these violent delights/our violent ends caused me emotional distress

 

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Published Nov. 17th, 2020/Nov. 16th, 2021

Synopsis (of These Violent Delights): The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

pain. suffering. a couple adjectives that come to mind when i think about this duology. it involves every perfect little nuanced trope that i look for to scratch my never-ending itchy craving for angst. These Violent Delights is a stellar debut novel by Chloe Gong. it is beautifully written and so easily enrapturing i had to physically pry these out of my hands in order to breathe a little bit before i further spiraled into despair. it is an obvious romeo and juliet retelling, but Chloe Gong delivers so much more to that classic tragedy. 

These Violent Delights/Our Violent Ends is initially set in 1926 Shanghai, with events leading up to the Shanghai Purge of April 12, 1927. juliette and roma are the heirs to two rival gangs: the scarlet gang and the white flowers. the presence of foreigners is increasing, with nationalist and communist regimes vying for power. in a city rife with growing political tension, what else could put a strain on relations if not a contagion spreading monster? amidst the growing turmoil, juliette and roma must put aside their history and the generations-old feud between their families to find a solution for the madness that runs rampant in Shanghai. 

2021 wrap-up

we did it folks. we made it through another impossible year. i hope that you all were able to make the most of it despite the obvious state of the planet rn. reflecting back on it, i think i accomplished quite a bit. i started my first job, got accepted into northwestern for grad school, moved all the way to chicago and revamped my life a little bit. things during the last quarter of 2021 were really swell for me. i made a lot of great new friends out of my classmates, was able to reconnect with old ones, and i feel more sure of my future now than i did before. overall, a good year!!

in terms of reading, this was much better than previous years and that’s mainly because i was out of school and able to read on the job (don’t tell anyone). i think this year my taste in books has evolved a lot, as i’ve been seeking out more new adult or adult fiction. i still love a ya, but there’s a whole new world of stories to discover in na/adult and i’ve been having a hell of a time discovering that!! to recap the last year of reading i’ve had, i’m using the end of the year book survey created by Jamie @  The Perpetual Page Turner.

wishing you all a great new year ahead of you! all book titles link to their respective goodreads page! cheers to 2022 and here’s to hoping i keep up with my reading again!! let me know if we have any picks in common or if you have any recs you think i’d enjoy! 

2021 reading stats
number of books read: 34!

number of re-reads: 1 (the deal, pls don’t look at me i re-read this like once a month)

genre you read the most from: fantasy and romance 

best book you read in 2021?
i’ll choose one fantasy and one romance for y’all, since that’s all i read this year: The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang and It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey! honorable mention is Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo!

book you were excited about & thought you’d love more but didn’t?

this one hurts cause i loved the first two in the trilogy so much, but The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang. i think going into this one i just wasn’t in the right headspace for the themes it explores, so it was tough for me to get through. 

most surprising book you read?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss! by no means was i expecting to enjoy this book as much as i did. i know how popular this series is, so i knew it had to be good, but this by far exceeded my expectations and i’m so excited to read the sequel. 

book you pushed the most people to read?

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. i truly took it upon myself to recommend this to every single person i know and i’ve gotten 3 people (pending 2 more) to read it by now. it is hands down my favorite trilogy and has turned R.F. Kuang into an author i trust with my life. 

best series you started in 2021? 

to not end up sounding like a broken record i will not mention The Poppy War again (whoops i mentioned it), so i choose Jade City by Fonda Lee and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Jade City was my first venture into adult fantasy and it was amazing. it truly set the tone for the rest of my reading year. Mistborn is absolutely genius and Brandon Sanderson is such a great author, i cannot wait to read The Stormlight Archive. 

     

a book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

honestly i know it’s still romance but i decided to read The Sweetest Oblivion cause everyone was talking about it on booktok and it was very out of my comfort zone. a whole mafia romance?? literally who would’ve thunk. 

most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang i do not need to explain myself. honorable mention: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. 

 

book you read in 2021 that you would be most likely to re-read next year?

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. when i say this book caused me emotional turmoil, i mean it. i love Emily Henry’s writing so much and i think she has an innate ability to create stories that everyone can relate to in one aspect or another. the way she discussed loneliness in pwmov made me rethink my whole life i’m not even exaggerating. i will definitely re-read this, the way i have all of her books, and continue to cry over alex and poppy. 

most memorable character of 2021?

darlington. daniel arlington. from ninth house. i just. love him. also kieran from the Blood and Ash series by JLA — he carried that entire series on his back. 

favorite non-romantic relationship of the year?

rinkitay. i have said it so many times but they are the standard for platonic soulmates and i crave so badly to have what they have. 

favorite quote from a book you read in 2021?

