Foul Lady Fortune

The spin-off series to Gong’s highly successful debut duology, ‘Foul Lady Fortune’ takes place 5 years following the conclusion of ‘Our Violent Ends’. Gang rule has gone - Shanghai is now engaged in Civil War, this is a far different city to the one Juliette and Roma once ruled.

Rosalind is a nationalist Spy operating under the code name ‘Fortune’. It is a name synonymous with fear in every corner of the city - a ruthless, flawless assassin; trained by the best to every inch of perfection but, most importantly, an immortal. She cannot be killed, she does not age. Her role differs when she enters into a marriage under false pretences with Orion - a charismatic batchelor whose last name a carries a reputation - in order to solve a series of killings that are ravaging the city.

~

This was utterly phenomenal. It did take a little while to get going, but I was hooked the entire time - the mix of political tensions to evoke the historical narrative, alongside the inner monologue of Rosalind, a character baring both mental and physical scars as well as the developing love story ensured for a fascinating read.

I once described ‘These Violent Delights’ as a love-letter to Shanghai, and FLF is very much the same. The attention to detail to 1930s Shanghai is nothing short of a marvel to read, you can tell the love and care paid to ensuring this city is portrayed as accurately (obviously, sans the fantasy elements) as possible. I am someone of a Chinese heritage and, though I do not speak the language, reading lines about linguistic / cultural differences that only those native to the country would understand meant the world.

As the case with her previous writing, the best came with the rise in action. Both the end of the book itself and the epilogue made me gasp out loud, Chloe is a master of the subtly obvious plot twist - the layers are there, but you barely suspect until it is spelled out for you.

Publication date is 27 September 2022. If you fancy historical fiction / slow burn / fantasy that is set in a world that feels very real, you better run.

I will say - I do not think this works as a standalone. Not necessarily a criticism , but I do think you would struggle to read this had you not read TVD / OVE beforehand.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my unbiased review :) xo

I read this book through my pain and tears, and high anxiety— because yes it was a spy mission. I just finished FOUL LADY FORTUNE about 2 minutes ago, so I will not write an in-depth review as of now. What I will say is Chloe Gong creates an intricate atmosphere of 1930's Shanghai, where she explores a multitude of perspectives and uprisings. The reader is introduced to new characters, but I was glad to see some familiar faces too. The plot twists? They were mind blowing— I never expected them, and I'm usually good at predicting the plot. Rosalind Lang has had the best redemption ARC, and her romance with Orion was spectacular. I will not know peace until I read book 2, thank you for destroying me again miss Chloe. :')

Thank you so much to the publisher for an ARC!

Always keeping the readers shocked until the end, eh?

Foul Lady Fortune is the first of a new duology set four years after the end of the TVD duology. This time, we follow the prickly, untrusting Rosalind Lang, aka Janie Mead/Fortune, who is now an assassin and has to work with Orion Hong, a spy, on a mission to uncover who's behind the chemical killings across Shanghai while the Japanese are on the horizon, eager to invade China.

I admit that when I heard that Rosalind was leading the series, I was hesitant. I was incredibly eager to return to this world, but, having just stepped off the OVE train and was still screaming from its epilogue, I was left not feeling pleased with Rosalind. However, curiosity was gnawing at me, and I took a chance. I'm happy to report that I'm now a Rosalind fan. The girl is an assassin trying to piece together the broken vase pieces of Shanghai to make up for her past, for she believes she is the cause of the death blow strike that made the city shatter.

Now, devilishly charming characters have a spot in my heart, and Orion very proudly took command of my attention. But as always, all that suaveness hides the pain characters like him hide under their masks. In his case, it's his strained relationship with his older brother and his father that causes him grief.

I love the development of their relationship, how it all began with fake marriage, and how in the process, they help each other take care of past wounds. Of course, there was tons of bickering and bantering and teasing (which I'm a sucker for) which led to a soft glance here and a heartfelt comment there which THEN led to feelings of "wait WHEN DID I FALL FOR XX?"

As usual, great attention was paid to the details of 1930s Shanghai: the multiculturalism that breathes with its citizens and visitors, the imperialist atmosphere that makes some pull at their collar and others puff up with pride and weigh down the shoulders of others, the constant battle of wit and timing between political factions for power and control. Just like the TVD duology, real-life events were carefully integrated into the story, enhancing the themes/topics that the TVD world focuses on but never fully taking one's attention away from the characters or the main plot of the story. And once again, just like the previous duology, the rising action/climax of the book made my heart race. Just... well done!

Quick-fire notes:
- GODDAMN ALL THOSE OBITUARIES!! STOP MAKING ME *WANT* TO CRY.
- I enjoy following the cast of FLF but... I'm currently the most interested in Celia, Oliver and Alisa. Celia and Oliver certainly have an interesting relationship. I'm quite curious to see where it goes, considering each of their reservations and goals. Will their commitment to their beliefs get in the way of their feelings developing beyond friendship? As for Alisa, I'm sure her role will only get bigger. Phoebe and Silas on the other hand are cute as hell.
-I'M VERY HAPPY FOR BENEDIKT AND MARSHALL! (They were only mentioned once lol).

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Omg Chloe Gong never disappoints, this book might be one of my favorites of 2022. The plot is amazing, all the new characters are so much fun, I'm so excited for book 2!!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of Foul Lady Fortune.

I have actually been counting down the days until this book came out. And it certainly did not disappoint. I got so caught up in it, I missed my bus stop TWICE. It really, really is incredible.

This book is a spin-off of her first series, These Violent Delights. While there are definitely nods to it, this thriller/spy mystery/romance works perfectly by itself. I love how grounded it is while having these fantastical elements.

Rosalind is a nationalist Spy operating under the code name ‘Fortune' living in a much different Shanghai than the one we grew to know in the first duology. The city is at war with itself once more.

Chloe Gong is masterful when it comes to plot twists that we should have seen coming but there is absolutely no way with the way she writes these novels.

Come on book two!

4.5 Stars, the rest is chloe gong tearing me apart.

Anyway thanks Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This book really consumes me and once i woke up i fr instantly remember the ending????? hello it was SICKKKKKKK.
Foul lady fortune IS ALL ABOUT ROSALIND and i can't change my mind, and yeah hong liwen you are GOD I CANT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I WANT TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT YOU. Idk if i need a therapy or a proper sleep after reading this. Chloe Gong this is maADDDD you are absolutely insane, i'm sorry for who i have become once flf2 coming to town.

Im going to edit this review once i clear my mind of this gang

I was beyond excited to be granted an arc of this, it’s one of my most anticipated reads this year.

The start of the book took a little while for me to get used to the setting but if you’re familiar with Chloe Gong and the way she writes you won’t be disappointed.

This book is full of delicious twists and it always kept me guessing, I found myself growing very fond of the relationship between orion and Rosalind, their dynamics are entertaining and after finishing the book I felt at a loss… I wanted more. But that’s what a second book is for. I cannot wait for this book to be released, this is definitely something I will buy (I’ve already preordered in fact) and I cannot wait to read a physical final copy. Absolutely in love.

Coming back to this world felt like coming home.
I loved getting to know Rosalind more and how Chloe Gong depicted her as a complex character that is still loveable (especially after the ending of the previous duology). It can be difficult to enjoy a new cast of characters in a spin-off series but the new people were very interesting and believable. The relationships developping between all of them were entracing and entertaining for sure - the "who did this to you scene" KILLED ME.
As for the fantasy aspect. C. Gong always impresses me with her plot choices and the way she includes political commentary in a YA fantasy series.
The cliffhanger though.... Dying over there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I had such high hopes and expectations for Foul Lady Fortune after I wholeheartedly loved the These Violent Delights duology, and I am happy to report that I was not let down.

It literally feels as if Chloe Gong just decided to write books that are filled with everything I love. Political intrigues and schemes, cutthroat FMCs, MMCs that complement the DMC while admittedly being a little bit less vicious and dangerous, a perfectly paced story filled with plot twists and revelations, and a writing style that feels almost lyrical and poetic at times.

I am just in awe of this world that the author has created, a flawless mix of historically accurate facts, Shakespearean characters and fantasy elements that just work so well together.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Rosalind in the original duology, but now I love her. Orion is great as well, as are his two siblings. I also loved that we got more Celia and Alisa in this book.

Foul Lady Fortune is an amazing continuation of Our Violent Ends, while also being its own story. I cannot wait until this masterpiece is out in the world so that I can scream about the plot twists with my friends.

Where do I even begin with this one. Earlier this year I bought These Violent Delights Duology, little did I know it would go on to be two of my favorite books for the year. So when I saw the approval for Foul Lady Fortune I can't even begin to describe my excitement. Chloe Gong is simply spectacular. She is a literary monster at such a young age. She set the bar so high with her first book and the fact that every book after is just consistently better blows my mind.

Foul Lady Fortune was beyond anything I could ever perceive. It was one of those books that made me completely forget I was reading. The perfect form of escapism. The world of Shanghai is so well built from the previous novels but here we have a different view point, at a different age. It's refreshing to see how Shanghai has moved on (whether good or bad) from the outcome of Our Violent Delights. Gong really builds up this world that seems so fortifying yet harrowing at the same time. The political unrest continues to evolve. The social climate hostile. It sets the perfect stage for our characters.

Speaking of characters. Rosalind was absolutely fantastic. I loved the appearance of the older characters, the different povs. Being able to see what each was up to. Miss Lady Fortune had so much depth as a main protagonist. She's not good, nor bad, she's just herself. And that is something I love about Gong's characters. They're not perfect, they all have flaws and within those flaws you feel a sense of connectedness. I did not expect to fall as hard as I did for Orion Hong. He was just the right amount of comedic relief to offset Rosalind's seriousness. Everytime he called her Beloved, I swooned a little. I really loved their dynamic and I'm a huge sucker for slow burns.

The complexity of the plot blew me away. Chloe Gong has some of the most all rounded plots I've ever come across. She has the type of plots I wish never end because it constantly keeps me on my toes. Just when I think I have things figured out she sweeps the rug from underneath and throws in another plot twist. I actually considered sitting down before a board and mapping out the plot because of this. The last ten chapters in particular had me by the throat.

Overall, I loved this book so much and absolutely cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands. I could only put half of my thoughts into words for this review when reality this book was so much more.

Thank you Netgalley as well as Hodder and Stoughton for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

(This review will also be posted to my goodreads, as well as a version to my IG (@krisreadstt) as soon as I can take a picture to do it even slight justice within the next few days).

FOUL LADY FORTUNE. Wow. What the fuck. Chloe Gong has once again left me with a heartwrenching, breathtaking, suspenseful ending that makes me think "I NEED MORE". Please, Chloe Gong, inject this into my bloodstream because I have now found my two new chaos bestie gremlins - Oliver and Phoebe Hong, who are just...marvellous, hilarious, monster babies that made me fall in love with them (Alisa deserves a special mention here).

I think booktwt knows that Chloe is known for her special wit and breakneck murder in her books, and I can promise you that this lives up to THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS., if not exceeding my expectations -- action, murder, sexy hair, it's got it all.

I can't wait for book two!

If I could give a book 10 stars, it would be this one. Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for the gifted arc and a huge thank you to Chloe Gong for this book.

The book takes place in 1931 Shanghai, and Rosalind works as Fortune (or Lady Fortune), a Nationalist assassin who is effectively immortal, and cannot die by any means other than poison. She goes undercover with fellow Nationalist agent, Orion, and together they are tasked with solving a serial murder case haunting the streets of the city. Pitched as a speculative historical noir, the thriller aspects stood out, and the Shakespearean inspiration was clear and enjoyable. I’m personally a massive Shakespeare fan, and seeing the elements of As You Like It come to life in a historical thriller was fascinating. While you don’t need any knowledge of the play to enjoy FLF, it’s definitely an added element of enjoyment.

One of my favourite things about Gong’s books are the politics – they’re fleshed out and messy (and historically accurate), and it was very interesting to examine how the politics fit in with the characters’ individual motivations. The book was also tightly plotted, and the character development and plot development fitted seamlessly with each other. Pacing was good, and I enjoyed the variety of characters we got to meet.

And speaking of characters, the main cast was wonderful! I may be biased because I’ve adored Rosalind’s character since TVD, but she’s definitely the star of the show. In mourning from the events of TVD, we see a vastly different Rosalind than in the previous duology, but her development (both from TVD and throughout FLF) was really well done. The other characters are also fantastic and have such a special place in my heart, but Rosalind was my favourite. In saying that, I do have a huge soft spot for Phoebe.

The representation was another thing that made this book so special. While I can’t speak to the portrayal of Chinese characters, or other queer characters, and will leave those aspects to be reviewed by Ownvoice readers, the aspec (on the asexual/aromantic spectrums) representation was fantastic. It’s small, but there are two characters who are undeniably on the page aspec. While the terms aren’t used, because it’s historical fiction, the characters are demisexual and aroace, and it was really refreshing to see these two rarely-shown identities in fiction.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of These Violent Delights, but also to fans of historical thrillers, or Shakespearean retellings.

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton, Netgalley, and Chloe Gong for the advanced copy, received in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, just wow!
Foul Lady Fortune was one of my most anticipated reads this year with its gorgeous cover and attention-grabbing blurb and I was not left disappointed.
From the first line, I was immediately captivated. This book had everything I love from fake marriage to grumpy/sunshine to who hurt you. The plot flowed at a comfortable pace and at times left me stunned with its unexpected twists, and the characters (to me) were perfect with their flaws and at times ineptitude.
Although Foul Lady Fortune is a spin-off from the These Violent Delights duology I don't feel that it is essential to read them first to understand the story.

Chloe Gong’s writing is so incredibly immersive that the minute you open this book, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into 1930s Shanghai.

I loved the These Violent Delights duology and wasn’t sure how this would measure up. There’s always a risk that a spin-off will be too similar or too different but Foul Lady Fortune falls perfectly in the middle.

The overall vibe was very similar. Chloe Gong’s books read very like action movies with lots of intricate world-building and a vast political system. Everything was really well explained but never info-dumped. Because there is so much detail, there is a risk for the book to feel slow but almost every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that drew you into the next one.

I really loved the returning characters. Rosalind, Celia, and Alisa were some of my favorite characters in TVD and I loved seeing how they were adjusting to life after the events of Our Violent Ends. Our new characters were great too. Orion was really well fleshed out, and I loved Phoebe, Silas, and Oliver. The dynamic between Rosalind and Orion was spot on and I liked seeing their different skills and personalities play off each other. I really loved the queer representation. Orion and Phoebe are bi-sexual, Rosalind is demi-sexual, Celia is trans, Alissa is aro/ace, and I believe Silas is also queer. The rep is brought in in a way that, although it’s not a big deal to our characters, you can tell it’s still considered something dangerous in the wider world.

The assassin/spy dynamic was a lot of fun and I loved the new supernatural twist, with Rosalind’s immortality. It felt very X-Men-ish. The plot, while reminiscent of TVD, was really twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I will say, although you can technically read this without having read the TVD duology, I wouldn’t recommend it. You would miss so much of the backstory for half of the characters and the world itself.

This is another new favorite from Chloe Gong and puts her firmly on my favorite authors list. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Content warnings (as noted by the author): blood, violence, murder, weapon use, needles, description of human experimentation, descriptions of war, descriptions of head injury.

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2022, and I am still in awe that I got an arc, and devoured the book in less than a day. The subtle nods to tvd and ove were obvious, but it isn't necessary to remember everything, as the major plot points were explained, and so I thought flf worked well as a standalone.

Whilst I loved tvd and ove, I definitely think flf was my favourite so far. There was so much growth, and emotional depth in the story, especially with Rosalind, but also dealing with grief and finding your place without your loved ones and everything you're familiar with, that made me even more involved in the story.

I was so drawn by the way every character was written and the atmosphere was slowly built up, that I didn't want the book to end. The chemistry and tension between Rosalind and Orion was perfect. I loved how they bounced off of each other in every interaction, the same for Celia and Oliver.

It was nice to see old character's making a return, but also be introduced to new ones, Alisa was one of my favourite characters in tvd / ove and it was great to see more of her and her growth.

The beginning takes a while to pick up, but once it does, there is a lot of action, with plot twists everywhere. Some of the plot twists were easy to figure out, as there were subtle hints planted in the story, but some genuinely had me screaming. I am excited to see how the story develops and everything ties up, but also know my heart will probably be broken again in the sequel.

Foul Lady Fortune was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so my expectations were high and it is safe to say that those expectations were met and surpassed.

The story is set a few years after the events of Our Violent Ends and we follow Rosalind Lang— who is now immortal and seeking redemption by working as an assassin for the Nationalists under the codename “Fortune”. We also meet Orion Hong— a fellow Nationalist spy whose fame as a playboy and constant jokes annoy Rosalind to no end. The two are coerced into a fake marriage for the sake of a mission that will uncover the truth behind mysterious deaths. This time spent together will uncover secrets that the both of them have been hiding from each other.

I was hooked on this book from the first page. It is physically impossible to put down as the story just keeps drawing you in with every page turn, especially the last one hundred pages or so when the plot twists and answers just keep coming and coming. After turning the final page I had to sit for a minute and process everything that had just happened. Chloe Gong is a master at leaving subtle clues and letting you guess what will happen in the end, but even if you guess correctly, there is always a twist meant to keep you entertained and on your toes.

Although this book is not historical, it plays with the history of Shanghai beautifully. So much was happening in the city and the way bits and pieces of information were spread as the story developed made the historical elements easier to comprehend and digest. There is so much history in Shanghai and I hope Chloe Gong continues as its storyteller. She writes Shanghaiwith so much love and care that I always find myself researching the events mentioned in her books, desperate to know more.

Immediately after finishing Our Violent Ends in November of last year, I was a bit sad with the conclusion of Rosalind’s story because it felt incomplete. Everything was explained beautifully in the book and it had a nice conclusion, but there was a missing puzzle piece and Foul Lady Fortune is that missing piece. It brings closure to the character of Rosalind in These Violent Delights while not letting it go completely because trauma stays with us forever, to a lesser extent, but it stays.

I literally have no words to describe Orion. He instantly became one of my favorite characters and I believe his story is one of the best that Chloe has written. I can’t say much about him but trust me, Orion Hong will steal your heart.

Alisa was another character I was greatly surprised with. In These Violent Delights she was only known as Roma’s sister and played a very minor role but I loved her regardless, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that she was going to be one of the main characters featured in Foul Lady Fortune. She did not disappoint. The growth from These Violent Delights Alisa to Foul Lady Fortune Alisa is big, she is a completely different person while keeping the essence of the character we knew and this growth went with the story naturally.

As for the rest of the characters, I must say that I was amazed by how easily they blended in with the characters we knew and loved from These Violent Delights, I found myself caring equally about them all, which oftentimes is hard to do since we have more of an attachment to characters we knew previously. I can’t wait to see more of them in Foul Lady Fortune 2.

While I do not think it is necessary to read These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends to understand the story (given that most of the events in those books are summarized into short paragraphs to give context in certain situations), I would strongly recommend reading them beforehand as it adds depth to the story.

Foul Lady Fortune will be released on September 27th in the UK, United States and Canada, and on October 1st in Australia and New Zealand.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing, easily 5/5

But first of all, thank you so much Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for a review!

This book follows Rosalind and Orion as they pose as a married couple in their new spying operation for the Nationalists, along with some other characters [known to us from TVD as well as manny new ones].

My perception of Rosalind changed a lot comparing to what I thought of her in OVE - she is my second or third FLF character now, after Alisa ofc. I absolutely loved the a-spec representation in this book)

The romance was so good, and with the amazing plot this book was a masterpiece. There were so many plot twists that I absolutely didn’t see coming, I just sat open-mouthed multiple times, having no idea where any of it is going. All this was well balanced with comedy, so I laughed a lot while reading it)
THAT ENDING THOUGH… how are we supposed to wait for the second book with THIS?!

Anyway, FLF was one of my two most anticipated releases of the year, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. EVERYONE GO PREORDER IT RN IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY

After loving These Violent Delights duology with all my heart, I was hesitant about this book. But I shouldn't have worried. Once again Chloe delivers an incredible, complex story with a fantastic set of characters and plot twists around every corner. To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to love Rosalind after the events of Our Violent Ends, but this book totally changed my mind. You can see how she blames herself for what happened and wants to make amends.

“More than anything in the world, Rosalind Lang wanted redemption, and if this was how she got it, then so be it.”

So, chapter after chapter I came to understand her and grew fond of her. Besides, her slow-burn relationship with Orion was so beautifully developed that I loved them from the beginning. Trust me, these two are going to give you lots of feels.

“Your life is mine as mine is yours.”

I also loved the other characters, their personality and interactions. But I don't want to spoil too much. Last but not least, the historical background and the whole plot were masterfully developed, with intrigues and twists that will leave you open-mouthed. Not to mention the ending. I just need the sequel now.

So yes, Foul Lady Fortune meets every expectations and confirms how talented Chloe is.

Everything that Chloe Gong writes is exceptional. Foul Lady Fortune has exceeded expectations- Rosalind Lang is a fierce character that has been written so well. The plot is so well put together you can’t help but feel immersed in the storyline, impatiently waiting for the second book in the duology now

An absolutely wild, gorgeous rush of adrenalin. It took me a little while to get into this one, and to unravel the various factions (although this is the start of a new duology, you definitely need to read Gong’s other book first and preferably have it all clear in your mind!) Once I was in though I was utterly hooked.

I absolutely loved Rosalind’s character, and the romantic tension between her and Orion was spectacular. In fact, all of the characters in this book are fantastically drawn and I ended up having so much affection for them. The plotting was pacy and there were so many twists and turns it left me breathless - the action sequences felt cinematic, the whole book reads incredibly visually, and that’s a testament to Gong’s richly imagined, luxurious world building. I just loved it and now I am quite stressed out that I have to wait for the next book!

I cannot help but love anything that Chloe Gong writes, she hooks you in and makes you want to keep reading. Foul Lady Fortune is no different, I don't want to spoil anything but WOW. Rosalind Lang IS BACK. It is fantastic to get to see what happened next to her. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the second in the duology!

Thank you for the ARC!

This book was just wow. I am absolutely speechless and I just know that I would be thinking about this book for a long long time.

In the beginning of the book, I was a little bit slow on trying to grasp the plot and I did get confused from time to time. I am not sure if the fact that I haven’t read the these violent delights duology affected that, but once I did undesirable everything I could not stop reading. I just had to know what happens next.

The characters were easy to love and I got attached to them immediately. I cannot pick a favorite character because all of them had their own unique charms that really made my reading experience.The found family trope is my weakness, and I adored the relationship of the characters to one another. I do hope in the next book we get more of Oliver and Celia with them.

Now, let’s talk about the romance in this book. This book definitely delivered on romance. There were three different love stories followed and all of them were equally interesting. First is Celia and Oliver, they were lovely together. We did not really see much of them in this book, but every moment they did had me smiling like a maniac. Next is Phoebe and Silas, I ADORE THEM! They’re dynamics are the best. I do have a soft spot for Silas, he’s been inlove with her ever since and would do anything for her. He’s also very awkward and I think it’s so cute. And last but definitely not the least, ROSALIND AND ORION. Chloe Gong put all the best tropes and expected me to be okay? FAKE MARRIAGE TROPE? check! REVERSE GRUMPY SUNSHINE? check! WHO DID THIS TO YOU? check! DO NOT TOUCH MY WIFE? check! They gave me so much butterflies and made me giggle like a schoolgirl with all their scenes.

And now let’s move on to the plot of the book. I was trying to solve the mystery with them as I go and I definitely did not expect that. I found the mystery of who is killer and why they were doing it so captivating. Towards the end of the book it was just plot twist after plot twist and none of them I saw coming.

“Foul Lady Fortune” has everything I want in a boom and more. It had the perfect amount of action, mystery and romance that had me excited for every next page. I will not be able to move on from this book for a while and I can’t wait for the next book already.

A phenomenally thrilling tale of espionage, mystery and bravery set against the heady backdrop of 1930's Shanghai. Fast paced and well written, this tale is a must read. Its unique setting and strong female protagonists were captivating, and I will definitely be reading more of Chloe Gong's works. I loved the writing style and found myself desperate to keep reading to find out what happened next! Overall, absolutely recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't know what magical powers Chloe Gong was born with but every book she has published this far in her career has left me absolutely speechless. The These Violent Delights duology is one of my favourite duologies out there, although the Romeo and Juliette retelling left me with a gaping hole in my chest. As soon as this upcoming 'sequel' duology was announced, I knew I needed my hands on it as soon as possible.
Chloe Gong did not dissapoint one bit with Rosalind's story. I was drawn in from the first chapter as I dived into Chloe's 1931 Shanghai to be reacquainted with Rosalind and met a new cast of characters I quickly fell in love with. Tell me where I can find my very own Orion who can play my fake beloved and I'll give you all the stars in the world.
Now I somehow need to wait patiently for another year to read the conclusion to this incredible duology. If the sequel is anything like this first book, I have no doubt in my mind that it will be incredible.

Miss Chloe is clearly doing the gods work here. Thus book is a MASTERPIECE. THE ROMANCE, THE BANTER, THR PLOT TWISTS UGH IM IN LOVE!! Could not recommend enough 😩🤚

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING? ABOUT HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS? CAUSE I'M YELLING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

I got the email that I was approved for the eARC of this on my birthday and it has been the best birthday present ever because reading it now, a couple of weeks later, it feels like the gift that just keeps on giving! One of my most anticipated releases of the year DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!

I mean, it's no surprise I was going to love this book. I was nervous going in, in case I didn't end up loving it as much as I hoped. But let me tell you, it surpassed my expectations. I love everything about this book, but especially, ESPECIALLY, the characters. We've got some new, fantastic faces in Orion, Phoebe, Oliver and Silas, and the best familiar faces in Rosalind, Celia and Alisa. They all shine, and they all completely take over your heart. Chloe Gong just writes the best characters.

The tropes in here, are IMMACULATE. I don't even know where to begin. We've got fake marriage trope, forced proximity trope, grumpy x sunshine trope, "Who did this to you?" trope, cute nicknames trope (Orion calling Rosalind "beloved" is imprinted on my brain). You like it, it's in here.

The pacing is great in this book. You've got loads of really great action sequences, along with some quieter moments to give you a bit of a breather, and it was just so much fun to read. You never knew where you were going to end up chapter after chapter - especially with the plot twist after plot twist at the end of the book! This one really keeps you on your toes, as you would expect with a historical spy mystery, and it's executed perfectly.

You could read this without having read the These Violent Delights duology, but I would heavily recommend reading those two first just so that you fully comprehend the backstory to this book, and you can properly take note of all the nods back to that duology!

CHLOE GONG - you never stop writing in the future, please!!!!!
I beg you!
This is another winner, another banger from the author of These Violent Delights duology.
Loved every bits and pieces of this one <3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication. A full review will be posted on my Instagram in the coming days. Foul Lady Fortune exceeded all expectations and late-game twists and turns absolutely blew me away. It's been several days since I finished reading and I find myself missing the characters and setting. I am already on tenterhooks waiting for the next installment!

"A dancer, an agent."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (If I could rate it higher I would)

❗This is a spoiler-free ARC review from NetGalley❗


I finally got out of my reading slump. AT LAST. I knew this book would do it for me. COVID came at me hard and put me in a reading slump for over a week, then I have to prepare for my graduation right after, and then I went on vacation with my friends. I hadn't touched a book the entire time and it was KILLING ME. But Chloe Gong has delivered again. This was a masterpiece.

I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have been accepted for this ARC. I loved These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends so much and I was so happy that the series didn't just end there. Mostly because that ending obliterated me. But what would one expect from a Romeo and Juliet retelling. I could say that this series has more chances of letting my poor heart be, but it has already wrecked me, so I guess hope's for dopes. Just the mere mention of Roma and Juliette, and Benedict and Marshal had me weeping like a little baby. There was no conceivable possibility for me not to fall head over heels in love with this masterpiece. Chloe Gong's power over me is strong and eternal. I don't think I've read a spy book before but I enjoyed this so much I might actually give more books like this a try. Not that any of them will live up to this one, of course. The plot twists alone were enough to completely destroy whatever was left of my sanity. The plot itself was fast-paced, well-developed, fun, and complex in the way that didn't allow a single moment of pause. The very first chapter grabbed hold of my senses and did not let go. I was hooked.

I wasn't too interested in Rosalind's character while reading TVD and OVE to be perfectly honest. Sure, I felt bad for her and what she had been through but that was it. Now, I can safely safe that I love her almost as much as Orion loves her. And that's A WHOLE LOT. She is an incredible character and her development from the girl we knew in TVD and OVE to this skilled, immortal, and badass assassin was astounding. I was mind-blown. And she kept on developing in this book from a person broken by love and sworn off it to one that has learned to accept love and trust again. Rosalind's character arc made me so emotional.

As for Orion, he definitely found his place in my fictional male crushes. His aloofness and playboy personality were a delight on the page. I just felt pure joy whenever he was around. Yet, he was more than capable of showing gravitas whenever it was called for and cared deeply for the people in his life. Especially Rosalind 😉😉 He said 'my wife' so many times my heart almost gave away. He had and still has his own demons to deal with, making his backstory just as compelling as Rosalind's and his life incredibly complicated. That boy needs some serious help.

I loved every moment between Rosalind and Orion. Their chemistry was off the chart, the dynamic between them was *chef's kiss*. Every moment spent with them was a blessing. I couldn't get enough of them. Their banter was immediate, not even a few minutes after they met. The romance was so slow-burn that I was literally pulling at my hair reading about it. It was more than worth it though because their love for each other is so deep and so intense it made me hate the lame reality I live in. Even more so than I did before 😅😅 Men should read this book and learn from Orion. Seriously, he has a lot to teach them. The pet names were my favourite, though. Orion sure has a range of them 😍😍

Moreover, same as in TVD and OVE, there were multiple POVs other than Orion's and Rosalind's, even some secret ones too. Some of them we already knew like Celia (formerly known as Kathleen) Rosalind's triplet sister turned Communist spy, and Roma's little sister Alisa Montagova, who is now 17 years old and a pretty awesome (and hilarious) spy herself. There are also some newcomers as well. Namely Oliver and Phoebe, Orion's siblings, who are quite the delight themselves and have their own little romances that I am heavily invested in and can't wait to hear more about. Seriously...Chloe Gong needs to write fast because I only finished the book a few hours ago and I'm already feeling impatient.

I think it's safe to say that there was absolutely nothing in this book that I hated or disliked. Everything was amazing. Even that ending. 😵😵 Hopefully it'll be here soon. Like maybe in the next few days or something. 🙏🏻🤞🏻

If you need me to say it I'll say it. I highly recommend this book.

If you loved These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends, I promise that you'll love Foul Lady Fortune just as much or even more. Chloe Gong has really developed her writing from the first two books and it really shows in this book. Rosalind and Orion were developed so well, as well as the other side characters! The storyline was gripping and the plot twists were totally unpredictable, and I actually understood the complicated politics that was built around around the story. This book is a solid 5/5 -- it was executed way better than These Violent Delights and its sequel, and I can't wait for the sequel!!

Okay, Miss Chloe had one job after I was thoroughly disappointed with Our Violent Ends, and that was to win me back. I was not even that excited to read this book and you might be thinking "why did you request an arc then?" and my answer to that is simply, I didn't think I would be excited to read this book when it comes out, and I didn't feel like dropping everything to go read this book. So I thought, well I'll just read the advanced reader's copy and see if it sparks my interest or if I'll just drop it.

Long story short: it sparked my interest.

Actually, I was so captivated by this book that I was expecting to kinda reach a moment where I would be bored or annoyed and that I would feel like dropping it, but it never happened. That being said, I'm still finding it difficult to rate this one, although it does seem to fit well within the five-star reads, for some reason, there is a little nagging sense that I should lower it, but four-star doesn't feel quite right, and then when I stop to analyze two things I come to the conclusion that: 1) there was nothing I disliked about this book. I can't think of one thing negative to point out on my review, or something negative that would impact my rating of the novel. 2) I had a great time reading this. Nowadays I take this a lot into consideration when rating/reviewing books, because I feel like the whole of the reading experience should be considered, and in the case of Foul Lady Fortune, well, I did have a blast. I will say that this arc was a bit different from other because for reasons unknown to me, it was only available to read on PC (or NetGalley shelf app on the phone but ugh reading on phones suck) and not on kindle which is my go-to reading device for anything, especially arcs. That being said it REALLY goes to say about the power of a book when you literally don't feel like you're forcing it, because you literally want to keep reading ON A NOTEBOOK. I mean seriously, a 500 hundred page book and I read it all on my PC. This book is really good.

No one is more delighted and surprised by the fact that Foul Lady Fortune worked for me. I am really happy about that. And here comes a probably very polemic opinion: I actually think Foul Lady Fortune is better than TVD+OVE. There, I said it. I can really feel it first and foremost with the writing. I feel like Chloe's writing has evolved so much from those two books to here. First, because it was so much more pleasant to read. I remember when I read These Violent Delights hou impassable that book was. How dense I felt the writing was and that I actually had to push through even though I was loving the book and it even ended up becoming a favorite. Our Violent Ends was a whole mess for me in multiple fronts and for multiple reasons, so the writing didn't work wonders there was well, plus it was a book that just... Kinda wasn't necessary idk, let's not get into that right now. The point is, I felt that Foul Lady Fortune just went by so smoothly I was actually really impressed by that. Whenever I would pick this up to read I felt like I wasn't reading, and that the pages just went by, with whole sprints of reading that 70/80 pages just went by super fast. It was a delight. Another thing that I can say about the writing, is that I feel like the characterization works even better than the first book, and I feel like the characters are kind of taking more of a voice and personality of their own, meaning: with the TVD+OVE duology the book was rooted <s>well at least the first</s> in being a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, and I feel like because of that (and bear in mind that I didn't reread those books so I'm saying this from what I remember in a retrospect kind of analysis) the characters had their original tones created by the author, but in a way, there was so much of a concept of what they <i>should be like</i> or <i>should behave like </i> that they became sort of just that. A bunch of expectations put together. And that worked, I mean this might seem like a rant review of the duology, but I'm just saying that because in Foul Lady Fortune (which is a very much character-driven novel by the way) I felt like the characters were much more original and had much more of the author's voice in them than being a retelling of others. And I know that FLF is pitched as a retelling of As You Like It, and yes yes I didn't read the original play BUT I read adaptations and I read the story summary while I was reading FLF, and yeah I can see where the whole thing comes from, but it just feels like that type of retelling that just takes a life of it's own which is something that I adore immensely. Plus, with the whole thing of the political aspect of the book, which is SO MUCH more palatable than the TVD+OVE duology by the way, things just got in my head quickly and I didn't feel dumb I actually understood them. Mix in with that the marvel movie aspect (I'm taking this from the author's own review here on goodreads so don't @ me) then we have a whole original thing. And I KNOW that TVD+OVE has the whole gangs thing, the political system as well, but although the original work doesn't have gangs per se, we do have a lot of Romeo and Juliet retellings that actually feature gangs (Hi 90's Leo Dicaprio movie) so what I mean to say with this whole ramble and jumble of thoughts is just that I feel like a lot of things that I HAD enjoyed in TVD (not so much in OVE) were done even better in FLF and that the reader can clearly see an evolution from the part of the author and that is always a good thing, and also a very exciting one, especially thinking about future releases and were things we'll go from here.

