I do like the premise of this story. But I think you need the to read Gong's debut novels because it revolves around in that setting.

The characters are astounding and the plot is great.

Chloe Gong has done it again!

Honestly. Not sure how she has managed to change my opinion on one of my least favourite characters from These Violent Delights so drastically, but she has!

With a whole cast of new characters this follows on from where Our Violent Ends ended, but the political landscape of Shanghai has changed. Although there are no more monsters on the lose, there are increased tensions between the nationalists and communists vying for power in the city, and Rosalind Lang is the perfect person to go undercover and take part in a little espionage..!

(Also, Orion is such a badass name, I knew I was going to like him from the start, whether he had turned out villain or hero or neither).

Another masterpiece from Chloe Gong! I absolutely loved this book. One of my favorites this year, and shockingly I liked this even more than These Violent Delights. I absolutely adored all of the characters, but Rosalind and Orion are my absolute favorite. They’re flawed and real and you can’t help but root for their story. The main plot and the political aspects make this a truly unforgettable and very interesting read. The writing is phenomenal, it sets the atmosphere so very well and I always love the way Chloe Gong starts a book. Pacing was great and I was at the edge of my seat by the end of this book. Highly highly recommend. Looking forward to the next novella and the sequel !!

A huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the copy!

3.5 stars

i received the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

to be honest, a lot of this just felt like a whole lot of work. it started off really good, rosalind’s powers were very interesting — but we don’t get to see a lot of them later on. there was the occasional scene i really enjoyed and it kept me going, but there was a lot i just really wasn’t interested in. i didn’t care about the majority of the characters, especially celia. her chapters were so boring i started skipping them. i did like alisa and rosalind was alright, i guess. this book was just lacking the emotional depth for me that chloe gong did achieve with her first duology. i hope the next book focuses more on rosalind’s and orion’s relationship and alisa’s character even more. ps. it also didn’t help that i couldn’t make sense of most of the political plot of this book because i quite frankly have no historical knowledge regarding any of this shit

Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

What did I just read!!!...... Chloe Gong, you complete genius. This book just blew my head off, having never read anything by this author, I didn’t have any expectations, and while the synopsis sounded good, I didn’t expect anything like the meticulously researched, bursting with intrigue, and delight that is this novel.
Let me just start with Rosalind, that woman is a badass, fearless and beautiful, and has a wicked sense of humour, she is crippled with regret about her past, grieving, and desperate for redemption, learning to love doesn’t come easy, thankfully for her, she now has my new book boyfriend Orion. Orion is charming and relaxed, but don’t be fooled, because he has some deep secrets of his own. Together they make a serious dynamic power couple both with a flawless character arc that adds so much to this story. The romance itself was a slow build but didn’t make it any less passionate.

I do have to add one more character here that I fell in love with and that is Shanghai itself, Chloe did a fantastic job of weaving the city into my heart, it was so magical and vibrant but also has a darker side that I fell hard for. Chloe Gong, you rocked my world!

When I first picked up These Violent Delights last year, I wasn’t too sure if it was going to be my thing. I think it had something to do with the way YA books go viral on social media, and whenever I pick up one of these books I’m always let down; it’s not that I wanted to dislike it, I just didn’t really have high hopes for it. Happily (or maybe, painfully would be a better word? iykyk), I couldn’t have been more wrong and Ms Gong /very/ quickly became one of my favourite authors.

When I was approved for a FLF ARC on NetGalley, I damn near had a heart attack. I don’t think I have ever been so excited for anything in my entire life.

Now, I will admit, a lot of life got in the way of my reading it and so this review is, unfortunately, coming to you a lot later than I had wanted. But, nevertheless, here it is for your reading pleasure.

Foul Lady Fortune was just incredible.

Every time I read a book by Ms Gong I think I just get round to piecing something together and then she slaps me around the face with a wet fish and tells me not to be so stupid.

The twists.
The turns.
The tension.

At the end of OVE, I felt /extremely/ sorry for Rosalind, and really sympathised with her character, but I couldn’t help myself from disliking her a little bit; but during this book, she really came into her own. From the get go you know where, as the reader, you stand.

