Chloe Gong

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

Foul Lady Fortune

julia

“You can’t ask me not to love you by keeping me at arm’s length. I’ll love you anyway.”

fc ♡

FRENCH 😩😩🫶🫶❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Keira 💫

The first scientist gives the subject one more affectionate pat. “You are my greatest achievement, and greater still is yet to come. But until then…”

The subject cannot keep their eyes open anymore. Weakness turns every limb heavy, each thought in their mind fleeting like ships sighted in fog. The subject wants to say something, scream something, but nothing will form. Then the scientist leans in to whisper into their ear, landing the final strike and piercing the fog as cleanly as a blade:

“Haven’t you heard of me? The Nationalists need to do a better job of their propaganda.”

Now it was dawning on the merchant. She could see it in his eyes, in that expression of disbelief to be witnessing something so unnatural before him, connecting it with the stories that had started spreading some few years ago.

“Ah.” Rosalind finally straightened upright, her lungs recovering. “That’s a misnomer. It’s just Fortune. Catch.” In a smooth motion, she retrieved one of her gloves to clasp the lip of the vase and swipe it off the table. The bodyguard caught the vase quickly when she tossed it at him, likely preparing for some attack, but the vase only landed in his palms softly, nestled like a wild animal made of porcelain.

Fortune, the rumors whispered, was the code name for a Nationalist agent. Not just any agent: an immortal assassin who could not be killed despite multiple attempts, who didn’t sleep or age, who stalked the night for her targets and appeared in the guise of a mere girl. Depending on how much flourish was added to the stories, she was specifically a menace for the surviving White Flowers, going after them with a coin in hand. If it landed on heads, they were killed immediately. If it landed on tails, they were given the chance to run, but no target had yet managed to escape her.

“Abominable creature,” Mr. Kuznetsov hissed. He lunged back to give her a wide berth between them—or at least he tried.

Rosalind flipped to the last page, then froze, her hand stilled over the print. So the universe had decided to play a cruel joke. It had peered into her thoughts and chosen to show her cousin’s smiling inked face, her portrait side by side with Roma Montagov’s, rendered in delicate line art.

Commemorating the Star-Crossed Lovers of Shanghai

Rosalind closed the newspaper gently. She breathed in. Breathed out.

If they had lived, they would be twenty-four years old now. But the city’s rival darlings were dead. All that was left were the city’s street rats and failures, the city’s sins and awfulness—personified in a girl named Rosalind. Out of all the people who had been allowed to remain, why had it been her?

“You don’t need my Chinese name,” Rosalind replied. “It’s reserved for my enemies before I eradicate them from mortal existence. And the elderly.”

Orion lifted a dark eyebrow. The move was practiced, accompanied by his humoring expression and a single lock of hair that had come loose from his combed style with an assumed casualness.

He tilted his head back, letting the lock of hair shift away from his eyes. “I could be.”

Rosalind didn’t bother with any further retort. It had been no less than a minute since she’d met Orion Hong, and he already watched her like he was planning a conquest ten steps in advance. 

“What did you mean,” Rosalind tried again, “when you said Communists were caught by living alone?”

Dao Feng waved his hand at her like she was slow for not understanding. “Your cover stories must make sense, after all. If Hong Liwen is entering the workforce under a different name, he cannot remain living in his father’s house.”

Now Orion was catching on to Rosalind’s confusion. “So… I shall be living alone?”

“No, no. As I just said, that is too suspicious.”

“Then…” Rosalind exchanged a glance with Orion. He was equally puzzled. “Where is he living?”

The room fell silent. Rosalind thought she had misheard. “I beg your pardon?”

“Sorry, did I skip that part? You’re getting married. For this mission, the two of you will be abandoning your present code names and becoming one combined operative. Welcome to the covert branch, High Tide.”

Rosalind choked on her spit. Orion’s expression brightened, practically manic as he hopped to his feet. “Oh? You should have opened with that.”

“That is surely unnecessary,” Rosalind wheezed.

