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mjscooke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Minor: Murder, Blood, and War
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
When the Japanese Imperial Army starts to invade, Rosalind's mission changes. Now, she must infiltrate a foreign society to see who is committing mysterious murders happening in Shanghai. However, as a part of her new mission, she must post as a wife of Nationalist spy Orion Hong. As the two attempt to work together, Orion is also determined to find out about Rosalind's past. A past she wants to stay buried.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of Foul Lady Fortune to review! This is a spinoff series of Gong's duology from last year, These Violent Delights. If you enjoyed Gong's writing in that series, you'll definitely love diving into this new one.
While you don't have to have read These Violent Delights to understand what's going on in this book, there are spoilers included. Just a heads up! It also makes some of the other character cameos more satisfying. In general, I think it adds more to the story if you already know what went on up until this point. But I digress!
This is pitched as a retelling of As You Like It, so if you're into those Shakesepare retellings, Gong does some of the best. For this one, she definitely adds that historical thriller intrigue. A spy and an assassin working together? Sounds like another series I'm a fan of (Spy X Family, if you're curious!). But this one definitely isn't as lighthearted.
I will say, Gong takes a while to get going in any of her novels. The starts are pretty slow, but once the action picks up, it picks up. It was hard to put the book down for the second half of the book. You'll definitely be hooked!
All in all, if you like historical retellings of classics with unique spins, definitely pick this one up when it comes out!
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A slow start, like Chloe Gong's other books, but once it picks up, it's hard to put down! Stay tuned for a full review to come next week.
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, and Racism
Minor: Child death and Transphobia
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
rachrreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you haven’t read These Violent Delights & Our Violent Ends look away. Small spoilers ahead for the prior duology.
PREMISE
Rosalind Lang was saved from death, but the cure changed her. Now Rosalind is able to heal instantly to any wound, making her virtually immortal. The downside? She does not age anymore, making her 17 for the rest of her life. Turning to the Nationalists after the disaster with Dmitri Voronin, Rosalind is now an assassin. Code name Fortune.
There have been a recent slew of murders, all seeming to be chemically induced and all seems to be pointing towards a Japanese company. Rosalind (known now as Janie Mead) has been tasked with infiltrating the company alongside another agent— Orion Hong. Orion is the middle child of a Nationalist general and a Nationalist spy in their covert division. Hiding amongst the elites and extracting information easily in plain site.
The two are ready for the mission— the only catch? They have to pretend to be married, which means sharing Rosalind’s apartment. The two go undercover as Mr. and Mrs. Mu in order to find information on these chemical killings without arising suspicions.
TROPES
If you know me, you know by now I am a SUCKER for fake dating/fake relationships. This book does this trope justice (but when have I ever hated a fake dating book?).
Other tropes— one bed, caretaking while sick, mutual pining, grumpy/sunshine.
CHARACTERS
Rosalind Lang AKA Janie Mead
Who would’ve thought I would grow to love her? After the events of the previous duology, I was so upset to learn she was getting her own series. She betrayed her family!! But I really grew to like Rosalind during this first book.
She really struggles to accept any love or kindness and has a ton of guilt she is holding onto— which is to be expected after everything she went through with Dmitri Voronin. On top of that she feels as if she has to be a savior to atone for all her past sins. This is part of the reason she joins the Nationalists as an assassin is so she can rid the world of evil.
One thing I am confused on in her development as a character is that Rosalind was very flirty and fun in the TVD duology and now she seems to have turned into a Juliette 2.0. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED it, but I would have liked to see more reasoning behind this development other than she almost died and is now an assassin. All of a sudden she’s a grumpy gal with secrets and a love of poison. It just seemed very abrupt at the beginning of the book. Although I do like that Chloe Gong showed Rosalind didn’t have much of an allegiance to the Nationalist party and really she was just with them because they were willing to welcome her in. All Rosalind ever wanted was to fit in
Orion Hong
I wish we got more detail from his background and perspective of things. So far a lot of the stuff we learned about his background was superficial (minus a few things that I will not go into due to spoilers). I am hoping we get more from this in the next book. Maybe even more of his POV or some flashbacks.
