wet_towlette's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
I didn't love the first half. Nothing wrong with it, just wasn't really that invested. The last half was much better and really picked up the excitement. Also a lot of character moments felt like they were cut short. There was almost always an interruption, if not for the characters then for the readers with an abrupt chapter change. it just feels like some moments should've just been left to play out, in my opinion. But if Chloe Gongs’ other works have taught me anything it's that the second book is going to go crazy so I'm very excited to read it.
Spoiler
Orion didn't know her true identity for sooo long. then it had a bit of dramatic lead-up to the reveal and I thought that that would also mean there would be a confrontation but there wasn't. I just really wanted to see that scene cause it felt like it was working up to it and it didn't happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
Moderate: Medical content, Colonisation, Grief, and Abandonment
savanah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder and War
Minor: Transphobia
teddy_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Transphobia
clairehreads22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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 met Chloe Gong in October 2022 and got to hear her discuss this book then. Fast forward to January, my mom and I started reading it. Due to busy schedules on both ends, we rarely read any. But now on summer break, we knocked it out!!
This book was amazing!!! I love Chloe Gong’s writing especially her use of imagery. She also makes her characters so charming and lovable. The little Taylor Swift references throughout were as some would say enchanting, hehe!!
I cannot wait for Foul Heart Huntsman!!
Spoiler
Orion and Rosalind …. I LOVE THEM!!! I loved their gradual love story. Chloe Gong, no words for that cliffhanger :/
Oliver was sus to me the whole time
Love Alisa and her getting some badass moments!!!
I did not expect who was the killer, behind the chemical experiments, Priest’s identity, and Dao Feng’a betrayal!!! I am still shook. I went back to read the beginning of the book and it was foreshadowed though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Murder and War
hannahcomer4d's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
This book was such a fun romp through a time period and place I know very little about. I enjoyed the characters, the pacing, and the themes. It's not just a spy thriller--it goes beyond the mission and into the reasons *why* people are making the choices they are.
A couple of downsides:
I wanted more Shakespeare references. So little related to *As You Like It* that it almost felt unnecessary to link the two stories.
Priest was built up as this big deal of a character, but then Priest seemed completely uninvolved in the plot. Did Priest ever really do much of anything?
Both of these things, though, could be easily resolved in the sequel. I'm eagerly awaiting more!
A couple of downsides:
I wanted more Shakespeare references. So little related to *As You Like It* that it almost felt unnecessary to link the two stories.
Priest was built up as this big deal of a character, but then Priest seemed completely uninvolved in the plot. Did Priest ever really do much of anything?
Both of these things, though, could be easily resolved in the sequel. I'm eagerly awaiting more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: War and Murder
woolgatherer's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Chloe Gong returns with a new story in the same world as These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends, this time focusing on Rosalind Lang, the cousin of Juliette Cai. Unfortunately, I was not particularly invested in Foul Lady Fortune, though I didn’t feel that it was a slog to get through the book either due to good pacing (for the most part). I found that the plot and characters were fairly predictable (with one or two exceptions) because of Gong’s overuse of tropes. There’s nothing wrong with using them, of course, but I felt like there were a few too many that made this book a little boring for me. In addition, the way she structured the plot felt a little too similar to the previous books, right down to the politics (though I felt it was somewhat better handled in Foul Lady Fortune). I think if she fleshed the politics out a bit more and the characters’ involvement with different parties, it would have made the book a lot stronger and possibly less riddled with clichés.
I’m not sure if I want to read the next installment or not. On the one hand, I do want to see where Gong will take the story due to a couple plot twists. On the other hand, I’m not sure if I can handle another book full of tropes. I may actually have to pay attention to others’ reviews for once to make my decision.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
luverbyrd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
angelsfw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and War
dame_samara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
CW: Assault, Blood, Child Death/Death, Drugs, Gore, Gun Violence, Human/Medical Experimentation, Hospitalization, Kidnapping, Murder, Needles, Poison, Torture, Minor Transphobia, Violence, And War.
It would be wrong to say "It's Gay and It Slaps" but this book does squarely sit in the Queer Rep, category. With Celia taking a much more prominent role in this book alongside her sister Rosalind, who we find out sits somewhere in the ace spectrum.
This book was honestly a blast from beginning to end for me, I enjoyed the switch in Point of Views between Rosalind, Orion, Celia, and Oliver. Though later we drop off more to just Rosalind and Orion's POV.
I was a sucker for the Married for The Mission plotline, paired with Rosalind trying to do Spy work when normally her normal area is strictly assassinations. Also Orion and and Rosalind's banter is top notch the entire time, and also adorable especially the way Orion's terms of endearment shift towards Rosalind as they grow closer.
Other fun things you can find: Stereotypical Sexualized Gun Vehicle Fight Movie Scenes
The twists that are pulled out or the woodwork at the end of this book. Had me honestly so excited, because I'm normally the type of person who puts pieces together before the big reveal but I was genuinely shocked, I had to pause and get up from my desk at work to process what just happened after the first reveal because it was so shocking.
Then our second reveal, I do feel like I have to reread this book with that knowledge to see if I can find any clues in the text that would have clued me into them as our BBEG.
The third reveal ended up being the only one that I was even semi close on and even then I had uncertainty on who that individual was, especially after the first reveal. But looking back all the close Gong gives since in alluding to them.
TLDR: This Book was great, I love this series, someone come read it with me so I can gush about it.
It would be wrong to say "It's Gay and It Slaps" but this book does squarely sit in the Queer Rep, category. With Celia taking a much more prominent role in this book alongside her sister Rosalind, who we find out sits somewhere in the ace spectrum.
This book was honestly a blast from beginning to end for me, I enjoyed the switch in Point of Views between Rosalind, Orion, Celia, and Oliver. Though later we drop off more to just Rosalind and Orion's POV.
I was a sucker for the Married for The Mission plotline, paired with Rosalind trying to do Spy work when normally her normal area is strictly assassinations. Also Orion and and Rosalind's banter is top notch the entire time, and also adorable especially the way Orion's terms of endearment shift towards Rosalind as they grow closer.
Other fun things you can find: Stereotypical Sexualized Gun Vehicle Fight Movie Scenes
The twists that are pulled out or the woodwork at the end of this book. Had me honestly so excited, because I'm normally the type of person who puts pieces together before the big reveal but I was genuinely shocked, I had to pause and get up from my desk at work to process what just happened after the first reveal because it was so shocking.
Then our second reveal, I do feel like I have to reread this book with that knowledge to see if I can find any clues in the text that would have clued me into them as our BBEG.
The third reveal ended up being the only one that I was even semi close on and even then I had uncertainty on who that individual was, especially after the first reveal. But looking back all the close Gong gives since in alluding to them.
TLDR: This Book was great, I love this series, someone come read it with me so I can gush about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Torture, Death, and Gore
Moderate: War, Torture, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent and Child death
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Stalking and Gun violence
Minor: War