This was such a great sequel! I really enjoyed Rosalind and Orion's interactions in this book and their romance! The action was fast paced and I enjoyed where the story went.

Absolutely loved! perfect ending this series. I've seen such an improvement in Gong's writing and storytelling and it was so amazing to follow her writing journey with this one! A perfect read for teens and young adults.

Even better than the first in the series! Gong hits a perfect balance between suspense and action--there was never any point in the book that dragged or rushed, and the payoff for the twists and turns always resonated with me. I'm definitely adding this one to my classroom library!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A great sequel that I really enjoyed! I’ve already purchased two copies for my school’s library and recommended it to several readers.

After Orion has been taken and her cover blown, Rosalind finds herself cooped up in her apartment, plotting ways to get him -- and his memories of their time together -- back. Meanwhile, unrest continues to grow as the threat of a Japanese invasion looms ever closer.

I enjoyed the first book of this duology a lot, but this one fell flat for me. Gong is dead-set on making setting a character in her novels and the narrative gets bogged down as a result. There are too many characters, some of the dialogue is written to appeal to a very online generation, and the stakes of the novel don't feel fully explored. The romance is fun and compelling, but at the cost of the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

Gong's writing is unmatched. The sequel to Foul Lady Fortune is just as good as the first, with twists and turns and incredible action. I love these characters.

Miss Chloe Gong strikes again. I have not read a Chloe Gong book where I've been disappointed. I loved being back in the universe and seeing all my favourite characters again.

I love a Shakespeare retelling (whether it's in book or film form) and Miss Chloe Gong NEVER disappoints me!!!

This was the absolute perfect way to end her Shanghai series. I love that I learn things from Gong's books (she bases them on Chinese history but takes liberties to move the story where she wants it to go). I also love that she shocks me with the twists and turns. The double and triple crossing had me aghast! Her spy stories are so enthralling and have the perfect amount of sci-fi elements to keep things interesting.

I'm sorry to be leaving these characters behind, but am comforted that I can always revisit them. <3

No notes. Perfection.

Orion is so precious and I would do anything for him.

This was amazing and better than the first book! The stakes are high, the characters are great, the romances are incredible.

Rosalind has come so far and I loved her relationship with Orion. Celia and Oliver are also so wonderful and their development has been so touching. Phoebe and Silas took me by surprise but I really liked their dynamic as well. Chloe had me GASPING with Silas’s character even though she literally told us that he was a triple agent Roma and Juliette were adorable, even if I do have my gripes about them being alive. ALISA!! Possibly the best character, I love her.

I think I do benefit for knowing As You Like It, because everything literally works out perfectly, and this is a retelling… that also works out perfectly, as expected, but I understand if people think the ending is too neat.

The ending to the Foul Lady Fortune spinoff of Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights duology, this brings familiar characters back to a fast-paced story in 1930s Shanghai as the identity of assassin Lady Fortune is exposed, while new villains and old ghosts come into play. Meanwhile Rosalind is also fighting to rescue Orion as the entire nation is at risk of falling.
I loved the Romeo-Juliet themes of These Violent Delights, but the Foul Lady series never really clicked with me as a reader, unfortunately, and I felt while exciting that some old favorites returned, there were just too many perspectives to keep the story straight. I do however love the mythical/fantasy take on historical fiction. Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for the ARC.

10 stars. Chloe excels when she works out of a setting that already exists (Shanghai) and commits to the genre (Shakespearean comedy). The tonal shift from Our Violent Delights to this is a little jarring, but the characters were so fun that I didn't care by the end. While I didn't love Immortal Longings, I'm excited to see what she does beyond Secret Shanghai and Flesh and False Gods.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

“I will love you if I please. I will make you my altar, I’ll put you above everything else in this world, I’ll revel in every morsel you are made of.”

Foul Heartsman was everything I needed it to be and more. Chloe continues to amaze me. The writing? The romances? The found family? The characters? The plot? Outstanding. My only complaint is that my time in this world has come to a close.

If you're looking for a world that totally and completely sucks you in; writing that breaks your heart and pieces in back together, and characters you'd die for, you absolutely need to pick up Secret Shanghai. Note: It is so important that you read These Violent Delights/Our Violent Ends prior to picking up this duology.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon Teen & McElderry Books for the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2023!

As you all may know, I am a Chloe Gong stan through & through. The Secrets of Shanghai series has been such a fun ride for the last 5 years and this ending was absolutely perfect.

In the series finale, Rosalind sets off to get her man Orion back. And while this read like a Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes fanfic, it was the perfect backdrop (cue "I am your wife!"). We also get the Phoebe's journey of hiding her secret identity as Priest from Silas as well as Celia & Oliver tension (!!). Not to mention appearances from Roma and Juliette and Benedikt and Marshall. Although it felt like this book dragged, I'm glad that we got all the closure that the characters deserve.

All's well that ends well, considering Chloe considers this to be her take on the Shakesperean comedy As You Like It.

A thrilling, page-turning sequel—I could spend hundreds of pages more with these characters and in this world. Couldn't put it down!

I just absolutely adore this world that Chloe Gong has created. The characters are so fleshed out and dynamic and Gong has an unbelievable talent for writing angst and yearning. It’s so palpable that it breaks your heart.

I always debate whether to reread a book before reading its sequel because my memory is terrible but the book does a really good job at weaving in reminders of what was most important from the first book. It doesn’t feel info dumpy or blatant at all.

There’s not much to say about the plot that isn’t a spoiler for either book but just that I thought it was incredibly well plotted and wrapped up in a brilliant way. The epilogue was a bit too sickly sweet for me but I still cried.

One of the best books of 2023! Thankful for the advanced copy. The plot, characters, and world that Chloe Gong has created never disappoints.

Rosalind was an expert spy, but now she is hiding from the media because her cover has been blown. Her partner and fake husband has been taken and all knowledge of Rosalind has been erased from his memory. She needs to get away to rescue him, but now that everyone recognizes her, she must use a new deception. Rosalind stages a national tour, but not even that goes as planned. Who can Rosalind trust? What secrets from her past will be uncovered?

Foul Heart Huntsman is the second book in the Foul Lady Fortune duology. Events from this book transpire soon after the first book's ending and readers will be completely lost if they skip the first volume. This book has history, adventure, and family drama all rolled into a captivating read. Gong has once again written about this little-known period of world history and made it relatable to all readers. A strong conclusion to a good duology.