Scan barcode
sophiareads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
With her identity as Fortune, a nationalist assassin, exposed to the public, Rosalind Lang struggles to free her former mission partner, Orion Hong, from his mother's control and find a cure for the dangerous inventions Lady Hong has created.
Unfortunately, I never really got as swept away by the story here as I did reading the previous Secret Shanghai novels. This could definitely br my own fault - I do regret not rereading Foul Lady Fortune before I started this. Still, Chloe Gong's writing remains very engaging and enjoyable, I really do love the cast of characters she has created, and the ratio of plot to romance is spot on. (Was bringing Roma and Juliette back total fan service? Yes, but I do have to admit to getting hyped when they turned up).
Huge thank you to Hodder Books for sending me an ARC :)
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content and War
Minor: Child abuse and Transphobia
wet_towlette'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
Graphic: Death, Murder, Colonisation, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Gun violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Vomit
Minor: Transphobia
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A lot happened in there, and I don’t mean only with the characters. Once again, the tense historical Chinese background blooms through and gives this story life. The setting is its own character and really elevates the whole thing from good to great.
I don’t usually love stories where everyone gets matched, but these couples have been in the work for two books, and some of the side characters have been together longer. So I can forgive it. And the demiromantic and trans rep included so smoothly makes it even better.
The last act might have required some suspension of disbelief (despite everything, I draw the line at that blood transfusion 🙈), but it doesn’t diminish my love for this series.
Thank you, Chloe Gong, for introducing me to early 20th century Shanghai and its many layers through a story that started as a Romeo & Juliet retelling.
Graphic: War, Medical content, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Colonisation, Xenophobia, Classism, and Racism
Minor: Transphobia, Child death, Police brutality, Torture, and Sexism
palmkd'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
Whether you read Last Violent Call first or not, Foul Heart Huntsman is a great end to this series focused on a complicated group of individuals that find themselves with some abilities that aren't quite so normal. Shanghai in the 1930s was tumultuous and our main characters find themselves caught between family and politics. They used to protect their city as part of the gangs but now they are trying their hand from the shadows as spies for the different political factions. Add family and love into the mix, and it's anyone's guess what will happen next.
Chloe Gong writes really compelling characters and I was quite happy with how things wrapped up with this series, and appreciate the extra novellas to fill in some of the gaps between book 1 and 2.
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Blood, Murder, and Death
khnleesi'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
me: ..... what am i gonna do with a soul anyways? souls are boring!
(review to come but <3<3<3)
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and War
sarah_loves_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Cursing, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Medical content, Torture, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
ramunepocky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Murder, Kidnapping, and War
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Torture
luchikreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and War
jessicaludden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my Endgame. I’m so sad this is over. I love these characters. I love this story and I’ll miss it so much.
Minor: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Blood
chronicacademia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Moderate: Gore, Ableism, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, War, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence