Exclusive Meet the Characters Guest Post: These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

 Hey everyone! I'm SO excited to have the chance to fangirl about These Violent Delights - a YA historical fantasy retelling of Romeo & Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai! If you haven't heard about this book yet - check out that gorgeous cover and read on for some info! I'm also super excited to share some exclusive content with you guys! The author has created a "Meet the Characters" guest post with an awesome twist - TikToks! Read on to meet the main cast of the book and don't forget to add it to your TBR!!

These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #1)
Author: Chloe Gong
Genre: YA Fantasy/Historical/Retelling
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Description:

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.

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.  

 

Meet the Characters

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS is a retelling of Romeo & Juliet in 1920s gangster-ruled Shanghai, about a blood feud grinding to a halt when a monster wreaks havoc across the city, and I like to think my cast of characters reflects the violence and glamor and extravagance of that time period. I love them dearly, and I can’t wait for readers to meet everyone. Until then, I’ve found the perfect few TikToks to exemplify each character, because what better medium is there than TikTok to match with a bunch of unruly teenagers?

I give you…

JULIETTE CAI 
https://www.tiktok.com/@marykatemoulton/video/6831209978922061062

Elegant, confident, and a bit too brutal… but if it works, it works. Juliette is the heir of the Scarlet Gang, raised from childhood to believe that this city is her responsibility, and the people under Scarlet protection are all looking to her for future leadership. The Scarlets don’t hesitate to assert their power, so Juliette doesn’t either. Of course, Juliette wouldn’t be Juliet Capulet’s progeny (in a sense) if she didn’t have a whimsical side—the part of her that dreams, and wears jewellery simply to look pretty—alongside that brutal spark. Juliet Capulet was not to be underestimated, after all: she threatened her own death to get her way, and Juliette Cai has that same iron.

ROMA MONTAGOV 
https://www.tiktok.com/@fash/video/6827263417087249669

On the outside, he looks cold enough to cut a man, but inside, he’s as soft as butter. Roma is the heir of the White Flowers, the rival gang to the Scarlets, as neck-deep in the blood feud and its consequences as Juliette. However, where they differ is that Roma hasn’t been trusted in the gang for a long while, and everyday is a mission in proving himself. He cannot hesitate to shoot when he’s fighting a turf war: any hesitance is betrayal. But still… I did pull him from Romeo Montague, and if you squint, you can see starry-eyed Romeo who feels too much and falls too fast. Roma has a particular fondness for wandering the open markets outside his house and reading his Russian poetry.

MARSHALL SEO 
https://www.tiktok.com/@sopeeia/video/6771873791527210246

Oh, Marshall. He’ll flirt with everybody in a ten-mile radius, and adores introducing himself to new acquaintances. Ask him about anyone and he probably knows them, but not all for good reasons. When he’s in trouble, his motto is to hit first and ask questions later: hurt people before they hurt him. It works, of course. It helps that he’s Roma’s right-hand man, which adds to his credibility in the White Flowers, especially when he is a far cry from the usual stoic gangster. Just as Mercutio is the one with all the best lines in the play, Marshall loves to listen to himself talk, and he’ll go on and on unless Benedikt claps a hand over his mouth. But outgoing as he is, he’s still the one with the most mysterious past...

BENEDIKT MONTAGOV 
https://www.tiktok.com/@catiecatlong/video/6764053912862346502

Alongside Roma and Marshall, the pensive and thoughtful Benedikt rounds out the White Flowers’ power trio. He doesn’t summon much fear on his own on the streets, but people are scared of his cousin Roma, and rumor has it that his best friend Marshall is a loose cannon who will pulverize anyone looking at Benedikt wrong. Shakespeare’s Benvolio was a peacekeeper, and Benedikt certainly adopts the same attitude of not wanting to stir the pot unless it’s necessary. Benedikt lives inside his head. In his eyes, the world works against him, it does not unfold with him.

KATHLEEN LANG 
https://www.tiktok.com/@kayqueu/video/6795701757704998150

Kathleen is the one you want to go to for advice. She’s Juliette’s dearest cousin and closest friend, which means she’s in the Scarlet inner circle, but not quite accepted either, because she is not a Cai, and being a Cai is important in the Scarlet Gang. To tell the truth, Kathleen doesn’t really mind. Some might call her a pacifist because she doesn’t see the point of the blood feud, but she’s only tired of the grappling and fighting and struggle for power. She would do anything for the people she cares about, but she would also do anything—sacrifice anything—for peace.

