Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Dochter van de Scharlaken Rozen by Chloe Gong

203 reviews

maralaene's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.0

I will admit I was not expecting a Romeo and Juliet retelling. I read nothing about this book before starting it, but I really enjoyed it! Our two main characters are the heirs to two rival gang factions in 1920s Shanghai. It’s not exactly the story of Romeo and Juliet, but there are key aspects placed here and there and some plot twists - though somewhat easier to spot if you know the stories! 

It was overall a unique and easy read. I listened this as an audiobook and overall I did enjoy it, though the character voices sometimes felt often whisper-like so it was not my favorite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Death of parent

piperrhoads's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder

ghostlyprince's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

meashleyfr's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Xenophobia

itsartemis's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Gun violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

elisalasater's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent and Pandemic/Epidemic

sneeps'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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Gun violence

Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ngregg's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Deadnaming, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, and Colonisation

angel__'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

It was pretty good - tbh better, than I thought at the beginning.
Most characters I didn't like, including the main character Juliette. 
And it's quite brutal, so check the trigger warnings before reading!
Rep.: trans, gay

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Car accident, and Death of parent

graceheartsbooks's review against another edition

4.0

FYI: can’t tag this but trigger warning for insects—especially near the end (I think they’re beetles?). 

All I’ve ever heard about this book is it’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling but I honestly think that does it a disservice (or maybe it’s just the fact that Romeo and Juliet retellings have to bring something interesting to the table since a story that’s been retold many times). I’ve never seen anyone mention that this story involves a supernatural monster and if I had known that I would’ve read it sooner lol

I’m amazed that Chloe Gong wrote this during college—writing/doing the research process to make the story authentic to 1920s Shanghai while also studying as a student. Especially since I’m around the same age she was.

Anyway, the story is much more about Roma and Juliette’s relationship and the mystery surrounding the ‘Larkspur’ which is the monster that is killing Shanghai plus the struggles between current residents and the foreigners that have taken over the area’s local businesses. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the world that Chloe Gong set up. I can’t wait to read the second book.

I was going to rate this 4.5 stars initially but I got into a reading slump so had gap between when I last read a chapter and when I finished the book so it’s getting a 4.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Racism and Blood

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent