Chloe Gong, bestselling author of These Violent Delights, returns with a compelling new dilogy set in Shanghai in 1931, and I'm here today to tell you about the first volume, Foul Lady Fortune.

Rosalind Lang, thanks to an experiment, has come back to life "from beyond," but this has consequences.
She doesn't age, she heals quickly, ergo she cannot die.
She decides to use this situation to her advantage, so she puts her skills to work for the country.
Her code name is Fortuna.

Rosalinda's plan changes direction at the moment when, the Japanese Imperial Army, decides to invade Shanghai, thus causing unrest and deaths.

And it's here that, together with Orion, a Nationalist spy, the adventure begins.
Foul Lady Fortune is undoubtedly a gripping story, capturing the reader and chaining him to its pages, however...
Yeah, there's a though. I found it "difficult" to approach the story right away, but once I got the hang of it, it flows that a wonder.
The intrigue and twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and eager for more, I devoured the book.
I really enjoyed the delineation of the characters, as well as the worldbuilding.
But the ending? It's illegal!
I can't wait to read the second volume!

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This has taken me ages to review because I think I have come to realise I don’t really vibe with CG’s writing style which is fine but it did take me a while to get into the book.
I love a good spy book and this book had one of my favourite troupes - posing as a (married) couple. I liked the representation in this book and the characters were fleshed out. There was a good ensemble of secondary characters too.
I liked the plot but I felt like more could have been done with it and although some of the twists were written well, I felt like they were pretty obvious.
I also think this book displayed a lot of showing rather than telling covered in flowery language that, in my opinion, stopped the flow of the book.
I DNF’d Those Violent Delights and if this wasn’t for review, I feel like I might have DNF’d this too as it took me over 20 days to read.
Probably won’t be recommending but I can see how others enjoy this story!

<i>I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</I>

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 22%

This book wasn’t horrible by any means. The writing was okay and the plot was interesting enough. This might be a case of “it’s not the book, it’s me” because I just struggled to get invested in the story or the characters. Although, I do understand the appeal this book might have and I would still recommend checking it out if it interests you.

“Forget, Roma and Juliette, its Rosalind and Orion from now on !”

First and foremost, I want to thank Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an ARC of this book. It was one of my most anticipated releases of this year and Chloe Gong did not disappoint us. I would even go so far to say that as of now, this is her best work. There was not one moment in this book when I, for instance felt bored or like something was missing.

Plot:

Foul Lady Fortune is the first novel in the spin off-duology to the “These Violent Delights” Duology and it is set 5 years after the events of “Our Violent End”. It follows Rosalind Lang (Code name: Fortune), who by now is a Nationalist assassin…and essentially immortal, because she was brought back from the brink of death, by a mysterious experiment that may saved her, but also stopped her from sleeping, aging and allowing her to heal from any wound. However, when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march and a series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of people are being killed…..
….But to avoid suspicion, Rosalind not only has to work together with Orion Hong, another Nationalist spy, but also must pose as his wife .

Personal thoughts:

Chloe Gong has an incredible talent when it comes to creating the atmosphere of her books by writing the most intricate, vivid and lyrical descriptions and comparisons. Therefore, it felt like as if we were standing right next to Rosalind and Orion on the streets of Shanghai, hearing the same noises, whilst smelling the food from the market stalls. Filled with an incredible amount of suspense, mystery, diversity and plot twists, Chloe Gong once again wrote an extraordinary novel that seamlessly blends together fantasy, politics, culture and history. Readers are certainly not prepared for this story as well as the tense, secretive, but also sarcastic dynamic between Rosalind and Orion. If you loved These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends….you better brace yourself, because you are not ready for Foul Lady Fortune.
Nevertheless, I would recommend that readers should first read the “These Violent Delights” Duology, since the novel features a lot of references and lives on both the emotional and literal consequences of the original duology.

