“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.”

Would I say this is a true Romeo and Juliet retelling? No, no I wouldn’t. They have similar names and a family rivalry that has lasted ages, but that’s as far as it goes. Spoiler alert, Romeo or Juliet does not die in this book. However, there are rival gangs and this book is dark and gritty. I loved it. I loved how they teamed up to see what was causing the madness. The madness and them saying “get vaccinated” really reminded me of COVID. Not going to lie. Anyway, I really regret waiting to read this book and making it sit on my bookshelf for almost a year. You all need to read this. It’s so good and the ending is heart pounding.