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.

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.