ROSALIND LANG 
https://www.tiktok.com/@ami_jewel/video/6836312498031889666

They call her the darling of the city, but not in the same sense as her cousin Juliette. Juliette cuts throats on the streets; Rosalind is the best dancer at the Scarlet Gang’s most infamous burlesque club. She speaks like she has honey on her tongue, but make no mistake, Rosalind Lang has an anger inside of her that comes from being overlooked again and again. They don’t see her on the stage, not really. They see a creation. She wants to be Rosalind: Scarlet inner circle for her mind and skill. Instead, she is Rosalind: Scarlet inner circle for as long as they need her to dance.

Bonus Roma: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsn1cholas/video/6732281213672819973

Bonus Juliette: https://www.tiktok.com/@adventurous.k9/video/6819866352518515973

Bonus Kathleen and Rosalind: https://www.tiktok.com/@hjevelyn/video/6817608102116904198

Bonus Roma-Benedikt-Marshall Trouble Trio: https://www.tiktok.com/@grisham.lauren/video/6775377400902536454

And that’s the main cast of THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS! They have razor-sharp smiles and can throw knives like nobody’s business, but they’re also all violently delightful, if I do say so myself. While Roma and Juliette are the starring roles—after all, this book is about two star-crossed exes forced to overcome a blood feud in the hopes of saving their city—I hope readers have favorites among the others too.

Chloe Gong is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, studying English and international relations. During her breaks, she’s either at home in New Zealand or visiting her many relatives in Shanghai. Chloe has been known to mysteriously appear when “Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s best plays and doesn’t deserve its slander in pop culture” is chanted into a mirror three times. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @TheChloeGong, or check out her website at TheChloeGong.com.









 

Last Girls Blog Tour: Meet the Characters + Giveaway

Last Girls
Author: Demetra Brodsky
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: May 5, 2020
Publisher: Tor Teen

Synopsis:

No one knows how the world will end.

On a secret compound in the Washington wilderness, Honey Juniper and her sisters are training to hunt, homestead, and protect their own.

Prepare for every situation.

But when danger strikes from within, putting her sisters at risk, training becomes real life, and only one thing is certain:

Nowhere is safe.

 
The Juniper sisters in LAST GIRLS don't go anywhere without a backpack (what they call an EDC: Every Day Carry) and they take great pride in their artwork. Honey paints, Birdie draws comics, and Blue uses embroidery to fancy up her clothes (when she's not spending time with her beloved falcon, Achilles). To honor the sisters' talents, I'll be sending one lucky winner some artistic inspiration by offering up a fabulous pre-order Grand Prize. But don't worry, everyone who orders will receive a gift with purchase. And, as a bonus, I'm including a 2nd prize that holds a special place in my author heart.

ALL PREORDERS WILL RECEIVE: Last Girls 5x7 Glossy Art Print & Signed Bookplate (see above)

ALL PREORDERS WILL BE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE GRAND AND FIRST PRIZE.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: (chosen at random on or before 5/19) will receive a BUILT NY grey & blue camouflage backpack with thermal lunch compartment. Inside you'll find a mini acrylic painting kit (From Honey), a sketchbook & pen (From Birdie), an adorable 10" peregrine falcon plushie and mini sewing kit (from Blue), a flashlight (with batteries), a rosy tinted lip balm, camouflage band-aids, a 3-pack of portable tissues printed with positive messages, and a dehydrated camping meal like the one the sisters eat in the book.

FIRST PRIZE: (chosen at random on or before 5/19) A signed hardcover copy of my debut novel, DIVE SMACK, to round out your collection (Surprise! There's a big Dive Smack Easter Egg hidden in the pages of Last Girls).

TO ENTER: email proof of purchase to demetrabrodskybooks@gmail.com before May 5th. You'll get one entry for each copy of the book you purchase.

Available wherever books are sold.

Whenever possible, please support Indie Bookstores by buying through www.bookshop.org

Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego will have signed copies (not bookplates) and offers Free shipping for media mail rate within the U.S. on orders over $35. https://www.mystgalaxy.com/book/9781250256522

VISIT: https://www.demetrabrodsky.com/last-girls-preorder-campaign to learn more!