TENSION. HELL YES 🙌🫠🫠🥹🥹❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥😩😩🫶🫶🤭🤭🫣🫣✨✨

She opened the door and stepped inside, mouth thinned into a line. Immediately, Orion hopped to his feet again, ready to speak.

His mouth snapped closed with an audible sound. “I didn’t say anything yet.”

“It was a pre-warning. I’m trying to think.”

Orion crossed his arms. “You’re very grumpy. I expected my wife to be less grumpy.”

“I”—Rosalind barely managed through her gritted teeth—“am not your wife.”

“Not yet. Do you think they’ll make us a fake certificate, too? I’ll get you a ring. What do you like? Silver? Gold?”

“It’s okay that you’re grumpy. I think it’s very cute—”

Rosalind suddenly picked up the dagger that Dao Feng had thrown at her, taking aim. She had thought it would make a mighty fine threat, that Orion might flinch when she raised her arm, but he only grinned, straightening his posture. Their eyes met. His had a wild sort of glee in them, as if he were saying, Please, go on. I dare you.

I SHIP 🤭🤭 SISTERS WITH BROTHERS?? Hell yes. 

“What happened?” she demanded. A patch of angry scratches started at his collar and continued down into his shirt.

“A small scuffle,” Oliver replied. He was always vague out of habit, even when there was no information at risk, and it infuriated Celia to no end. She pulled her hand away, narrowing her eyes; Oliver stared back evenly. Eventually, though Oliver would never admit it outright, Celia’s intimidation won out, and he turned his palms over wordlessly to show her his knuckles too, also bearing scratches.

“Are you trying to end up in the hospital?” Her voice had risen an octave.

Oliver’s mouth twitched. “I only need you to tend to my wounds, sweetheart.”

“Oh, I’ll give you some wounds to tend to.”

“Ouch, harsh.” He scrunched his palms away. “Please don’t worry about it. I had a small encounter on the streets—that is all.”

“Touch my desk, and I’ll kill you,” she said darkly. “You know what? Move anything, and I’ll kill you. If you so much as breathe near what you should not be fiddling with, I’ll—”

Rosalind turned her letter over. The ink had dried enough that she could hide the words without smearing her work. “Good of you to catch on so quickly.”

Orion drew a finger along her desk. A thin layer of dust parted way, forming a straight line on the wood—a barrier, cut between the two of them.

Something in Rosalind reached a breaking point, a dam on her resentment splitting right open. Did he have to make a joke out of everything? How was he possibly the Nationalists’ best spy for this mission with this behavior?

“Don’t ever forget that you are talking to another operative,” she snapped. “I will gut you alive before you even see me coming.”

Orion threw his head back with a laugh, reacting with casual grace. Rosalind was serious. There was invisible blood soaked deep into her palms—couldn’t he smell it? Each time Rosalind inspected her own fingers, it felt like there was something slick and viscous coated all the way up to her wrists. It seemed impossible that others could not sense it, that the shoulders she brushed while pushing through a crowd didn’t automatically flinch away because they felt her transferring a metallic stench over to them.

“Understood,” Orion said, a quirk still playing at his lips. He stepped back from her desk, sticking his hands into his pockets. “I must head out now. Don’t stay up on my behalf, beloved spouse.”

“When you are done with those”—Jiemin leaned over and pointed at one of the nearest cubicles, speaking in Shanghainese again—“Liza is our point of contact for distributing the files into other departments. Liza! Come meet the new girl.”

Liza popped her head up from her work, a curtain of blond curls swishing over her shoulder. She was Russian, Rosalind guessed. Perhaps newly out of school—

Rosalind froze. “Oh God.” The quiet exclamation had slipped out of its own accord, surprise rocketing down her spine so fast that she had lost control of her tongue.

The blond girl was her age now, but she had not been the last time Rosalind had seen her. Though she was taller, her cheeks wider, her brow matured, there was no doubt who Rosalind was looking upon.

Alisa Montagova, the last of the White Flowers.

And from what Rosalind had heard from Celia—Alisa Montagova, a Communist spy.