Rosalind was a spectacular character to read. I really enjoyed her point of view, and although I was kind of meh when this book was first announced because I didn't see the point of it and much less about Rosalind being the narrator... Well, I see it now. Chloe really sold me on her narration, and on the whole spy business as well. This book had multiple points of view, but at its core it is a book about Rosalind and you can clearly see that as you notice how much attention and time the author has placed on her chapters. Plus, she is demisexual! And her internal monologue goes over this aspect (albeit without naming it because this word didn't exist back in the 1930s) a lot!! So yay for that awesome representation.

Then we reach the icing on the cake. Yes, I am talking about you, Orion Hong. I mean, who even is Roma Montagov when Orion Hong exists? Damn, I have really been completely snatched by this book, it has me on its leash. But seriously, Orion is the most perfect character. I was so enthralled by him, his personality, his mannerisms, the way he TALKS!!! HE LITERALLY CALLS ROSALIND IRONICALLY "BELOVED"BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A FAKE MARRIAGE AND THEN ONE TIME IT IS NOT IRONICALLY ANYMORE!! I AM NOT OKAY.

Okay.

I really really loved him. I have no words. And also, this whole plot of fake marriage? I am not sorry to say that this slayed the whole lovers to enemies to lovers on TVD+OVE AND I SAID WHAT I SAID. Seriously, the slow burn ffs, it was SO GOOD. This whole trope of we are in a fake marriage but oh this doesn't feel fake to me, yeah???? Give me more of that. And from the way this book ended I literally have no words, no thoughts, just a lot of suffering inside of me, and I need to know HOW Chloe is going to work with this stuff on book two. I need the answers now.

What else can I say, I am so deep in my feelings about this book that right now while I write this I'm starting to feel like I want to fave this, that this has been a favorite all along. God help me, I love this book. Maybe I'll come back to this review to write more <s>haven't I written enough.</s> But for now I think this is it. Yes I do recommend this book 100%, and yes if you like me, had problems with the ending of the previous duology but still loved the first book, then I strongly recommend you pick this one up.

A friend of mine said that if I liked TVD I might like this because they're both the first book in the series and maybe I only like the beginnings Chloe writings but not the endings. He did prove me right with that, but I don't wanna dwell on what it might mean, considering I have a LOT of expectations for the sequel of FLF right now, alas I had zero expectations for FLF itself <s>maybe that's why I liked it so much?</s>

Whatever is the case, and for whatever reason it is, I love this book. I cannot stop saying it, Chloe Gong has indeed outdone herself with this one, and I can't wait for people to read it.

Oh, I just thought of one thing I don't like about this book.
It's this HIDEOUS COVER. I will never get over how ugly it is. Okay, now I'm done.

DO NOT TOUCH ORION’S ✨ BELOVED ✨ WIFE ✨💞

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I am familiar with Chloe Gong’s work, I know what she’s capable of, so of course I had some kind of expectations but boy I was not prepared for this in any way. Miss Gong, you outdone yourself, I am truly out of words and feel sorry for anyone reading this review, I’m just babling and I don’t think words will ever define the experience that was to read this.

The ambientation is A-MA-ZING, I felt not only transported to the 1930s but also to China itself, you can just know how much Chloe loves Shanghai and how she expresses this love through her characters. I was like Yes, please tell me all about these streets, and these buildings, the people, tell me everything that makes you love this place so much because I want to love it too.

I didn’t care much for Rosalind in the These Violent Delights duology, but in this book I truly fell in love with her. Her internal monologue is great, all the struggles she went through felt real. She’s a woman that saw herself in the middle of a revolution years ago and after was somehow made immortal, she feels stuck in time, not only her physical body is in a state of not aging, but her past actions keep her in 1926, no matter how many people she kills as an Nationalist agent, the things she did and what she lost still haunt her.

And Orion, he cares about his country, of course, but his ulterior motive is to protect his family, so he works to the Nationalists after his father is accused of imperialist conspiracy with the japanese. All he wants is to prove himself worth, protect Phoebe and somehow go back to the time when his family was trusted, before his brother Oliver defected to the Communists and his mother left their home. As he starts working with Rosalind, he realises that maybe his life with her can be classified as distinct happy time, separate from the before times he longs so much.

They’re two agents working thowards a common goal, trying to stop a bigger force that haunts Shanghai, the city once again threatened. In conclusion, they’re my babies and my everything. And then there’s all the political intrigues, characters you love from all sides, alliances and loyalities are all blurry and mysteries that will somehow make everyone work for the same thing: save Shanghai and the entire country.

I CAN’T WAIT for book two, the last 20% of this book left me with heart racing and I couldn’t sleep. And the EPILOGUE, once again, I was not ready for that.

A HUGE thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know where to start.
Chloe Gong is one of my favorite authors and with Foul lady fortune she catapulted herself even higher on my list.

What is this Book about?
Foul lady fortune follows a pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930 Shanghai.
Rosalind lang is immortal. After she fell Ill four years ago, she was injected with a medicine that saved her life. It
stopped her from aging and sleeping and allows her to heal from any wound
With her abilities she chooses to work as an assassin for her country.
When the Japanese Army starts it's invasion and a series of murders happen though, Rosalinds new mission is to find the culprits and stop them before more of her people die.
To not attract attention she's forced to pose as the wife of another spy: Orion Hong. Together they attempt to unravel this conspiracy while also finding out, that there's more to everything than they thought.

*internal scream*
This book was everything I wanted it to be. Gong already impressed me with her previous two books but with Foul Lady fortune she showed me how truly amazing books can be.
I loved this book so much.
The plot was intriguing. How Gong achieved to keep everything a mystery and only slowly gave us more and more answers kept me on my toes. On one hand she perfected the task of making the plot as interesting and clever as it could be while providing us with the best characters there could be. Rosalind is by far the loveliest and most interesting protagonist of Chloe Gong so far. I absolutely LOVED how smart she was. Everything she did was based on logic and not just sheer feelings. The way that her first priority is to protect the people she loves made me her #1 fan. She deserves all the happiness in the world.
I have a similar opinion on Orion Hong. Who doesn’t like a guy that’s taking care of his family? His mysterious demeanor and SELFLESS personality made me SCREAM. How he doesn’t allow himself to show his feelings almost made me cry for him. Chloe Gong PERFECTED these characters and I loved every sentence about them. THEIR DEVELOPMENT was everything. These two were made for each other and both of them being spies in a fake marriage? FANTASTIC. This book made me laugh more times than I can remember and fully had me in a chokehold. While writing this review, i have the urge to reread this masterpiece again. Chloe Gong isn’t Chloe Gong without the dramatic endings in her books though and OH BOY was the ending something. I genuinely can’t wait for the sequel. My soul is aching for it.

This book was absolutely phenomenal and a highlight of my year. Foul lady fortune will make you feel all kinds of feelings. You’ll laugh, smile, scream and cry while reading this book and every second will be worth it. Gong outdid herself with this one. A HUGE thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me the ARC again. Y’all did my year with this one.

Chloe Gong just keeps getting better so whatever you might think about her previous series, give Foul lady fortune a try. It’s story is different, and who wouldn’t like to read a book about a spy couple in a fake marriage ?

Foul Lady fortune will be available on 27th September 2022. You can preorder it on Amazon.
#Netgalley #FoulLadyFortune

Foul Lady Fortune review

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you sooo much to netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and when I tell you I squealed with delight in the middle of work when I found out I got an arc!!

Foul Lady Fortune follows the story of Rosalind and Celia Lang after the events of These Violent Delights and I have to say I loved this one as much as I loved TVD! All the characters are fleshed out so well, the plot was engaging and exciting throughout and the setting is so cool I loved every minute of it!

The whole enemies to lovers, forced proximity tropes were done so well and had me frantically reading to find out how the characters relationships were going to go and even the side characters stories were interesting!

I’ve said it many times but if you he not read Chloe Gongs works you are so missing out because her writing and her ideas are so wonderful please go and read her works!

Overall I’m sooo happy I got an arc and it lived up to my expectations, now the problem is I need the second on immediately but this one hasn’t even released yet…

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging - and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption for her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

I could not put this novel down. The premise was amazing, and I was drawn into Rosalind’s beautiful and Technicolor world. The writer has done some stunning work in creating this amazing place. The characters were phenomenal, the plot writing on point and the level of detail superb.

It has been one of my fav books to read this year. It had everything I could ever want in a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong is another incredible start to a tale of spies, assassins, communists and nationalists in Shanghai. Set 5 years after These Violent Delights duology that utterly broke me, this book focuses on a character we've previously read about and even more familiar characters throughout.

I am so excited to be back in the world of Chloe Gong, this time as an undercover agent with the code name Fortune. In the previous duology, Rosalind didn't give me a lot of impact as a character and it's great to see her as the main character as she poison through the city, just being herself and kicking ass.

Marriage of convenience. Yes, it is my absolute favourite trope. Rosalind and Orion is cute at times but they're really more invested with the mission more than anything. It is only towards the end of the book when their feelings start to spark and that's basically it. This book is more of the buildup to the villain's motive and the overall story. Which makes me desperate to read the sequel because that ending? Holy hell.

I thought I was already super excited with this book but the continuation of what is to come in the next book takes me on a whole other level. Because someone or two someone we are very friendly with makes a comeback, enough to repair my heart that was already broken.

It is impossible to hate a Chloe Gong book and this one too has managed to take my breath away. I highly recommend you to read this book just so you could also read the sequel and I know will be thoroughly epic.

First of all i want to say THANK YOU NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me the ARC for Foul Lady Fortune!

It was one of my most anticipated books in 2022 and what can I say, I absolutely loved it; it was everything I wanted it to be!

Coming back to this world felt like a warm and needed hug and Rosalind Lang is just such a well written protagonist, I was really happy to learn more about her after TVD.
She is so smart and in some ways super relatable and I loved to read about her feelings for Orion becoming more present and strong. It felt really realistic.
I really liked the pacing of this book, since it was not too slow paced but I still had enough time to get to know all the new characters properly and catch up with what happened in the years after TVD.
Speaking of new characters, Phoebe, Orion, Silas and all the others were the perfect addition to this universe, I could not love them more!
The plot kept me on my toes and I was really surprised by some of the plottwists, I didn’t see them coming at all.
The fake marriage trope was *chefs kiss* aswell!!!!!!
What I also really liked was that it has multiple POVs and especially meeting Alisa again made me insanely happy and I cannot wait to learn even more about her I LOVE HER!
Overall i would say that this has easily become one if my favorite books that I have read this year and I need to know what happens in the 2nd book immediately. Especially after that epilogue! Chloe Gong really knows how to write insanely good epilogues that change everything. (all i’m saying is OVE). Speaking of OVE I have a tiny tiny hope that (SPOILER!!!!) JM might mean Juliette Montagova.

This book now owns a place in my heart right next to TVD & OVE and won’t be leaving anytime soon since i can’t stop thinking about it!

Thank you Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange of an honest review. Foul lady fortune was a very solid story entry into this duopoly. It is also a very welcome reunion with some familiar characters. FLF is different from These violent delights, but succeed in creating its unique ambiance and tension. Chloe Gong's writing is as strong as ever, filled with precise descriptions giving this historical noir spy thriller a delicious (poisonous?) atmosphere. Rosalind is a wonderful main character trying to redeem herself after the decisions she made in Our Violent Ends. Her internal monologues were so great. Orion is a delight to discover throughout the book and the slow burn romance a pleasure to read. Those two last chapters... BOOK 2 WHEN !

BIG spoilers ahead

1. Every time Orion says “my beloved” take a shot
2. “who did this to you” moment oh my GOD. I'm going absolutely feral for this.
3. Is it strange that finding out Orion is bi makes me love him more?
4. Ok, take a shot every time Rosalind is jealous and says “philandering”
5. This is the best car chase scene ever.““ORION”
“I AM DOING MY BEST BELOVED”
YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE ME A HERNIA” I love that he doesn't break character even while crashing a car down an impossibly thin alley.
6. When Rosalind faints and asks Orion to stay with her. Orion’s SPEECH. THIS. MAN. MY HEART.
7. Lmao her biggest secret revealed because her picture was in a *magazine obituary.*
8. When Orion wakes up tied to a chair and the first things he asks is “are you okay?” 😭😭😭😭
9. Pg-473 “He had gone beyond getting attached to her. She was his guiding saint, The Polaris of his heart.” 😭
10. Orion has turned into the winter soldier help
11. 500 pages and you END HERE?!??!?
12. “Nation over everything. But not you, sweetheart. Never your life in exchange.”

Thank you Hodder and Stoughton for allowing me to read an ARC of this book from Netgalley

Review:
5/5⭐

I was afraid that I wouldn't like this book as I wasn't particularly fond of Rosalind in These Violent Delights. However, I adored her so much in this book. Obviously she has her flaws like most characters do but she is just a girl trying her best.

I loved all of the POVs as each character had their own personality as well as goals and obstacles to overcome. Even though there was a lot of plot, I would say the characters drove a lot of it so I was glad that all of the characters were interesting and kept my attention.

The storyline was intense as you had all of the Communists, nationalists, Japanese imperialists, on top of killings from an unknown drug, so there was always something happening in the backdrop. The characters also took an active role within this mixture of struggle and fight, whether it was through their own volition or not.

The writing was beautiful and detailed, and the story all came together perfectly and I just overall enjoyed reading Foul Lady Fortune and would highly recommend to anyone if you love high intensity storylines, spys, romance, well developed characters, and plot twists.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book as the cliffhanger has me hanging!

The one thing I would say that could be improved would be to have a little more foreshadowing because I felt some things just came out of nowhere (unless that was just me not picking up on the hints, if so I apologise!) such as *SPOILER* the involvement of Orion's mother, I felt like she just appeared so suddenly when all we knew of her came from the Hong's backstory.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for honest review!

Foul Lady Fortune is the first Chloe Gong’s book I had chance of reading, even though These Violent Delights are sitting on my TBR for quite a long time now. And if I’m being honest, I’m glad I started with this one. Romeo and Julia is story well known, and I was missing the interest to begin reading, as the ending was- expectable, however, I had no idea what to expect with FLF. And I was amazed by it. Brief throwback to the events of TVD eased coming into the world and meeting the characters, as well as the relationships. It was well written, enough to explain the consequences, yet still leaving me interested for first duology. I absolutely loved writing and the sense of historical setting without heavy wording which was great for YA and made the book great to read. As English isn’t my first language, that I very important point for me. I will not describe what the book is about, because you can find the synopsis very easily, and I’m very afraid of accidentally spoiling anything, but the most important question is: would I recommend it? Yes, no hesitation. This book single-handy broke my reader’s block, and I’m so excited for more. Also, I will be buying physical copy just to have this gold on my shelf.

What I loved:
• Orion and Rosalind’s relationship? I would give ANYTHING for them. I would read a book on two of them just living day by day. All my favourite tropes stacked in one pairing.
• The ending of the book, incredible. The first part didn’t even come out yet, and I’m already looking out for second!! I did have my suspicions and they worked out 50/50 but it still punched me right in the gut as everything revealed itself.
• Number of characters was perfect to keep up the pace, reveal enough to the reader yet keep the good amount of information in the shadows. Plus, third narrative following different POV’s worked great.

What I didn’t loved:
• Orion’s and Oliver’s names. I suppose there was a reason for this but having two characters with similar-looking names was very confusing at times. I’d say similar with the amount of names all characters had, but I know there is a good reason for it, and I absolutely loved the use of them!! This whole point is purely due to the fact that I have no name-memory and am dyslexic! Please, do not make your mind on this book based on this point:)
• Celia’s backstory. I know that not starting with TVD I missed out a lot of story, but FLF was supposed to be explanatory enough. For me, Celia needed a bit more light because the short description of what happened to her before got me only more confused. I’m sure there was better way to word it.
• It kind of seemed- rushed? With the amount of tricky plot and worldbuilding it feels like characters got a bit lost, I would like to know more about them!!
• Random flashbacks even though the change of tense was quite clear, it did take me by surprise, throwing out of the rhythm.

It's hard to review this book because even though I finished it a few days ago I still don't feel ready to talk about it but here goes nothing! I'm fairly certain this is the first spy thriller I have ever read and Chloe has unlocked a new favourite genre for me! The back drop being 1930's Shanghai and including so much historical context worried me a little bit at first; I thought the plot might become clunky including so much in a relatively short book (as well as squeezing a little romance in) but I really should have had more faith after reading (and LOVING) the These Violent Delights duet! Chloe has such a magical way with weaving stories that are so detailed and heavy on information yet they don't feel like a trek and I come away feeling like I've learned so much! She's just such a beautiful writer.
After These Violent Delights I knew she could write a strong and complex female character well but Rosalind really blew me away; such a strong, smart woman, capable of so many things that others actively shy away from in this story, and yet the doubts and fears that she keeps to herself? The hatred she feels for what she is? Yeah, she's my new favourite!
Everything about this book was a 5 ⭐️ from me and I can't wait to but the physical copy when it's released!
Really not looking forward to the wait for the sequel but so grateful we get more Chloe in the next couple of years!

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. I loved These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends, so I was really excited for this book, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved everything about it from the characters to the plot and how they developed, and I didn’t wanna put it down. An easy 5/5 stars, I can’t wait to see what she produces next!

rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

fake married spies, in 1930s shanghai, investigating a series of murders !! flf is now my second favourite book after our violent ends:)

i'd like to say a huge thank you to netgalley and hodderscape for providing me with an e-arc of foul lady fortune - i truly appreciate it with all my heart as i'm a huge fan of chloe + her past works (these violent delights, our violent ends)

foul lady fortune is undeniably another masterpiece written by chloe - although i went in with impossibly high expectations, i found myself feeling rather impressed and satisfied. in fact, there were many aspects of the book i enjoyed more than her past duology, which are my all time favourite books. it's clear that her writing is improving progressively, and she never disappoints. i really love how chloe incorporates east asian history into her books as i feel like i'm being educated in the most immersive way out there !

onto the review :

1. characterisation
one of my favourite things about chloe's books is the way she crafts her characters - every single person introduced left a mark on me, and even though my memory is terrible, i could still remember them after finishing. after reading our violent ends, i wasn't a huge fan of rosalind, the main protagonist, and yet by the end of foul lady fortune i was OBSESSED with her. orion, who is introduced for the first time in foul lady fortune, is such an endearing male protagonist who will most definitely have you screaming on the floor. i absolutely loved seeing their relationship develop throughout the book - nothing felt unnatural or too sudden, which i often see in books with the fake dating / marriage trope.

2. plot
the way i threw my phone 5 times while reading this... there were so many plot twists that weaved together perfectly, and yet none of them felt predictable in the slightest. the pacing was also much better than her past duology, and made me feel as if i were watching a drama the entire time. it wasn't just reading for me, it was a whole EXPERIENCE !!

this might sound cliche, but the only bad thing about this book was that it ended (and that i have to wait over a year for the sequel). i can GUARANTEE you guys will enjoy it ☹️

First, let me say that I loved being back in this world. Sure, you can read Foul Lady Fortune without reading the original duology (These Violent Delights & Our Violent Ends) but I highly recommend that because it would spoiler the duology´s ending for you and it makes so much more sense to read it because of the events and characters.

Foul Lady Fortune focuses on Rosalind. In the beginning, you get to know what´s happening in her life four years after the events of Our Violent Ends. It’s 1931 and Shanghai is unrest once again. Japanese Imperial Army is getting closer, while the city has to deal with a civil war between the Nationalists and Communists. As if the city hasn't been through enough already. It´s a golden age of espionage - with double and even triple agents roaming the streets - and that´s how Rosalind meets with her fake husband Orion Hong. Together, they depart on a mission to uncover the culprits behind the gruesome murders terrorizing Shanghai.

“Across the city and outside of it, Friday arrived to the sound of war drums.”

Heartbroken and atoning Rosalind is prepared to do anything to glue the broken city back together - to heal it, to make it whole again. You may originally hate her for what she´s done but in the end, cannot help to root for her. She´s not a perfect human, she has her flaws, but that´s what makes her a perfect character. By the way, Rosalind is demisexual and while it is not directly stated (through this modern term), it is discussed in the text.

Speaking about romance, Rosalind and Orion Hong are a great couple and a power duo, in public and in private as well. I loved how Orion calls her “beloved” or “ my wife” even when they are alone or with people who know. They both have their own secrets which undeniably adds to the ever-present tension between them. Their interactions are amazing and I live, ache, and breathe for this pairing.

Besides meeting and getting to know a bunch of new characters - (previously mentioned) Orion, his brother Oliver and sister Phoebe - we get to be reunited with now seventeen-year-old Alisa Montagova as well as Rosalind´s sister Celia. Together they become entangled in the political machinations and despite being on different sides of the conflict, end up cooperating and saving each other's butts. I loved this group (every one of them) and their dynamics.

Around ¾ of the book felt kind of “peaceful” to me or how to describe it. Of yours, there is a lot of spying to uncover all the dangerous secrets, occasionally some gunshots or poisoning happening, but overall, it is very political - which is still amazing because I love this kind of books - until the whole situation escalates, making you sit at the edge of your seat holding your breath and praying that everyone survives the inevitable storm coming their way. As the tension rises and the stakes get higher, it is very hard to put the book down. It is INTENSE. I could not stop reading till the ending, well… it broke me.

At last, I want to say that I´ve genuinely missed Chloe Gong´s writing. She never disappoints. Foul Lady Fortune is beautifully written and well thought through from the first word to its very last. Overall, it is very cleverly done. Now I have no idea how I am going to survive the wait for the second book of this incredible spin-off to These Violent Delights.


Special thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an electronic reading copy in exchange my honest review.

Foul Lady Fortune is the first book in Chloe Gong's latest duology, set in the same world as These Violent Delights. The book follows Rosalind Lang, traitor turned immortal assassin, and her desperate attempts at solving a series of murders causing unrest in Shanghai.

In summary: This book is frickin perfect, amazing and just all round 😭😭😭. There's angst, there's sexual tension, there's *who did this to you? I'll kill them🗡*. There are so many twists and turns and literally gobsmacking reveals. I had to put my kindle down at one point just to process what the f had just happened. There's secrets upon secrets upon even more frickin secrets. This book is just incredible. Chloe Gong has weaved such an intricate story, it is impossible to put down. The romance is slow burn but let me tell you it is not flat or boring at all. The chemistry between Rosalind and Orion is electric. I loved the re-introduction of already familiar characters and the new ones you'll be sure to love instantly. Basically, you need to read this book and I need the sequel like now please, thank you.

PS. Please can JM be who I want it to be so bad 😭🤞

This book made me feel so many things, I still didn’t recover from all the plot twists 😭
Foul Lady Fortune was a pleasure to read from beginning to end, I absolutely loved all the characters (despite not being fond of Rosalind in TVD), and I am once again LOVING the way Chloe Gong weaves intricate historical elements into her worldbuilding. If you like the fake marriage trope, spies, and historical fantasy, this book is for you!
Now I really need the sequel to make up for the emotional damage
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Thank you to Hodder and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Foul Lady Fortune' by Chloe Gong.

I dont know if I can convey my emotions into words. I love Chloe Gong and I would probably do anything she asked of me. 2% in, I knew this would be a 5 star and I'm happy to announce that it remained that way.

'Foul Lady Fortune' ties perfectly into 'These Violent Delights' - to the extent some people might get confused as to why I am a massive lover of certain characters - but Chloe added much more detail and love into these characters. Our main character Rosalind - my favourite - is so well developed, I was attached to her and her actions throughout the book. The plot twists were so unexpected for me to the extent where I had to pause and just mentally applaude Gong for her brain.

However, I want to talk about the ending. Of course, this is only the first book for Rosalind and Orion but oh my goodness. I definitely didn't expect that ending and I will be awaiting the sequel where I can find out more.

I was given an e-book ARC of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Foul Lady Fortune is a spy novel, with a new spin. We follow Rosalind, Code name: FORTUNE. Rosalind also has some unique skills... for her latest task she joins Orion Hong, the son of a Chinese General accused of treason and spy. They work together to solve the murders happening across the city.

Great concept, loved this book.

I was so happy to receive an early copy of this book.
I absolutely adore Chole Gong’s writing and this book did not disappoint.

It was so fast paced and well written, I couldn’t put it down.
I absolutely adored Rosalind and genuinely felt like she was someone I could be friends with.

The descriptions really made me feel like I’d been transported in to the locations.

I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Chloe Gong is fast becoming one of my favourite authors! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an ARC of her newest book!

This was brilliant. I don’t even have the words to explain how much I enjoyed this! The characters stole my heart from the very first page and refused to give it back. The connections and interactions they had with one another were so real and beautiful and just pure magic.

The setting, once again, was a character itself. That’s how real it felt. I wanted to climb within the pages and live there. The descriptions immersed me in the world and took my breath away.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this masterpiece.

After a series of suspicious murders starts to terrorize Shanghai, Rosalind, a Nationalist agent and an assassin known as Fortune, had for mission for infiltrate the Japanese society and find the responsible for these murders. But to avoid suspicion Rosalind has to be the pretend wife of an other Nationalist agent and spy, Orion Hong. Both have secrets that they don’t want the other to know, but they’ll realize that these murders are way more complicated than what it first seemed.
This book was just amazing. I was 10 pages in and I already was in love with Rosalind. I also adored Orion since his first meeting with Rosalind. I adored Rosalind and Orion’s relationship and how it slowly developed from not liking each other to fully trusting each other. This book was even better than These Violent Delights and Our Violent ends and I absolutely adored these books, Chloe Gong totally outdid herself. I really missed this world and it was amazing to be back in it.

An assassin, a spy, a fake marriage, and a dysfunctional family.

Action packed heavy with political disturbances, killings and laced with slow burn romance.

Lots of aliases and code names. Betrayal, twist, and mystery. Super page turning.

IT WAS SOOOO GOOOOD😭👌 It gets better as you near the end where the knot started to unravel.

THE CHARACTERS' DYNAMIC IS TO DIE FOR. Siblings trope is strong.

THE ROMANCE got me screaming.

For me personally, the political stance waa easier to follow. No gore during the action, much investigation and disguise.

SURPRISING TILL THE END.

One more, the Hong family members need therapy.

Thank you Hodder Books and Hodder Publicity for the Arc through netgalley!!!💕

Thank you Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the eARC!

This is a spoiler-free review.

The spy thriller I never knew I wanted - but most certainly needed!

I loved the insight into characters I recognised from These Violent Delights. I may or may not have sobbed like a baby whenever Roma and Juliette were mentioned, because their story wrecked me in the most incredible of ways, but I was so thankful and relieved that the story didnt end there.

I enjoy a good espionage based plot, but haven't really read one I enjoy as much as the storylines in C-dramas and K-dramas. That has finally changed. Chloe Gong brings all the best part of those stories to life, while still maintaining and delivering her trademark narrative and writing style, which makes for the most incredible reading experience ever.

Rosalind was a character I wished we had gotten to know more about in TVD, but now that we have a whole story about her, I think I might rival Orion in my love for her.

This book has fantastic representation of the LGBTQ community, without feeling forced or shoehorned in, and the story was as thrilling as I wanted it to be. The fake marriage trope was written to perfection, and there is not single thing in this book I would alter or change, other than wanting it to never end!

If I could rate this book higher than 5 stars, I really would, but since I can't, I'm going to spend the next few months shouting about the brilliance and perfection that is Foul Lady Fortune.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for sending me and eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how all the main characters in These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends were mentioned in some capacity. Foul lady fortune could easily be read as a duopoly independent to TVD since all the main plot points are covered throughout FLF anyway. However, it would be important to note that there are spoilers for the previous duology.

I liked how Rosalind and Alisa's relationship was explored a little more- both were previously on opposite side of Shanghai's gang wars but have not been left in a very similar position. The both of them are mainly alone, with hardly any communication with their families and both lost a loved one. I'd love to see them both get closer and find a sense of companionship in each other. Orion is an absolute darling- he and Rosalind are a perfect pair in every sense of the word. The last few chapters were a whole whirlwind- so many plot twists, it made my ancestors dizzy. I absolutely need the next book to come out ASAP!

I did not read Gongs' previous duology before reading Foul Lady Fortune nor do I have any intention of doing so as I don't like Romeo and Juliet as a story in any form - in spite of that I found that you don't have to have read the duology to read this book as the duology is briefly recapped. Not reading the duology also meant that I had no expectations going into Foul Lady Fortune, except for what others had said about the books. Granted according to a few reviews it felt like a full-on sequel but I think I agree with Gong in that Foul Lady Fortune is its own series.

The two main protagonists are Rosalind Lang, an immortal assassin, and Orion Hong, a spy. The two are connected together by a joint mission and have to fake marry. So if that is a romance trope you like then you'll like this, kinda like SPY X FAMILY, there's also the "Who did this to you?!", "I'll love you from far away" and in my opinion, the guy falls first. I liked their romance - it was a slow burn and I liked the interactions they had with each other. They just work together. The secondary group of main characters are Oliver Hong, also a spy and Orions' brother, and Celia, also a spy and Rosalind's sister... and they're also together and then there's Phoebe Hong, the sister, and Silas, the friend who I think are in a will-they-wont-they situation? The Pet Names! Please someone call me sweetheart.

The characters are wonderfully diverse (I think there's a tweet confirming but this is what I could find). "Rosalind is demisexual, Orion is bisexual, Celia is a trans woman, Alisa is aromantic and asexual, Phoebe is bisexual", and it's accepted by all the characters which was lovely to see as it didn't become something that defined who that character is, just a part of them.

Onto the plot: Foul Lady Fortune per Gong is a "speculative historical thriller inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It". I liked it I thought it was well-paced, and I enjoyed the multiple third-person POVs. I liked that the main antagonist wasn't predictable, personally, I had two or three people pegged from the beginning and so I liked that it play out like a spy thriller where you kinda don't know who's really behind what. There are also code names, fake identities, and double and triple agents. Trying not to give too much away right now but Gong pulled me in quickly.

There really wasn't much to dislike, I think my only issue was that they kept saying out loud to themselves that they were good spies or an agent and that could not be me, risking my cover to give myself a pep talk ???

I recommend this, I really want to read the next book because what was the epilogue - Chole Gong really did that! I will also be keeping my pre-order of this book via Waterstones and the copy I ordered from Fairyloot.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton, as I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 167 of 2022

chloe gong has me in a chokehold. i didn't think i could love her any more than i did after reading our violent ends, BUT WOW WAS I WRONG.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I’m convinced Chloe Gong can’t write a bad book, it's just impossible.

I absolutely loved this book with my entire heart! The first chapter starts straight into the action and I was hooked right from the beginning. The plot is so intricate, detailed and has so many layers (Chloe Gong is a genius). There’s mystery and politics and spies and assassins and it was just amazing.

I liked Rosalind in These Violent Delights but I can’t say I was super attached to her but in this book I loved her. We see a completely different side of her and how much of a badass she is. There were a few other familiar characters that returned (including Alisa who will always be my fave) as well as some new ones that I loved (Orion was just fantastic).

As with all of Chloe Gong’s books, the writing was beautiful. It flows well and is easy to read but also has a touch of flare that results in some amazing quotes. I cannot wait to read the sequel, especially after that ending!!! If you liked These Violent Delights, you are just going to love Foul Lady Fortune.

OMG! This was amazing! I knew going into this I was going to love the writing style and the world as I've read Chloe gongs first 2 books, however I was worried about if the characters would be strong enough to become main characters due to previously being side characters! And let me tell you they 100% were!

I loved exploring the world again, the mystery, the science, the romance. It was all so cool and it was such a fun time finding things out at the same time as our main character!

The only thing I kind of guessed was the very final reveal, but I didn't expect the reveal so I only kind of thought about it. Everything else was a complete surprise!

Overall such an amazing book and I will forever pick up anything Chloe Gong puts out!

Thanks to @netgalley , the publishers @hodderbooks and the author @thechloegong for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and 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 her people are killed. To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

I am rather in love getting to know Rosalind more. She’s a character who blended more into the background in TVD and OVE but she really shines in her spotlight. Clever, intelligent and snarky, she does her best to survive; honing new skills and utilising them to her best advantage. It was interesting to see just how guarded she was throughout most of the book - not just because of her position as an assassin/spy, but because of her past as part of the Scarlet Gang. But, when she started to let her guard down a little, it was great to see her relax and be a bit more herself.
Oh Orion. What a guy. Despite the struggles he faces, he remains - for the most part - gentle and inquisitive. His dedication to the role as Rosalind’s husband had me feeling weak at the knees and I would like to place an order for my own Orion please. His protectiveness - over both Rosalind and his sister - his fire, his slightly broody nature? Absolute brilliance.
We don’t see a massive amount of Celia in this book but what we do get is fabulous. Seeing her grow into herself, away from the pressures of the Scarlet Gang and its rules and appearances, feels so freeing. She’s found herself in a position where she’s happy and content with her life and who she is. But, more importantly, she is accepted and I am so happy for her!
Alisa is still a little spitfire who I absolutely adore. Still sticking her nose into other people’s business and being a busy-body. What a fantastic character she is!

What. A. Book. I absolutely adored getting to jump into Gong’s world once more, the time in the future. Getting to see the difference in Shanghai after the events of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends but with different perspectives was more fantastic than I thought it would be. Gong has a real and true talent for writing and I find myself sucked in and utterly mesmerised by the unfolding stories she creates. The slow burn of romance had me giddy. The thrill of chases and unrelenting danger had me on edge. The trials and tribulations had me eager for more. The callbacks and easter eggs for the previous books were brilliant little surprises that popped up along the way - but never felt like too much or like they were taking away from Rosalind’s story. The entire book was a joy to read but that ending … MISS GONG, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! And now I have to wait for the sequel to come out?! That’s just nor fair at all…

Overall, Foul Lady Fortune is a story that gives you twists and turns before flipping everything you believe entirely on its head.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of Foul Lady Fortune. I love Chloe Gong’s books so I am immensely grateful for this opportunity.
Foul Lady Fortune is the first book in a spin-off series to the popular duology These Violent Delights. Taking place five years after the events in Our Violent Ends, foul Lady Fortune follows Rosalind Lang, a nationalist spy.
I knew what to expect when I started reading this book, because I’ve always enjoyed Chloe Gong’s writing style. So it’s fair to say that I had pretty high expectations. However, the book exceeded them all and was nothing short of phenomenal.
Though the book is not actually slow paced, it did take me some time to get into it, but I don’t think this was because I wasn’t enjoying it, but rather because there was a lot of information to absorb.
The atmosphere that Chloe Gong manages to create in this book is impeccable. As I was reading I felt as though I was watching a movie and utterly lost myself in the vibe of 1930’s Shanghai. It’s simply beautiful. But really, this paired with the memorable plot is what makes Foul Lady Fortune a truly great book.
Every single chapter ended with some kind of cliffhanger that made me turn the page and keep on reading. Rosalind is a remarkable, strong main character that really stands out. Even though she falls in the predictable category of badass female characters she has something special that the others don’t. There’s something more to her character which I can’t really explain, but anybody will understand when reading the book. She’s witty, tough and though sometimes morally gray, still a role model. I was hugely emotionally invested into her story and now that I have read the bombshell ending of the book, all I can say is that I need the next book as soon as possible, because I simply have to know what happens next!
Another pleasant surprise I had when reading this book, was stumbling over some great tropes that I am sure readers will adore. Some of them are cliché and I always tell myself that I won’t fall for them again, but sure enough, this awesome book has proven me wrong. Not to mention the fact that it ties up so many loose ends from Our Violent Ends and brings new light to some side characters from that series. I really enjoyed this, because reading about old characters was a nice touch to the current story and felt like I was encountering old friends.
Overall, what I can say is that Chloe Gong never disappoints and Foul Lady Fortune will surely be yet another triumph in her blooming writing career.

I feel so incredibly honoured and thankful to netgalley UK for allowing me to read this book early in return for an honest review
Where do I start
Chloe gong. You could write an instruction manual and it would still be an emotional historical work of art. I am obsessed with shanghai and the world in 20th century China depicted in the these violent delights duology and cannot wait to read more

Thank You NetGalley for the eARC!

Foul Lady Fortune (FLF) tells Rosalind's story in coming to terms with finding her place in the city she shattered, spinning off Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and historical events happening in Shanghai in the 1920s and 30s. Gong creates a figure that is open in the mental issues and emotions debates Rosalind possesses creating a realistic protagonist. If you find yourself not liking Rosalind after TVD and TVE, prepare to fall in love with the agent Fortune, yourself.

Gong intertwines her narrative with historical events on Shanghai, causing her characters to have motives and actions that are believable, and really masters her story retelling. Despite being fiction, the added realism almost makes you forget the fantasy elements.

Gong has perfected the emotional balance in this book, making you happy with the humour at play, sad at the tragedy between characters (romance, familial, etc) and the well written action will leave you reading exponentially faster.

The final few chapters, mixed with the epilogue have left me truly baffled, knowing I will have to wait a year until I can get the second half of FLF and see Rosalind to her end. However, all credit to the author, Chloe Gong, in creating the most amazing spy protagonist I have ever read. I shall see you soon, Foul Lady Fortune.

Chloe Gong does it again with a stellar, engaging plot.

This book follows Rosalind and Celia after the events in Our Violent Ends. Rosalind is now an assassin, known as Lasy Fortune and Celia is a spy for the Communists, both working with brothers, Orion and Oliver respectively.

Their two missions inexplicably come together with twists and turns that will have you guessing all the way until the end.

I can't wait for the next book and I have a theory on who the mysterious J.M is who makes a literary appearance in the end of the book in the form of a letter. I hope I'm right!

Chloe Gong does it again!! After completing the These Violent Delights duology, I had been quite excited to read Foul Lady Fortune. I had very different expectations about the main character when the novel was originally mentioned, thus Rosalind Lang being the main character completely caught me off guard. I wasn't sure at the time if I would enjoy the novel, but after reading this one tumblr post about Rosalind's character, my excitement for it returned.

Rosalind Lang, or Fortune, is a poison-using assassin who also possesses a particular talent. She is one of the most lethal assassins the Nationalists have because her cells never die and always return to their original state. She also never sleeps, doesn't age, and recovers from injuries quickly. She is immortal.

Rosalind is tasked with identifying the perpetrators of these attacks after a series of sudden deaths in Shanghai follow a recognisable pattern. The Japanese imperialists are the primary suspects. However, she is required to assume the identity of the wife of Orion Hong, a Nationalist agent who at first seems to not take anything seriously, cracks jokes constantly, and repeatedly tries to woo Rosalind, which irritates her to no end.

Rosalind doesn't particularly like Orion at first, but as she moves forward, she starts learning a lot about the assignment she is given. The Communists Oliver Hong and Celia Lang are living their own stories while on their respective missions outside the city, until they come upon the same location that is linked to all of these killings.

The romance and the plot of TVD were the main reasons I fell in love with it, and I had high expectations for this novel as well. Needless to say, it didn’t disappoint me in the least. The dialogues, the romance, and the narrative were all excellent.

The plot twists in this novel are numerous, unexpected, and I had never seen any of them coming. They caught me off guard and significantly improved my reading experience. Chloe Gong has a talent for writing people in such a detailed and endearing way that you can't help but fall in love with them. Every single character in the novel was wonderful to me. The side characters contributed so much to the story and were so well-written. The epilogue, the damn epilogue, and the narrative were both AMAZING. I was LEFT SPEECHLESS by it! The book has just the right amounts of romance, mystery, and sweetness! Because of how fluid Chloe Gong's language is, I never felt dissociated while reading. I need the sequel ASAP pleaseeeee

ALSO OLIVER HONG IS MY HUSBAND IMAGINE GETTING CALLED "MY SWEETHEART" ALL THE TIME

the queer rep>>>>>>>>>

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AS WELL AS THE OTHER BOOKS THAT THE QUEEN CHLOE GONG WILL RELEASE!! Also remember to read the These Violent Delights Duology before you read this series since it has spoilers from that book!!

i loved this!! as a fan of these violent delights & our violent ends i was super excited to hear that there would be a spin off following rosalind and whilst this book is technically from the same world it’s so different in many (good) ways! it honours the first two books whilst being its own story and that’s what i loved about it

This book is soo good. I didn‘t know if I was going to like it but I loved it. It‘s such a good read and the characters as well as the story was written beautifully. I will purchase this book when it‘s out for sure, i need it in my collection.

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.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

As someone who enjoyed the These Violent Delights duology, I was eager to catch up with familiar characters in Foul Lady Fortune. It also was fantastic to read from the point of view of those who weren't central to the storyline of TVD and uncover a new mystery happening in the height of unease in 1930s Shanghai.

The pacing is wonderful. My biggest gripe (if you can call it one) was that These Violent Delights was quite a slow slog at times, and when I saw how chunky this novel was, I was a little worried if this would have similar pacing. I consumed Foul Lady Fortune within 24 hours, and feel that the balance was perfect - it wasn't fast enough to lose any of Chloe Gong's intricate detailing skills, but not slow that it felt tough to navigate at lull moments.

Both Rosalind and Orion are in-depth main characters that offer a lot in the way of character growth and mystery. Whilst we learn a lot about them both within the book and see their personalities and connections with others evolve, I still feel there is more to learn going into the sequel.

The supporting characters didn't just propel the plot along, they added much-needed diversity and interest. I liked trying to guess what their roles will be throughout Foul Lady Fortune, and wasn't let down in the slightest.

The new element of supernatural humans - such as Rosalind's healing capabilities - felt fresh. Although in the previous books of this world there were supernatural elements, I feel like the approach to Foul Lady Fortune tied in well with the time period for scientific discovery and experiments, along with keeping genuine to the world the author has already established. It didn't feel farfetched at all - if anything, I found it more interesting than the monsters of the first two books. The chemical killing mystery was a nice touch to assist in aiding the scientific aspect of the book and kept the intrigue alive well into its final pages.

Chloe Gong is no stranger to adding her interpretation of historical events to her books and I appreciated the continued weaving of the unrest from Japanese imperialism, and the Communist vs Nationalist conflict within China at the time. At no point did this feel like a textbook or a history lesson, but for those who have an interest in the era (I'm a trained historian who has studied Chinese History), I was pleased with the details added in.

The final revelations were executed seamlessly, and I enjoyed the surprise of some that I hadn't guessed. I'm eager to delve further into Rosalind and Orion's journey and how Shanghai will fear now that the chemical killings have achieved dangerous results. Chloe Gong has become an auto-buy author for sure.

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.

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!

“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.

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!

~~5 Stars~~ 31st August 2022

“Your life is mine as mine is yours”

This book had a lot of high expectations for me after I devoured and loved the TVD series and completely delivered it. Chloe Gong hit the nail for creating a new spinoff series within an already beloved world and making it new and unique. I was worried I’d be too stuck in Roma & Juliette’s world that I wouldn’t be able to move on, but if anything, I have been sucked right in- the mentions of old characters is a great addition for TVD fans and remind us that those characters existed and impacted our new heroes/heroines actions.

Now seeing the Lang sisters as spy’s on completely different political standings and detached from the now dissolved Scarlett Gang, it’s a great way to see them both be standalone heroines in their own right. Both are trying to achieve a better world that their cousin Juliette’s death fired up within themselves, with both having different viewpoints on achieving that. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of family; the bond between the two is stronger than any political differences.

We mainly follow Rosalind’s perspective with chimes of Celia and Alisa’s added in. I like how the narratives play out from their different perspectives, especially those on opposing sides. We don’t know which side is ‘bad’ or even if any side is worse than the other. While each heroine is powerful, they have their way of thinking; Rosalind is calculating and sharp, Celia is more cautious and tactful, and Alisa stays in the shadows and acts fast.

Let’s go into the characters more…..
She’s got beauty and brains but is also a kick-ass assassin. Rosalind Lang Janie Mead - way to make me do a complete 180 of my opinion of them, Chloe! I wasn’t a huge fan of Rosalind in TVD, the betrayal was too deep imo, but I am glad we get to see more about her in this new series. She’s got more powerhouse energy and a drive for righteousness that makes her seem untouchable and powerful. Although every hard exterior has a gooey centre, her love for her sister is unshakeable, and it’s admirable how they keep each other safe even on opposing sides.
Orion Hong is a lovable addition to the series and balances Rosalind’s sharpness. His past is tragic as he struggles with that throughout the story by trying to meet set expectations and keep his only close family safe from the world so they, too, don’t leave him. The blossoming romance between him and Rosalind is beautiful, and I can’t wait for them to tell their feeling to each other. Also, the “Do. Not. Touch. My. Beloved. Wife” part just killed me off and resurrected me.
Celia Lang, How I hope for more Celia content! Celia can now be the woman she wants to be
Alisa Montagov is another character I hope for more content in the next book. Now more grown up and dealing with a world without her family, she has to become self-reliant on her talents, and girl does she deliver. Probably the only character who would get any job done perfectly and efficiently with no questions asked.
Phoebe Hong is a sweet girl who brings lightness into the story by being a massive nuisance to her brother. More of power duo Alisa and Phoebe!
Oliver Hong, sus.

Chloe’s devotion to trying and including historically accurate themes is why the world-building and atmosphere in these books are immaculate, the stories she’s webbed around it have been fully thought out, and you know you’re in for a great story.

All the stars for Foul Lady Fortune.

After the events of Our Violent Ends, Rosalind ends up working as an assassin for the Nationalists.
But she's not a regular assassin. After receiving some sketchy vaccination to save her life, Rosalind is stuck in time. She doesn't age, has ultra-fast healing, and doesn't sleep. This makes her a valuable asset.

Orion has put his looks to good use for the Nationalists, gathering information about the Japanese and the Communists by flirting with just about everyone that takes an interest in him.

Now, they have to work together to gather intel about a new string of killings that seems to be linked to the Japanese, while China is on the brink of a war. What is a more perfect cover than two newly-weds working at the same place to be around each other as much as possible?

This book is structured amazingly, with just enough information given upfront to keep you guessing at the twists, but it still holds back enough to keep you on your toes. The characters are really fleshed out, and easy to fall in love with, while still being morally grey enough for us enemies-to-lovers lovers. And of course some of our favourite side characters from These Violent Delights make an appearance, just a bit older (and some are wiser, not all)

Foul Lady Fortune is filled with all of your favourite tropes, from fake marriage, 'you're smiling do it again', 'who did this to you' to a grumpy/sunshine duo. But what I loved most was the demisexual representation. I have never felt so seen in a YA novel, and it really resonated with me. Representation in general is something Chloe excels at.

So if you have not yet added this book to your TBR, what are you waiting for?

*Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Rosalind wasn’t one of my favorites in the last book from this author. But as soon as I knew we would have a spy/mystery book involving her I know I had to read it. I really like the writing style and the world created here, I just wish I would see more of the “alterations” done by the -I guess- poison?? I know it will have a sequel but I don’t think it will involve this part of the mystery, though I might be wrong. The romance beside the fact it starts with an enemy-to-lovers, it’s really believable and the way he says “my beloved” made my heart beat a bit faster every time lol.
Can’t wait for the second book!!!!

A very big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong.

This book is the first in the second series by author Chloe Gong that's set in Shanghai in the 1920's. This follows almost directly after the events of These Violent Delights/Ends, although it now follows a relative of the characters.

Everyone thinks Rosalind Lang is dead, and that's for the best, since she's working as an assassin for the Nationalists - Codename Fortune. She was saved from death four years prior by a scientist who injected her with a serum that now allows her body rapid regeneration which is why Rosalind is still 19 years old. She works alone. Until the new assignment arrives.

In the past few weeks there have been multiple murders commited in a specific way. The best way to understand what is happening is for Rosalind to go undercover as a married woman. The only issue is that her partner is the infamous playboy Orion Hong. Together they need to find out who's behind the killings and why. But can they actually trust each other?

This book takes actual events and puts a little fantastical spin on them. I really admire Chloe Gong for how she managed to capture the essence of the time period while still adding new elements. I really loved this book and I'm already waiting for the next installment!

One thing I would say - this book does contain some spoilers for These Violent Delights. So if you have not read that duology, maybe start there first!

Overall, amazing book. The characters were loveable, the setting was amazing and the twists were always keeping you on your toes. Can't wait to see what's next!

Four years ago Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death. But the experiment that saved her also stopped her from ageing, and gave her unnatural healing abilities. Desperate to atone for her past, she did the only thing she could and joined the Nationalists as a killer, Code name Fortune. Torn between the Communists and Nationalists, Shanghai is a city constantly on the brink of war, but when the Japanese start talk of invasion, Rosalind's task is pivoted from killer to spy. Alongside Orion Hong, Nationalist spy and playboy, Rosalind must infiltrate a Japanese paper, but to not arouse suspicions it has been decided they would do it as a married couple. Something Orion finds humorous and Rosalind finds murderous. The pair are tasked with working together, but can you really work with someone you don't trust. Both have their secrets, agendas of their own, and the deeper they delve into the paper, the more their carefully woven lies start unravelling, until they realise the danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine.

Gong's series 'These Violent Delights' quickly became a favourite of mine, so I was unspeakably happy to find we would be returning to Shanghai, alongside some of the characters from her first series. Foul Lady Fortune tells Rosalind's story, a character who I had a complicated relationship with in the previous series. After her deceit and actions led to the untimely death of her cousin, Rosalind needs desperately to atone, but also wants revenge on those who helped bring Shanghai to it's knees, namely the White Flowers. She see's being Fortune as a way to both help herself and her country in one fell swoop, but she works best alone, and is a better murderer than spy. She's a girl desperate to leave her past life behind her, reinventing herself as Janie Mead, a low member of the Scarlet Gang, but she slowly realises that escaping one's past is never as easy as it seems, and when feelings start getting involved, hiding who you are can be a secret that weighs incredibly heavily. She's the same complicated character I loved from the previous series, but more dangerous. She's always been someone who has an air of 'don't mess with me' surrounding her, but is now more lethal than ever, and when she threatens murder, it is not an empty threat.

Alongside Rosalind, we also have multiple other POV', some characters readers of her previous series will recognise and some wholly new to us. Celia, Rosalind's sister. Alisa Montagova, Roma's younger sister and now communist spy. Orion Hong, Rosalind's partner and fake husband and Phoebe Hong, Orion's meddlesome younger sister who has a knack for turning up at the most inopportune of moments. As well as Oliver Hong who is Celia's partner in the Communist party and Silas, a member of the Nationalist party who grew up with both Orion and Phoebe, though these two don't get POV's, we get plenty of insight into them as characters. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between these characters and how Rosalind treated and interacted with them. With Alisa and Celia, she could be wholly herself, Rosalind Lang, whereas with Orion and the other members of the Nationalists she had to become someone else, Janie Mead, and at time she certainly struggled to keep up with her new persona.

Since the events of Our Violent Ends, not much has changed in Shanghai, the city is still at war, though instead of the gangs, it's a war between political parties with the ever looming threat of Japan slowly encroaching. Rosalind isn't with the Nationalists because she believes in their cause, rather because they have given her the chance to atone, to enact her revenge, and so she does as she is asked, something she and Orion have in common. He joined the Nationalist party after his father was accused of being a Japanese spy, to try and save his father as well as the rest of his family from disgrace. Neither are particularly fussed which party wins, they simply want their city safe from invasion. The mystery we follow through this story is one of multiple poisonings that have been happening through the Chinese quarter of Shanghai, something both the Nationalists and Communists believe the Japanese are behind. Thanks to Gong giving us the POV's of characters from both parties we get to see the mystery unfold, each side has information the others don't, and Gong expertly weaves the two together until it reaches it's climactic ending.

Now I know what you're all wondering! Is there any romance, and there is, in spades. First up we have Rosalind and Orion, forced to work together and fake a marriage to ensure their cover *swoon*. Rosalind want's in and out on this mission, she isn't a spy and certainly doesn't relish working with anyone, let alone living with them. Orion is a self confessed play boy, flitting from person to person, never setting down routes or entering true relationships. Their interactions were steamy, heartwarming and also absolutely hilarious in parts with Orion determined to call Rosalind 'beloved' every chance her can, and Rosalind threatening to kill him on more than one occasion. I loved seeing them open up to one another, slowly breaking down the walls, and realise that maybe not working alone forever is a good thing. Alongside these two idiots in love, we have yet another pair. Celia and Oliver her partner in the communist party. Their scenes were few and far between, but I almost ended up more invested in them than the main romance and am praying we get to see more of them in the next book.

Gong has done it again. She's created another bunch of characters that absolutely own my heart, a political and magical mystery that had me glued to the pages and, similarly to her first series, has managed to both rip my heart out and scream what the actual fuck as I'm reading the story. She's an expert at foreshadowing, at dropping little hints as to whats to come, though I still wasn't prepared for the absolutely shocking ending she leaves us with. Let's just say that I need book two in my hands now!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

Fould Lady Fortune was one of my most anticipated books of the year ( 5 star prediction as well) and it did not dissapoint.

