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readingsitaaras 's review for:
Foul Lady Fortune
by Chloe Gong
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Foul Lady Fortune is a historical sci-fi book that surprised me. I've read Chloe Gong's previous These Violent Delights series and wasn't super attached to it, but I decided to check this new addition of hers to the world of TVD anyway. And I'm so glad I did because I found myself liking this book a lot more than I did her previous works!
I remember finishing her first series and feeling like there was a lot of potential, that Chloe Gong was only going to get better, and she so proved me right because everything is just better here. The writing has improved with more natural dialogue and beautiful descriptive writing. I especially loved the writing style of the unknown narrator chapters that were in the third person. There were some cliché parts here and there, but overall, the writing was so enjoyable.
The plot, btw, goes so crazy in this book and I mean that in a good way. Did I sometimes have no idea what was going on with the more political side of things? Yes. But even when I wasn't fully understanding things, I was still somehow having a good time reading. The steady pacing certainly helped--we get a nice balance of slower moments and fast-paced action, ensuring that you stay invested the whole time. Also the plot twists??? Unpredictable, insane, desperately need the sequel so I can read more about it.
The characters are, like the other elements, much stronger in this series. They're more well-rounded and Rosalind's motivations and actions made sense. Also, it's indicated that Rosalind is demisexual and I cannot express how happy I was to read that because characters on the ace spectrum are few and far between! Rosalind and Orion as a thing were cute too. A little cliché, like I said before, but I was enjoying myself regardless.
My only issues are little nitpicky things. For one, I would've liked to have chapter headings that make it more clear whose POV we're in, because I can't say that the perspectives were always super distinct enough that I would know whose head we're in right away. As I said before, the plot is fairly complicated and it could've been a little easier to follow along if there was like one less plot line. Also, this was partly really funny but still, Rosalind and Orion being kind of terrible spies makes it a little difficult to take them seriously like y'all, do better please.
Foul Lady Fortune doesn't really have any significant issues for critique, at least not for me. You get a wild plot, cool characters, and a fascinating setting that mixes the historical and science fiction. If you liked These Violent Delights, this is for you. If you were kind of ehhh on it, this is still for you. Highly recommend giving it a chance <3
I remember finishing her first series and feeling like there was a lot of potential, that Chloe Gong was only going to get better, and she so proved me right because everything is just better here. The writing has improved with more natural dialogue and beautiful descriptive writing. I especially loved the writing style of the unknown narrator chapters that were in the third person. There were some cliché parts here and there, but overall, the writing was so enjoyable.
The plot, btw, goes so crazy in this book and I mean that in a good way. Did I sometimes have no idea what was going on with the more political side of things? Yes. But even when I wasn't fully understanding things, I was still somehow having a good time reading. The steady pacing certainly helped--we get a nice balance of slower moments and fast-paced action, ensuring that you stay invested the whole time. Also the plot twists??? Unpredictable, insane, desperately need the sequel so I can read more about it.
The characters are, like the other elements, much stronger in this series. They're more well-rounded and Rosalind's motivations and actions made sense. Also, it's indicated that Rosalind is demisexual and I cannot express how happy I was to read that because characters on the ace spectrum are few and far between! Rosalind and Orion as a thing were cute too. A little cliché, like I said before, but I was enjoying myself regardless.
My only issues are little nitpicky things. For one, I would've liked to have chapter headings that make it more clear whose POV we're in, because I can't say that the perspectives were always super distinct enough that I would know whose head we're in right away. As I said before, the plot is fairly complicated and it could've been a little easier to follow along if there was like one less plot line. Also, this was partly really funny but still, Rosalind and Orion being kind of terrible spies makes it a little difficult to take them seriously like y'all, do better please.
Foul Lady Fortune doesn't really have any significant issues for critique, at least not for me. You get a wild plot, cool characters, and a fascinating setting that mixes the historical and science fiction. If you liked These Violent Delights, this is for you. If you were kind of ehhh on it, this is still for you. Highly recommend giving it a chance <3