So they’re both using the dead lovers names 😭😭

“I don’t think I caught your name,” Alisa said.

Rosalind withdrew her hand. Now there was a hint of something in the curl of Alisa’s mouth.

“Ye Zhuli,” Rosalind answered. The name was invented on the spot, nothing more than a rearranging of someone else’s—someone whom Alisa would recognize. Though Rosalind had intended only to be Mrs. Mu and leave it at that, she had to test if Alisa knew—

“Lovely. I’m Yelizaveta Romanovna Ivanova.”

Alisa let the name ring. No one else in the room was paying attention. Jiemin had turned back to his book. Somewhere down the department, Haidi was explaining to Orion how to work the machine that communicated with other parts of the office building. But Rosalind heard the rush of blood in her ears, felt her heart skip a beat. Even as she kept her face entirely neutral, her mind was a roar of sound.

Romanovna. Alisa Montagova had taken her dead brother’s name as her cover’s patronymic.

“But you may call me Liza,” she went on. “I know it must be easier.”

“Rosalind thwacked the side of his leg. “Enough of this nonsense. You’re sleeping on the couch.”

Orion’s eyes flew open. “Is my darling wife so cruel?”

“Yes.” She pointed out the door. There was no chance that she was going to waste the whole night pretending to sleep in front of him. Her half-made poison needed to be transferred into a larger bowl in three hours. “Shoo.”

“Janie,” he pleaded, eyes large and wide.

“Shoo,” Rosalind said again. “Don’t force me to tell you to gǔn kāi.”

With a sigh, Orion sat up. “Fine, fine, it is my marital duty to listen to you.” He hopped off the bed with a casual ease, as if he hadn’t been making a fuss about trying to sleep a mere minute ago. “Once again, darling, good night.”

Rosalind eyed him warily as he left the bedroom, the door closing behind him. Seconds later, she heard her fake husband pushing the sofa around, creaking the floorboards as he adjusted his sleeping arrangements and moved about the various cushions.

The other side of the door finally fell silent.

“How did I get stuck with someone like this?” Rosalind muttered, rising to her feet. She took the cover off her poisons. Sniffed at the progress. Gave the bowl a shake. At least he would be out of her hair for the night.

A loud snap! came from the living room suddenly, interrupting her short-lived peace. Then: “Janie, is your lamp supposed to be plugged into the wall?”

As a former White Flower, he had been hiding there since the Nationalists took over Shanghai, but at least he had his husband, Marshall, for company. 

“Nation over everything,” Oliver repeated, his voice firm. “But not you, sweetheart. Never your life in exchange.”

Her mind rang with the screech of a broken radio. White noise: humming between her ears while she searched desperately for something—anything—to say. Then, like someone had changed the channel, it was not tenderness that formed her response but blistering anger.

“You’re so damn selfish,” Celia said, jerking away from his touch. “Have you ever stopped to consider that I value your life just as much? If you want to protect me, don’t you think that I want to protect you, too?”

Oliver visibly inhaled, taken aback for a flash of a second before he composed himself. It was enough to give an answer: the notion had never occurred to him. How little he thought of her. How little he thought of whatever it was that existed between the two of them.

Celia turned on her heel and walked off, nothing more to say.

“Oh, do excuse me. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t watch where I was going,” Rosalind breathed. She reached out, hoping to help with the clipboards and snoop on what they were.

But as soon as her fingers neared the one clipboard that was slipping, Haidi clasped her grip around Rosalind’s wrist, keeping her away. It was like a band of metal had been closed over her skin. Though Rosalind froze, alarmed by the response, she suspected that even if she had tried to tug her arm back, she would not have managed.

“I have it under control,” Haidi said. She gave a kind smile, entirely incongruous with the hold she had over Rosalind’s wrist. “Thank you for the gesture nonetheless.”

Haidi let go, then shuffled the clipboards back into neat arrangement. She inclined her head and hurried off. Seconds later, another colleague—the male voice from before—poked his head out from the break room, going in the other direction. Rosalind couldn’t recall his name, but she was sure Orion could once she pointed him out.

