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evarinya's review against another edition
Got too convoluted for me at some point, so I looked up the plot to figure out what was going on (I tend to have a better time reading mystery/thriller books that start bothering me halfway through once I know about the mystery) - well, turns out it was a good thing to spoil myself - I would have absolutely hated the reveal at the end, so I'm going to jump ship now.
A pity, for the premise was interesting, if confusing, and I liked the Rosalind/Orion chemistry and how things developed, but... yeah. No, thank you.
A pity, for the premise was interesting, if confusing, and I liked the Rosalind/Orion chemistry and how things developed, but... yeah. No, thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Gun violence and Stalking
thebooklovingpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I'm still in shock! It was hit after hit in the last quarter or so and the twists!
I'll admit it dipped a bit in pacing and intrigue around the middle - not that it truly dragged, but with so many details and characters it just felt more confusing and burdensome than it probably should have. The lead up to the end more than made up for it though and I'm raring to read 'Foul Heart Huntsman'! I even went straight to BUY the matching collectible (before I talked myself out of that impulse purchase), that's how strong the hold the ending had on me.
(I am getting the e-book though! I need to know what's next! And I am just dying to meet the oh-so-mysterious JM...)
Pre-review: Okay, I caved and pre-ordered the Waterstones special edition. I'm a sucker for foiling on hardbacks...especially when it's this pretty...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Death, and Grief
Minor: Transphobia
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I gave Our Violent Ends 5 stars and to be followed by this book just solidified that Chloe Gong is officially an auto-buy author for me, bc this book did not disappoint one bit. This universe and its storyline’s are so interesting to read about especially when we get to see different characters perspectives on what’s going on politically and personally. I love that this book was more action packed than the previous duology bc I loved the spy + double agent arcs since you can never be too convinced about one’s loyalty in this ‘kill or be killed’ world. Don’t even get me started on the slow burn romance between Rosalind & Orion bc they legit had me blushing and kicking my feet from cute and intimate their interactions were especially since they aren’t physically intimate. The prolonged eye contact, them dancing and him putting on her necklace while looking at her in the mirror? Him literally beating up the man that attacked her screaming “Don’t touch my wife!” LORDDDDD I eat that shit up every fucking time and I love it 😫 One might say I loved these two a bit more than Roma and Juliette but don’t tell them that 🫣 PLUS the romantically intimate scenes from the side characters like Oliver and Celia *swoooooon*. I cannot wait to start Last Violent Call bc the ending had me screaming‼️ If the note is from who I think it is, I will cry :’) I must continue reading this series if it’s the last thing I do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, War, Blood, Abandonment, Confinement, Murder, Colonisation, Grief, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Police brutality
leonaskye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Death, and Medical trauma
Minor: War and Grief
harvsgiraffe's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is simply captivating. The play between reality and fantasy is done so well, and with ample research behind the 1930's Shanghai, it is the perfect toe dipper into fantasy, as well as just a generally good story. I can't wait to start the second book, especially after the cliffhanger it ended on. I cannot wrap my head around how well executed it all was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Medical content, Torture, and War
prashiie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
“Trauma doesn't have to lead to destruction. Trauma can be the guiding point into something better, something stronger.”
First of all, the historical aspect of this book is really interesting. The previous books focused on the Kuomintang and the Communists. Now, the Kuomintang took over and the communists are also on the down-low. The political tension is still higher than ever due to the imminent danger of Japanese invasion.
The main character is Rosalind. I wasn’t particularly invested in her in ‘These Violent Delights’ and ‘Our Violent Ends’, but that really changed with this book. She’s such an interesting character mainly because of her internal struggles. And this girl can run whilst wearing heels?! Meanwhile here I am struggling to walk on heels. The fantasy part of this story is great too. Rosalind is supposed to be dead so she now lives her life as Janie Mead. She is also Lady Fortune, an immortal assassin working with the Kuomintang to save her city and to right her wrongs. A side effect of being immortal is that she doesn’t have to sleep anymore. Imagine not having to sleep and being able to read all night long, that’s the dream…
Anyway, Rosalind knows she made some bad decisions in the past and regrets it deeply. After someone she loved and trusted betrayed her, she finds it hard to put her trust in someone again, let alone love someone again. She gets paired with Orion for an undercover mission. They have to pose as a couple and so they get married. Orion is easygoing and very social. Rosalind on the other hand is very reserved and panics as soon as he gets a little too close. The trauma is still fresh, even after all these years. Enough to say that it’s definitely not love at first sight.
“All her love seemed to emerge in an identical manner. It wasn't that it would be absent one day and then present the next. It would move in without her notice and get comfortable and conquer more and more space, and she wouldn't even know that there was a new occupant in her heart until she started wondering where all this furniture had come from and love flashed its dazzling grin at her to say hello.”
But their love story is definitely blooming and it’s indescribably cute.
“She was his guiding saint, the Polaris of his heart.”
“Your life is mine as mine is yours.”
I’m loving it!
But let’s not forget about Celia! She has been a favourite of mine from the start and one thing she mentions really resonates with me.
“Celia had never been very good at making demands. Something about it had always felt fundamentally wrong to her, she could never rid herself of the feeling that being difficult would drive people away.”
The ending though… Even if it wasn’t completely unexpected, I was a little shocked to find out who was responsible for all the misery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Misogyny, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Transphobia, Gun violence, War, Toxic relationship, Torture, Infidelity, and Death of parent
ghostsversion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
I… I have no words. I mean I won’t go so far as to say this was perfect but then again compared to the other duology this was such an improvement (no hate to the OG gang). Honestly I think I liked the fact we weren’t infodumped as much as before. Like, there was actually some build-up to the ending, in my opinion at least. Also spies (cue to the theme from “Spies are Forever”). And the main couple were also much more interesting to me, as their romance was developed with the story. So yeah now I am very excited to continue this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Car accident, Blood, Grief, Confinement, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Biphobia
emilywemily6's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Chloe Gong does it again. This book was such a joy to read and did not feel like an 18 hour read. While I predicted a few things that the characters learned throughout the book, but there were so many plot twists and so many details that were woven together expertly. While Rosalind didn’t seem like a good spy, I understand why she had a hard time with that. I loved the deeper motivations of these characters and the large cast of characters in general. I am so excited to see what happens in the next book!! I’m so glad that it’s already come out, I will be starting it asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Murder, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Grief and Medical content
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
jilljemmett's review against another edition
5.0
Shanghai, 1931: Four years ago Rosalind Lang was brought back from the dead, with a drug that stops her from aging, sleeping, and allows her to heal quickly from any wound. She uses her new abilities to work as an assassin for the Nationalists under the code name Fortune. However, when there are a series of strange murders throughout the city, Rosalind’s mission changes. She must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong. Rosalind doesn’t trust him with her true identity, but she’s willing to work with him for the mission. As they investigate the murders, they discover they both have secrets that are connected to the bigger conspiracy happening in the city.
This book was an exciting beginning to this duology set in the world of These Violent Delights. I loved seeing the characters again. Rosalind and her sister Celia were intriguing in These Violent Delights but they weren’t the main characters, so I’m glad they get a larger role in this series. At the beginning, it was a little confusing to figure out who was on which side of the Nationalists and Communists, especially since there were many double agents with multiple identities. However, there were so many twists near the end of the story that I didn’t want it to end! I’m so excited to read the next book!
Foul Lady Fortune is another great story by Chloe Gong!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book!
Content warnings: death, stabbing, gun violence, death of sibling (mention), parental abandonment
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Abandonment