We follow Rosalind Lang a few years after the events that happened in our violent ends. Rosalind cannot age and she putting it simply, cannot die, thought its more complicated than that. There isa ctually a nice and lenghty explication of whats going on which i really liked seeing how sometimes authors decide to put things in their novels and not explaing them, make them look as it should be there just because. Anyways, Rosalind is working under the Nationalist and now she is given a new task. A new wave of deaths is strinking Shangai and know she has to go undercover and figure out what is going on with the help of Orion. Posing as a marriad couple they now have to inflitrate the japanese and find a way to stop the murders.

Being honest, i was worried about how the auhtor would portray Rosalind. We know how OVD ended. OVD end changed her. She is now more mature and cold and is looking for a chance to redeem herself. I though she would be too much alike Juliette tbh but i was proved wrong. Rosalind was a complex character and so real. She has grey areas and i loved her.
Orion is my baby and him as well, was beautifuly written. I could see how much he struggled with his tasks and being himself and how it took a toll on him. How difficult everyhting was for him but how much of that he did all because he wanted to portect the people he loved.

We see Celia again and i love her even more now. She is an incredible character and an incredible person. There are new characters as well which i will not talk about and let yall get to know by yourself.

This time around the politics were almost like the main character and i truly dont know how Chloe Gong could have made something so twisted and confusing so intriguing. Politics are the bigger part of the book and everything was confusing in a way that made sense. The characters are confusing and everything is confusing and doesnt make sense. there are secrets and everyone has their own agenda and you never know who to trust. I loved it.


Now i wanna mention certain things with spoilers so please beware SPOILER BELOOOW. SPOILERS BELOW SPOILERS BELOW.











Fucking hell priest?? Like Phoebe my baby i love you you are the moment i totally did not expext that. I though one of the people who worked with Celia was Priest or even Silas but PHOEBE ??? My baby you are a legend and i love you keep doing it i wanna know everything about you.




This is my delulu ass talking but the note at the end?? JM ?? Juliette Montagov maybe?? like ok this sounds crazy but the scientific of the white roses he turned Rosalind into a weird winter soldier thing ok and then he dissapeared. What if he had found a way of of helping Juliette and Roma before eveyrhing happened like a serum of that kind and then he dissapeared because now Rosalind is fuckin invencible and he has other secrets and cannot like Roma and Juliette and he cant tell anything u know. And the nationalist and the communist and everyone are trying to amke super soldiers and they are like nope we hide we hide because its dangerous and when J saw everything happening wiht Rosalind and noe she is like ok my bby i will help u get ur bf back?? LIKE CHLOE GONG PLS DO IT?? IF THIS DOESNT HAPPEN THEN I BEG YOU CHANGE THE PLOT OF THE NEXT BOOK I WANT A HAPPY ENDING PLEASE LOVE YOU

Chloe Gong truly never misses and never fails to make me cry so that's fun - I will read absolutely anything she writes

This is actually my first Chloe Gong book, and I was not disappointed at all. As a Chinese, I can relate to the words and understand the context of the book. I really liked how we can see from different characters perspectives, and yes, I must say the book has really changed my viewpoint of historical fiction - in a lovely manner. There are huge, carefully planned plot twists, so watch out and have fun reading;) 5 STARS
-----
plot development ☆☆☆☆☆
character development ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow, this was such a cool concept and setting! Loved every second of it. Way better than her original duology in my opinion!

Wow! Foul Lady Fortune was.... even better than These Violent Delights duo!! 😩😍 I love Rosalind, she's an actual ICON. Highly highly HIGHLY recommend

"We're excellent spies, after all."

As you know, I have been a Chloe Gong fan since day zero, and receiving this e-ARC was literally the best thing that happened to me this year! For this reason I have to thank Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Chloe Gong, that provide me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts are personally mine. Thanks again!

I read These Violent Delights as soon as it came out, I had to wait a whole year for the sequel Our Violent Ends to come out and now I finally read Foul Lady Fortune, the TVD dilogy’s spin-off starring a secondary character of the series, Rosalind Lang, cousin of Julliette Cai of the Scarlet Gang.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was saved from death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging and allows her to heal from any wounds. In short, Rosalind became immortal. Now, thanks to her immortality she uses her abilities as an assassin for the good of her country.

Her code name: Fortune.

When the Imperial Japanese Army begins its invasion march towards Shanghai, Rosalind is assigned another mission. A series of murders involving strange syringes containing a new drug are causing unrest in Shanghai and the Japanese are the main suspects. Rosalind's new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pretend to be the wife of another nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion's cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor irritating, she is willing to work with him for the sake of her country. But Orion has a plan of his own and Rosalind has secrets she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon discover that there are deeper and more terrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

Now let's start with the actual review!

I was really scared before I started reading because I was terrified that nothing would be able to like me more than the dilogy of These Violent Delights, but after reading Foul Lady Fortune I can say with certainty that I was wrong! Sure, obviously there aren't our beloved Julliette and Roma, but when you read about Rosalind and Orion I'm sure you'll love them madly!

As I said I literally loved this book!
Gong's writing is something wonderful as are the stories she manages to create. The book is full of plot twists and the romance is something on another level: fake marriage, partner in crime, couple spying, slow burn!! I loved it!

The cast of characters is truly diverse and full of representation (bisexual, transgender).
What I also appreciated is the fact that the book was divided into three different storylines: one starring Rosalind and Orion, one starring Celia with Oliver (I can't wait for you all to meet Oliver!) and one last secret storyline… I can't tell you everything sorry!!
Another character that I loved so much is Lao Lao… I love that woman!

As in TVD, we see the immense work and all the commitment that Chloe Gong has put into this story and as in TVD also Foul Lady Fortune is a truly complete book, there is a mystery, there is romance, there is a very accurate historical part and there is also the fantasy/sci-fi touch that I really appreciated!

Last thing: check the TW! Especially for syringes and needles… I don't suffer from these things but in this novel the syringes and needles are really present and they trigger me a bit.

In a nutshell, a truly perfect book, Chloe Gong has managed to amaze me again and is re-confirmed as my favorite author and a brilliant writer to whom I wish a great career!
At this point I can't wait to read the 2 short stories coming out in February and obviously after the ending of Foul Lady Fortune I am waiting for the sequel more than Christmas day!

Absolutely loved this book! An intriguing plot set during a particularly interesting time period, with fantastic characters throughout and a wonderful building romance.

Rarely does a piece of literature get me more fired up than the These Violent Delights duology by Chloe Gong. What I thought would’ve been a run-of-the-mill forbidden love plot with doe-eyed protagonists and romanticised gang violence ended up being a grim insight into 1920s Shanghai, delivered in a bittersweet and thrilling tale of what it means to love deeply and dearly.

Needless to say, I have an enthusiasm for the series that is quite infamous within LitSoc. I gave 'These Violents Delights' a glowing review despite its puzzling depictions of science and meandering plot. And I have fought, with great determination, any detractors who dare question the sanctity of Romajuliette – the duology’s main couple – and speak ill of either of their characters.

So when the opportunity came for me to review 'Foul Lady Fortune', the highly anticipated spin-off of 'These Violent Delights', you can only imagine how excited I was to read it before its release date.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

Earlier in the year, Chloe Gong had revealed that Rosalind Lang, a supporting character and cousin to main protagonist Juliette in 'These Violent Delights', would be the central character of 'Foul Lady Fortune'. Now, I adored the core cast of 'These Violent Delights'. But among them, Rosalind was the character I had the most conflicted feelings over. Over the course of the duology she had grown so bitter and spiteful that it angered me. Yet, with how much most of her family dismissed her, she had also earned my sympathy. But would Rosalind as a protagonist taint my enjoyment of 'Foul Lady Fortune'? Still, reflecting on the similar scepticism I had before I started 'These Violent Delights', I put my biases aside and took the plunge into 'Foul Lady Fortune'.

‍And I am pleased to say that Ms Gong has indeed delivered with her latest novel.

Tension and intrigue are staples of Chloe Gong’s writing, and 'Foul Lady Fortune' carries these elements forward with refined pacing. In this new murder mystery set in 1930s China, there is rarely a dull moment as we follow along with our new core cast of characters on their adventures. The Hong siblings – the serious Oliver, the vivacious Phoebe and our flamboyant new leading male, Orion – steal the stage alongside Rosalind and returning characters Celia, Rosalind’s kind-hearted twin sister, and Alisa, the precocious younger sister of Roma, the leading male from 'These Violent Delights', with their conflicting yet interconnected motivations. Between them, Gong does well to expand on the previous series’ themes of loyalty, love and betrayal – this time within the conflict between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists.

Oliver and Orion in particular are incredible foils to Celia and Rosalind’s relationship as siblings. Oliver and Celia identify strongly with the Communists, while Orion and Rosalind work for the Nationalists. Both pairs of siblings, likewise, come from broken families, having strained relationships with their fathers and missing mothers. Yet, while lack of communication and distance have marred Oliver and Orion’s relationship, Celia and Rosalind take great leaps to stay in contact and trust each other with their lives.

It’s endearing to see Rosalind and Celia’s relationship as sisters explored in greater detail like this in 'Foul Lady Fortune', especially considering how their closeness was what prevented my complete distaste for Rosalind in 'Our Violent Ends', the sequel to 'These Violent Delights'. It also further endears me to how Celia’s fierceness to protect her sister is reflected in Rosalind and has coloured her motivations throughout her life.

This further exploration into the facets of Rosalind’s character in 'Foul Lady Fortune' has significantly softened my view of her, as Gong allows us to better understand her inner turmoils, including the reasoning behind her actions in 'Our Violent Ends'.

Beneath her callousness then was a broken young woman who had been repeatedly cast aside by loved ones she’d given her whole heart and soul to. So while I remain frustrated with Rosalind and her tendency towards jealousy and anger, it does not bar me from wanting the best for her and her happiness. Especially when, in 'Foul Lady Fortune', her mistakes have fuelled her drive to make amends and protect those closest to her even more.

Speaking of Rosalind’s closest relationships, 'Foul Lady Fortune', quite literally, forces a new one into her life through her fake marriage to Orion, whose initial frivolousness and flirtations irked me as much as it does Rosalind. In fact, those who follow 'Miraculous Ladybug' will find that Rosalind and Orion hit similar notes to Ladynoir . . . if Ladybug was hardened by the sins of her treacherous past and Cat Noir was an actual playboy. Still, while it was certainly ill-matched at first, Rosalind and Orion as a pairing, much like Ladynoir, slowly warrant endearment when it’s made clear how sincerely and deeply their feelings for each other run.

I’m still partial to Juliette and Roma for their intimate past and passion-filled romance. But those who prefer a gentler, more tender flame will find Rosalind and Orion a fun and heartfelt love story to follow. And Ladynoir set in 1930s China is a relationship I look forward to seeing evolve in the next novel, which Chloe Gong so graciously teases towards the end of 'Foul Lady Fortune', much like she did for 'Our Violent Ends' in 'These Violent Delights'.

With all these elements to like about 'Foul Lady Fortune', my only gripe over the novel is similar to my grievances over its predecessor series: its questionable science. Admittedly, it has taken longer than I’d like for it to sink in that Chloe Gong’s novels are historical fantasy rather than just historical fiction, but reading how the virus in 'These Violent Delights' manifested and spread, at times, confused me more than it intrigued me. Certainly, a dangerous and unknown virus has the great potential to urge further conflict and make an insightful commentary on humanity (as history and current times have shown). But a virus that defies human biology to infect its victims and turns them into eldritch monsters was a little too much to add to a plot already set in a world filled with political unrest, rival gangs and forbidden love plots.

Fortunately, in 'Foul Lady Fortune', the fantastical elements are made more palatable in the novel’s otherwise realistic setting. Drugs that cause death by injection are much less far-fetched than a supernatural virus, and the mystery of the killer is an intriguing trail to follow that doesn’t overshadow the plot and the interpersonal relationships between the characters. While the narrative does introduce a drug that effectively makes people immortal of all things, it at least pairs well with Rosalind’s character, whose inability to age fuels her drive to improve as a person and not run from her past.

Overall, 'Foul Lady Fortune' takes the best elements of the These Violent Delights duology and elevates them to a higher degree. In this spin-off, Gong’s poetic writing shines through a more tightly-woven plot, dynamic cast and subtle twists that make you keep reading and wanting more. And I am exceedingly thrilled to wait for its sequel to come out. I give this novel 4.5 stars.

Rounded up to 5 for NetGalley.

Where do I even begin with this review?!

After reading the These Violent Delights Duology, I came into this book with A LOT of expectations (most of which I was positive wouldn't actually be met because they were just so high). I was half convinced that Chloe Gong had written a masterpiece once and there was no way she would be able to replicate the way her first series made me feel. But boy was I wrong!

Foul Lady Fortune is everything I could have asked for and more. A marriage of convenience between an Assassin and a Spy? Yes. An interesting mystery for them to unravel? Yes again. And a selection of interesting side characters that you can't help loving (With their POVs included)? 1000 times yes. It is the perfect combination of romance, mystery and action. Not to mention all of the representation, Chloe Gong is a goddess.

At no point in this book did I feel bored, or like I had to force myself through it. From the very beginning it was pure perfection and I cannot recommend it enough. Everyone deserves to read this book, deserves to know these characters and their world.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this one and will be waiting impatiently for the next instalment in the series.

P.s. for those of you who kind of hated Rosalind at the end of These Violent Ends (like I did), worry not because you will end up rooting for her in this book.

I was not able to finish this book as my download unfortunately expired. I'll have to read it after its release

With every new book Chloe Gong proves herself to be one of the most exciting voices in YA literature today and it is an absolute treat to watch her grow as a writer. I never had any doubts that this wouldn't be another triumph under Gong's belt, but it feels so satifsying to watch her both prove you right and continue to develop and improve as a writer. I adored this.

Orion my dear, you are welcome to step on me any time.

Anyway.

I loved this book.
More than TVD.
More than OVE.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Rosalind was never a character I gave two fucks about in the original duology, but this time around, she is my favourite.
She is an immortal ex-gang elite turned spy, what is more to ask for?

GRUMPY X SUNSHINE BUT THE OTHER WAY Y’ALL.

Orion is so nice and flirty and charming, and left me giggling at the only source of light in my bedroom at 3 am.
He could say he murdered my entire race and I would still be his doormat. (Ehehe, you see what i did there?)

My favourite thing about the characters is their determinism and attachment to their country! I think a lot of YA authors forget about this attachment and make it all about the love interest. But here, you see the crisis between choosing your own happiness or your city’s tranquility.

The plot is the evidence of Chloe’s improvement from great to amazing. Twists, magic, science, history, retelling, thriller. You got them all.
Her writing is as solid as my love for Orion.

Cannot wait for the second book!!

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book in return for an honest review!

Foul Lady Fortune follows Rosalind (a character we meet in TVD duology) and Orion- a pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of murders in 1930s Shanghai.

Firstly, I love Rosalind and I’m so glad we get to learn more about her character in this spin off duology. And of course I loved the Demisexual representation included in this book!

And ahh the romance in this book was so good. I’m not a big romance fan, but the way Chloe Gong writes enemies to lovers + the forced proximity trope makes me want to be a romance fan.

The overall plot was very exciting to read- I definitely need to read some more books with spies. Although FLF is a ✨thick✨ book, I managed to read it all in pretty much one sitting because I was so engaged in the plot.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this and I’m so excited for the second book in this spin off duology. After that ending, I don’t think I can wait any longer!

If you haven’t read any of Chloe Gong’s other books yet, you’re missing out!

5/5 ⭐️s

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Foul Lady Fortune
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: Book 1 of 2 of the Foul Lady Fortune duology
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Chloe Gong
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Thriller
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 27th September 2022
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5

Foul Lady Fortune is part of a separate duology to Our Violent Delights and These Violent Ends however does follow on from TVE and contains big ol’ spoilers for this duology.

What struck me most about this book was how intense and fast paced it was. There was always something urgent taking place and reading it felt similar to getting whiplash.

This is a complex and political historical noir, with a dash of Captain-America-Formula. Chloe Gong has stated it’s based on As You Like It by Shakespeare, just as These Violent Delights is based on Romeo and Juliet. Initially, I thought I’d have trouble following everything, the different political movements, the hidden agendas, the agendas that were out in the open… But, I was pleasantly surprised that with a little bit of focus, it was easy enough to follow.

To be honest, I feel like the romance wasn’t the best. Even though they were literally spies in a fake marriage and I should immediately love them. I felt chemistry from Orion’s side, but that was it. I felt like it was very much one sided, to be honest, because Rosalind was so busy being secretive and prickly, it meant that any feelings I felt coming from her end seemed like they stemmed from guilt more than a true emotional connection.

The side characters were the best part of the story, I was hugely invested in Alisa and Phoebe, particularly Phoebe. She was such a firecracker and yet the underdog at the same time, I always fall in love with that combination. It actually says a lot that I was more emotionally invested in Phoebe and Silas than I was in Rosalind and Orion.

Chloe Gong’s writing is supreme, there’s no denying that. Usually I would write a review straightaway, the book fresh in my mind, but the last 20% with all its twists and turns had me disassociating out of shock. I literally needed a nap and a strong hit of caffeine to organise my thoughts into something coherent. The last 20% really makes the book shine.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

Another stellar novel by Chloe Gong! I adore the beauty within her novels and the atmosphere she creates. This was amazing and I can’t wait to dive into more of her novels in the future!

Chloe never fails to impress. I enjoyed These Violent Delights duet and this book as her debut into the “adult” genre is just chef kiss. I can’t wait for the next book!

If Chloe Gong is going to finish this series like this violent delights I’m gonna scream for an entire day. I really loved all the new characters, especially the sweet sweet Orion who is already in my top 10 of favorite bookish boyfriends. Rosalind was a character with enormous potential that here is realized in its fullness. I got attached to her immediately, especially because I see myself in her. Her trust issues are so real after what she went through in Our Violent Ends, and only a cinnamon roll like Orion could’ve breached her armor. Plus, her relationship with Celia is so true and pure, even if they are on opposite sides, family is stronger and they know how to protect each other. The plot is quite intricate and there are some plot twists that really let me speechless. It’s incredible how bad I need the sequel even if I literally just finished it. Let’s pray all together for a happy ending this time!

