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.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong is set in the same world as These Violent Delights and it’s set after that duology. You can read Foul Lady Fortune on its own, but if you also plan to read These Violent Delights read that first.

In this story we follow Rosalind who is a spy and likes to come for enemies with poison. She is an absolute badass and I really liked how clever and full of wit she is. Rosalind also has a unique ability that only added to it. She was my favorite part of this story.

The book is very historical and that was well researched and I also liked how the author explained her research and inspiration for that in the author‘s note. It’s set in Shanghai in 1931 when a lot of murders appear. Rosalind investigates those and in the process teams up with Orion, who is also a spy, and the two pose as a married couple. Their banter was really good.

The story was fast paced and it felt a lot like a movie that played in your head. In addition, Foul Lady Fortune is very rich and complex in secrets, intrigue, history and politics and was interesting to see even though sometimes I got a bit lost in all of that.

Overall, if you are looking for an enthralling read with spies, history and a dash of romance this will be perfect. 4 stars.

(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

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.

Foul Lady Fortune was a thoroughly enjoyable read even without having read the previous duology (although I shall certainly be diving into it now). A light sprinkling of speculative elements adds to a spy intrigue story that has the right balance of personal stories and political history. I love Rosalind as a protagonist - her wit, her navigation of the line between human and inhuman, and her well integrated demisexuality are all great. After some hesitation, I was even sold on her relationship with Orion, and generally this is a likeable cast (although a few major players are still in need of more spotlight). After a slow build, we get a finish that is certainly dramatic, although I can't decide whether I think some of the twists are great or a bit much. This is a book I can't see myself rereading, but that doesn't stop me eagerly waiting for the sequel.

I think I might actually like this better than I liked the these violent delights trilogy.

Now don’t get me wrong I loved Roma and Juliette but oh my god Orien you have my entire heart. I loved him so much, his personality was so fun and flirty and I loved the dynamic between him and Rosalind.

At the end of the last books I wasn’t particularly happy with Rosalind but foul lady fortune has made me love her again. The storyline was great, the political aspects did get a little confusing at times but overall the story, the new characters and seeing previous characters return really made this book great.

I can’t wait to read the next one, especially after that ending.

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 😩🤚

i have to say that i really enjoyed reading foul lady fortune, and of course i couldn't help but compare my reading experience with these violent delights. in regards to pacing, prose, and overall plot, i have to say that i liked it more that tvd. i don't know if it's because i was already familiar with most of the characters but i had so much fun while reading it, especially once i hit chapter 25 i just couldn't put it down! i loved the dynamics between the characters, and obviously the all the romance in the book! orion and rosalind are a very slow burn couple but every little moment between them left me wanting for more, when it came to oliver and celia the connection between them was immediately clear and they stole the show in their every scenes. i do have to confess that while i loved all the characters together, i still felt a little detached from them individually. the plot was absolutely gripping, and all the revelations were shocking but made all the little hints click into place. as much as i think people should be able to read flf without having read the previous duology, i wpuld still recommend reading tvd and ove to get the full picture especially when it comes to rosalind and celia!

arc provided by netgalley and hodder and stoughton in exchange for an honest review.

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!

I was hoping to enjoy this, however I don’t think the writing style is for me. I do believe that fans of the authors previous work will enjoy this one though as it sets off a new series.

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.

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.

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.

3.75

Foul Lady Fortune brings us back to Shanghai and the aftermath of Our Violent Ends, this time following Rosalind, Celia, and Alisa, with a few new characters along for the ride.

I enjoyed this book mostly for the characters and the romances. They were all likeable and there were so many good quotes and moments for the ships. I also liked the new characters introduced. There was a lot of good banter, especially between Rosalind and Orion. Of course, I went right back to adoring Alisa and Celia. I was iffy about Rosalind at first because....you know, but she wasn't an annoying main character and she grew on me a little.

Plotwise, it was okay. It didn't wow me especially, but I think it was a solid effort. One thing I noticed from Chloe Gong is that she takes a long time to get to the climax, just building it up, and sometimes it just doesn't really work for me? I get antsy and impatient waiting for things to eventually drop.

I will say, the ending left me speechless. I don't know what to feel about it yet, because I'm thinking something but also I'm a sucker for a happy ending so I might be way off the mark, but also I don't know if I like it because it ruins something else. I don't know if that makes sense but yeah. Fans and lovers of this book's world will go wild with Foul Lady Fortune.

thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

i devoured this book in 2 DAYS... and now i've had several days to collect my thoughts and come out with a coherent review that isn't just endless gushing about how much i liked this book even more than i did tvd.

when chloe gong first announced her plans for this new duology last january, before Our Violent Ends came out, i was already looking forward to this story and the main characters that would live it. when OVE came out and she could finally release more details about this book, i was even more excited for it. being one of my most anticipated releases of 2022, i had high hopes for foul lady fortune - especially with it being the story about rosalind and her self-determined journey towards atonement for her mistakes - and im glad to say those expectations were reached and this book really worked for me.

i knew immediately it was gonna be a 4-5 star read when i could not stop thinking about it and even when i was forced to put it down (because of work), i could not stop thinking about rosalind and orion, but also of alisa, celia, oliver, phoebe, silas and their individual secrets and motives. i felt myself empathising with rosalind and her constant trying, trying her best to fix the mistakes of her past and keep up this facade of janie mead's life that is so different from rosalind lang's.

orion was an endearing male lead too, and his desire to do what he thinks is righting his father's wrongs and saving his family name is so different yet such a parallel to rosalind's journey.

ALISA my best girl was amazing as usual, and even more resourceful and intelligent than before. i was SUPER happy to see her grown and it made me so proud to see how far she's come from her 13 yo self (though i'm certain i'm not the only one who's proud😉).

celia, who has found her purpose, is so much more confident and i loved that no matter how devoted she is to her cause, she would always be loyal to her sister first. it was strange to see her act older, be older than rosalind, who will always be 19, and who was the older sister & twin.

phoebe hong, the woman that you are!!! many aspects of her character and her past were very vaguely described through orion's lenses, and he only knew what he saw, so i did not expect THAT twist at the end, but it certainly made her an even more intriguing character and now i cannot wait to delve more into her past in book 2.

silas wu xielian, what can i say?? 🤭 i loved how whipped he was for a certain someone, but other than that aspect, we only learnt a little about him, and throughout reading this book, i always had the feeling he was involved in the plot in a bigger way, but whether that was true or just my speculation was never revealed, so we shall see in book 2. either way, i have a feeling he'll have a bigger part in book 2 than he did here.

overall, i loved this book for it's pace, for the amount of bombshells and plot twists that were dropped on us, the little mentions & hints here and there of characters i loved from days past (view spoiler)
that said, this book was not perfect by any means, and i had several opinions about how differently the warring factions (nationalists & communists) were treated, almost with a biased lens, with the nationalists portrayed as untrustworthy and selfish (besides the events from true history that were shown accurately), while the communists were painted as 'selfless' and 'faultless', willing to sacrifice themselves for the "greater cause". the other more personal opinion i had was that the reveal of rosalind's identity seemed a little anti-climatic. i was expecting it to be more dramatic, and with the build up of secrets piling up between rosalind and orion, i thought it would be, but the way it happened seemed almost too easy and without conflict.

those were what made me give this book 4 stars rather than 5, but other than that, i really enjoyed the twists & turns and the emotional journey that this book brought me on even more than tvd, and i absolutely need book 2 to come now.