Ouch, Rosalind thought, rubbing her wrist. It had turned a bloodless white because of Haidi’s death grip. What sort of vitamins was that girl consuming?

🫣🫣❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹😩😩🫶🫶🤭🤭❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

“Beloved…” Orion trailed off with whatever other nonsense was waiting in his mouth. Now that his jacket was on, his next task appeared to be struggling with his cuff links.

Barely holding back her insult, she whacked his fingers out of the way and plucked the links from him. “Every day you come closer to driving me off the deep end. Let me do it.”

Orion offered his wrists without protest. Carefully, Rosalind folded his sleeve cuffs down, then set the link in, delicate with her touch so that she wasn’t wrinkling anything. When she finished, Orion was watching her, visibly holding down a smile.

He shrugged, but the smile only grew wider. “You’re acting like a real wife.”

Rosalind narrowed her eyes. “No ‘thank you,’ only sarcasm. So ungrateful. What would you say if I were really your wife?”

“That’s easy.” Orion popped his collar, then opened the door for her. “I would kiss before I spoke.”

Rosalind felt her face burn. She marched past him, her shoulders rising to her ears, and stomped out the door.

“I never said that.” His throat bobbed up and down. His chest rose and fell, accompanying the deep breath he took in. “Okay. Yes, I trust you plenty. Please, I accept your help.”

“Wonderful.” She took the blade. Rather roughly, she grabbed ahold of his jaw with her other hand to position him, her fingers splayed along his neck. One finger rested right on the soft spot where his pulse was pounding.

“Relax,” she breathed, running the razor down carefully. “Don’t get so flustered.”

“I’m not flustered,” Orion protested.

“Mm-hmm.” Rosalind proceeded with her task. She could feel Orion watching her. He was trying very hard not to exhale, which Rosalind knew because she would feel the air on her face if he did.

“You’re allowed to breathe,” she whispered.

“Stop it. You’re actively trying to make me nervous,” Orion returned.

With a laugh, Rosalind stepped away, finished with her task. She rinsed the razor in the sink and tapped the droplets off, setting it to the side. When she turned around, Orion still hadn’t moved, standing by the door with a doltish look on his face.

“She looked at the sink. “Wash the razor?”

Now Rosalind really was going to start getting flustered. 

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥🤭🤭🫠🫠🥹🥹😩😩🫣🫣🫶🫶🦋🦋

“When did you get home?” he asked suddenly.

Had he not heard what she just said? This could close their whole mission, and he was asking about her clock-out hour instead?

“Five thirty?” she guessed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“You waited.” He rose to his feet. “You waited for me to get back. You could have easily made a detour to Burkill Road yourself after leaving Seagreen.”

She could not keep up with Orion Hong. If he wasn’t chiding her for not telling him enough, he was surprised that she was treating him as a trusted partner.

“You’re so very right,” she said, heading for the door. “I should have gone eons ago. Why have I bothered waiting for you—”

Unmoving from where he stood, Orion snagged her by the arm as she passed, stopping her in her step.

“It was not a critique.” He smiled. “I’m just pleasantly surprised.”

“Perhaps Rosalind should have been a little surprised at herself too. It hadn’t been a question that she would wait for him to come along. She had known he would return shortly, so it was only sensible.

“Your life is mine as mine is yours,” she said, very seriously. “We are bound in duty if not in matrimony. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Orion’s smile had turned into a wide grin. She didn’t know what was so amusing about all this—did he like the idea of their mutual death? She had always known he was a little off the rails.

“It’s cold outside, beloved. I’ll fetch you your coat,” Orion said, heading for the bedroom. “Burkill Road, off we go.”

“You’re awake?” he asked hesitantly.

“Pas vraiment,” Janie replied. She was mumbling in French, the side of her face buried in her pillows. She hadn’t seemed to notice her switch in language.

Orion hovered. He suddenly didn’t know what to do with his arms. He suddenly forgot how normal people stood.

“Okay,” he decided eventually, his voice quiet. “I’ll leave you be—”

Just as he backed away from the edge of the bed, her hand shot out, grasping his wrist weakly.

