If you know me, you know I absolutely love Chloe Gong, so I was REALLY excited about this book. And I'm pleased to say that I was not disappointed. Since this is a sequel, I'm not going to get into the plot too much so as not to reveal possible spoilers.
I think for me the most important aspect of the book was the characters. I absolutely adore this cast of characters and reading about them for the last time was a little bittersweet, yet, I enjoyed every second of it. Miss Chloe has such a distinct way of writing her characters and their dynamics, you can't help but root for them.

The plot was immaculate and I found myself screaming at several points. Although there are some aspects that could have been developed or explored more, I think the characters really come in to enhance the plot. I will say that I did get confused at times, especially when we were talking about politics or traveling around the city (admittedly, I don't know much about the historical context and locations during this time period, so maybe that’s my fault). Once again, what really shines here are the characters. Rosalind is an amazing MC, she felt so real and it's quite easy to connect with her emotions and understand where they are coming from. I loved the development she had. The relationship she had with the rest of the cast, Orion and Celia mainly, was so good. With this book we get to reunite with some old characters, which is always nice, but we also get more backstory on the characters we met during FLF. Silas, Phoebe, Alisa, and Oliver add a lot to the overall plot, as they become an essential part of the events that unfold, but they also become memorable characters for the reader.

This book is completely action-packed and we jump in all directions, taking many twists and turns, delving into individual plot lines and character arcs, as well as handling some higher and more dangerous stakes.

Overall, I'd say this is a surprising conclusion to one of my favorite series of all time. If you liked Foul Lady Fortune, this is one you won't want to miss.

I finished this amazing book at 4am yesterday morning. It's the first book in a while that literally kept me up all night reading. It was so good!

Thank you to SimonTeen, Chloe Gong, and Colored Pages Book Tours for inviting me along on this tour and for the gifted e-arc. Thank you, also, to the publisher for the signed, finished hardcover! It was so unexpected!

I have read and loved every book in this series. When I first started reading the books in The Secret Shanghai series, I was a little nervous. Everyone was talking about the nasty creatures in These Violent Delights. IYKYK! I pulled on my big girl panties and read it anyway. And, they were right. It was creepy. But, by the end, I was totally hooked.

Chloe Gong writes in such a way that the reader is completely immersed in the story. FOUL HEART HUNTSMAN takes up right where FOUL LADY FORTUNE left off. This book was the perfect conclusion to the duology. It was intense, with twists and turns in every chapter. I love the characters and watching their relationships to one another change and grow. This was the perfect ending to a fantastic series!

I highly recommend FOUL HEART HUNTSMAN, as well as the entire series.

i’m a little sad this universe is coming to a close but you know what !! if it keeps going, my fav characters will be put through it again… (as chloe said when asked for more benmar: “benedikt is TIRED!” HAHA). overall, i really enjoyed fhh.

let’s get into it :)) okay despite wanting orion's memory to return quickly, amnesia!orion was so sweet and endearing to read that i almost didn’t want to let it go so soon (plus the angst it gave, why would I wanna give it away). i also did not expect silas and phoebe's relationship dynamic to hurt me so much. out of all of the characters, somehow my brain did not anticipate their character arcs. and it was SO GOOD.

i do have to say that while i get that our girl rosalind is in her depression era, the beginning of fhh was so so slow and it was over 130 pages before the action kicked in. but luckily from there it was go go GO !! our big cast of characters finally coming to work together this time was so fun to read, especially bringing back older characters iykyk. i had the BEST time reading all the roma and juliette scenes.

there were also some aspects i wish were expanded upon more. i thought some parts were sped past which i didn’t like bc it made moments that i thought would be super important/dramatic, to be so anticlimactic.

i’m the type of reader who can’t move on to the next page until i’ve understood what i’ve read but the politics went over my head. it’s OVE all over again, unfortunately. i really did think i had a good grasp of it at the end of FLF but alas… i did not feel the sense of urgency and the direness of their situations like i did with OVE. which is so sad bc I really wanted to be on the edge of my seat !!

okay despite all that i’ve said above, i still had a lovely time reading because i love our characters so much. it’s rare for me to enjoy reading every character’s POV, especially with such a big cast, but they each hold a special place my heart (all for various reasons).

thank you S&S and netgalley for the arc! this review is entirely my honest opinion <3

It's a wonder that this series has come to an end. Chloe Gong is a genius, a heartshattering genius.

what can i say other than ARE YOU KIDDING ME CHLOE? HOW DID YOU WRITE SUCH AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERS AND END THE MOST HEARTWARMING STORY LIKE THAT? I NEED MORE OF THEM!