For most of this book I was fairly set on a three star rating, but the last quarter was absolutely incredible, redeeming my rating. I'm a demanding reader and need a lot of excitement early on to keep me engaged, which is why I found the earlier stages a bit slow. I also know next to nothing about the time it's set in, so a lot of the historical context didn't make a lot of sense to me, but I am now setting myself the task of educating myself in prep for the sequel! I loved the slow burn between Rosalind and Orion and it felt so natural. The epilogue was also epic and has set up perfectly for the next book - I can't wait!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing e-arc of this book.
Rating - 4.5/5
I had so much fun reading this .Even though it is set in the same universe as the TVD series it felt so much different than her previous books . I loved the writing style and setting and the world building done here.The characters were so well written and the pacing of the book also felt perfect.Although i felt that romance between Orion and Rosalind was very rushed at the end .I think anyone who liked tvd and ove will love foul lady fortune .Eagerly waiting for flf sequel

Overall, I liked this a lot more than I thought I would and I'm hopeful for the next book for sure. Sadly though it just didn’t blow me away. Perhaps it was the relationship development that let this one down, It was a bit too cliche and relied too heavily on tropes to do the work instead of the writing fleshing the relationship out.

thank you so much to NetGalley, and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

brilliant book! the premise is there and is insanely good. loved the fact this was set in the same universe as gong’s previous work with some things that previous readers will be able to see and associate with. i fell in love with rosalind and her character development from these violent delights up until now! orion had me swooning from the very beginning. the world building is phenomenal and i like the fact it is a shakespeare retelling of a play that never really gets recognition (as you like it.) I cannot wait for the sequel! i’m already counting down the days!

As a fan of the These Violent Delights duology, my expectations for this book were high, and they were met! I loved that we got a book where Rosalind could have more time to shine, and I loved the engaging writing and intricately crafted plot. This book would be loved by those who loved the TVD duology, and I would definitely reccomend. 5 stars!

DNF 20% - i would recommend this, 100%, but it is not for me.
Let me be absolutely clear: This is a good book, with good writing and a plot that I'm sure will satisfy a lot of people, especially when you've liked the first two books by the author.
I actually read the previous two books, just to get the proper feeling for it and I do feel like that's a better option, it gave me a proper idea of Rosalin and Celia, the city etc.

The reason I'm DNFing is because I had to power through the first two books despite not connecting with the writing, and by the time I was reading Foul Lady Fortune, I saw a pattern with the plot that I just couldn't go with.

I want to be honest about a few things:
- The politics in this book are complex, well researched and fascinating, however, it muddles with the plot, making it feel confusing and uncertain. 20% in and I have no real understanding of the plot or the point.
- I loved certain aspects of it but they were glossed over: rose's transformation was a major reason why I wanted to read this, but then it was sort of glossed over with a quick "she was injected" when at the end of the previous book she was injured but it felt like Celia was the one at death's door.
- Celia's plotline felt off and unfurnished which is a shame because she is sincerely my favorite character of the three books.
- I liked the fake wedding, enemies to lover plotline that seemed to materialize, but everytime I felt interested by it, the heavy political plotline crashed on.

The thing is, I know it's mostly me who doesn't like this kind of plotline, but the issue is that the style so far has taught me that there is little reward for the tension built up and that's such a shame because the writing is really good (if a little heavy, the author is clearly a talented writer but is a bit heavy handed with the metaphors. There are instances where the description is a lot for something trivial and it just makes reading a bit heavy)
- I never felt like there was a proper reason to things, and I wouldn't know how to describe the plot other than : immortal assassin has a fake mariage while she investigates things.
- The injection plotline felt a bit cheap and like it called on to the same patterns as the previous books: there's a threat terrorizing the people of shanghai and it has a political motive involving the communists, the nationalists and a foreign power, and a couple that hates it each other has to investigate but end up loving each other. And my issue with that is that I could use that descriptive for Foul Lady Fortune and the two previous books, and that's not good.