Orion stared at her grasp. He wasn’t sure if he had misheard her.

“Stay,” she said again, clearer this time. “Please. I don’t want to be alone.”

“All right.” Slowly he shuffled close, sitting hesitantly on the bed. “I can stay.”

“Tell me,” Janie managed slowly. “Tell me more.”

“Your family.” She paused. “You.”

He thought the tightness in his chest might ease now that Janie was recovering, but it was only worse. And he knew—he tugged at the piece of string hanging from his thrashing heart and traced it to its source.

“Well.” He tried to tamp it down. Janie Mead was a girl with so many secrets. If he followed that string, he was following it to his own heartbreak. Even though he couldn’t release his hold on it. Even though he refused to release his hold on it. “It all started on a hot August night when I was born…”

“Do you want to know something?” he asked. He made a quick stride over to the windows, where the blinds were still pushed wide open. Rosalind rose to her feet too, walking over to see what he was looking at. It wasn’t the street, nor any of the cars idly parked in the vicinity. Orion’s gaze was tipped up at the sky.

Rosalind craned her head to get a better view, but she couldn’t tell what held his attention. Not until he reached for her chin and tilted her head a little to the left. Blotted in the inky fabric of the sky, situated just at the right place to see from their window, there were three prominent stars that shone a little brighter than the rest.

“Shen,” Rosalind said, identifying the constellation in Chinese. “It’s one of the mansions of the White Tiger.”

“Consult the European brain instead,” Orion said. “What do they call it?”

Rosalind sifted through her schooling. It must have been obvious to Orion when it occurred to her, because his lips twitched.

“Orion,” she said. “It’s called Orion.”

He nodded, eyes still locked on the constellation. When that perennially stubborn lock of hair fell into his eyes, Rosalind wanted to brush it away. 

millena

3.75 ⭐️

I blame myself a little for the rate bc I wanted to read this without reading the first duology so it was a little confusing in the beginning (I didn’t know any of the characters too), maybe my experience would be better if I knew a thing or two

the romance was *chef kiss* 🤌🏻🙂‍↔️ Orion has my heart my soul my life, his humor always made me laugh and tbh if I were Rosalind I’d have fallen in love much sooner

the plot was definitely good (again, it would’ve been better if I had read the first duology), I was NOT expecting the Priest to be who they are (my bet was on S, close enough) and I know in my bones that JM is Juliette 🫵🏻

I'm not gonna read the second book now because I feel like it's not the right time, but I really want to know the end of this story at some point

I originally didn’t like Rosalind, however this book quickly changed my opinion of her. I absolutely love her character and her improvement. The plot was quite interesting, however i don’t like one of the tropes 

 it’s just not for me. That and the fact i don’t really see myself thinking of this book often, is why it’s not 5 stars. Out of all the plot twists, the only thing i can say is that i predicted one - or at least i believe so 

 with the note given to Rosalind, signed by JM who i am guessing is Juliette Montagova, which really excited me 

 but the rest, like the killer and priest’s identity.. i did not expect at all.

Aimee :)

I originally didn’t like Rosalind, however this book quickly changed my opinion of her. I absolutely love her character and her improvement. The plot was quite interesting, however i don’t like one of the tropes 

spoilers such as memory loss 

no spoilers it’s just not for me. That and the fact i don’t really see myself thinking of this book often, is why it’s not 5 stars. Out of all the plot twists, the only thing i can say is that i predicted one - or at least i believe so 

spoilers with the note given to Rosalind, signed by JM who i am guessing is Juliette Montagova, which really excited me no spoilers but the rest, like the killer and priest’s identity.. i did not expect at all.

Ellie M.

