Our Violent Ends
(These Violent Delights #2)
The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.
After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.
Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.
Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.
Review
Our Violent Ends is the heartbreaking finale of the These Violent Delights duology. The story continues our journey with Roma and Juliet with more violence, more politics, more betrayal and more romance. Yep don’t worry it’s not all bad for these characters.
So the first book really set up these characters and the feud, as well as introducing us to the monsters. It had that air of a mystery thriller type of setting. Now with the second book we are now fully submerged into the political aspects of the world as well as having a whole lot more violence. I don’t think I have yet to get over how the madness impacts people. I really enjoy books that take on this political route, I’ve always found it really interesting. I guess it depends on the type of reader you are.
I dealt with some pacing issues with These Violent Delights but it felt like Our Violent Ends really took off from the first page. I never felt like any part lagged and the story had great movement. Of course I always wonder if it’s just my impatience anymore.
So we have a lot going on with politics. The Scarlets, White Flowers, The Nationalist and the Communist. I know some history on it so I think it was definitely easier for me to keep track. Even if you haven’t ever really looked at it, I think Chloe does a good job of having enough information for you to understand what is happening. Why are the riots and protests coming about and what is changing in the gangs. Of course there is the use of the monsters as well.
Betrayal galore! Ok so maybe not that dramatic but don’t worry you will still have plenty of characters and plenty of drama in that respect. This is a story about rival gangs. Although there are also unbreakable friendships and family bonds as well. I think for the most part the characters seemed to follow the line that I was expecting. I think my favorite stand out character award would have to go to Kathleen. I found her arc to be so interesting as she learns more about the party she is spying on.
Of course there is Roma and Juliet. I really really enjoyed them and their interactions in this half the story. They were of course good in the first book but I think we really see them work out some of their tensions. If it’s hate or love that keeps them moving forward it was great to see them together. I was really happy with their arc.
Overall I really really enjoyed Our Violent Ends and it’s unusual for me to love a second book over a first book but I definitely do with this one. I’ll be excited to see what Lady Fortune will be like.