I really couldn't pick it back up and it felt like a chore. Again, it's a good book, despite what I think personally, it just has a very specific target audience I think and unfortunately I find myself outside of it.

As alway, Chloe Gong doesn't fail to deliver! I had heard a lot of fantastic things about this book from other reviewers so I just knew I had to read it myself and boy, it was fab!

Everything from the mystery elements to the intricate setting in Shanghai to the action and character development has me hooked.

If you loved Chloe's other books, you're onto a winner with this one!

As a huge fan of Chloe's first two books, I was highly anticipating Foul Lady Fortune. I was not disappointed at all. Rosalind is such an interesting character, and the whole story just pulled me in from start to finish. Cannot wait for my pretty Waterstones Edition to arrive!

My first Chloe Gong book did not disappoint!
Was initially unsure on reading this one as I normally don’t read ‘historical’ books set in the past, however really enjoyed it.
Characters were likely and the storyline was good!

4.5 stars
The first in a new spin-off Duology, Chloe Gong’s Foul Lady Fortune—set years after the events of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends—masterfully weaves romance, political intrigue and block buster worthy action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, it follows former showgirl turned assassin, Rosalind Lang who, after life a saving procedure, cannot die. Working for the nationalist’s covert branch, Rosalind must work with playboy spy, Orion Hong on an undercover mission. A mission which requires them to pose as a married couple.

There were plenty of familiar (and new) characters and though this is the start of a new duology, I do think you’d get the most enjoyment from reading Chloe Gong’s previous duology (These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends), especially as Foul Lady Fortune does reference some of the events from that series, so if you don’t want spoilers definitely check those out first.

I absolutely loved returning the Gong’s Shanghai and exploring the evocative, and action packed plot that merges historical events with an intriguing noir style mystery and supernatural elements that allow us to examine the imperialism, nationalism and cultural generational trauma through the lense of soo many well developed,complex characters—all of whom had conflicting motives and allegiances. Chloe Gong is a master at crafted such endearing and believable characters that I genuinely couldn’t pick a favourite.

I loved getting to see Rosalind again as her arc in Our Violent Delights did pint her as a bit of a villain but getting to see her thoughts and opinions, to understand how her part in the events came to be was incredibly eye-opening. Having very much disliked her previously, I found myself genuinely loving her as a protagonist.

This is a noir style spy novel so everyone keeps their cards close to their chests and, with several mysteries to unravel and allegiances to confirm you definitely find a lot of heart poundingly suspenseful moments. I loved how effortlessly we switch from Rosalind’s and Orion’s POV to Celia and Oliver (Rosalind and Orion’s Communist operative siblings’) POV which really heightened the tangled emotional web of familial bonds, loyalty and the conflict of duty when it came to their political allegiances.

I also loved the similarities in both Rosalind and Orion’s in terms of upbringing. Both starved of affection from their parents, for Rosalind growing up in a family were hierarchy and position was everything and where she’s always on the outskirts—not important enough to curry favour nor beloved enough to garner any affection. Orion, likewise is trying to hold his family together after both his mum and brother left, with the desperate hope that they could someday go back to the picture perfect family they once were—but it’s only as they grow closer together that Rosalind and Orion realise that, in order to succeed with their mission they must let go of the past entirely and focus solely on the future.

I loved getting to see Celia (formerly Kathleen) again and I loved that she finally gets to use her true name. Her working partnership with Oliver Hong was amazing and the chemistry between the pair was utterly palpable, I loved every tense second of it! Likewise, Rosalind and Orion’s attraction and slow burn romance was equally amd tantalising and at times utterly hilarious, and I genuinely need both couples to find happiness at the end of all this, I don’t think my heart could survive if something happens to them.

I can’t say too much about the plot for fear of spoiling it but, with all the deliciously unexpected twists and turns Chloe Gong throws our way, I can in total honesty say I cannot wait to see where this intoxicating, YA fantasy reimagining of As You Like it takes us next.

If you’re a fan of high stakes espionage, endearingly complex (and morally grey) characters or exhilarating plot twists that will keep you on your toes, I highly recommend checking this out.

Also, a huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley of the e-arc.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I'll admit that I wasn't completely sold on These Violent Delights having struggled with the last third of the book to really finish it and yet I took a chance with Foul Lady Fortune initially because a) the blurb sounded really intriguing... hello, SPIES??? and b) i still do dig the setting and world building of these books, therefore I thought I'd give Chloe Gong another chance. I actually requested this before realizing that this was a part of the same universe, (I think a sequel?) though I do confess I've not read Our Violent Ends.

In that respect you should probably be aware that there will be spoilers for Our Violent Ends within this book, so if you haven't yet read the former duology and don't wish to spoil yourself, make sure you take the time to read that first! I didn't personally mind though, as I really really enjoyed this one, and I don't think I really lost much of the context through not reading Our Violent Ends because it was kind of its own self-contained story for the most part, with a few returning characters.

The story is told from dual points of view, our protagonists that of Lady Fortune, aka "Janie" aka Rosalind (who if you have read These Violent Delights, you may well be aquainted with already), and Orion aka Hong Liwen. I feel like Rosalind REALLY shone in this book and proved herself as a fascinating character, with some surefire development from the girl we knew from the previous books. I also fell in love with Orion too, who fast became one of my newest fictional crushes. His cheeky playboy disposition made me swoon but I loved how he sincerely loved those he cared for and would do anything for them in a heartbeat. The chemistry between the two was just PERFECT, and it just flowed beautifully with every interaction. I'll be honest, I love a good slow-burn romance so this was just a delight for me.

There were a few other characters here who if you've read the previous books you might well remember; Celia (Rosalind's sister turned Communist spy, previously known as Kathleen), as well as Roma's little sister Alisa (who is now a badass spy herself). We also have some new "faces" too; Oliver and Phoebe, Orion's siblings who were also a delightful pair with their own respective little romances.

Overall, the story was intriguing, with some very entertaining parts, and I loved the whole "republican spy" setting, which is not normally something I would reach for to read. I'm really looking forward to reading the next instalment in this series, which cannot come soon enough!!

I will definitely recommend this, and perhaps it will be a pleasantly surprise even for those that were disappointed in the previous books!

Dnf @ around 50%. I usually never dnf arcs, I give my best to always push to the end so I can have a conclusive opinion but with this one, I simply didn't manage that.

The book starts out confusing right away, and keeps introducing more and more characters as you go. I found it very hard to keep track of especially since there were real names and cover names to remember. I also lost the plot at around 10%, and never got back into it again. I didn't understand why the characters were doing what they did, what the purpose of their missions was or who worked for which side. It was a lot to keep track of with very little info given to the reader and at a certain point I just stopped paying attention.

It didn't help that the prose was very heavy, very pretentious and filled with metaphors that either didn't make sense or just weren't needed. This was something I already noted with Gong's previous books and sadly it didn't improve here.

Overall I sadly gave up on this one but I know I wouldn't have liked it anyway. It's simply not for me I guess.

Foul Lady Fortune confirmed to me that I will automatically enjoy anything Chloe Gong writes. I had so little interest with continuing in this world - her previous duology felt like it had been wrapped up satisfactorily - and I wasn't particularly drawn to reading a book about Rosalind. And yet I enjoyed it!

1930s Shanghai was wonderful, as always. The details re: imperialism, multiculturalism, and the general politics of the city paint such a vibrant picture, and the added bonus of undercover noir spy work was such a joy! .

I'm really not sure how to review a book by Chloe Gong because I always feel like every element is great and fun. The only reason I don't give her books 5 stars is because 5 is reserved for books that alter something in me fundamentally or feel like they've touched my soul or some sentimental silly thing like that. But for hands down fun (world-building, characters, love story, twist) then Chloe Gong is basically a 5 star.

The writing in this book was absolutely phenomenal. I loved it so much, the romance, the mystery, the historical setting, the twists. I didn't guess anything about the ending which is amazing and I love it when that happens.

I will jump straight in and say 5 stars. I could not put this book down, i read it over 2 nights it is most definitely a page turner. Can highly recommend. Edge of your seat book. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review it and to Chloe Gong for writing such a fabulous book. I love Rosalind.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I have been ridiculously excited for this release so you can imagine my palpable excitement when I was approved for an ARC!

First of all, this definitely has the same air and tone as the These Violent Delights duet. But it felt completely different, too. I could picture the streets and the people just how I did when I read the original duet, but the new characters gave a new energy that was definitely refreshing and revitalised the story.

Chloe Gong’s writing style is still stunning— I always love her descriptions, especially of Shanghai. It’s so vivid and alive. It’s poetic but concise. I can’t fault it. Although the beginning was slow, but intriguing nonetheless. It did take me a while to get into my stride reading it, especially with all of the political talk. The conversations surrounding imperialism and colonisation are still very much present from the previous books, which i really enjoyed— I love the way Chloe Gong writes this aspect with such poignancy.

The political aspect, too, is carried on into this book from the previous duet: focusing mostly on the Nationalists vs the Communists alongside the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. I can’t lie and say it doesn’t go over my head, for the most part. I never understood it before and i probably won’t in the future. So, bear that in mind if you didn’t really enjoy the political aspects before! I can appreciate Gong’s attention to detail and dedication to her research, it’s just not something I fully understand. I struggle to follow along.

Orion’s introduction was the best part about the beginning, honestly, I feel like it set up his character well and left you wanting to know more. The rest of the side characters, too, instantly captivated me... I may have been more invested in them than Rosalind. Who, in turn, took me a while to warm up to. But Rosalind really grew on me— it was slow and steady, and it did have its setbacks, but i eventually fell in love with her. She’s prickly and cold, wading through her guilt and grief, but once I got past her facade, I was rooting so hard for her.

While the opposite happened with Orion. The more I discovered, the less I truly liked. He felt more like a caricature of the flimsy playboy type without any depth— and I know Gong’s intent was to show you who he is beneath the surface. But I found what was beneath the surface to be sorely lacking. He didn’t seem to take much seriously despite his insistence that he does. I really thought it would be Rosalind I would struggle with, so I’m shocked that it was Orion.

However, it was the side characters that stole the show for me honestly— Celia, Oliver, Phoebe, Silas and Alisa were captivating. All of the dynamics were fun too! Silas and Orion, Celia and Oliver, Phoebe and Silas, Rosalind and Alisa... my least favourite was actually Orion and Rosalind, unfortunately. I didn’t really feel... anything for them. I just don’t think they had any chemistry. They had occasional bursts of banter but beyond that? Kind of bland.

Their first interaction was funny, I enjoyed their banter. They started off strong, but they lost that intense, snarky momentum pretty quickly. It seemed to just fizzle out. It didn’t seem as deep as Gong was trying to portray it to be— they had some lovely, heartfelt moments but I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the emotional push behind these moments because their connection prior to this wasn’t set up all that well. The progression of their relationship really was an odd one for me. I was trying so hard to get behind them, but I struggled a lot.

The last 20% was the best part— it was fast-paced, intense, full of revelations. But did it make up for the rest of the book? I’m not so sure. The revelations in the final chapter and then the epilogue actually made my jaw drop. Chloe Gong nailed it. But... again, the build-up was so slow that I can’t give this four stars. The side characters and the plot twists made me want to bump this up but in reality this wasn’t a four star read for me.

Overall, I liked this and I'm still hopeful for the next book! It just didn’t blow me away, unfortunately. I think the relationship development let this one down, it was a bit too cliche and relied too heavily on tropes to do the work instead of the writing itself fleshing the relationship out.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!!