Vilest Things by Chloe Gong
Vilest Things (Saga Press) by Chloe Gong is a breathtaking return to the twin cities of San-Er, where the streets practically breathe with their own life and people have the ability to jump between bodies with the power of qi.
In this thrilling sequel to New York Times and USA Today bestseller Immortal Longings, inspired by Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, we once more follow Calla Tuoleimi into a tumultuous tale of power struggles, volatile uprisings, political drama and more, set against the pulsing backdrop of an overcrowded city surrounded by struggling provinces. Vilest Things picks up right where the explosive ending of the first book left off, thrusting us into the upheaval of San-Er as August Shenzhi takes the throne thanks to the murder of King Kasa at the hands of Calla.
However, unbeknownst to the populace, August is currently inhabited by Anton Makusa. Only Calla knows it isn’t really August, and Anton is none too thrilled with Calla after she betrayed him in the final round of the games. As tensions rise, Anton’s former lover, Otta Avia, returns to the fray after years spent in a coma, carrying a secret that sets in motion a plot with ties to everyone from August and Calla to the Crescent Society and monarchs forgotten by the world. With the crown, the kingdom and far more than they could ever imagine at stake, Calla and Anton must determine how they feel about each other and if they can work together after all that they’ve been through as they try to ascertain what moves Otta, August, and the rest of their companions will make while chaos erupts in San-Er and beyond.
Evolving Qi and Greater Risks
What I loved about Immortal Longings, and what is back in all its glory in Vilest Things, is the fascinating magic system that Gong has created. People in this world have the ability to jump between bodies by moving their qi. Typically, an individual would need to be able to see the other body, and there are certain rules that apply to jumping. People’s eye color jumps with them, there are certain people who can’t be jumped into and so on.
However, in Vilest Things Gong takes the system she established in the first book and begins to unravel it. There are characters who begin to defy the preset rules of jumping, realizing that their eye color doesn’t move with them, or that they can actually jump into Weisannas, the lineage that is supposedly impervious to being jumped into. As more and more exceptions are made to the rules, we begin to realize that everything we thought we knew is in question, just as much as the characters within this story are realizing it — and oh what fun that creates for the reader!
The hard and fast rules of the system are clearly able to be broken by those who have either been born with a different ability, or who have learned a way to bypass the system, and as a result, it adds a new layer of suspense and excitement to the story.
Immersive World Building and Unforgettable Characters
The world of San-Er is always fast-paced and exhilarating, and our return to it is no different. Gong has a way with world building that makes us want to exist within the pages of the story, every sensory detail adding another layer of sight, sound, smell and more until we’re enveloped in a stunningly rich environment. Add on top of that the beautifully complex characters that Gong has created, and the Flesh and False Gods Series is a masterpiece. I always love reading from Calla’s perspective.
She’s sharp, cunning, powerful and always seems to be balancing on a razor’s edge. Even when we think we know her, we can never be quite sure what choice she’ll make next as she tiptoes along that morally gray boundary. Anton and August are no different, weighing decisions through the lenses of their personal agendas, even when it might harm those around them. These are passionate, driven characters who need to achieve their end goals, no matter the cost, and it makes for a truly action-packed, full throttle read.
Vilest Things is exactly what I needed from the sequel to Immortal Longings, and I’m already desperate for the next installment in Calla, Anton, August, and Otta’s story. If you love a book with high stakes, power grabs, a badass female protagonist, a fascinating magic system and vivid world building, then Vilest Things (and Immortal Longings!) is for you.
About Chloe Gong:
Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in the New York Times, PEOPLE, Cosmopolitan, and more. She was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.
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