THREE: Last Violent Call
Gong, C. (2023). Last Violent Call. New York: Margaret K. McElderry.
ISBN: 9781665934510
Historical fantasy novellas.
Ages 13-18 (Kirkus Reviews)
Awards/Honors
None at the time this blog was written.
Plot Summary
Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai are back, living their sweet, anonymous, quiet, married life (a lifestyle they maintain by dealing weapons). When they are contacted by a young man who begs them to save his girlfriend, they can't ignore the connections his case has to their former lives and they agree to help.
In related news, Benedikt Montagov and Marshall Seo have boarded the Trans-Siberian Express after a mysterious call from Roma and must help solve a grisly murder in order to make sure the train arrives on time.
About the Author
Chloe Gong was born in Shanhgai and raised in New Zealand. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations, and now lives in New York. Her popular books include These Violent Delights and Foul Heart Hunstman. (thechloegong.com).
Critical Evaluation
Last Violent Call has a unique format; it is two separate novellas, each with their own title, that fit inside a slipcase. It is beautiful packaging. Each book is about a hundred pages and reads quickly thanks to non-stop action that begins within the first few pages. There was no indication of which book to read first so I chose A Foul Thing which catches up with Juliette Cai and her husband, Roma Montagov, who are now married and living in Zhouzhang, China. While they are still dealing weapons, they're content and anonymous in their rural village. Having read the first few novels with these characters would have been very helpful once the action starts; I had a lot of trouble keeping track of a number of characters who were mentioned often but didn't actually appear in this book. It's not a fault with the book-I probably shouldn't have started with a later volume in a series. That being said, it's a quick, taut read and will undoubtedly make more sense to those who have read Foul Lady Fortune.
Having just finished the second novella, This Foul Murder, I realized I read the two in reversed-ideal order. Learn from my mistake and read this one first as it explains some of the details and characters in A Foul Thing.
The dynamics between the couples in both books are fun; they have a lot of chemistry. The book has a wide range appeal as it can be suggested to action fans, historical fictions, and/or romance fans.
Speed Round
Roma and Juliette just want live a calm, married life. Benedikt and Marshall just want to make it to Zhouzhang on the Trans-Siberian Express. Can the couples live a normal life for awhile? Or will their pasts catch up with them?
Library Program
The way the book works as two separate novellas that support each other is interesting and could be used to inspire a writing program in which teens bring a one page story, are matched with a partner, and then have to link their stories with a common backstory.
Potential Challenges
There are several possibilities for challenges here; violence, kidnapping, drugging, murder, and gay characters are all there for anyone who might object. The violence is much more prevalent than the sexuality, which is portrayed more in flirting than anything explicit. Provided the book meets a library's collection development policy, it should safely be displayed in YA.
Reason for Inclusion
Last Violent Call is a straight-up action thriller that reads quickly and leaves the reader wanting more. Fans of Gong's earlier books will be excited about it, and those who start with this one might be inspired to go back and read prior books to get some of the backstory.
Oooh! Look at the setting for A Foul Thing on TikTok!
Gong, C. (n.d.). The Chloe Gong. https://thechloegong.com/
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