I like that he was always in a good mood. It is nice to see a sunshine boy and grumpy gal pairing, but as I mentioned before a lot of his character was pretty surface level. He is portrayed as a player and I am sure part of that is so he does not have to let others in after what he has experienced, but I hope Chloe dives deeper into his character. There is a bunch of potential with all the cute one-liners he delivered while “faking” his marriage with Janie.
Also I freaking love the word beloved now.
Celia Lang
While I loved Celia in the original trilogy I found her chapters lacking. There was not enough depth to them and I really wanted more from her POV. They were also really freaking boring up until the end when things were beginning to take shape with the plot. I hope we get more from her in the next book.
She has joined the Communist’s as a spy and I love the whole siblings on opposite sides thing. Again, I do not think she has much loyalty to them as she does her sister.
Oliver Hong
I really do not care much for him. As a THG stan he is very much giving Gale Hawthorne and I do not like it. I really hope the next book proves me wrong though. He also has ruined the word sweetheart for me. I cannot.
He is also a Communist spy with Celia. I will not go into too much detail past that as too avoid spoilers.
Alisa Montogova
Alisa was one of my favorite background characters in TVD/OVE and I was so disappointed when I found out she was not the main focus of this duology. She has been through so much after the events of the original duology and is all alone in the world. She too defected to the Communist side, likely due to her affiliation as a White Flower.
Also I love that Chloe has confirmed she is aromantic and asexual and even put those clues into this book. I really want more from her in the coming book and it seems like she will play a big role in the next one…
Phoebe Hong
Youngest sibling of Orion and Oliver. She really loves to have fun. Her brothers, and the rest of the world, definitely underestimate her. Throughout the book she throws herself into the fray, despite not being a spy. I love how she always gets Silas in on it too.
Silas
Family friend and best friend of Orion. He has been in love with Phoebe his whole life and would do anything for her. A Nationalist spy gathering surveillance information and backing up Orion and Rosalind in their current mission.
THE ROMANCE
The tension between Rosalind and Orion was *chefs kiss*. Chloe Gong KNOWS how to do romance and this is definitely a strength of hers. The set up of having to trust each other with your life but also having secrets to hide since you’re spies? SIGN ME UP.
There are a few scenes that were quite memorable— car chase, after hours in the office, and of course one at the very end I will not even tease at. JUST IMMACULATE ROMANCE AND TENSION.
For Taylor Swift fans, there is an invisible string reference that had me SCREAMING.
THE PLOT
I was hoping when I read that the two mains were a spy and an assassin that I would get more action, but I felt this part greatly lacking. The front half of the book severely dragged and I definitely could have used more action as Chloe set up the stage for the big twist.
Another thing I struggled with was the whole Communist and Nationalist plot. I am so glad Chloe brings this kind of political context into her books, but everything was very confusing and hard to follow as a reader. I struggled to know what each side really wanted with the Japanese trying to invade Shanghai as well. Maybe this is just due to my lack of knowledge with history, but I wish this was better woven into the story.
Also there was one thing within the plot I found very lazy and too convenient, but will hold onto as it could be seen as a spoiler.
Although I struggled with the first half of the book, it really began to pick up in the second half. One thing Chloe knows how to do and do well is a plot twist you don’t see coming. I actually gasped out loud when the big twist was revealed. I had many theories while reading but none of them were what actually happened. The end leaves the reader ready for book 2 (and screaming at Chloe for doing this to us)!!
Another thing I would like to point out is this reads more historical fiction than fantasy to me. The only thing that really makes this fantasy is the fact that Rosalind has some special powers.
No context spoiler
There was a very Fourtris-esque scene (Divergent fans where you at?) in the book that made me scream. It made my 2014 Fourtris stan heart both happy and frustrated. There was also an Everlark scene as well which had me squealing.
Finally, The EASTER EGGS that were left from the original trilogy. I will not go into detail but there were some lovely hints in there that will make fans very happy.
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and War
Minor: Child death
dhwani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
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!!
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Medical content and Violence
Minor: Transphobia
ashortbooklover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Gore, Torture, Murder, Death, Violence, and Sexual harassment
bookwormbullet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Gore, Death, and Blood