She was everything.

Having more from her perspective really helped me to see her as a human being, who makes mistakes and who has flaws just like the rest of us. The sheer depth of Ms Gong’s characters will never cease to amaze me. Somehow, within a few hundred pages, she had made me go from begrudgingly sympathising with a character, to crying with her.

Moving on to Orion, my beloved.

I loved Orion from the first time we see him lounging in his living room. He was everything I love in a YA love interest. And, as always with Ms. Gong, he deserved SO MUCH MORE (I’m still sobbing).

When writing these reviews, I always like to have a balanced commentary on the book. However, as always, I find myself unable to find something I disliked about this book. That is not to say that there /aren’t/ flaws with this book; I’m not naive enough to believe any piece of literature is perfect. What I mean is, I so thoroughly enjoyed this book that at no point was I dragged out of the story because there was something glaringly obvious that I hated. I was so utterly engrossed within the story, the characters, their relationships with one another, the mystery of it all, that I didn’t have the time to stop and think about how maybe this passage could have been worded differently, or this character shouldn’t have said/done this. There was none of that. Because Ms gong has me in choke hold with her writing and /refuses/ to let. me. go.

(and I honestly don’t want her to)

Actually. No. I lie. The flaw with this book is that I don’t have the second one in my hands right now and I now have to wait at least another year for it. There. That’s something I didn’t like.

This is my 3rd Chloe Gong book, and it's served as scientific evidence that she is probably one of my favourite authors. I loved the way this was written, and I loved how TVD had a link and relevance to this book, but it wasn't based off it, and it wasn't one of those annoying books that fixates on previous books - this book had its own story. I loved learning more about Rosalind, I know that when I go to reread TVD, I will see her in a much different light.

HELLO THE PLOT?!!! Way better than TVD, and I didn't think it could get better than that. Chloe raises the bar, every time. The twists, and turns, and the way every character has some kind of relevance at the end that you just do not see coming. It was all done so intricately and thoughtfully - I am so here for it. I cannot wait for the next book, and genuinely, I will be buying a physical copy of this and the sequel. But also, Chloe Gong if you wanna send me a copy👀 be my guest girlie pop.

And finally, the romance🤌🏻 was absolutely impeccable. Chloe Gong just gets how to do an enemies to lovers plot so so well. Seeing Orion fall for Luwein was good, but seeing her fall for him was insane - especially because she gives the biggest grumpy girl energy. I loved reading about Orion being that annoying husband. This was just so good, Seeing Rosalind soften was sweet and wholesome.

I want to read this all over again, so so excited for book 2!

Saying I loved this book is an understatement.

I have finished it quite a few days ago, but I haven’t found the right words to express how much I loved it. It wasn’t surprising, it’s after all Chloe Gang’s book, and so far, I loved them all. ‘Foul Lady Fortune’ has definitely lived up the duology preceding this story.

If anything, ‘Foul Lady Fortune’ is even more atmospheric and beautifully dangerous. This time the stakes are even higher, and the lines between who’s your friend and enemy even muddier.

I really enjoyed Rosalind’s story and her character development. While not insignificant, she hasn’t been the main character of the first duology, and this spin off has definitely proven that she has a whole lot more to say, live and show us.

Chloe Gang’s seamless plotting in of the fantasy into a historical narrative never disappoints, and it has been wonderful to follow Rosalind and Orion in their journey. Considering how it ended, I really need the next book now…

It's a great read for people interested in fast pace action but also likeable characters which make the journey of reading more enjoyable.
I would say this book had everything that one can ask for in a book: romance,action but also humour. The story itself is easy to follow without it becoming predictable and borning.
This was my first read by this author and I wasn't disappointed I'll definitely pick up more of her books soon.

I feel in love with Rosalind and Orion almost as much as I fell in love with Roma and Juliette. Seeing Rosaling struggle with herself after the events of OVE made me really feel for her. I didn't have any strong feelings toward her before this, regardless of her actions, because she was being used, but this really made me like her. Orion and her were so funny bickering all the time and having to work together.

It did take me around 50-100 pages to get into it properly, because it's both similar and kind of different to TVD and OVE. It has the vibe, but different approach.

