Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

9 reviews

jessiereads98's review against another edition

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

3.0

This book is decent to fine. I enjoyed the story and characters well enough that I’ll probably pick up the sequel if I remember. I do wish it had been rooted more firmly in the time period in terms of the vibes of the 1930s and with more references to the dance halls of that era or the decor or fashions. I think I probably would’ve enjoyed this more had I read the Violent Delights duet prior to going into this for more context and world building but I didn’t realize that would be necessary. I also found this very tropey to the extent I was rolling my eyes at moments that were so obviously inserted in order to fulfill a trope. The characters all also seemed to act very young compared to their age. The timeline seemed to me like while yes Rosalind was frozen at 19, all the older characters at this point would be in their early to mid 20s but were all acting like they were still 17-19. While I didn’t entirely expect the solution to the main mystery, the final reveal of the book was very predictable. 

UPDATE: I read the These Violent Delights duology then read this again. It is better after reading that. However, I still feel that the setting and atmosphere in this book are lacking, even in comparison to the These Violent Delights duology. It seemed like Chloe Gong decided that rather than expanding on that, and the changing political climate, she would handwave world-building for this one. The tropeyness irked me less on reread. The characters do still read a little young for what their ages seem to be, but not as harshly as I originally thought. It especially makes sense when these are young people caught up in large, shifting politics and underworlds, and that’s a theme Chloe Gong is clearly exploring in both duologies. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood

Moderate: Colonisation, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Abandonment, Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Torture, Transphobia, and War

esme_t's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Abandonment, Gun violence, and Gore

Minor: Transphobia and Blood

city_girl_writer's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Abandonment and Gore

Minor: Child death and Transphobia

sydneyluxford's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

There is absolutely no way the book ended like that, and Chloe Gong just ALLOWED it??? I literally need the second book this instant.

Spoiler

”It’s a pleasure to meet you properly, Priest.”

WHAT??????

The last 30% of this book was absolute carnage, oh my god. STUFF KEPT HAPPENING AND I JUST COULD NOT PREDICT IT. 

Spoiler

Rosalind needs to find and save Orion ASAP, because I literally have no clue what it going to happen to him.

The way this book had me hooked from the first chapter, OMG. I loved it so much. 

Spoiler

I KNEW JULIETTE AND ROMA WERE ALIVE. I KNEW THE WHOLE TIME. That letter addressed from “JM” was definitely Juliette, but she’s now a Montagov. BRO, THEY HAVE TO BE ALIVE!!!

Orion and Rosalind were so cute. And I loved that in this grumpy x sunshine, the girl was the grumpy one for once, because then I can finally relate. The way Orion just presented himself and spoke to Rosalind 🤭🤭🤭. Bro, and Rosalind. I have a fat crush on her. She could murder someone in front of me and I’d turn a blind eye TBH. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Abandonment

kdailyreads's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Torture, War, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Colonisation, Gun violence, Medical content, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

Minor: Cursing, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Child death

diorgyus's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Murder and Abandonment

Minor: Death and Medical content

mayareadsxo's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, War, and Gun violence

Moderate: Abandonment and Murder

Minor: Death and Medical content

jessicaludden's review

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious sad tense 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

“You life is mine as mine is yours.”

This was everything I wanted it to be and more. I loved every single one of the characters. They were all so unique and complex, but I also loved the different pairings we got and the interactions between them. It’s actually impossible for me to pick a favorite character or favorite pairing. The plot was so engaging. It kept me on my toes. Every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, Chloe gave us plot twist after plot twist after plot twist. I loved all the politics. Keeping up with all of the groups, what they stood for, who was loyal to who, and who was undercover as what was so entertaining. Difficult? Yes, but so so worth it. Overall, if Chloe writes it, I read it. This was amazing. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

maple_dove's review

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Spoiler

I have been WAITING for this kind of twist!

I have NOT been disappointed!!! I can't wait for the sequel!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, War, Abandonment, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Transphobia and Infidelity

Use of needles (graphic)