I maybe should have actually read TVD/TVE before I read this, but nevertheless, I absolutely adored it, I love Gong’s style of writing, I love her characters, I love the whole atmosphere and this has motivated me to actually get off my arse and actually read TVD/TVE

Goodreads Choice Awards 2022

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Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune, #1)
by Chloe Gong (Goodreads Author)
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Read in November 2022
A very interesting story

"Foul Lady Fortune" is the first book in Chloe Gong's These Violet Delights spin-off series and tells the story of Rosalind and Owen.

I would highly recommend reading the Violet Delights Duology first. Otherwise, you will not only lack understanding but also lose reading pleasure due to spoilers.

This story comes up with incredibly exciting characters! Rosalind is an assassin who specializes in poisoning. I find it very complex and very tough. And their unique abilities make them not only interesting but also very deadly. I also really like her big mouth. Owen is kind of a super spy which I never would have guessed! He is very charming and probably a real womanizer. These are probably the best prerequisites for his job. 🤭

I also find the political aspects and situations of the story very exciting, but unfortunately, I have to admit that I can't quite get through there because I simply have no idea about the subject.

"Foul Lady Fortune" gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Unfortunately life got in the way and I didn't get chance to read this book 😕. I will most likely purchase in the future though.

The chemistry between Orion and Rosalind is amazing, and seeing so many characters from the original duology return was fantastic. I feel like this is slightly more grown up than TVD, but that may be just Chloe Gong developing her writing skills.

It was a fun story and I actually preferred it to her original duology and cannot wait for the sequel to this. The mystery was entertaining and genuinely kept me guessing and I loved exploring more of Shanghai.

I was super excited when this was announced and then when I got approved for this. Unfortunately, I was unable to give proper feedback as the book wouldn’t work for me when I tried to open it but, if Chloe’s other books are anything to go by, this will be absolutely amazing and one to get me hooked. I have very high expectations and I can’t wait to read my physical copy!

3.5 (rounded up) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Hodder&Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

I have to say-so enjoyed this so much more than the Violent duology.

I think that for me Rosalind is a more interesting character and the story this time was more compelling and interesting.

I am eager to see more characterisation in the next book, this is just an area the author falls short on in my opinion.

Another incredible novel from Chloe Gong.

Foul Lady Fortune is filled with high stakes and tension, brilliant twists and fantastic characters. I loved all of the nods to the previous books.

The historical setting is immersive and well developed.

I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

I didn’t realise until I started reading it that this book draws lightly on some Romeo & Juliet threads – having never read or seen the play except the lovely Cbeebies adaption, I expect there’s more references in here than I noticed, but even coming to it blank it was a really good story. Similarly, I didn’t know it was set in the same world as the author’s previous duology, and while it references events from those stories I never felt like I was missing something for having not read the books.

I enjoyed the slow evolution of Rosalind and Orion’s relationship from grumpy people forced to work together into friends who care about each other. I hate reading instalove and I really appreciated that the changes in how these two felt about each other develop gradually over several weeks. It felt very believable and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing it turn into something more romantic in book two.

I also liked the little peeks into Celia and Oliver’s relationship. I get the feeling that will be explored a lot more in the sequel, and again I’m excited to see that.

Over the course of the story, as they unfold the mystery, you can really see Rosalind shift from being very self-reliant and not trusting other people or letting anyone close, into gradually accepting help. She has good reasons for having closed herself off and although early in the story it’s against her will that she has to work together with Orion, and then put a little faith because of him into his other friends, by the end of the book she’s started to realise the benefits of having more people on her side.

This was a great mystery story and gave me a real insight into a historical setting which I didn’t know much about. I really liked the character development, and I’ll definitely be looking out for the sequel.

Spy thriller set in the Republic of China era with delicious fake marriage for cover between the two spies…
If that didn't pique your interest, I don't know what will!
The same writing style that we know and love garnered with a lot of twist and turns and keeps you at the edge of your seat.
We see few familiar characters from the previous books, and it was intriguing to see how the events from Our Violent Ends had shaped the way of thinking of Rosalind Lang.
The plot was action packed, unraveling multiple mysteries.
That coupled with multiple POV's and the fact that our both main characters are keeping secrets of their makes it all the more complicated and intriguing.
The chemistry and the banter between Rosalind and Orion was perfectly made, but I wish we had more spotlight on Orion, so I can dig deeper and understand better his character.
Loved this book from start to finish.

*Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.*

This book was my first to read from chloe gong. I had heard amazing things about her previous books so had to see what the hype was about. I was not disappointed, this book is great!

Amazing amazing amazing. I love Chloe so so much and this was no different. Gong is a go to author for me and an automatically buy author too so it was no surprise at all that I’d love this. I loved loved Rosalind and absolutely adored the new cast of characters we got: Oliver and Celia were definitely my favourite though and the ending??? I cannot wait until book 2!

I absolutely devoured Foul Lady Fortune and couldn’t put it down! It’s filled with intriguing politics and plot twists that made me want to throw my Kindle across the room (in the best way). I wasn’t too sure how I’d feel about Rosalind being the main character but I loved how she was developed throughout the book and couldn’t help but root for her by the end. Orion was the absolute sweetest and I fell head-over-heels in love with him. Their banter was perfection and they had such good chemistry. I really loved that we got to see quite a lot of the characters that I’d already grown to love in These Violent Delights. The pacing was overall quite good and the unexpected twists made up for Foul Lady Fortune featuring quite a lot of information about the history and politics of the time. Chloe Gong has grown immensely as a writer and I loved her writing even more in this one.

Foul Lady Fortune is an action-packed and addictive new novel in Chloe Gong’s monstrous version of 1920s Shanghai and I can’t wait for the next one!