Chloe Gong has done it again! Impeccable writing style as always. I will literally buy whatever this woman writes even if it’s just Orion staring at the window. This book was a perfect combination of everything. Two spies falling into a fake marriage setup, couldn’t get any better, right? Yall I will actually not shut up about this book. I anticipated Rosalind’s redemption arc for a long time and this did not disappoint! This book was incredibly slow-paced and paid quite the attention to detail, but the dynamics of the characters and queer rep were an absolutely wonderful touch. Chloe never truly fails to paint a picture-perfect historical fantasy and romance novel and I will eat that shit up every goddamn time. I cannot wait for the second book because I know for a fact some people are coming back (yes those are my delusions that came true lol).

river

i just want to take this chance to leave a digital footprint of me having a brainrot over the whole scene of hightide on a car chase and the actual cherry on top is rosalind sitting on orion's lap as she shoots their enemies down. 

doll

Assassin. Immortal. Spy. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai. It's 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging - and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption for her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind's mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind's new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed. To reduce suspicion, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong. Although Rosalind finds Orion's cavalier attitude and playboy demeanour infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined. PRAISE FOR CHLOE GONG 'An electrifying, swashbuckling tale of intrigue and assassins, romance and betrayal' CASSANDRA CLARE 'Amazing, show-stopping, spectacular' XIRAN JAY ZHAO 'A dark delight' RENEE AHDIEH 'Foul Lady Fortune had my heart pounding from the first chapter' ELIZABETH LIM 'Chloe Gong has outdone herself' JOAN HE

I alternated reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook read by Emily Woo Zeller, who is a fantastic voice actor.

This is the third book in the Shanghai series by Gong (These violent delights and these violent ends), but this is the first where Rosalind is the protagonist. I must say I much prefer Rosalind to Juliette and Roma as a protagonist.

Set in Shanghai in the 1930s, we follow several characters.

It’s communists vs nationalists vs Japanese imperialists.

On the side of the Nationalists we have Rosalind Lang aka Janie Mead aka mrs. Muriel, a former Scarlet Gang agent and now immortal. She is forced in a pretend marriage to Orion Hong aka Liwen Hong.

Orion’s sister Feiyi/Phoebe tags along occasionally.

Their brother and sister are their communist rivals, Celia (Kathleen in the previous books) and Oliver. Alisa Montagov (Roma’s sister), is on their side as well as Liza.

All characters are well fleshed out and the story keeps on being surprising. The pacing is really good, especially compared to the first book.

The book really keeps you on edge, and I think properly reflects the amount of paranoia people had in that time with so many different parties warring.

I really enjoyed reading it and the Author notes on how this ties in to the actual history of Shanghai in the 30s.I’m 

Suzanne

I alternated reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook read by Emily Woo Zeller, who is a fantastic voice actor.

This is the third book in the Shanghai series by Gong (These violent delights and these violent ends), but this is the first where Rosalind is the protagonist. I must say I much prefer Rosalind to Juliette and Roma as a protagonist.

Set in Shanghai in the 1930s, we follow several characters.

It’s communists vs nationalists vs Japanese imperialists.

On the side of the Nationalists we have Rosalind Lang aka Janie Mead aka mrs. Muriel, a former Scarlet Gang agent and now immortal. She is forced in a pretend marriage to Orion Hong aka Liwen Hong.

Orion’s sister Feiyi/Phoebe tags along occasionally.

Arranged by her handler Dao Feng.

Their brother and sister are their communist rivals, Celia (Kathleen in the previous books) and Oliver. Alisa Montagov (Roma’s sister), is on their side as well as Liza.

All characters are well fleshed out and the story keeps on being surprising. The pacing is really good, especially compared to the first book.

The book really keeps you on edge, and I think properly reflects the amount of paranoia people had in that time with so many different parties warring.

I really enjoyed reading it and the Author notes on how this ties in to the actual history of Shanghai in the 30s.I’m 

sophie

nina 

when you realise immortal longings book 1 has to come out first before flf2 does 😶

for later reference: https://hodderscape.co.uk/foul-lady-f...

kyra

5/5. it just gets better with every reread.

nuélle

currently losing my mind ill edit this review after I'm done with my classes but all I can say is WHAT THE FUCK

I'll admit that this book is confusing but it is SOOOOOO worth it. You just have to pay attention to every little detail even if you think it's insignificant. THE PLOT TWISTS, the emotional scenes, the romantic teasing, the plot. Ugh! It's so good. I would give it a 5.5 if i could. 