*Open to U.S.A. Residents Only

*Sweepstakes run and fulfilled by the author

*Share with your friends

MEET THE CHARACTERS

The Juniper sisters spend more time together than most siblings might. They’re lifestyles dictate it, but there’s a deeper, more pressing reason for loyalty to one another that unfolds in the book through its conclusion. While writing them, I took special attention as to not give them similar emotional characteristics so I could differentiate their voices in my head. I hope that spilled onto the pages for you, the uniqueness of each of the girls. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite because they’re all important to the story, and for all intents and purposes pieces of my heart. I hope you love them as much as I do, for all their strengths and faults. Here goes:

Honey Juniper is the oldest of the three Juniper sisters, and the POV character for all three sisters. The one they call that weird chic with the Sarah Connor vibe.

Through her letters to Bucky, their imaginary friend from Childhood further illustrate her love for her sisters and her fear for their safety. A rule-follower with a sarcastic inner monologue, Big R Responsible might as well be Honey’s middle name. A position thrust upon her not just by being the oldest sibling, but from internal past wounds and external expectations. And until you learn why, you don’t understand her obsessions and beliefs. Honey takes responsibility for herself and her sisters at all cost. She is too quick to judge, as evident by her threat assessments. And extremely guarded, to her own detriment, which is why when she finally lets her guard down with Rémy it feels, at least to me, so satisfying. But it’s that balance between her flaws and attributes that made her such a pleasure to write. Honey is guarded, but she’s also an intelligent, unique, caring, and level-headed protector. She can admit when she’s wrong, a characteristic I deeply value in people. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as you experience her character arc. And root for Rémy, too, while you’re at it. Sometimes, it’s another character that teaches us the most about ourselves and that’s certainly true for Honey Juniper.

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius (air)

Honey Hug: Loving Side hug

Count on Honey: To be weird with you

Weakness: Runs from emotional expression, temperamental, uncompromising, aloof

Affirmations: I am one of a kind. I make the rules.

Smile: Silly, crooked smile

When Mad: Leave me alone

When Tired: Questions life itself and can’t focus

Best Advice for Honey: You’re not emotionless; open up to someone

Birdie Juniper is the full of rebellion middle sister with a fierce and romantic nature. She draws comics featuring Bucky Beaverman, using the same imaginary friend from childhood as her muse as Honey. To me, she would be the hardest to play because she feels everything so viscerally. I’d say she (the middle sister) is my favorite. I don’t think she’d be the choice of most readers. Maybe that’s why I love her. She is, in my own opinion, the most misunderstood. Headstrong, independent, and impulsive, Birdie rarely shows her more sensitive site. But when she does, it’s visceral. Throughout the story Birdie is the one that suffers the most, and I felt so her emotions viscerally while writing her into the scenes she shares with her sisters.

Zodiac Sign: Aries (fire)

Birdie Hug: Hugs everyone the same except that one person

Count on Birdie: To stand up for you

Weakness: Impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, aggressive

Affirmations: I am strong. I’m the reason we have rules.

Smile: Crinkled eyes, ear-to-ear grins

When Mad: Literally no patience. Threatens to cut someone’s throat then proceeds to cry

When Tired: Tries to take her mind of it

Best Advice for Birdie: Even though you try to appear like a rebel, you don’t always like to come too far out of your comfort zone. Use your abilities to shine like a bird taking flight.

Blue Juniper is the youngest. Quiet and contemplative, but complex. There is so much to love about her. She was born with caul and has prescient thoughts that make her sisters stop and take notice. She is dreamy, vague, sensitive, mystical, and misunderstood. Blue embroiders all her second-hand clothes with feminist sayings and often stitches a little blue beaver into her works of art that are a nod to their imaginary friend from childhood. Blue knows more about her sisters and the greater world they live in than she lets anyone know. But if you pay very close attention, Blue will be the one to clue you into how the story might unfold. She has a pet falcon named Achilles that hunts with her and he can sometimes steal the show when he makes an appearance.

Zodiac Sign: Pisces (water)

Blue Hug: Super chill but secretly really happy to hug you

Count on Blue: To cheer you up

Weakness: Fearful, overly trusting, sad, desire to escape reality

Affirmations: I am good enough. The rules don’t apply to me.

Smile: Sweet. The kind of smile that warms people up.

When Mad: She is unflappable and ignore her feelings

When Tired: She sits quietly and listens, collecting information rather than engaging

Best Advice for Blue: You’ve lived through some heartbreaking experiences and you’re still able to walk around with your head up and heart open. Now that’s strength. Keep doing that.