I am in awe. This book was everything and I may in fact love it more than the first series These Violent Delights. I loved the characters, Orion and Rosalind were amazing, as were Celia, Oliver, Alisa, Silas and Phoebe. This book honestly pulled me out of my reading slump as I had no doubt it would!! The story was flawless and so well thought out and the plot twists dropping every five seconds were crazy! I’m really looking forward to book 2. I can’t believe I’ll have to wait so long but Chloe Gong’s writing will always be my favourite. She can really weave a story together and it’s so inspirational honestly. Definitely recommend everyone to read this if they read TVD and OVE.

This is a sort of spin-off of These Violent Delights duology and the start of a new one. Chloe Gong introduce us to a new strong and clever heroine.
There's a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. i love the world building and loved Rosalind.
This author is a talented storyteller and I look forward to the second book in this duology.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Firstly I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC 😍🥰

Foul Lady Fortune is set four years after the events of Our Violent Ends, the Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers have almost dispersed and in the wake of the Communist, Nationalist and the Japanese all vying to take over Shanghai and China. Rosalind Lang is an assassin working for the Nationalists under the codename Fortune. Several murders have happened in Shanghai and everyone wants to get to the bottom of them including Rosalind. She’s assigned a new partner Orion and together they are tasked with working out what’s going on. With Orion’s friend Silas and sister Pheobe as well as Rosilinds sister Celia, Orion’s brother Oliver and former White Flower Alisa Montagova (who are working with the communists), they all intermingle to find out who the killer is…

Foul Lady Fortune was one of my most anticipated breeds of the year and it really did not disappoint. It did take a little bit longer for me to get into than These Violent Delights but it was well worth it. Rosalind and Oliver are incredible MCs, Rosalind is strong, fiery and resilient. She’s just amazing!! Orion came across as a really caring character which to me was really lovely, he was heroic and supportive of Rosalind even when he found out her secrets so the ending was quite shocking and upsetting for me (I’m a crier not going to lie) but what I love about Chloe Gong is that she surprises us even when we know the story (this is a retelling of As You Like It).
I am so excited to see where the it’s going to go in the next one…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 stars

Oh my, this book took me on a journey I’m still recovering from. But in the best way possible. But let’s start from the beginning. It took a little while for me to settle into this book, but once I did it was an absolute joy to read. I love Chloe Gong's writing, and this book shows how perfect it is for writing mysteries. Because nothing was ever easy for me to guess what would happen next. There were so many layers to the plot, that when you thought you'd figured it out there was something else there to put you in a different direction. Having the book set among spies and assassins, the story is fast-paced and action packed. There’s hardly ever a dull moment. There was plot twist after plot twist, and the last plot twist was such a slap in the face. I wasn’t prepared for it and I’m still recovering from it.

This cast of characters was amazing! I wasn’t the biggest Rosalind fan in These Violent Delights duology, but here she came into her own and I was quickly heavily invested in her story. Having her pov also helped get a better understanding of her past actions and the guilt she carries with her because of them. She and Orion were a fun pairing, their banting was hilarious and the fake married trope was so well done. I had a great time reading their shenanigans! There were some more familiar faces in this book, and I was delighted to see them again. Especially one of my favorite characters from the first duology. I’m so happy to see more of her, and the fact she got some time to shine here.There also were some excellent new additions. Overall this rag-tag gang of weirdos was really fun to read about. I have to say - the girls were the stars of this book! Seriously, they were the MVPs! The book features multiple povs, and it actually works. I’m sensitive to having more than 2-3 povs, but here I had no problem at all. I don’t know if it was because I already was familiar with some of the characters, or what it was. But it just worked.

Going in I was worried Foul Lady Fortune wouldn’t be able to live up to the previous book. But it ended up being even more entertaining than them, so I shouldn’t have worried. It was fantasy, mystery and spy adventure all mixed up in one great story that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen nex. I can’t wait for the sequel, and I’m interested in the novella coming next year set during this time. I’m heavily invested in this rag-rag spy group

Chloe Gong has done it again!
Set in 1930s Shanghai, a former dancer (I.e. showgirl) has become an infamous assassin who cannot die. Queue Orion, spy extraordinaire, who she must now enter into a marriage of convenience. The twists. The SLOW BURN. Swooning.

Let’s not forget about Celia (aka Kathleen) and the unfolding relationship with Oliver. Now that’s what I call chemistry.

A historical spy noir type thriller we never knew we needed! A spy. An assassin. A fake marriage. And oh my, the representation. Thank you, Chloe. This book kept me the edge of my seat the whole time.

I don’t think I can withstand a tragedy between these characters.

Need I say more?
I can’t wait to see where this Shakespearean reimagining of As You Like It takes us.

The vibes of this book are impeccable, and I was chuckling when any character that appeared or was already known from other carnivals (understand these carnivals as These Violent Delights), or later on was revealed as a spy for one of the parties, is the same energy as watching a British series: you arrive expecting to see about 20 familiar faces. Those who came back from the other duology are Rosalind Lang, Celia Lang and Alisa, and because of their different points of view, I trusted theirs right away and went with the flow when reading Foul Lady Fortune.

Rosalind gave me a little stress in Our Violent Delights, but at no time did I have problems following her journey, she is the grumpy of the grumpy x sunshine romance cliché rolling around, but I still felt a lot of charisma rolling in and the cloths were always ready to be passed on to her, as she is an assassin with her priorities and loyalties in the right places.

Foul Lady Fortune is a perfect example of the right book at the right time, because the anime Spy x Family left me thirsty for more stories with spies and the release of Chloe Gong being one left me jumping for joy, because in addition to spies I would also receive characters deliciously ridiculous and a lot of historical bullshit in an East Asian setting.

Full review at: https://deiumjeito.blogspot.com/2022/09/review-foul-lady-fortune-chloe-gong.html

Her code name: Fortune. Her purpose: atonement.

A captivating story about an ill-matched pair of spies, a fake Marriage, a thrilling investigation into a series of brutal murders (with the backdrop of events surrounding Imperial Japan's expansion into China in the 1930s).

If you enjoyed the ‘These Violent Delights’ duology, then you will love this. It has the same vibes but very different too. With Chloe Gong’s writing is absolutely stunning (the vivid descriptions of Shanghai, the use of prose; the fabulous dynamic characters) a brilliant, refreshing plot, I was hooked from start to finish.

Rosalind really impressed me in this book. Her characters arc really developed and shone. And I adored the fake marriage aspect - the banter, the nemesis to lovers chemistry was on point. (The perfect grumpy demisexual x energetic, sunshine bisexual).


‘Rosalind had broken the city; she wouldn’t be happy until she fixed it.’

4.7 stars ⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Foul Lady Fortune is a companion book to These Violent Delights. It takes place four years later and we follow Rosalind, who is an assassin and spy.

“Lady Fortune, you play foul.”

I have loved reading These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends a lot and had a hard time getting over the ending, even though it hadn’t come as a surprise. Knowing we would get to revisit Shanghai and some of the characters made me so excited! At first, I thought Alisa would be the main character haha. I was surprised it was Rosalind, but super eager to start reading the story as soon as possible!

The story starts in 1931, four years after the events which led to the deaths of many in Shanghai. A major backbone for the story is the political instability present in Shanghai and the different parties, Nationalist, Communists and the Japanese being major players in the civil war brewing. In the beginning it was a little difficult to follow along all the politics and different parties, but it didn’t take away from the story itself.

The plot was very fun to be honest, even though it was grim as well. It is a bit similar to These Violent Delights, with killings happening and two people trying to figure out why. A difference is that Rosalind and Orion are on the same side and not opposites haha. Those from the other side are closely connected to them though, so we see characters from both sides.

I really liked the characters, both known and new! Rosalind seemed a bit more subdued than before, but that also isn’t surprising when you know what she’s gone through. I loved seeing her coming more out of her shell when around Orion. Guarded as she was, it was super sweet seeing him break through the walls she put up. Orion as well is a character with layers. I loved his mannerism and how he went about the whole operation.

I loved the chemistry between Rosalind and Orion! While they started off bickering a lot, I sometimes missed a bit of humor or something at the start. Nonetheless, they were very amusing and sweet as the story progressed. I loved how slow and real their relationship grew. From the little sweet conversations they had when they opened up more, to the scheme they had to keep up where the lines between real and fake blurred more and more.
It might’ve also been just me, but I honestly took so long to finally connect the Oliver from Celia to Oliver from Orion…

The plot twist and the end, while fully anticipating one coming, still blew me away! The same with the ending! I love the way Chloe writes her books in a way that is super engaging and addicting to read! With the way she ends them as well! I so want to read the sequel, and not even its title is currently known… I am also super intrigued by who -JM is! My BTS loving mind jumped to Jimin hahahaha, but that is kinda impossible. My second guess went to Juliette! I honestly don’t think they would be in the books even if they were alive, but if she and Roma married and she took his name, that would be her initials! I guess we’ll find out next year.

Overall, an intriguing, fun book which was a blast to read! I loved the characters, their development and the overall plot.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved 'These Violent Delights' and 'Our Violent Ends' so you can imagine my excitement when the release of 'Foul Lady Fortune' was announced.

'Foul Lady Fortune' takes place four years after the events of the first duology. Shanghai is no longer controlled by the Scarlet and White Flower gangs. The remaining members have scattered amongst the political factions. And whilst the Nationalists and communists battle for power - the Japanese Imperial Army threatens to invade. People are being murdered in the streets and the Japanese are the prime suspects. Rosalind Lang – forever changed by a strange experiment – is pulled into a Nationalist spy operation. Her mission is to unravel the terror plot and identify those responsible for the murders. But to evade suspicion she must pretend to be the wife of her fellow agent - Orion Hong.

Chloe Gong’s writing just keeps getting better and better. I am truly in awe of how real this world and its characters feel. I love spy stories and 'Foul Lady Fortune' is a brilliant one. It is an intriguing mystery, full of exciting fast-paced action and shocking plot twists. I found myself rapidly turning each page – desperate for more. I loved trying to piece together the mystery as the characters picked up various clues. But even so, the ending was completely unexpected and breathtaking, living up to the tension that gradually built throughout the story.

Chloe Gong always finds a way to pull on our heartstrings. Amongst the excitement, there are soft, quiet moments in the book where the characters take center stage and we explore their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities.

“Trauma doesn't have to lead to destruction. Trauma can be the guiding point to something better, something stronger”

Chloe Gong gives us a character that is familiar but also massively changed. Rosalind is haunted by her past and struggles to find a place in this dangerous world. It is so interesting to see her growth. Even if you did not like Rosalind from the first duology (note: I did) - 'Foul lady Fortune' offers a side to her that is hard not to love.

Orion Hong. I have to admit it took me a while to fall in love with him. But before long I found myself addicted to the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between him and Rosalind – their conversations added a much-needed lightness to this dark story. Behind his playboy persona, Orion is also tormented. Seeing the pair work through their issues together gave their relationship so much power. Their love (and friendship) was tangible. Their scenes together were my favorite parts of the book.

Overall, 'Foul Lady Fortune' completely surpassed my expectations. I do not read as much YA as I used to but I will always be here for these books. I will be counting down the days until the second book releases! Chloe Gong is such a wonderful talent in the YA genre – we are lucky to have her.

Bestselling author of These Violent Delights duology, Chloe Gong, gives us Foul Lady Fortune, the first book in a new duology.
Foul Lady Fortune is about two spies who pretend to be married and investigate murders in the city of Shanghai in 1931. Set a few years after The Violent Delights duology, we follow Rosalind Lang/Fortune (Janie Mead) and Orion Hong as they investigate the chemical killings.

I haven't read TVD yet, but the author mentions that this book can be read even as a standalone duology but if you've read TVD you'll be more familiar with certain characters. After I found out that Foul Lady Fortune is connected to TVD, I bought a copy of TVD and will definitely be getting into this duology soon since I'm curious to see how the connections are made.
I enjoyed this book from the first chapter and was gripped until the end. It took me some time to get into this story since it's my first book by Chloe Gong, but once I got into the story, I couldn't put the book down. Those last few chapters were intense - plot twists, revelations, and fighting. There are some swoony moments too, every time Orion called Rosalind 'Beloved' I felt like melting.

I like Alisa and Phoebe's characters. Phoebe is so curious and upbeat, she always finds a way to be a part of everything. Since I'm new to Rosalind's character, I can't help but favour her too. I can't wait to read TVD and get to know her better. There was never a dull moment in the streets of Shanghai, Gong made sure to keep the reader engrossed in the plot and wondering what happens next. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, how will I sleep at night after that ending!

A combination of 'who did this to you' and a fake marriage makes this historical fantasy a book you need to read. I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book and do a reread.
This was an anticipated read for me and I was thrilled when I got approved for an eARC. I had such a great time reading this book, nothing compares to these characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 Stars!

Synopsis: Shanghai is a broken city, and Rosalind stands in its debris. Now an agent, a weapon, Rosalind must go undercover with another agent to discover the truth about a series of strange murders occurring throughout Shanghai.

CW/TW (May contain spoilers): Violence/Blood/Experimentation/Murder/Poisoning/others may be present.

Rep: Demisexual MC (Rosalind) | Bi/Pan MC (Orion)| Bi/Pan Side Character (Prominent character) | Transgender woman (Prominent character)| AroAce (Prominent character) | PoC cast.

OH MY HEART! I enjoyed TVD and OVE but Foul Lady Fortune??? I ADORED.

So you can read this book without having read the These Violent Delights Duology. However, this book does spoil the ending of the duology, as well as some other plot elements that occur. I would recommend reading the duology first as it also gives you all the background of Rosalind’s character and provides a basis as to why she is as she is now.

Ok, so let’s start with Gong’s prose. Gong’s prose is gorgeous, from her descriptions of settings, to characters, to dialogue. This book is very beautifully written and is engaging right from the start. Moreover, Gong gives us a multiple POV structure that includes Rosalind, Orion, Celia, Oliver, Alisa and more. The multiple pov structure works incredibly well in this book, it perfectly balances the pacing of the story, gives us insight into new and old characters alike and helps to balance the mystery that slowly unfolds over the course of the book. I actually enjoyed all of the POV’s in this novel!

The Plot. Oh I loved the plot! Spies, assassins, fake marriage, mysterious murder, and all set against the backdrop of a Shanghai embroiled in politics – Perfection! There are multiple plots in this book that work together to give us a rich and deep story that is also emotional and personal. Firstly, we have Rosalind, Scarlet Gang turned Nationalist assassin on a one woman mission to take down any and all remaining White Flowers. – This part is deeply embroiled in the plot of the TVD duology and explores the aftermath of it all through Rosalind. This was a minor plot element that feeds into Rosalind’s character as a whole, but I really enjoyed how the book opens up with it.

Secondly, we have the fake marriage spy mission with Rosalind and Orion – magnificent! This was so so well done I loved it SO much. The covers, the spying, the uncertainty, the lack of trust, the slow burn, the slow unravelling of the truth. It was such an excellent plot line and I loved how we also got to learn more about the rest of the cast through this and saw their perspectives on the mystery and murders that are occurring.

Thirdly, alongside the strange murders and spy mission, we get other little mysteries that arise. Secret identities being uncovered, the mysterious Agent known only by a code name, and of course the secrets Rosalind and Orion keep to themselves from each other. All of the mysteries were woven so well throughout the book that I was actually shocked at multiple reveals, only to then realise the pieces of truth were there all along!

I also loved the slow burn romance between Rosalind and Orion – this was slow burn done well – with tension, angst, and even some very comedic moments tied in. It was a true delight to watch these characters interact throughout the book and I adored every minute of it. I also really loved the characters connections with each other and how this facilitated some elements of the plot as it progress, with Alisa being very funny and witty but also still as awesome as ever, Oliver and Celia being on the Communist side and following their own clues towards other truths was excellent. I also have to put a nod too Oliver and Orion’s shared habit of using terms of endearment – MY HEART it was so sweet. Not to mention other characters such as Phoebe and Silas who added even more to the story – every character was so well fleshed out and given such strong characterisation that I loved every single one of them and was thoroughly captivated by all of their stories.

OH AND BOOKNERDS I HAVE THEORIES!!! The ending of this book will blow you away – it is actually cruel that we have to wait for book 2 because I am so desperate to see where the story goes next! Honestly, the ending had me by the throat and still hasn’t fully released me.

I am also so glad that Rosalind was the MC in this book. Her character was interesting in TVD and OVE but I wanted to see more of her. This book gives me everything I wanted from her. Her character is phenomenal – her flaws, her strengths her motivations – everything about her had me completely captivated. Pairing her with Orion was an excellent choice as his character was equally compelling and his personality truly shone through the pages.

Overall, Foul Lady Fortune, by Chloe Gong is a stunning success. It is a complex story that is subtle in its clever weaving of plots and will have you laughing, crying and completely and utterly captivated.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review – thank you!!*

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

First of all. I haven’t read Chloe’s first duology and I don’t plan to even though there are some connections and many of the characters were present in both series. I heard how Our violent ands ended so I wasn’t surprised with all the spoilers In got in this book from the previous books. But yeah, I think it’s good to read the main duology because it give you a clearer picture when you read Foul Lady Fortune.

Second of all. I loved it anyway. Still couldn’t convince myself to read Roma and Juliette story but I absolutely loved Rosalind, Orion and the others. I dare to say this is the best fantasy I’ve read this year and I’m so looking forward to the next book. The mystery, the plot twists and the betrayal!!! I loved it all.