this was such a beautiful duology and i'm so happ but also sad that this world comes to and end. rosalind and orion made it so easy to love them and feel connected to them throughout the whole story. the founded family between families trope is something i didn't know i needed until now. alisa and roma, juliette, celia and rosalind, oliver, phoebe and orion, and every single character here has their own story and they all come together in this very organic and perfect way for the storyline, i was hoocked since the beginning.

i can't really say more other than go read these books, they have a very good plot, based on real history, beautiful characters, built perfectly through their stories, complex unrealistic elementes that make everthing more fascinating. and the romance, ugh, i can't tell you how much i loved the romance in these books, it's not too much or too little, it's just the perfect amount of fluff and adorable moments between all of our characters, i can't stop thinking about them.i just couldn't put it down.

the book is out now so please go read all of them! so you can close it with fireworks with this one!

thank you to netgalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me of an arc of this book in exchange of an honest revew.

If I could rate this book a million stars I would! One of my favorites of this year and most certainly of all time! This duology was everything and Foul Heart Huntsman was an amazing sequel to end the Secret Shanghai universe (but Miss Chloe, I'll be the first reader in line if you want to write more 🥲)

I can't say too much in this review without giving away the entire book - but oh my god!! The plot was immaculate and I found myself screaming "noooooo!" and "omg!" quote a few times. By the time I finished I wanted to go back to the first page and read it all over again. I can't wait until the book releases because I'm going to get the audiobook and do just that.

The characters were everything. After These Violent Delights I never imagined that I'd love Rosalind this much but I might even love her more than Juliette??? I love the journey that she takes in this book and the duology as a whole. The entire cast of characters were amazing as well and I truly loved reaching each and every one of their chapters. This is *not* a book where it flips to that *one* character's POV that you hate....I loved all of them!!

If you've read Foul Lady Fortune you need to read this book. If you've read These Violent Delights you need to read this duology. And if you haven't read anything in the Secret Shanghai universe...what are you doing?!? Get on it!!

"Isn't that how it always goes? Their people are real people. Our people are not real people."

The last installment of the Secret Shanghai series gives everything that the rest of the series brought. Gong's writing is bingeable and funny, her characters walk off the page with ow much life she brings to them. I loved the old characters showing up and the further development of Rosalind and Orion (and Celia and Oliver!)

As with all the books in this series, I have had such a hard time following the politics and who is on what side. And everyone has several code names which add to my confusion. Admittedly I don't know the historical context and irl politics of this period well at all so that lack of understanding is partly on me.

I am honestly here for the vibes and the vibes are GREAT so who can complain really!

How do I describe my sadness over the end of this series, the Secret Shanghai Universe means so much to me, because it was one the first books that I'd read where the main characters were Chinese (me🙋) I'd never felt so seen.

Foul Lady Fortune and Foul Heart Huntsman were so refreshing to me, after reading so many fantasy books, all the plot lines felt like they were blurring into one, but FLF and FHH were different. They was full of mystery, spies, double agents, and Rosalind, a girl who could not die, (and some really good plot twists).

At first i was disappointed that Rosalind was the mc rather than Celia (the “nicer” cousin), i take it back. She is now one of my favourite female protagonists. She felt so real to me because she was such a natural protagonist. unlike most female leads, she was imperfect; she was grumpy when things didn’t go her way, her emotions were always plainly displayed on her face, and she was always making spiteful comments.

Plot wise, I loved how Chloe Gong was able to write in such a way that was both descriptive and well paced. while there was suspense and constant momentum pushing the plot forward, i was able to picture it in my mind like an action movie.

One of my favourite aspects of this book is the fact that they’re all social elites, making everything both so ridiculous yet believable. The amount of situations that they escaped unscathed due to status was crazy, but was it fun to read.

Rosalind and Orion are a comedic duo. First of all, Orion is the biggest simp ever, and he gives playful and aloof but actually cares too much, the perfect contrast to Rosalind, uptight, irritable, but actually cares too much. Their character dynamic is unmatched, actually they come in close second to Roma and Juliette (these violent delights), but they cannot be denied this title.

While in Foul Lady Fortune had a large focus on plot, there were mini sub plots for romance, and internal thought and growth. Whereas, I felt in Foul Heart Huntsman, the plot took over almost everything else, making me wish for more. But of course this is just because of my preference, i would recommend this series regardless!

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children’s publishing for sending me an e-ARC of Foul Heart Huntsman!