“She’s the only divine thing he’s ever believed in. The only creature in this vast, cruel land who could kill him. And sometimes, in his loveliest dreams, he imagines she does.” screaming crying shaking vomiting. this is Nezha’s pov from The Drowning Faith by R.F. Kuang. absolutely mad luv. 

book that shocked you the most?

The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang LMAOOOO

book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert. oh my god this has everything you could ever want in a contemporary romance. 

best 2021 debut?

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazlewood were both so good [sobbing]. unfortunately i didn’t read a debut fantasy this year but i would have loved to read She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan and will definitely prioritize this in the new year. 

    

hidden gem of the year?

i think everyone needs to read Jade City by Fonda Lee immediately. it has an incredibly refreshing concept of magic, great lore and world building, and an expansive cast of characters that bring a lil something something for everyone looking for an invigorating read. i loved it so much!!

one book you didn’t get to in 2021 but will be your number 1 priority in 2022?

Jade War by Fonda Lee — the second book in The Green Bone Saga!

book you are most anticipating for 2022 (non-debut)?

Babel by R.F. Kuang!!! dark academia! what else do i have to say! 

2022 debut you are most anticipating? 

i’m gonna choose two! first up, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan! this is the start of a duology inspired by the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e. it is going to be epic, enchanting, romantic — everything i could ever want from a Chang’e retelling!! second, Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li! a heist novel inspired by the real life disappearance of Chinese art from western museums ft a cast of Chinese American students!! all very exciting for me :)

series ending/sequel you are most anticipating in 2022?

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey. pls give it to me now. 

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

 

4/5 Stars

Published January 26th, 2021

Published by Berkley 

Synopsis: Shay Goldstein has been a producer at her Seattle public radio station for nearly a decade, and she can't imagine working anywhere else. But lately it's been a constant clash between her and her newest colleague, Dominic Yun, who's fresh off a journalism master's program and convinced he knows everything about public radio.

When the struggling station needs a new concept, Shay proposes a show that her boss green-lights with excitement. On The Ex Talk, two exes will deliver relationship advice live, on air. Their boss decides Shay and Dominic are the perfect co-hosts, given how much they already despise each other. Neither loves the idea of lying to listeners, but it's this or unemployment. Their audience gets invested fast, and it's not long before The Ex Talk becomes a must-listen in Seattle and climbs podcast charts.

As the show gets bigger, so does their deception, especially when Shay and Dominic start to fall for each other. In an industry that values truth, getting caught could mean the end of more than just their careers.

This was exactly the fun, lighthearted rom-com I needed to spend my Sunday afternoon with. The public radio setting added such an interesting dynamic to the story. I enjoyed the behind the scene tidbits that gave us an inside look into how public radio may work in real life and these challenges really added to the characterization of our main cast. Reading about these two enemies turned fake exes turned lovers navigate this fabricated story to keep their jobs and radio station alive was something I grew so invested in. The Ex Talk is able to simultaneously tackle concepts of grief and vulnerability, love and longing, while creating an atmosphere that is so electrifying. Rachel Lynn Soloman's adult romance debut will make you feel seen in the characters she's crafted and has created a space that allows you to lose yourself in the simplest of joys. 

Jade City by Fonda Lee

 

4/5 Stars 

Published by Orbit

Published June 26th, 2018 

Synopsis: The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities. The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.

This is an incredibly impressive story. Jade City is the first book I've ever read by Fonda Lee, so I was really excited to experience her writing. Her ability to craft a world so rich in detail and culture is one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much. From complex family dynamics to political strife, Fonda Lee is able to explore themes of love and power through the Kaul family and their homeland of Kekon. The imaginative descriptions of Kekon's history, as well as a few chapters containing Kekonese myth and legend, made the story so immersive and fun to read about. There are clashes between clans, a land rife with magic, and a social hierarchy that beckons to be changed. After hearing so many positive things, I finally gave in to the recommendation, and I firmly believe that Fonda Lee has the makings of one of the best adult fantasy series around.

i bet you thought you'd seen the last of me

Surprise, everybody.