Tsu 💙

Kendi Dockum

Oh, gosh, I loved everything about this book! The excitement! The intrigue! The snarkiness! I am in desperate need of the next book like, yesterday! Hehe.

eunice

if i’m going to be honest, it was a bit of a struggle to get invested into the book not until i was at around the 40% mark of the book, or at least for me. the start felt really slow progressing and i think i was sorta getting bored while reading. but when it started picking up, it’d be a lie if i said i wasn’t devouring it and leaving no crumbs.

it’d also be a lie if i said i didn’t love and enjoy the romance in this. but that’s no surprise at all there, considering that this is chloe gong we’re talking about. idk there’s just something in the way chloe gong writes romance, she writes it in such a way that leaves you wanting for more and that’s exactly how i felt with ove, tvd, and flf.

however, as much as i enjoyed rosalind and orion, it was definitely the side-characters’ stories that stole the show for me. especially celia and oliver. i love them so much, i honestly wish they were shown more. and i think that’s also a complaint i have—not the lack of celia and oliver because i still understand why it’d be written like that, but because i just .. couldn’t get myself as immersed with rosalind and orion?

like they were cute, the pining ached me at times, and some of the lines they threw each other was absolutely wonderful—but, despite that, they were sorta bland? and i couldn’t really form, like, a connection to them. or maybe i was just hella captivated by celia and oliver way too much that i couldn’t focus on anything else. oops?

nevertheless though !!! this was a really good book overall and i’m really excited for foul heart huntsman. <3

(also, every time chloe dropped hints or mentions of romajuliette and benmars? oh you bet i cried every time.)

This was a read that I couldn't put down. I was so excited to read at every moment I could. It always seemed like something was going on and I wasn't bored for a second. I cannot wait to read the next book!

Kira Del Caro

Ella

Set in the 1930s an immortal assassin and a mysterious agent, team up to find out who has been killing people all over Shanghai in seemingly random locations.

confusing and difficult at first but oh my god it was so good 

alexys <3

anything chloe writes, i will read. her writing is exceptional and pulls you into the world of shanghai so easily. i love reading about rosalind and orions story and can’t wait to for the next book to come out. 

maria garcia 

anna near

I didn't read the These Violent Ends duology, and I didn't realize they were connected until about half way through, but that does not stop me from being obsessed with Foul Lady Fortune. The third person narratives were done extremely well, and this is one of the few books that I enjoyed every single POV. The political aspect was fascinating and I loved the action part of it. And of course, the romance>>> The main couple, Orion and Rosaline were perfect in every single way. I adored them. The banter, the fake dating trope, boy obsessed situation literally had me giggling. There were two other couples- both of which were almost as cute. And hello???? The queer rep?? Incredible. There were two bisexual characters, a transgender character, an asexual/aromantic character, and a demisexual character- and that's just in the main cast of characters. 
Yeah, suffice to say, I really enjoyed this book. The sequel needs to come ASAP bc wtf was the ending?

grace richards

4.5,,, god i forgot how much i’d missed these characters. also phoebe and orion are my new children they can do no wrong ever and i will be forever running the orion and phoebe hong defence squad

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai. It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country. Code name: Fortune. But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed. To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

chloe gong pleaseeee pay for my therapy until the next book is released.

🌙

A truly masterful historical fiction retelling with just a 

 of the supernatural. I think I liked this one even better than the These Violent Delights duology. Audiobook is superbly narrated by Emily Woo Zeller.

Liz Griffin

A truly masterful historical fiction retelling with just a hint of the supernatural. I think I liked this one even better than the These Violent Delights duology. Audiobook is superbly narrated by Emily Woo Zeller.

marilynn

slightly mad at myself i read it now when the sequel isn't available yet but also very glad i did read it, i don't know what kind of drug chloe put in this book but i need more and i need it now

I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK OMG IT IS EVERYTHING