July 13, 2024
Many thanks to Saga Press and Netgalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.
These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends: ☆☆☆☆☆
Foul Lady Fortune: ☆☆☆
Immortal Longings: ☆
Had my expectations not been through the roofs, my dislike for this work would have been less strong. The profound affection I hold for the These Violent Delights duology led me to eagerly anticipate another Shakespearean retelling by Chloe Gong, particularly within the realm of adult urban fantasy. As I now conclude this book, a bitter sense of disappointment lingers, and I am left regretful for having wasted my time.
At the outset of the book, I was captivated by the setting of San-Er, a place inspired by a historical area of Hong Kong. The vivid portrayal of the city authentically captured the essence of a bustling metropolis in East Asia, evoking nostalgic memories of the sounds and the dense urban landscape of my hometown. However, it seemed that Chloe Gong believed readers required an extensive amount of city description throughout the entire book. Frankly, I've read French classics with less information dumping than this. Gong's paragraphs seemed to repeat the same information, just phrased slightly differently. While I understand that this may not be the final version of the book, it felt more like an unedited draft, despite its considerable potential.
The worldbuilding was disappointingly average. If you're attempting to create a game similar to THG (a game that serves as a catalyst for the downfall of a system), it should possess a unique and exhilarating quality, with grandeur worthy of the players' efforts. In this book, the game itself was the least memorable aspect. The stakes were supposedly high, yet the lack of tension leading up to pivotal moments, due to the short and infrequent action scenes, was infuriating. Gong did make a point to repeatedly describe the games in paragraphs, though.
The political system presented in the book was one of the most poorly constructed I've encountered recently. If you're going to contrast the prosperous urban center with the desolate and rudimentary countryside or the business hub of Er with the slums of San, it's crucial to explain the mechanics underlying these differences. How is wealth generated? How does the monarchy afford lavish feasts, jewels, and gold? How are the armed forces organized? What about the management of the country's borders? Are there distinct institutions? How are various social classes treated by the legal system? Is there even a functioning court? One cannot write a semi-dystopian story without addressing these fundamental questions about establishing a government that won't crumble like a paper castle. Perhaps, a crash course "Politics & Institutions 101." could have been a good thing for this book, because while it's convenient to appropriate historical events and politics for a historical fiction, a fantasy world must be at least believable in its construction, particularly when incorporating the concept of a game like in THG.
Lastly, for the love of god, I wish authors in general would refrain from labeling every single character as morally gray. There is nothing ambiguous about it. The intentions of each character are explicitly spelled out, leaving no room for our own moral reflections. Every character adheres to a specific archetype, playing a predetermined role, which renders the book agonizingly predictable and, consequently, exasperating to read. (I guessed the plot twist at 30% and the ending at 50% LMAO.)"
And don't me get me started on the romantic relationship: there is more chemistry between me and my pile of Spanish homework. (But really, I don't understand how Chloe Gong, the same author who penned Roma and Juliette, could have written a relationship this flat.)
To conclude, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book. In my personal opinion, Chloe Gong seems to lack the finesse of a seasoned fantasy writer, resulting in a rather poor attempt of the incredibly complex genre, despite the obvious potential. I don't see myself continuing with this series or checking out any future releases from Gong, except for the remaining books in the Foul Lady Fortune series, which still hold some appeal to me.
P.S. At my core, I am a hater.
You can also find me on my Bookstagram @loverssrequiem 💜
These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends: ☆☆☆☆☆
Foul Lady Fortune: ☆☆☆
Immortal Longings: ☆
Had my expectations not been through the roofs, my dislike for this work would have been less strong. The profound affection I hold for the These Violent Delights duology led me to eagerly anticipate another Shakespearean retelling by Chloe Gong, particularly within the realm of adult urban fantasy. As I now conclude this book, a bitter sense of disappointment lingers, and I am left regretful for having wasted my time.
At the outset of the book, I was captivated by the setting of San-Er, a place inspired by a historical area of Hong Kong. The vivid portrayal of the city authentically captured the essence of a bustling metropolis in East Asia, evoking nostalgic memories of the sounds and the dense urban landscape of my hometown. However, it seemed that Chloe Gong believed readers required an extensive amount of city description throughout the entire book. Frankly, I've read French classics with less information dumping than this. Gong's paragraphs seemed to repeat the same information, just phrased slightly differently. While I understand that this may not be the final version of the book, it felt more like an unedited draft, despite its considerable potential.
The worldbuilding was disappointingly average. If you're attempting to create a game similar to THG (a game that serves as a catalyst for the downfall of a system), it should possess a unique and exhilarating quality, with grandeur worthy of the players' efforts. In this book, the game itself was the least memorable aspect. The stakes were supposedly high, yet the lack of tension leading up to pivotal moments, due to the short and infrequent action scenes, was infuriating. Gong did make a point to repeatedly describe the games in paragraphs, though.
The political system presented in the book was one of the most poorly constructed I've encountered recently. If you're going to contrast the prosperous urban center with the desolate and rudimentary countryside or the business hub of Er with the slums of San, it's crucial to explain the mechanics underlying these differences. How is wealth generated? How does the monarchy afford lavish feasts, jewels, and gold? How are the armed forces organized? What about the management of the country's borders? Are there distinct institutions? How are various social classes treated by the legal system? Is there even a functioning court? One cannot write a semi-dystopian story without addressing these fundamental questions about establishing a government that won't crumble like a paper castle. Perhaps, a crash course "Politics & Institutions 101." could have been a good thing for this book, because while it's convenient to appropriate historical events and politics for a historical fiction, a fantasy world must be at least believable in its construction, particularly when incorporating the concept of a game like in THG.
Lastly, for the love of god, I wish authors in general would refrain from labeling every single character as morally gray. There is nothing ambiguous about it. The intentions of each character are explicitly spelled out, leaving no room for our own moral reflections. Every character adheres to a specific archetype, playing a predetermined role, which renders the book agonizingly predictable and, consequently, exasperating to read. (I guessed the plot twist at 30% and the ending at 50% LMAO.)"
And don't me get me started on the romantic relationship: there is more chemistry between me and my pile of Spanish homework. (But really, I don't understand how Chloe Gong, the same author who penned Roma and Juliette, could have written a relationship this flat.)
To conclude, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book. In my personal opinion, Chloe Gong seems to lack the finesse of a seasoned fantasy writer, resulting in a rather poor attempt of the incredibly complex genre, despite the obvious potential. I don't see myself continuing with this series or checking out any future releases from Gong, except for the remaining books in the Foul Lady Fortune series, which still hold some appeal to me.
P.S. At my core, I am a hater.
You can also find me on my Bookstagram @loverssrequiem 💜