I never would've guessed all the twists and turns that this book had throwing my way. It was engaging and I read it pretty fast. I wasn't expecting everything to go down as it did, but I'm happy with it. That last sentence before the epilogue.. As soon as I heard that something big is going to be the theme of the last sentence, I guessed it right away and I'm so happy I was right. The epilogue left me kind of confused, but I'm sure that the next book will clear everything up!

This was a fun, easy read with a pretty unique setting, however overall I found the story a little formulaic and predictable (though I still thoroughly enjoyed it!)

Despite not having read anything beyond the plot synopsis of 'These Violent Delights' (or its sequel 'Our Violent Ends'), I didn't have any issues understanding the characters of 'Foul Lady Fortune' or their backstories - i.e. you can read this book without much prior knowledge of the first series.

Rosalind was an interesting character - I liked how despite being an immortal assassin, she was still very human in many ways, and I liked the process of her coming to terms with her past mistakes/trauma and learning to trust people again. The other supporting characters were also pretty well-fleshed out, and I loved seeing some aro/ace spectrum representation!

The setting was also pretty cool - not sure I've read much set in 1930s Shanghai. The various factions and their spies fighting a cold war against each other in the city made for an interesting but tense setting.

That being said, I found the plot a little boring, and I didn't 100% buy the development of the relationship between Orion and Rosalind. But overall, this was a good read, and I look forward to the sequel!

Chloe Gong delivers again. A great read with plenty of twists and unexpected events to keep you interested.
Her language is beautiful and the worldbuilding is just enough. Even though this is a spin-off of her previous series, this can be read without having picked up the previous books.

I do find that it's a bit on the slow side in the beginning, but it's still a very good read with interesting and believable characters that are easy to root for.

I love the setting and the diverse cast.

Romance, immortality, assassins - what's not to like! Gong has an amazing ability to bring life to a story through her linguistics choices and it is a pleasure to read. Potentially took a bit to get going but the second half was well paced.

Foul Lady Fortune started with a bang and I expected no less from a book about an assasin who was effectively immortal. This was going to be something really special, I thought.

A serial killer stalks the city. Meanwhile, our main character is set up in a fake marriage with an agent from the political opposition to go undercover on a secret mission. Danger at every turn.

Then, for some reason, everything stalled. Any action felt secondary to the couple's sniping back and forth at eachother. I found it a real struggle to read on.

The last third of the book was better, but I was just so jaded that any revelations and plot twists at this point fell flat.

If the book had been a good bit shorter, the pace would have improved dramatically and I would have enjoyed it much more, because the idea itself is a good one.

Thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

chloe gong is one of those writers whose prose improves every book, it genuinely never fails to impress me. a fun ride, if conventional for the young adult space and what gong likes to write. i liked it

I absolutely bloody loved this book. It was very gripping, and had me in the feels. The characters where fantastic, and the storyline was brilliant. A very bingeable read!

Returning to the These Violent Delights universe with the 1st installment of a duology starring the awesome Rosalind.

After the experiment that altered her (no sleep, no aging, absolute healing) was performed to save her life, Rosalind became a spy. She is now Lady Fortune. As Japan prepares to invade, a series of murders are credited to them. She must go undercover as a married couple with Orion hong and infiltrate foreign society to solve the murders. But things are not as they seem...

After an enigmatic prologue, we are put right into the action, in the middle of one of Rosalind's missions. I really enjoy how Gong writes action, giving the situation the gravitas it needs by utilizing vibrant descriptions. Details that are unexpected plus creative wordplay and the author's signature figurative speech, always gorgeous, constitute the engrossing narrative. A narrative that manages to be simultaneously evocative and matter-of-fact. That sweeps you away and hitches your breath. All this to the backdrop of a dangerous 1930s Shanghai.

Rosalind is a badass. Known and feared as a merciless assassin. Orion, who became a nationalist spy to save his family's name is the other main POV that captivates you from the get-go. The forced to act as a couple trope which I love. Their antithesis fuelling sparks that may ignite, with Orion having the right amount of seemingly arrogance and playfulness to antagonize our protagonist. There is also another POV which is a pleasant surprise. Gong juggles the many POVs with ease. The development of the characters is quite dynamic, sourcing from the great depiction of emotions and thoughts alongside their actions. The author has a knack for making you care about them.

