUCH.
Now I’ll admit I’m not as familiar with Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra as I am with Romeo and Juliet so maybe that is what put me at a bit of a disadvantage. However, I do think that Chloe Gong may have been a bit too ambitious with how much was actually thrown into this first book more than anything else if we set aside the fact that I wasn’t able to appreciate all the nuances to the original play it was inspired by.
Down to the bare bones it is a story surrounding a handful of individuals wanting to overthrow a king, each for their own reasons and there is a tournament to the death involved in which two of the main protagonists are participants. I think where things got a bit flimsy surrounded this tournament as though all the action and tension was written quite well the games themselves sort of felt a little disconnected from the rest of the story for me.
The setting of San-Er gave glimpses of Ancient Rome but I believe it is inspired by the Kowloon Walled City (Hong Kong). However, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Shanghai of These Violent Delights and how the city there shone as its own character.
I felt in Immortal Longings the story didn’t really capture the feel of the setting maybe until halfway through and again I feel like this came down to how Gong was also trying to bring this dystopian Hunger Games vibe in for the games on top of everything else. Don’t get me wrong Gong’s writing and descriptions of the atmosphere were great I just feel like they didn’t link up to the narrative straight away so it all felt like a separate thing.
What I was most looking forward to in the book was the reluctant alliance dynamic. It is one trope that I really enjoy reading about and the one that formed between Calla and Anton was great, full of the right amount of banter and camaraderie (if it can be called that) that comes about when two opposing forces have to team up. Where their relationship fell short I believe is with the romance side of things or at least the fact that it came around too quickly.
In fact this can be said to be the case for a couple of things in the book for instance coming back to how much was going on, for an adult fantasy it was too short. Certain scenes and developments could have been given more room to breathe in the narrative with a couple more pages. I think why the romance didn’t immediately work for me was because Anton’s motive for winning the games was to save “his ex” but then romance rapidly ensued with Calla and we didn’t really get enough time showing them working together to justify it.
More than the games I was intrigued by the wider politics that were happening in the background and the mystery that it brought about. But the best part of the book was without a doubt the power/magic system. This whole idea of people having the means to jump out of their body and take over someone else’s was so compelling and made for some great twists in the book. I caught onto a few of them but they were honestly written in so well I was still impressed. Also the whole idea of autonomy and morality and identity that comes in was really interesting especially when you have characters constantly jumping around and others who refuse to do so.
So despite not loving this one as much as I had hoped, it has still left some fascinating questions behind which have me super keen to get my hands on book two as well as that killer ending! It was one twist I saw coming but am super excited to see develop.
I plan on trying to get my hands on Shakespeare’s work if I can before book 2 releases and then give this one a reread so I can catch all the call backs that I am sure are there because that was one big highlight I had with These Violent Delights!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Classism, Sexual content, Grief, Blood, Violence, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Genocide, War, and Terminal illness
justagrlandherdog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. The body jumping was very interesting to me. Calla and Anton weren't the most fleshed out characters written but I cared for them anyways. I can see where everyone pulls the hunger games comparisons but a few chapters in, I stopped seeing similarities. The twists! I did not see any one of them coming and tend to at least see a few. But nope not a single one. Maybe if you have better knowledge of the play maybe you will but I’ve only seen a movie version like once. I’m excited for the next one! Ready to see how that cliffhanger plays out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
annamay1021's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death