Foul Heart Huntsman

Foul Lady Fortune #2

by Chloe Gong

Winter is drawing thick in 1932 Shanghai, as is the ever-nearing threat of a Japanese invasion.

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the second book in the captivating Foul Lady Fortune duology following an immortal assassin in 1930s Shanghai as she races to save her country and her love.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Historical, Mystery, Fiction

560 pages, Hardcover

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of critically acclaimed fantasy and science fiction novels, including These Violent Delights, Immortal Longings, and Coldwire. Her books have been published in over twenty countries and she was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and International Relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City. Visit her online at thechloegong.com and on Instagram, X, and TikTok at @thechloegong.

Reviews

[benedicta · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ oml I loved this book! 😩♥️

because I couldn't tell you guys my favorite parts of this book if you gave me all the money in the world because they all have my heart 😩💗💗 ok but Alisia is the coolest person ever! When I saw Roma and Juliette, my heart couldn't take it anymore 😭😭🔫

Oliver and Celia were giving everything and I wanted to protect them from all the pain at all cost 🥺💞💞 Not Phoebe and Silas having the cutest little fights and I just wanted them to talk plainly to each other ugh 😭🥺

Orion and Rosalind...

“I’ll explain it like this,” she said quietly. “Attraction is a foreign language to me. And I could hear you speaking complete gibberish for much of the mission, which annoyed me tremendously when I was only trying to do my job.”...
“But…,” Rosalind went on. “Once in a while, I pick up a few phrases. If you speak it slowly enough, patiently enough. If it’s around my ear for long enough that I’m endeared to it, I start to understand what you are saying.”

The study turned quiet. Rosalind thought that Orion had gone to sleep. Then: “Rosalind?” “Mm-hmm?” A pause. He was thinking—or hesitating. “Even if the memories never come back,” he said slowly, “I’m going to love you again. I have decided to warn you in advance.”

ok bye 😭😭😭😭💞💞💞💞

***

am I once again putting my whole tbr on hold to read a copy I just received?... yes, yes I am 🤭🤭

[jessica yeung · Rating 4 out of 5]

this sequel is a seamless transition from the first book. its consistent in the way that it feels very much a part of the first installment and doesnt fall trap to the changes that sometimes happen during the writing period between two novels in a series. this is quite evidently the second half of a whole and i appreciate that.

for me, CG is a pretty stellar writer on a micro level. i think the way she structures sentences and describes details are top-notch. its just the not-as-strong macro level skills that are what tend to lose me personally. the plot overall is a bit cyclical and repetitive in nature, which makes this longer-than-average book feel like it drags at times.

i think if a reader has come to really love these characters, the drawn out nature of the story is a non-issue. while i do have reasons to enjoy all of the cast, they never really rooted themselves into my heart the way some characters in stories do.

but, as a concluding installment to a duology, this is pretty dang great and provides the necessary elements to create a satisfying ending.

↠ 3.5 stars

[yuvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

"I believe in you. Before I put my faith with anything, I would put it with you"


I read it and I'm completely and irrevocably changed. My heart is so full.
It's an end of an era. And it's so bittersweet. I wish I could read this series again for the first time.
I'm such an emotional mess, if you can't already tell that lol.

It's so well written. and the story seamlessly picks up from where flf left off. The plot twists, the writing style, the characters? everything was so well done.
and it's so fast paced. i read it in 2 days.
Y'all. I'm so attached to the characters ydek. especially roma and juliette. i was an emotional wreck while reading this. and i was so overwhelmed. It all came full circle ykwim? And I didn't really want it to end.
(i won't mind if chloe decides to write another novella, or a full length novel tbh, in the secret shanghai series again, tho)

I wish I could write more. And pen down my thoughts. And tell y'all what this series means to me. But I don't have a way with words. And words often fail me when i'm emotionally overwhelmed.
All in all, I really do think that mere words can't do justice to the sheer brilliance chloe has penned down. And i'm bereft of words. i srsly can't iterate enough what this series has come to mean to me.
Please read this book🙏🙏🙏(and you can always hmu if you want to yap abt this series. I love tss smmm)

════════≪ °❈° ≫════════

❀These violent delights- 6★
❀Our violent ends-6★
❀Last violent call-6★
❀Foul lady fortune-4.5★
❀Foul heart huntsman-5★

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
side note
started: 11th march '26
finished : 13th march '26


━━━━━
❀pre-read❀
━━━━━
ahhhh i finally finished flf after years of procrastinating.
omgg that ending was fucking diabolical.
JM. omfgggg.
onto the next book rfn🫡
br with my bestie chertzo

[siu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The country might still have a fighting chance if I go […] but I am scared that you will not if I don't."

almost started crying again there… i can always trust chloe for the best angst. 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 ♡

this is my most unorganized review bc i just have so many thoughts. 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)

He knew her, that much was certain. He felt her occupying immense space, the sound of her scoff and the color of her lips, the smell her hair and the cadence of her voice. He couldn't form the words that described how she existed in his head, but the feeling would balloon in his chest at any invocation—a soft feeling, a sweet feeling, less like sugar and more like springtime's first warm breeze. Yet despite it all, nothing wanted to come into clarity.

the sweet and tender moments they had together like this, just had me:


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’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 !! bc japan invasion !! brainwashed love interest/soldier !! they way our cast of characters are split in so many different sides, not silas being a whole triple agent😭

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 have more details in the spoiler section)

okay despite what 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). yall should listen to "My Love Mine All Mine" while reading bc the melancholic vibes matched perfectly.

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

OKAY SPOILERY BITS >:)
i had the BEST time reading all the roma and juliette scenes. THE PART WHERE JULIETTE SLAPPED ROMA'S MOUTH SHUT TO STOP HIM FROM CACKLING WHEN ORION ASKED IF HE'S MET MARSHALL BEFORE, AT A WHITE FLOWER CARABET LMAO BYE. RIGHT IN FRONT OF BENEDIKT TOO? it was too good.

okay the ending was absolutely insane. when orion had lost too much blood, rosalind offered her blood based on the logic that since celia’s blood type matches oliver’s (orion’s brother), her own blood would likely match orion’s since her blood type would probably be the same as her twin and MY QUEEN, IT DOES NOT WORK LIKE THAT !!

since they didn’t have the proper blood transfusion equipment, she decides to slice her arm but since she heals quickly, it’s not enough time for her to bleed out (i’m thinking if she sliced deeper then maybe more blood would bleed out since it would take longer for her wound to heal? i’m not gonna fight that bit too hard)

that’s not even my biggest gripe. rosalind then injects herself with the immortality cure and BAM she is suddenly a normal girl, immortality gone and it just takes me out how fast the cure worked, a bit anticlimactic. soon after she slices her arm again and bleeds out like a normal person.

I CANNOT BELIEVE WE GOT SO LITTLE OF BENMAR. ACTUALLY SO SHOCKED. roma and juliette’s entry scene was so badass and the scenes after were so heartwarming. i just thought benmar would have the same. i get it though, our flf cast definitely wasn’t close to benmar or even knew of them beforehand. BUT THEY JUST DIPPED SO FAST? COME BACK PLEASEEEE. AT LEAST HANG OUT WITH ROMA AND JULIETTE?

(06/20/22): i just know this book will be angsty af after flf's ending😭

[cherie ^_-★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.95 stars ⭐
⤷ spoiler-free review!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

this book was such a ride! i loved how fast-paced and action-packed it was. there was never a dull moment, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.

that said, the storyline did feel a little messy at times, and the whole war subplot was confusing—it felt like it was happening in the background without much explanation, and then it was brushed off way too easily at the end. speaking of the ending, it didn’t really land for me unfortunately. it was pretty unrealistic, underwhelming, and honestly disappointing 🥲 i was like, wait, that’s it…?

but let’s talk about the best part of this duology: the characters and the romance. i adored every single one of them 🥺 their dynamic was everything, and it’s kind of endearing how they all had this tendency to sacrifice themselves for each other like it was second nature to them 😭 and the romance? absolute perfection 💯 chef’s kiss 😚🤌🏻

“No, Orion. I’m trying to tell you that I kept you at a distance because I knew I wouldn’t respond to you like other people did, and I had no business playing with fire. Then somewhere along the way, between our last petty argument and the fifth time you decided to sleep on my shoulder, I fell in love with you, and once I’ve tumbled that deep, I’m trying to understand everything you say no matter which language it’s in.”

“You listen to me. You are bound to me in matrimony. If you break it and descend into another plane of existence, I will chase after you and snatch you back.”

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

“You know that being with me would be different from being with another woman.”
“Good. It should be different because you are the woman I am in love with, not another.”

“You need to get me more bullets.”
“Done. I’ll get you the world if you need it.”

overall, flaws aside, i genuinely had such a fun time buddy reading this duology with my bffie jae 🫂💘 i miss these characters already ☹️


pre-read
i’m looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds in this book, and i hope it wraps up in a satisfying way ~ 🤞🏻

ending off my br with jaebae <3

[toointofiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No, Orion. I’m trying to tell you that I kept you at a distance because I knew I wouldn’t respond to you like other people did, and I had no business playing with fire. Then somewhere along the way, between our last petty argument and the fifth time you decided to sleep on my shoulder, I fell in love with you, and once I’ve tumbled that deep, I’m trying to understand everything you say no matter which language it’s in.”

This is so absolutely magnificent it deserves so much more than five stars. I'm convinced that Chloe Gong is physically incapable of writing a bad story. There are no flaws in this whatsoever. There isn't a single dull moment. My emotions are so thoroughly manipulated, that I don't know what to feel anymore. I cried, laughed, and swooned uncontrollably, and my heart racing so rapidly I felt faint. Anyone who says you can't have romance, action, drama, and comedy all in one should read Chloe Gong's books. Not to mention, the historical aspect of this series is as fascinating as the fictional part of it and I feel like I've learned a lot from it even if it isn't entirely accurate.

Moreover, I am head over heels for Rosalind and Orion. They are both such fantastic characters and have gone through so much shit even before they met that I was practically begging for a happy ending. Rosalind's character arc specifically is astounding. She has become an almost completely different (better) person since These Violent Delights. Besides, Celia and Oliver are as adorable as their respective siblings and their own storyline is so raw and wonderful, that my eyes are permanently heart-shaped now. I love how they are both so dedicated to their cause but would still do anything to help Rosalind and Orion even if their work makes them enemies.

The same applies to Silas and Phoebe. Their relationship hasn't solidified in Foul Lady Fortune as they haven't said anything to each other regarding their feelings. However, it develops nicely in this book, and they have their own sweet and intense moments. In addition, Alisa Montagova is the funniest character. She is sunshine personified. Her positive attitude and skills in the face of any kind of adversity make her the most important asset to everyone. I honestly believe that no one would survive without her.

Lastly, my favorite thing in literature is when the main characters of the prequel series make an appearance in the sequels. I am obviously talking about Roma, Juliette, Benedikt, and Marchall. They are the cherry on top of this delectable story. Their presence in this book wasn't a surprise as they took up the role of protagonists once more in the novella that came out earlier this year and it was clear that they would make an appearance again. Nonetheless, it didn't stop me from screaming at the top of my lungs at the mere sight of their names and jumping up and down like a deranged gazel. It is safe to say that there is not a single badly-written character in this entire series. I would let them all use my back as a footstool.

[ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

women written by chloe gong will always be loved by me 🫶🏻

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I am afraid," she whispered. "How do I live with myself if there ever comes a day you get hurt because of me?"
Oliver smoothed his hand over her cheek. Brushed right at the soft space beneath her eye, like he was dusting off the stars that had fallen between them.
"You accept it," he replied simply. "Because that's what it means to be alive. That's what it means to fight for something--to love something. The county is good enough for us to die for. Why wouldn't you be?"

^Oliver stealing the spotlight from Orion with ease.

4.5 stars

This was a great ending to this entire series, and I'm sad to see it end. It's a great redemption for Rosalind considering everything that happened in the first duology, and it was a good conclusion for all of the main characters, including the ones we just met.

It was really awesome to see all the entire gang back together again, but we DID NOT get enough Benedkit and Marshall. Like two scenes and that's it?? No, no, they all should have been involved in the end, like a huge heist a la Six of Crows.

Speaking of the end, the entrance of Priest/Phoebe at the end was awesome. I also saw the Silas "betrayal" coming but I was hoping it was another double cross, quadruple cross, whatever it ended up being.

I wasn't super stoked when we had the memory loss trope, but I think it was handled pretty well here. Even without his memories, Orion was still very much himself and still knew that Rosalind was his beau.

I'm a little bummed we didn't get a love screen with them, not that it would have any spice; I don't think the love screen in These Violent Ends had spice, but it was a nice addition--for me at least.

But this was great, and I'll have to make a point to reread the whole series together at some point.

[tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't even care if it hasn't been written yet give it to meeeeeeeeeeeee

[cheska · Rating 4 out of 5]

.𖥔 ݁ 4.5 stars
🖇 contains major spoilers┊ ya historical romance + sci-fi elements
⤿ trigger/content warnings: violence and torture

જ⁀➴ for mitra, thank you for reading this with me making this so much more special and to juju, rina, and ingrid who loves this series as much as i do

𖥻 “regret would always clothe her in a heavy shroud, change the way she moved and the way she met the world.

but so did love. and it was warmer, thicker.”

* there will be MAJOR spoilers for these violent delights, our violent ends, foul lady fortune, and last violent call

the secret shanghai universe means the absolute world to me so it pains me that this is the final installment set in this world. i hold these characters near and dear to my heart. seeing every character grow has been a journey of its own. they are one of my favourite found families to ever fictionally exist.

the only reason why this isn't a full five stars (like i was hoping it would be) is because the ending went by so fast. the build-up was strong but then it all came crashing down. also the amount of pov changing in this one took me out of the story a little bit. nonetheless this entire universe is still infinity stars for me and i encourage everyone to go read this series immediately .

— rosalind lang + orion hong ⊹ "the ground could break under their feet, the sky could wash out its blue, descend into ash instead. the next month lay uncertain, as did the very next day, but no longer was it time spent in the shadows, hidden without love.”

seeing rosalind finally accept and let herself love orion was peak character development. especially since we got to see her grow from the first book. she has finally learnt to let go of the guilt that she felt and understands that she is deserving of love and that it's always been that piece of shit dimitri's rot in hell fault. orion was that light that she needed. she lowered down her walls which was so heartwarming. rosalind's entire character arc is one for the history books. i love how chloe made her such a strong female character without having the lila bard not-like-other-girls effect. rosalind lang you are so loved (by me).

orion hong the man that you are - talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it. the fact that he remembered his and rosalind's first-ever encounter was enough to make me sob. even after everything that has happened to them, he still loves her the same with or without amnesia.

the epilogue. the proposal. i was kicking my feet squealing but at the same time, i was also sobbing until all the liquid had left my body. i was so happy that they got the ending that they deserved but i was so sad because it was the end. nevertheless, it was such a satisfying conclusion and i loved the direction in which their relationship went. rosarion will always be that married couple.