This book is the conclusion to the Secret Shanghai universe and I am so sad that it is over. Without spoiling anything I’ll say the series wrapped up nicely and anyone who has read the series this far will be satisfied.

Rating; 4.5

Finishing this story was bittersweet. On the one hand, it was such an amazing story and I was so glad to have read it. On the other hand, this duology is now finished and I'm not ready for it to be done!

I think so much about this story was perfect. We start off right where Foul Lady Fortune left off, and the action continues throughout the entire book. We got even more of the sci-fi aspects from the first book and the These Violent Delights duology, and I think the science blended so well with the rest of the plot. There's also the sweetest romances. They didn't overpower the ploy, but they were so beautifully tender that I was SWOONING so many times.

There were a lot of POVs and sometimes things jumped around to the point of confusion, but I was so invested in these characters and the storyline that I quickly caught on again.

If you want a historical romance with fantasy/scifi elements and lots of female power, this may be the duology for you. I definitely recommend starting with the These Violent Delights duology first, though, as there are many important characters that are introduced in that duology.

Foul Heart Huntsman is the direct sequel to Foul Lady Fortune in the duology of the same name. Readers are transported back to Shanghai in the 1930s. The story continues to follow Rosalind Lang, who is a national spy that was exposed. Her journey from start to finish was a great read as her development was a major standout in the series. While she is not the only character, nor the only likable one, she was the standout based on the history from the other duology. All the characters, though, had great journeys, so this added to this being an enjoyable story.

The novel takes place soon after the events in the first novel where Rosalind is trying to get Orion back and protect herself. Celia and Oliver are intertwined with this plot while Phoebe has her own plans for her brother. There is a lot more to the actual plot that is difficult to discuss without spoilers. The politics in the story do tend to make the plot a little chaotic as there is a lot to track and comprehend. It is not difficult, but it is a tangled web. There is enough in the story where this could have been expanded into a trilogy instead of a duology. The book is long, but it is easy enough to read and pick up where you left off if you are unable to read it in a single sitting.

The relationships are fun to track in the story, especially with the multiple POVs. The romances (Orion/Rosalind, Celia/Oliver, and Phoebe/Silas) were all well done. I loved that they were different and personalized for each of the characters. Aside from the romances, the platonic relationships were all very enjoyable. There were great elements, including banter, interactions, and authenticity, that all aided in making this great. While there are multiple plots to drive the story, the magnitude of characters made this lean towards being a character-driving story. It is sad that this seems to be the end of novels set in this universe, so I’ll miss all of the characters. Now that it is over, I can’t wait to try to read all the novels back-to-back to see how it reads compared to this time where I read them spread out.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

What an amazing read! the characters were shown in so much more depth in this book and I felt like I could see parts of myself in a lot of them. The plot was much more interesting than the first book and the ships omg I love all my babies.

So good! After foul lady fortune I was patiently waiting to find out what happened next. I was hooked from the first chapter and think this was a great sequel to the first book.

There is also nothing I don’t love from Chloe Gong. I absolutely love her writing and how she makes you feel sucked into the story so fast without much thought as well.

Foul Lady Fortune is the thrilling conclusion to the Foul Lady Fortune duology, and it did not disappoint! This book was so gripping, and I’m obsessed with so many different aspects of it. The characters, the political intrigue, the fantasy elements, THE LOVE STORIES! I definitely can’t get enough of the romances, and I wholly cheered for each and every one.

I’ve become so invested in these characters, especially since many of them are also in the These Violent Delights series. They are all so layered and compelling, and the growth of Rosalind, Orion, Celia, Oliver, Phoebe, Alisa, and so many more is amazing. The story focuses quite a bit on relationships of all kinds – friendship, good and bad family ties, romantic relationships – and they are all complicated and intricately layered. Also, the reappearance of some beloved characters from the These Violent Delights duology might have made me squeal in delight.

Gong has a talent in creating compelling and complex relationships and exploring how those relationships change and affect each of the characters. Their loyalties are tested, and they constantly have to reevaluate their purpose and what is most important to them. And let me tell you, it’s a wild ride!!

Like its predecessor, this story has so many unexpected twists and turns, and the characters are constantly challenged in ways they never expected. The politics, secrets, lies, and betrayal are consuming and high-stakes, and there are so many nail-biting scenes that I had to get a manicure when I finished the book. lol It definitely tested my nerves as I worried over the fate of some of my favorite characters. They constantly hurled themselves into high-stakes, life-threatening situations, and they are continually in danger.