I wanted to adore this installment as much as its predecessors in this world but I couldn't. Don't get me wrong, this is a great book, but even though the pacing is generally good, in some parts the story lags. A lot. The truth is I think the book should have been shorter, some scenes more condensed. The 2nd part is so much better to the point of exhilarating.

This story is about redemption and loyalty. It raises the question of how much of our past should we carry, if at all.

Full of bombshells and gasp-worthy twists, the mystery unfolds in a riveting manner. Doused with intrigue, espionage and politics, plus betrayal and honor, all complimented by Gong's gorgeous writing, this is another hit for the author.

Foul Lady Fortune is an epic story filled with politics, friendship, love. I loved every aspect of it. I really loved the explained paranormal power Rosalind had. Also I really liked that it it was in These Violent Delights universe. This book was excellently executed from Chloe Gong. If you liked The Violent Ends duology you will adore the Foul Lady Fortune.

4.5/5, rounded up

A twisty, witty and layered story of intrigue and betrayal. Rosalind is a nationalist spy in 1930s Shanghi, codename Fortune. She was made immortal four years and has spent the intervening time as an assassin. For her new mission, though, espionage is her goal, and she’s paired with cheeky, callous Oliver, who will pretend to be her husband in an attempt to give them both a more legitimate backstory. Together they need to find those behind a series of murders, before more people are killed.

To start, I haven’t read the THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS duology that this spins off, nor do I have much knowledge about 1930s Chinese politics, and this didn’t impact my enjoyment - the context of TVD is sufficiently woven through that I can tell it was a Romeo and Juliet retellling (rival gangs situation that imploded), and the historical details of Chinese nationalism, communism and Japanese imperialism were sufficiently explained when necessary.

As much as I adore espionage and political suspense (of which there is plenty) it was the dynamic between Roslind and Orion that I really fell in love with. Oh that sweet, sweet demisexual slowburn. The banter, the tension, Orion saying “my beloved” at every opportunity. So good.

Not the full five stars because, despite how much I enjoyed it, when I put it down I could easily leave it for days at a time. It didn’t quite call to me like the most captivating books do. Nonetheless I look forward to the sequel.

as someone who was greatly confused by the storytelling in these violent delights and our violent ends, i didn’t hold out much hope for this book. this actually ended up being my favourite chloe gong book so far, and it’s a solid five stars. generally, i think chloe gong’s storytelling improves massively in this book - i get that the point of complicated and evasive narratives in tvd and ove were to keep up suspense, but i just ended up not know what was going on. in foul lady fortune, there’s a lot more explict explanation which makes the story miles easier to follow, but there are also so many twist, turns and secrets that you’re still kept guessing all the way through. obviously this leads up to some pretty big reveals in the last 100 pages or so, and they pay off beautifully. seriously, my jaw was on. the. floor. several times. i definitely can’t say much about the ending without spoiling it completely, but please know it was my favourite part of the whole book. as for the specifics of the characters and plot, i found these characters so enjoyable all round. the idea to have rosalind be an immortal assassin was so intriguing and didn’t feel too forced. i didn’t actually like rosalind so much in tvd/ove, but her development in this book is so solid that seeing that alongside her doubts, worries and insecurities made me totally love her. orion was SUCH a great character, his charming manner was wonderfully written and i loved him from the off. the addition of the fake marriage trope into the plot of rosalind and orion working undercover together was so so SO good, i am a total sucker for that trope and it was done extremely well here. i also lovedddd the side characters, getting to see celia again was so lovely (and i’m so proud of her! she’s such a queen!) but i absolutely fell for orion’s brother, oliver. he was such a soft grump and his and celia’s lowkey relationship had me smiling so hard. the history of this book was pretty easy to follow (after a quick google of what was happening in china in the 1930s), and honestly the plot of the serial killer on the loose is chloe’s best plot yet. this is a well-rounded, incredibly told story of love, betrayal and ambition, and i’m gonna need book two like, right now.