These Violent Delights

These Violent Delights

Chloe Gong

McElderry Books, 2020

449 pages

Grades 9-Up

Historical/Sci-Fi/Adventure

Welcome to 1920's Shanghai, where rival gangs rule, political unrest stirs, a mysterious monster is lurking and an unknown illness is causing death and confusion all over the city. Juliette, heir to the locally operated Scarlett Gang has recently returned from New York, ready to claim her birthright. Don't let her flapper appearance fool you. She is ruthless, deadly, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family's interests. Put in charge of discovering the truth behind the mysterious illness that is ravaging the city, forcing people to scratch at their own throats until they bleed out, her paths cross again with Roma, the heir to the rival Russian operated White Flowers--and her former boyfriend. The past romance with Roma is what sent her away in the first place and here he is again. But now Juliette is older and wiser and needs to get the job done. Can the two star-crossed lovers from rival gangs discover the cause of this mysterious illness without causing more bloodshed? The investigation must be kept a secret, as well as their reawakening feelings for each other. The action reaches a climax, shots are fired, family members are injured-or worse, and then the story ends--leading readers to Our Violent Ends, set for a November, 2021 release.

One of the youngest authors ever to publish a young adult book on that reaches the best-seller list, debut author, Gong's star is flying high. This Romeo and Juliet inspired story is filled with many hooks making it a hit with readers. The 1920's Shanghai setting is interesting, unusual and fully realized. Everyone likes the 1920's and setting the story in Shanghai makes it that much more appealing. There are several things happening here: a mysterious and deadly illness, a monster creeping around, gang warfare, communist uprisings and an unlikely romance. The illness will immediately draw readers in and make the book relevant to current events. Since the romance began in the past and references are made to Nurse, who somehow was killed-also offscreen in the past, I thought I was reading a sequel and somehow the first volume got past me. This IS the first volume and I was comforted to know that I was exactly where I should be. Perhaps in the future the author may consider a prequel to clear-up the previous plot-points. Teen readers gravitate to unlikely lovers and will immediately sympathize with these two. They will also enjoy the non-stop action, plot twists, and violence. Young people are calling the shots and doing the important work in this book and it is up to them to save the day and fix the mess created by their elders, making the story that much more appealing to the target audience. A bit over the top for me, teen readers will lap it up and grab the sequel upon release.