— celia lang + oliver hong ⊹ "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. it's simple - just tell me you don't feel the same, and i'll let you go. but i won't accept anything else.”

that was some bridgerton level type of confession.

the amount of scenes that they had was *chef's kiss. this scene alone was enough to make me run laps around my apartment. i physically had to stand up, wit back down, stand back up, and run around. honestly rip oliver hong because you would have loved bruno mars (he's not dead). one thing that i absolutely love the subtle trans mention. i like how chloe did not make it such a big deal because queer is normal. being trans does not need to be a deciding factor in whether you should be loved or not. oliver acknowledges that she's trans and that was it. it didn't need to be an extravagant part of their relationship. i just love seeing how warm and genuine their love is. olivercelia is for the history books.

— phoebe hong + silas wu ⊹ "of course i was committed to her beyond what was accepted for the mission. i was so fascinated because i could see the parts of you in her. i've loved you this whole time, just split in two.”

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (totally normal reaction to phoebesilas)

first of all, i would like to formally apologize to silas wu for all the bad things that i said about him because i full-heartedly thought he betrayed phoebe BUT OF COURSE he would never do such a thing. their angst was truly angsting in this book. they are peak slow-burn. if chloe came out with a phoebesilas novel from when they first met all the way to present times then i would not be upset. i just wanted them to kiss so. bad. needless to say i need to know what's happening to them because what do you mean their relationship is still complicated ??

𖥻 “i would have found you anywhere.

across the world and under it. no matter how well you hide. it doesn't matter where you go. i'll always find you. understand?”

just writing this quote makes me sad.

but now let’s talk reunion. i was in shambles and my brain chemistry has been altered resulting in me never being the same ever again. it was so dear to me. the found family aspect was so well done. the different types of dynamics and relationships all in one room. romajuliette being domesticated while rosarion are so puppy love stage. as well as the aroma and alisa reunion ?? literally cried buckets. again, i will never let go of these characters and i will forever think about them constantly.

𖥻 “you are bound to me in matrimony. if you break it and descend into another plane of existence, i will chase after you and snatch you back.”

⤿ bottomline. i am so incredibly sad that it's over but this was such a good conclusion. this series probably isn't for everyone but it was for me. i love it with my whole entire heart and will forever be annoyingly devoted to it. these characters are so real to me. these stories are embedded in my brain. romajuliette, benmarsh, rosalindorion, olivercelia, phoebesilas, and alisa montagova are some of my favs ever and i will be constantly thinking about them for as much as my tiny brain can handle.

─ more chloe gong ᝰ.ᐟ
these violent delights
our violent ends
foul lady fortune
foul heart huntsman

# all reviews are opinions of my own and you should experience a book before giving your own. happy reading! 💌

fin. ꗃ 03 | 07 | 24

[rina (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⊹ 𓏲࣪ 5 stars ★ 𓄹 ࣪ .
⤿ minor spoilers in this review

⤷ “ at any moment the alarms could blare, could bid them to pick up their bags and flee. the ground could break under their feet, the sky could wash out its blue, descend into ash instead. the next month lay uncertain, as did the very next day, but no longer was it time spent in the shadows, hidden without love. ”

brb while i mourn for these characters. ignore the fact that i finished this book 2 weeks ago and took 3 days to write the review. gotta do my fave book justice

i can't believe the secret shanghai universe is finally over !! the foul lady fortune series is my comfort read, and i will miss my favourite characters very dearly <3

everything about chloe gong and her books are complete and utter perfection. say what you want about her and her writing, but SHE KNOWS how to write the most heartwarming characters and relationships to exist. she is such a literary genius who deserves all the love and recognition and more. she is so mother, and i am eternally grateful to chloe for gracing us with this series 🧸💞

foul heart huntsman gave me the best ending possible for this series. tbh i was counting on chloe to write us the most devastating, heart-wrenching, hysterical ending ever, i still haven't recovered from OVE ending, but she gave us something even better. she wrote the happiest ending possible, that gave me sm closure and left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart.

i adore every single character, don’t ask me to choose one bc they all have my whole heart. i am terribly emotionally invested in their lives and journeys, and i would die for them.