Author: Chloe Gong
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Range: Young Adult
Format: Paperback (E-Book)
Published: 27th September 2022
Pages: 511
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Foul Lady Fortune, the first in a duology, is a speculative historical noir surrounding the events of Imperial Japan's expansion into China in the 1930s.

It's 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging-and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind's mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and 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 her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion's cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

Review

Trigger Warnings: Death, Murder, Violence, and Blood.

This review may contain spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to the publisher Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with a copy.

I was such a huge fan of the These Violent Delights duology and I was super excited when this was announced since it follows one of the characters from that series and I was delighted when I was approved for an ARC. From the very beginning, I was completely drawn into this story and invested in the plot, and I was kept gripped throughout by the plot as I was theorising about what was going on and what was going to happen next. The writing was another great aspect of this book, I loved the lush descriptions and the humour between the characters. Chloe Gong captures the chemistry between Rosalind and Orion so well, it oozes off the page and I am obsessed with them now. Although, after that last section of the book I was completely heartbroken by them, and I’m intrigued to see where their story goes in the next book. One of my favourite things about this book was the characters, especially Rosalind – I just love her character so much and it was interesting to be back with her and find out what she was up to after the events of the TVD duology. We are also reunited with Alisa; Roma’s younger sister and I loved seeing her again. Orion is a new favourite character of mine; he was such a fun character and I loved watching his relationship with Rosalind develop throughout the story. There were also some shocking and unexpected twists including one at the very end about Priest which I didn’t predict, and I cannot wait to find out more about that.

Overall, this was an excellent YA historical fiction novel with a thrilling plot that had me gripped from the very beginning and compelling characters. I cannot wait to read the sequel.

This book was incredible! I absolutely loved it. Chloe has once again destroyed me because how am I supposed to survive until the sequel?!

This book has a lot more political intrigue but I loved it so much and seeing some of my favourite characters from These Violent Delights! I didn’t particularly like Rosalind in the duology but I ended up really loving her in this book. Orion however, stole my heart. I love him and I will protect him with my life.

We get several points of view in this book and I loved seeing things from the different sides and what each side is thinking. I loved getting all that insight and yet was taken by surprise when we got those revelations at the end. I really thought I knew what was happening but there were twists on twists that left me reeling!

The best way to hold up a false identity was to keep it as close to the truth as possible.

I really liked Rosalind’s character development in this book and how she views the events of what happened with Juliette and Roma, and how she influenced everything that happened. The events of the duology and her part in them impact the person she is now and why she decided to become a spy and yet she cannot tell anyone who she is because of the ending of Our Violent Ends. This causes her to become isolated and not let anyone in, she doesn’t form attachments or emotional bonds and when she meets Orion she really struggles with this. I loved seeing her slowly break down her walls a little at a time to start letting Orion in and letting him see the real her. How he shows her that she can trust him and depend on him and will have her back.

Orion is my new favourite character, he is a ray of sunshine and always ready to have a fun time but he also has his secrets and is hiding something from Rosalind but we just don’t know what. He quickly became my favourite character because of how charming and charismatic he is and I loved his banter with Rosalind so much. This boy fell hard and fast for her and I loved watching him be completely in love while she has no idea! The way he is protective of her and isn’t afraid to show how he feels, there were scenes that had me screaming! One of my absolute favourite scenes was the car chase scene and it now lives rent free in my head. Just chefs kisses, I loved it so much!

You cannot save the world. You can try to save one thing if you must, but it is enough if that one thing is yourself.

I also really enjoyed seeing Celia and the snippets we get of Orion’s family and also Alisa and how she is managing now. The whole cast of characters were so great and I cannot wait to see more of them in the sequel.

This book had a lot of politics and intrigue and a murder mystery so there was a lot going on but I still felt the threads of the plot were all really great to read and fleshed out. When they all started coming together, I was on the edge of my seat and then those revelations left me shook! I cannot wait for the sequel and this has become a favourite read this year!

Welcome to your Rosalind era.
I usually summarize book but I'm not going to do that here. I jumped in not knowing anything except "Rosalind" and I think you should too.

Chloe Gong did it again. This was simply amazing. I loved loved loved loved it. I loved the new characters and I loved seeing the old ones. I will without a doubt reread it, probably several times. I love how new layers were brought to characters we already knew and I loved how everything and everyone connected together.
The story was perfectly paced and I just had the greatest fun reading this but also, pain. Chloe Gong really doesn't do it like everyone else and I truly have to recommend this book to everyone, whether you've read TVD or not, no matter your age. Just jump in, and don't look back.

Picture this. You’re working on your dissertation. It’s due in less than a month. You need to spend nearly all your time working on it if you’re going to have a chance of getting it done on time. However, you know that if you don’t do something you enjoy from time to time then you’re likely to burn yourself out very quickly, which is the opposite of helpful. You also have an arc of your most anticipated book of the year sitting on your NetGalley account. Waiting for you. Naturally, you start to use this book as a reward system of sorts. You use reading a chapter or so here and there as a break from working, as well as letting yourself read as much as you like whenever you’re stuck waiting for the bus. This system works perfectly. Everything is fine.

Until you reach roughly the last third of the book, of course. Because that’s when shit hits the fan and the book goes from being already highly enjoyable to utterly un-put-downable.

I lost a whole day to this book and I don’t regret it at all.

I’m less familiar with As You Like It than I am with Romeo and Juliet so it wasn’t as easy to spot where aspects of the original play were being adapted as it was through the original duology. It took me longer than I’m willing to admit that Rosalind’s alias for much of the book was chosen due to it sounding similar to Ganymede. In my defence, my brain was a little fried while I was reading this due to the whole dissertation thing. However, just like in the original duology, Gong has taken the events of the play and real historical events and blended them with her own characters and speculative elements to create a story that I’m genuinely happy to call a masterpiece.

Another thing that’s carried over from the original duology is my love for the characters. I enjoyed reading from every single different pov, which is no small achievement, and by the end of the book I knew that I need all of the major characters to get a happy ending. This duology being based on a comedy rather than a tragedy means that I have a lot more hope that I’m going to get that happy ending this time around, and I’m clinging to that, because I need them to be okay!!!

Something that I think Gong did particularly well in this book is the different sibling relationships and dynamics. Rosalind and Orion both have siblings working for the opposing side. Rosalind and Celia have remained close despite everything, even though as far as their superiors are concerned they aren’t in contact anymore, and it’s probably not inaccurate to say that their first loyalty is to each other rather than to anyone or anything else. This is very different from how Orion feels about Oliver, though Orion does still deeply love his younger sister Phoebe. I love stories about siblings and about complicated sibling relationships, and this was a great instance of both.

A book about spies and intrigue is naturally going to have plot twists and uncertainty as to who can and cannot be trusted. There are so many twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the last few pages, and nobody is beneath suspicion. Crucially, at no point did the twists feel egregious, or that there was too much going on. Everything felt perfectly paced and felt like they worked for the overall story.

Also, I dislike fake dating as a general rule, because it usually involves the people doing the fake dating lying to the rest of their loved ones and it leads to a lot of miscommunication, so I was a little wary going into this even with how high my expectations were. I needn’t have worried at all. All the elements of fake dating plots that I dislike were absent, and Rosalind and Orion made such a great team! Reading about their growing trust in each other and their developing relationship was nothing short of a joy!

If you’re even passingly interested in this one I’d highly recommend giving it a go. Though beware, it does spoil the events of the previous duology, so if you’re interested in those books then I’d recommend reading them in chronological order rather than starting here. Good thing those books are great too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review!

First of all, Chloe Gong, you are my hero and my enemy, please never stop and also stop writing incredible books with incredible cliffhangers. ALSO TELL IF ROMA AND JULIETTE ARE ALIVE I CAN'T HANDLE THESE TEENY HINTS PLEASE CONFIRM OR DENY I'M GOING TO SCREAM.

Okay, now that's over, I (obviously) really, really loved this book. It was so exciting to revisit characters and places from These Violent Delights, but with a brand-new Shanghai and Gong's own original story. She has really taken off on her own and crafted an intricate, exciting story within Shanghai's comple 1930's political landscape. I can't even imagine the amount of research that has gone into how atmospheric and alive historical Shanghai is in the book.

Rosalind is a great protagonist, and her introduction is shocking and exciting. Her and Celia's love for each other is so beautiful, and watching Rosalind begin to find herself worthy of loving again, as well as protecting her city was a great story.

And Orion. I love him, and I cannot believe what goes on with him. Obviously, he and Rosalind are a great team... maybe more... But a big romatic highlight was also the amazing relationship between Celia and Oliver! They are so wonderful together and their power as a covert team as well was awesome.

Once again, Gong has smacked me in the face with plot twists and cliffhangers and I loved every second of it. GIVE ME ANOTHER BOOK RIGHT NOW, CHLOE. I MEAN IT.

Five stars.

So far I've liked every book that Chloe Gong writes better than it's predecessor. And I did like These Violent Delights quite a lot already. What I'm saying is that I really, really liked this one and can't wait to read the sequel. My favourite book by Chloe Gong so far.

Foul Lady Fortune is a 1930s Spy-Novel first, Fantasy book second. And I have absolutely no problem with that.
It is, like the preceding Duology, set in Shanghai, a few years after the conclusion of Our Violent Ends. The city with it's different waring political factions makes for a great backdrop.

The Story itself is at the same time pretty simple (infiltrate anewspaper to find out if they are behind a series of murders) and a little to conveluted (I got a little confused with the sheer ammount of double/tripple agents towards the end) but if you pay attention it is a very satisfying read.

The best part of this book are definetely the characters. I like all of them, which is pretty rare. I will say that I did not care about Rosalind at all during the first two books but she grew on me really quickly in this one. I also like Orion and I was delighted to see more of Alisa.
The relationship between Rosalind and Orion was also really well written. It never felt rushed or overly drawn out.

Plus the LGBTQ+ rep is absolutely fantastic. We have a demisexual main character, a bisexual love interest and major bi, trans and aro/ace side characters.

And then the plot twists of course. Had me absolutely shook and were very satisfying.

I can not wait to start the sequel and this one gets 4.5/5 stars from me.

Chloe Gong has done it again, masterfully weaving together lush world-building, her signature gorgeous prose, slick political intrigue, shocking plot twists, and heart-wrenching romance. I'm still yet to recover from the ending.

I will start by saying that I have not read anything by this author before so I went into this blind and was pleasantly suprised. Full of intrigue and set in 1930's China amidst the threat of Japan invading Shanghai this story follows Rosalind as she is tasked a new mission very different than her usual. Orion will be her partner though I don't think either of them truly know what they are in for! It took a little longer than usual for me to get into this but I pushed through and find I truly enjoyed it and am ready for more!

It's 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging - and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption for her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!

i loved every single character, the plot was so damn interesting and the ending! oh, the ending! chloe gong has done it again: left me in shambles and aching for the sequel. you must absolutely read this if you like multiple povs, fun and morally grey characters and lots of queerness. i'm in love with every aspect of this book.

"your life is mine as mine is yours"


☆this will obviously have some potential spoilers about the tvd duology. so be careful ig??


if there's one thing to say about chloe gong, it is that her writing is one of the best things about the book itself. the way she chooses to describe things has a forever hold on my heart.


diving back into this world brought back a lot of emotions, especially pain. im talking about roma juliette(ikyk).
even a simple mention of juliette roma almost broke me😭 i miss my babies so much.
also i wanted so see more benmars??? there should have been more benmars?? the nostalgia was so real guys.

now lets talk about the characters in this duology.
ALISA WAS THE TRUE HERO OF THIS BOOK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH. AND SHE WAS SO GROWN UP TOO?? i felt so proud of her honestly. AND PHOEBE TOO!! alisa phoebe were definitely my fav thing about flf.
but that's not to say Rosalind and Orion were any behind. i didn't know what to make of them in the beginning, but i actually felt myself fall in love with both of these characters as the story progressed.
i definitely didn't see myself liking rosalind. but miss chloe proved me wrong again and somehow made Rosalind's character arc some of the best shit I've ever read.
Both of them OBVIOUSLY had chemistry together. AND SOME OF THEIR SCENES WERE SO CUTE MY GOD.
them always referring to each other as "my wife" and "my husband" brought me down to my KNEES

also the two characters that deserve a special mention, celia (the absolute loml) and oliver, HAVE to take the award for the best couple. i loved rosalind orion, but they cant beat celia oliver. I KEPT WAITING FOR THEIR SCENES TOGETHER.
truthfully?? they felt like the parent couple 😭 yk?? the couple that takes care of other couples, and gives advice?? yeah them. 💀


The best thing in this book was the plot twists. i NEVER saw them coming. well i figured out 1-2 twists but not in the way i thought. the plot was very very surprising. and well written!! though you never have to doubt about that in a chloe gong novel lmao.
i truly never knew what to expect, and was literally on the edge of my seat every fucking chapter.
i am thoroughly and entirely in love with this world. and waiting(with my whole heart) for the sequel.




ARC received from Netgalley and author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Foul lady fortune by chloe gong

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to netgalley, Pan Macmillan and Chloe Gong for the opportunity to read this book.


I'm giving this 5 stars, heck it deserves 5 stars purely for that ending. Talk about a plot twist.

I really enjoyed seeing all the characters from the original duology making a comeback. I was especially living for the brief mentions of benedikt and Marshall. I hope they get a bigger role in the sequel. I love how easily the characters slip between the different languages and personnas they have access to

"Who did this to you?"..."I'll kill them." Such a classic enemies to lovers line. I swear every time orion said "don't touch my wife" my heart could not handle it. The romance in this one was a lot more subtle than the one between roma and juliette but I quite enjoyed that.

If you're looking for a fast paced book full of action and spy hijinks this is the book for you. I cannot wait for the next one and I'm glad I already have 2 special editions on their way to me. I highly suggest reading the authors statement in the back of the book too which goes into the research they did and the history that they added to the book.

"Someone who had once wandered too far down a dark path and gotten lost was bound to be afraid of losing sight of the lights again"

OMG OMG I LOVED this book!! I've only heard good things about the first duology and so I was so excited to read this one. Ngl my expectations were a little high because I had a feeling that I would end up loving it. AND I ABSOLUTELY DID!

I'll try to put down what you'll get in simple words - 1930s Shanghai. The war between two parties. Two agents who don't go along forced to work together. Reverse grumpy x sunshine trope. Characters who are strong, intelligent and sly. Betrayal and lies. An ingenious plot and a mind-blowing twist that makes you want to read the sequel ASAP!

The political background in which the book is set was unknown to me so I read about the history simultaneously while reading the book and that made this one such an insightful read for me. I've decided to take the author's note seriously and read the other works she has mentioned.

Chloe Gong has blessed us with an absolutely badass Asian FMC!! Rosalind is whip smart, sharp tongued, stern and displays a no-nonsense behaviour while Orion is more easy-going and flirtatious, the kinda character you can't help but fall for.

I've always felt like demisexuality doesn't get much rep in YA books so my poor heart burst with happiness when I read that Rosalind was demisexual! Orion and Rosalind were like counterparts - and I LOVED reading the banter between her and Orion. Their conversations made me laugh, cry and feel anxious to see what comes next. I especially want to appreciate the other characters - Celia, Oliver, Silas and Phoebe too. I can't explain why I love them without giving away spoilers but I wanted to mention that I LOVED them too.

Those last few chapters had my mind reeling. I muttered "omg what the hell!?" a few times to the walls around me (thank goodness no one was around me ig). I know Chloe Gong broke everyone's heart with the first duology and I hope it doesn't happen again because I WILL UGLY SOB. I'm too attached to the characters at this point.

Bottom Line - I IMPLORE YOU, please pick this one up! (heads up - read it only after you've read 'These Violent Delights' duology because there are spoilers for it in this one)

A thought-provoking and beautiful story, filled with drama and high stakes. Gong's writing has improved immensely since TVD and I can't wait to see where she goes. Loved it.

“the world runs on love, not suspicion”
"Love was a curse. Nothing good ever came out of it"

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book, and it had everything one could ever want in a novel!

Rosalind was the best main character, I loved her! everything about her character was executed perfectly and I loved seeing all sides to her during her chapters. She is a true icon and I loved that this book tied in with TVD and OVE too ✨
Orion was also a wonderful main character too, their relationship was amazing. I adore the fake marriage/marriage of convenience trope as well as the sunshine x grumpy trope as well!!

the pace was just right, it was slow to begin with but picked up massively and was really exciting during the last half of the book. I think this links in well to the plot twists - OMG. I didn’t see it coming at all and it was unexpected! I love that once you learn about the twists everything begins to makes sense... it hits the nail on the head.

I really liked the switch in perspectives throughout, although it was slightly confusing so at times it was hard to figure out who’s chapter it was. I really liked the switch in perspectives throughout, although it was slightly confusing because at times it was hard to figure out specifically whose chapter it was. I wouldn’t say this was a con necessarily as it was only sometimes that it was tricky to figure out whose perspective it was.

cons:
- the only main con, was that the political plot line was quite confusing and even by the end I was still slightly confused. it didn’t stop me from loving the book tho and I really enjoyed the historical element too the novel!

I am super looking forward to reading the rest of the series - I think the ending is perfect to start the next book 😌

ONE OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 READS AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Chloe Gong has once again succeeded in creating a masterpiece which made me throw my kindle across my bed multiple times. Do the kids still say "I am shooketh" because I am very much so.

i'm a long time fan of the original duology so i was excited to dive back into Shanghai and in the lives of the Lang twins. Rosalind won me over in just three sentences, i came to love her as much i loved juliette. this new story, set a few years after OVE, is in a way different and familiar, rosalind and orion's struggles with a city still divided, with their identities, real and fake, their relationship with their family, is so touching, and well done, as expected from Chloe Gong. what i love most in her books is the level of research for her story, Shanghai is her third (or first?) main character and it's so vivid, you can really feel like you're walking the same streets. and again, the real history gets intertwined with "fantasy" and the result is spectacular.