And for the Shakespeare lovers (like me!!), the As You Like It vibes are great! I love that Gong’s stories are inspired by Shakespearean plays, and though they have some of the foundations of his works, her stories are completely original and fresh.

I thought this was an exciting and gripping conclusion to the duology, and I particularly liked the exceptional character growth and examination of relationships. With a compelling blend of history and fantasy, exceptional world and character building, and powerful messages, there’s a lot to love about this YA fantasy. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I'm not ready to accept the fact that the Secret Shanghai universe is officially ending but here we go.

This is by far the most epic of all the Chloe Gong books! Rosalind and Orion really gave us their all and look what we got in the end.

Am I a mess after reading that last chapter? Of course.

Am I ready to say goodbye to the characters from this universe? Not for now.

Always a pleasure reading a Chloe Gong book in advance and this is me being grateful to the amazing Simon Teen team for spoiling me with eARCs.

Even though I wasn't able to get my hands on a physical FHH ARC, I'm still happy that I'm part of the review team from start to finish.

THOUGHTS
This is definitely what I expected FHH to be - high stakes, fast-paced, and unputdownable.

FHH picked up after the events of Foul Lady Fortune where the revelation about Orion Hong and Rosalind Lang happened. What seemed to be a vast world for Lady Fortune is slowly circling down as she received the news that she is getting decommissioned from all her task as a secret spy/assassin.

One thing I liked most about Chloe's main characters is that they are unstoppable and unpredictable. Rosalind Lang's true identity (and history as a former Scarlet Gang) may have been exposed to the public but her determination to save Orion from being experimented remain unwavered even after her removal from the ranks.

Good thing we have a surprise curveball that definitely helped Rosalind in getting back to her feet after being face-to-face with Lady Hong herself.

Another thing I really liked is how the ensemble of cast didn't feel too crowded. We have Rosalind and Orion fighting for their lives, Celia and Oliver still serving their faction, Alisa as Rosalind's ally, Phoebe and Silas with their cat-and-dog personality that will surely wreck readers by the end.

There may be a lot going on in this book but everything shined in their own way and no door was left unclosed.

Again, I'm in awe at how everything came together by the end and when I say, everything, I mean everything right from the start of These Violent Delights.

If I were to dedicate a song to the Secret Shanghai series, it would be Taylor Swift's MASTERMIND and it will be self-explanatory when you read this book.

Explosive finale! 5⭐

The stunning conclusion to the Foul Lady Fortune duology, Foul Heart Huntsman throws you right back into the center of mounting tensions between a potential civil war and an outright foreign invasion. Separated from Orion and with her identity exposed, Rosalind embarks on a press tour to boost morale as she tries to find a way to save her husband.

Excuse me if this review is slightly more unhinged than usual because Foul Heart Huntsman did everything I wanted it to do. From the heart-pounding stakes to all the adorable mushy moments, my heart was screaming in both pain and exhilaration. Reading this really solidified my understanding that Chloe Gong writes characters that truly stick with you, in my case it just took me a couple books to realize how much I adore the Shanghai crew - new additions and all.

Rosalind finds herself navigating increasing political tensions as China is torn between the Nationalist and Communist parties and she'll need every scheme up her shoulder if she wants to rescue Orion from his mother and her experiments. I've come to a conclusion that Chloe Gong loves making us cry because her lovers are always separated at the end of the first book so I was very excited when we got plenty of Orion and Rosalind in this sequel.

Finishing this finale felt like a piece of my heart had finally clicked into place completing the puzzle but now there's also an aching nostalgic sensation left behind knowing that the characters have completed their story. The development each character underwent tested their relationships with each other as well as their loyalty to their country and I cannot tell you how many lines I highlighted where my only thought was incoherent screaming. We get a perfect balance of screen time between characters introduced in FLF while also being reunited with beloved characters from the Secret Shanghai universe and it all culminates into one happy found family.

In terms of writing and pacing, you can really tell that Chloe Gong went into this book ready to put readers through the wringer. I was holding my breath as individual plot lines diverged and then reunited to address the larger points of conflict. While some elements wrapped up with simple timely convenience, others were handled with more delicacy to reveal the hearts of each character.

In its core, Foul Heart Huntsman once again addresses the question of how much is loyalty worth especially through the lens of one's country, family, and love. I will sorely miss these characters because I have grown to absolutely adore them and cannot wait to jump back into their stories again with a future reread.

Main Points:

Fast Paced
Satisfying Conclusion
Amazing Characters
So much well done representation
The way I will never cease to obsess over every single one of Chloe Gong’s books has more than continued through Foul Heart Huntsman. Reading this was an experience on its own, with compelling characters, a twist-filled plot, and a wonderfully satisfying conclusion to the entire series.

