Warning: This book review may contain spoilers from the prequel to this book, These Violent Delights

The year is 1927. Any time now, a revolution is about to occur and everyone knows it. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma Montagov, Juliette Cai sets on a path to find the five missing insects, the ones Paul left behind for another to make more monsters to their benefit. Seeing Roma angry at her for something she didn’t do saddens her but she knows that what she did was for the best. Her cousin, Tyler Cai, is watching her as closely as ever; with one look of sympathy toward the White Flowers, her role of heir to the Scarlet Gang will be usurped by him.

Roma, on the other hand, is more bitter than ever. Unlike how he used to be, he kills off Scarlets at a rapid pace in the name of his friend who he believed Juliette killed. But reluctantly, he will have to team up with Juliette once again to figure out who controls the five monsters and what they wish to accomplish with the monsters. Shanghai is in chaos, both from the monsters and from the conflict ensuing between the Nationalists and the Communists. It is up to the two heirs to keep Shanghai in as much control as possible.

Usually, in a series, I like the first book more than the second book. But with this duology, that isn’t true. The suspense in this book is astounding. I could barely put it down because I wanted to know what happened next! The only times I would put the book down was to prepare myself for the devastatingly emotional scenes that I knew were coming. I will never forget these beautifully written characters and this amazing plot. I highly, HIGHLY think that everyone should read this book (if you are okay with some gory scenes and emotional damage).

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.