It's been quite a bit of time since I last put my words to use on this blog, but I've finally gained some shred of inspiration that has pushed me to pursue this thing again. As I watched months roll by without finding enough time to blog, I almost thought I'd never get the chance to make a proper return. Thanks to 2020 finally ending and my future appearing seemingly brighter, I figured now was a better time than ever to deliver a life update and start anew!  

While I've been away, I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science. I worked in a research laboratory where I independently studied the effect of bacterial colonization and genetic mutation on protein trafficking in C. elegans — tiny nematodes that are often used as model organisms for research. This allotted me the information needed to write a 39 page senior Honors thesis, which, at this point, still stands as the best and smartest work I've ever produced. My passion for dance pushed me to continue evolving as an artist, so I became a tap choreographer for my dance company, creating several pieces that allowed me to express a side of me I never knew I could. Now, I am back home and taking a year (or two) off before I apply to grad school for my Masters in Genetic Counseling. 

Now, some of you (maybe a couple) may have noticed that I am no longer blogging under the name Little Lillie Reads, but rather Literary Ligase. Correct! I am rebranding and attempting to start something that could serve a dual purpose. I want to continue reviewing books and dishing out content that readers enjoy, but I also really want to start documenting my grad school journey on a more public forum. With genetic counseling being a relatively obscure career, I want to use my platform to raise awareness for the field and reach out to potential patients, applicants, or students who may have questions. By writing about my application process, my future experiences in grad school, and using Literary Ligase a means of advocacy and self-reflection, I hope to provide readers with an informative space and inspire folks along the way! 

To explain why I chose Literary Ligase as my new blog name: I really like alliteration. But also, I thought the two words paired together perfectly. Literary, which refers to content of literature, and ligase, an enzyme that essentially connects two DNA strands together. Here on Literary Ligase I want to ... connect you to future reads ... but I also want to ... connect you to my personal experiences as a GC applicant/student. Catch my drift? To be quite honest, the two terms may not even make sense together on a grammatical standpoint, but I went to school for microbiology and using ligase in the blog title felt really genius to me. 

I am really excited to get back into the swing of things! Little Lillie Reads was always a place of comfort for me and I'm optimistic about the things this blog can now accomplish as Literary Ligase. I missed you all so much! Please look forward to what I have in store! 

Flame in the Mist by Reneé Ahdieh

3/5 Stars

Published by Speak

Published May 16th, 2017

Synopsis: The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place--she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor's favorite consort--a political marriage that will elevate her family's standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace.

Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and track down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she's within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she's appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love--a love that will force her to question everything she's ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.

Being that this is the first book by Renée Ahdieh, a beloved author by the book community, that I have read, I definitely held it to high standards. After hearing for months that it was a dubbed a Mulan retelling, I held it to even higher standards. Unfortunately, I felt like I got the shorter end of both sticks and ended up jinxing it for myself. Flame in the Mist was far from the Mulan retelling I was expecting and in a way that let me down. It is a good story on its own, so long as you overlook the comparison to Mulan. I think this story definitely has room to grow in the sequel and I look forward to picking it up, especially because I craved so much more out of this one. I am highly impressed by Renée's sense of world building and attention to detail, as well as her incorporation of the Japanese culture (though I am unsure of whether it was represented 100% accurately or appropriately). This was an interesting book from start to finish, with quite a bit of loose ends left out in the open to be answered in the sequel, which is definitely what pushed me to finish this one in time for its release. 

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

4/5 Stars

Published by Little, Brown & Company

Published September 19th, 2017

Synopsis: Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

After what seems like years without reading, I decided to pick this one up for a quick and enthralling read, and boy was it the right choice. Stalking Jack the Ripper was one of my favorite reads of 2017 and I just knew Hunting Prince Dracula would be right up my alley. In middle school I recall reading about Vlad the Impaler for fun in history class, thinking his story was certainly disturbing, yet incredibly fascinating. What I never expected was for his gruesome legacy to be taken to the pages of a YA novel in such an engaging and fun way. Maniscalco takes Prince Dracula's entire being and plays with his characterization like putty, crafting him into this figure that instills fear into the audience with even the slightest mention of his name. Obviously you should be scared of him from just the implication of his name, but Maniscalco was able to rewrite this story in such a way that made it so much more than the historical facts we know about Vlad the Impaler already.