Here’s what others are saying about the Juniper Sisters: 

“An impressive, immersive, addictive tale of a world that never ends ― the beating heart of sisters, breathtaking and unstoppable.” ―Emily Murdoch, author of If You Find Me 

“The moment I picked up LAST GIRLS I fell in love with the Juniper Sisters. Full of twists, turns, and adventure, this action-packed tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end, then left me wanting more.” ―Suzanne Lazear, author of The Aether Chronicles 

 

"A riveting, pulse-pounding story about family, love, and what happens when the end of the world turns out to be the beginning. I loved the fierce, funny, and fantastic Juniper sisters." ―Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces 

"Tense and compulsively readable...I won’t be forgetting the Juniper sisters any time soon." ―Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders 

You can visit the Last Girls Pinterest board to see more: https://www.pinterest.com/demetrabrodsky/last-girls-novel-may-5-2020-tor-teen-macmillan/

DEMETRA BRODSKY writes twisty thrillers about dark family secrets. She is an award-winning graphic designer & art director turned full-time. A native of Massachusetts with a B.F.A from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Demetra now lives in Southern California where she's always exploring and researching, looking for clues to things that might feed into her next book. She is a first generation Greek-American and a member of International Thriller Writers. Dive Smack, her debut YA Thriller, is a 2018 Junior Library Guild Selection, an (ALAN) Pick (The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE), and a Publishers Marketplace Buzz Book for Young Adults for Spring/Summer 2018.

Win (1) of (3) copies of LAST GIRLS by Demetra Brodsky (US Only)
Starts: April 29, 2020
Ends: May 13, 2020

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Zero Blog Tour: Meet the Characters/Dream Cast + Giveaway

Zero (Zero)
Author: Morgan Dark
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: June 28, 2016

Publisher: Rubiños, 1860

Synopsis:

A baffling robber.

A mystery hidden for years.

And an elite boarding school where no one is who they say they are.

Kyle Bradford is the envy of Drayton College, but everything takes a turn when a dangerous shadow, hidden in the darkness, starts to stalk him. From then on, his life falls apart. Unjustly accused of being the main suspect behind the robberies terrifying high society, he is forced to prove his innocence. And to do so, he has to find the real culprit: Zero, an infallible criminal who keeps his identity hidden under a silver mask. What Kyle does not know is that his enemy is keeping a secret. A secret he would sacrifice everything for.

A dizzying, heart-stopping thriller you won’t be able to put down.

Morgan's Dream Cast & Meet The Characters

Zero has a wide range of characters. All of them slip out of their expected roles to confuse the reader and weave a web of mystery and surprises that will shock you right up till the end. So every once in a while they did something suspicious that made you rethink things…

KYLE: the main character. His life has always been easy: he has money; he’s popular; basically, he has everything he wants. But with the new school year, his life will take a turn for the worse when he becomes the main suspect in the Zero robberies. He has to prove to everyone that he and Zero are not the same person all while being watched 24 hours a day by a persistent police detective… before he gets into a spot he can’t get out of.

ZERO: he’s a baffling thief that steals anything he wants. He’s a dark, frightening, disturbing character who hides a secret that will intersect with that of our protagonist.

THE FRIENDS: Kyle has two best friends: Mike, a happy, blond kid with a knack for getting into trouble, and Neal, the best poker and black jack player at school.

THE ENEMIES: there are two character that seems to have a special hatred towards Kyle: Len Lu, his surly and unpleasant roommate, and Miranda, the indisputable queen of Drayton.

THE TEACHERS: headed up by Principal Lawrence (who always wear a smile on his face and have a thoughtful word of advice to give), we meet Mr. Jones who teaches Modern American History, Ms. Winslow (English), Mr. Napier (the librarian), Gabriel (the cook)…

THE POLICE: Dimiri Cooper is the persistent police detective assigned to the Zero case. He always wears a gray trench coat over an old, worn-out sweater that looked like a hand-me-down of a hand-me-down.

My advice? Don’t trust any of them… They all keep their own secrets.

And what about my dream cast? Here it is:
* Alex Pettyfer / Liam Hemsworth / Ian Somerhalder (Kyle)
* Mike He / Lee Hong Ki (Len)
* Victoria Justice (Miranda)
* Sean Penn / Hugh Laurie (Dimitri)
* Jesse McCartney (Mike)
* Miles Teller (Neal)
* Morgan Freeman (Principal Lawrence)

Follow the Zero by Morgan Dark Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

 

Morgan Dark is one of the most original teenage literature writers. Always enveloped in suspense, as of yet no one knows her true identity. She began writing Zero after a hooded man robbed her in her New York apartment. Included amongst the stolen items was her favorite ring. Yet in exchange, she received a publishing contract for her new novel. After Zero became one of the most awaited teenage books in 2015, her ring showed up in her house again…in black envelope with no sender.

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