The pacing did not falter throughout the story, allowing for the reader to be captivated within the dangerously enchanting world Chloe Gong set up. The story alone does include enough background to be read as a standalone, however I’d definitely recommend giving the entire series a chance, as this book becomes so much more satisfying. The characters made the story so much better. Rosalind’s character growth was absolute perfection, and even though I’ve been captivated by her character forever, this book made me love her impossibly more. Not to mention how much I love Orion, and well, everyone. There wasn’t a single flat character in this book, and that’s what made it stand out so much more.

This book was heartbreaking in the best way possible, with mostly unpredictable, but well built up to twists. It’s the type of book I could reread over and over, and still discover new elements within. The dialogue is absolutely stunning, and Chloe Gong’s pretty prose shines through this once again. The dynamics wove so perfectly into the plot, and despite the multitude of perspectives- which led to highly intriguing and unexpected moments– this book lacked any confusing points. The Roma and Juliette interactions were genuinely perfect (there were lots!!), and I couldn’t’ve been more satisfied with this stunning conclusion to a lovely series.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this for fans of fantasy, fast paced intriguing plots, and some of the most well written characters I’ve ever read about. Am forever obsessed with Chloe Gong for this wonderful book, and will most definitely be buying a physical copy as well, for the beautiful cover.

Chloe Gong wow…just wow. This book had everything I love about all her books. The romance, mystery, intrigue, and politics!! So. Freaking. Good!

This book picks up where Foul Lady Fortune left off. I won’t give many details because there were some jaw dropping moments at the end that I don’t want to accidentally spoil it.

This book was incredible. From the politics and historical elements interwoven with a beautiful fantasy story, there were no misses. I loved Rosalind and Orien so much in the first book and it just was amplified in this one. There were some heart breaking, breathless moments that made me want to scream or cry. I genuinely wasn’t sure which would be more appropriate. I loved seeing all these characters develop and create their own relationships and growth. Also loved some cameos from These Violent Delights iykyk. The best part about these books is that there are so many twists and turns but still a greatly satisfying ending! I love Chloe Gong’s writing and how immersive it is. She makes stories and characters that are so hard to put down.

I can’t wait to read whatever she puts out next. This was such a good time and I loved it!

Thank you to @simonteen @thechloegong and @coloredpagesbt for an early copy of this wonderful book as part of Foul Heart Huntsman Tour.

As soon as I found out I got chosen to be part of the FHH tour, I had a freakout moment because I haven’t read any of the Secret Shanghai Series (even though it is on the top of my tbr *mood read problems*). I knew I had to start from the first book, These Violent Delights (TVD). Thus, begin my binge-ing - ZERO REGRETS!

I am still reeling after that climatic ending from the masterpiece of Foul Lady Fortune (FLF) and can’t believe Chloe pulled a fast one on me. I would share my screenshots of my conversation with AK on how much *beep* *beep* but it would be too spoilery.

Foul Heart Huntsman (FHH) takes place where FLF left off. Since I do not want to give the plot away - let’s talk about the characters and writing style instead.

Given that this world spans a total of 4.5 novels, it is only natural that there is a huge ensemble of cast playing multiple roles and different POVs. With that said, it can get a bit confusing at times but it all comes together in the end. I didn’t think I would love Rosalind more but I did - her vulnerability and her love for Orion holds true. So much, that she would go to the ends of the earth for him. There is also an unexpected reunion in this book and honestly, it was so well-done that I cannot ask for more. Her character especially has undergone such massive growth since TVD.

Chloe’s writing style is superb. I am so glad I had a physical copy, having annotated the heck out of the book. There were just some unforgettable moments and some brilliant quotes that gave me all the feels.

The pacing was great: there were some intense moments, crazy action scenes and some small poignant moments that made it a superb story. For a spy/assassin thriller, there is never a dull moment! Keep in mind it is very heavily political driven, but Chloe has a way of sticking to facts and making it all understandable. So much so that I read up on the history during that time and used some of the references the author provided to learn about it. It also brought me all the closer to my bestie who I had a frank and insightful conversation on the history of Shanghai and its colonialism.

Thank you, Chloe, for sharing your heart of a story with us.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BRILLIANT SERIES - you will not regret it!

Fans of Chloe’s prior works in the Violent Delights series should be a fan of this one. It feels similar in execution. I stopped at the end of chapter 3 (8%). I do think it was set up well enough to work without having read the prior books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.