Ideal for enthusiasts of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this captivating debut presents an inventive reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet, unfolding against the vibrant backdrop of 1920s Shanghai. In a city resonating with debauchery in the year 1926, a violent feud between two rival gangs paints the streets in shades of red, plunging Shanghai into utter chaos. At the epicenter of this turmoil is Juliette Cai, an eighteen-year-old who, once a flapper, now returns to embrace her destiny as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a criminal network that operates beyond the confines of the law. The only force capable of challenging the Scarlets is the White Flowers, engaged in a generational conflict for supremacy.
Central to this tale is the complex relationship between Juliette and Roma Montagov, the heir of the White Flowers and Juliette’s first love, as well as her first betrayal. However, as gang members on both sides exhibit signs of instability, manifesting in gruesome self-inflicted harm, whispers of a contagion, a madness, and a lurking monster in the shadows permeate the air. With the mounting death toll, Juliette and Roma find themselves compelled to set aside their guns and grudges, collaborating to unravel the mystery. If they fail to quell the escalating mayhem, there will be no city left for either gang to govern.