I have to admit I was at first taken aback by Rosalind's "immortality", while with These Violent Delights the existance of the monster could have been, and actually kind of was, presented almost as more of a scientific experiment, it still sort of gave a sense of "reality" to the whole situation (of course largely accentuated by the historical setting of the story), but here this plot device was too much of a "fantasy" one.
But despite this it was still a great book, I particularly enjoyed the multi POVs and I confirm myself a great fan of Gong's prose (and especially her meme references). Can't wait to read her next works

Chloe Gong really said "LET'S MAKE THE READERS SUFFER AGAIN". *cue crying and screaming*

Okay, but really now, Foul Lady Fortune is the PERFECT TVD spin-off with more political intrigue and even more characters to adore!

In this story we follow Rosalind who is still trying to atone for her past betrayals by doing the best she can - be it by doing spy work and uncovering dangerous plots or by helping and saving the people she loves (even if the circle is vastly smaller than it used to be, at first).

I loved how this book included so many different POVs and characters and I think I can easily say I adored every single one of them!! From Rosalind and her brisk manner (that started melting further into the book, I spy another new favourite OTP of mine), Orion and his shameless flirting (and deep pain on the inside! The perfect combo, no?), Ceclia who is still just as wonderful as she always was, the dedicated and smug Oliver, and of course Phoebe and SIlas - I NEED to know more, I wouldn't mind 5 more books about these characters one bit!

Foul Lady Fortune is quite a bit politically heavier than These VIolent Delights and Our Violent Ends (and even those two deal a lot with politics), but Gong's writing makes it all seamlessly fit together with more dramatic and action-heavy scenes and with the soft proclamations of love. I absolutely ADORED it all! (also I now need to read up on China in the 30s. The powers shifting through the country back then, the political parties, everything!)

Basically, another amazing Chloe Gong book you cannot put down! I am SO READY for this sequela and for Last Violent Call, I need them now!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

This book is a spin-off of These Violent Delights series so if you still haven't read that series please do so before reading Foul Lady Fortune because this book spoils both the plot and ending of the original series.

These Violent Delights was one of my favourite series of all time so when I heard Chloe Gong was doing a spin-off series with Rosalind as the main character I couldn't wait to read it as Rosalind was one of my favorite characters in this world (although I lowkey hated her at the end of Our Violent Ends if you know what I mean).
In this book we got to meet some new characters and I slowly but surely started to a new another favorite character and that is Phoebe and with that epilogue I just can't wait to read more about her backstory. I loved that all the character development on all the characters like some new ones like the Hong family, Silas and some from the old world like Alisa and Celia.
Although I predicted almost all plot twists and revelations that happened I actually ended up on enjoying them anyway. There way too many clues left throughout the book that let me predict the ending so that was a little bit disappointing, but I still was able to get excited to see how the characters would react with these revelations.

If you liked reading These Violent Delights I would totally recommend to give this new series a go and see for yourself all these new stories with both old and new characters and also the world building of this amazing world that Chloe Gong made us love so dearly.

I didn't realise this book followed on from the These Violent Delights duology - so I won't be reading those now, as this story reveals how that plot ends.

That being said, I very much enjoyed this book, and had enough information to follow the characters and story without reading the previous duology. I really enjoyed watching the plot unfold and the unexpected twists - some parts seemed quite obvious but others are shockingly good. The relationships between all of the characters are beautifully developed. I'll definitely read book 2 when it's released.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

DAMN THIS IS SO GOOD ! I’m so happy I got the chance to started this book before it was out and it’s just an amazing companion to the fan of these violent delight. I think Chloe Gong is becoming my new fav author !

Now welcome to a very casual review of me just telling how this book is just perfect and why everyone should read it.
As a person who has already read These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends and practically cried till the pages were wet, yeeted my tab, laughed till i fell and was just too shocked to do anything else you can see when i got the ARC i felt all of this again and it got doubled when i read it cause its just a pure bliss to read
(tip: when u read a book you promised to read in 3 days in 12 hours you know its worth everything)

To be honest when it was announced that rosalind will be the protagonist of the book i was a little bit confused cause by the end of OVE the image of her is not exactly the best.
But the whole point of view changed once I read this and just can I say that I will be dirt on her heels and then pray to her. She is my can’t take shit for a second and will literally say i told you so because she is superior wife.
On the other hand Orion Hong my lovely bisexual crazy adult child who makes jokes when uncomfertable and the way he charms everyone i-

In other words thank you Chloe for using the tropes which make us scream.
Their chemistry, the banter and the hate from the start to change of heart and is this love? Or am i making a mistake all this with such a slow burn is just making me crazy even it has been more than a month since i read this book

And most importantly as much as the romantic relationships were amazing in this book, it’s the sibling that really touched me. Even though on opposite sides they always protected each other first no matter what and the encounters i-

With that i wanna just that the side characters are just so-

We have already met our darling Celia and Alisa and i swear when they came i literally screamed-

(i screamed a lot during this book)
We see them in a new light after them carrying the event of the previous books and i truly hope they find the happiness they deserve
As for Phoebe and Oliver
Oliver still has to grow on me but no i don’t hate him and for Phoebe i literally will carry a ring for her cause when i see her i m getting on one knee for sure

The plot was definitely good, i ‘ m not exactly a history person but I loved the storytelling (i mean its chloe-) and the nostalgia of TVD while still loving new people. Even the pace was perfect to read with multiple povs to read

THE WAY I LOVE THIS BOOK SO SO MUCH
Its so so amazing. I absolutely loved Rosalind and Orion's dynamic and oh my god, that cliffhanger WOWZA

I enjoyed this novel but I do feel I was missing out not knowing the full background of the characters. It was exciting and fast paced enough that I got caught up in it all and I'm definitely going to search out the previous books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.