⇢ rosalind. GET BEHIND ME BBY. rosalind must be protected at all costs, and i would gladly lay down my life for her. i can't even put into words the amount of love i hold for this girl. i adore every single one of her flaws and perfections. her character growth from these violent delights up to flf is perfect and was truly one of the best character arcs i've ever read about. she has been through sm and is initially guarded and resistant to love because of her past experiences and fear of vulnerability. but i'm so happy orion helped her lower her walls and open herself up to love. i especially loved reading about her journey of learning to forgive herself, and when juliette forgave her my heart was swelling.

“ you are bound to me in matrimony. if you break it and descend into another plane of existence, i will chase after you and snatch you back. ”

⇢ orion. my sweetest boy. the fact that he can speak chinese, english, japanese, german, french, AND italian ?? orion is husband material and no one can tell me otherwise. the little moments of affection between him, and rosalind are the greatest things ever given to us. when he held rosalind's hand whenever she felt anxious. the way they would instinctively steal glances and touches. his unconditional support for every little thing about her. when he calls her beloved. when he lost his memory yet still held sm love for rosalind.

“ even if the memories never come back, he said slowly. i'm going to love you again. ”

sobbing hysterically. they are so desperately in love w each other.

“ i make you weak. ”

“ no, celia, tell the truth. his grip tightened on her. one hand rose, sinking into her loose hair. you spoke correctly the first time. you're afraid. i tell you over and over again that i want you, but you generate excuses for me. i tell you that i refuse to worship my father's image of respectability, but you make it a matter of safety. 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 . ”

DYING CRYING. 😭

⇢ celia + oliver. altered my brain chemistry. they make my heart flutter. the tension between them at the beginning and all the little ways oliver cares for celia. i love rosorion sm, but celia and oliver hit so different in the best way possible. THEIR MUTUAL PINNING. shut up rn. their story is so tragic, gut-wrenching, soul-crushing. celia giving us trans rep and oliver loving her regardless !! 💞

“ you know, celia said very carefully, her voice almost hoarse. that being with me would be very different from being with another woman. ”

“ good, he said. it should be different because you are the woman i am in love with, not another. ”

my god my god my god. someone pls restrain me.

⇢ alisa. TELL ME WHY ALISA BECAME THE BIGGEST ICON KNOWN TO EXISTENCE. i've always felt indifferent towards her character, but oh, how wrong i was. she has become my little sister and my sole reason of joy. her humor is unmatched and her relationship with her brother !! PLS 🖐 the most PRECIOUS platonic relationship to exist. i will miss her and her silly little jokes soso much.

“ of course i was committed to her beyond what was acceptable for the mission. i was so fascinated because i could see the parts of you in her. i've loved you this whole time, just split in two. ”

⇢ silas + phoebe. tbh i don't love these character's as much as the others. i mean HOW do you expect me to compare their relationship to rosorion and olivercelia. they were very infuriating at times bc of how blind and oblivious they acted. i was yelling in my empty room at 2 am for them to SHUT UP AND KISS ALREADY !! sm unnecessary miscommunication, and for what ? they were still entertaining to read about though, and the plot twist with silas had me in a chokehold. i did really enjoy seeing the dynamics between phoebe and her mother, but i wanted more between silas and phoebe with the rest of the gang. what happened to phoebe's relationship with her brothers ?? and silas' friendship with orion ?? they are supposed to be best friends, and we got almost no moments with them together. we needed more of them all together.

“ i couldn't let them do this, she whispered. they got out even when i almost ruined them. i won't let them risk it again. ”

rosalind's sense of protection for roma and juliette 🥺

⇢ roma + juliette and marshall + benedikt. their reunion was the cutest, and my love for them hasn't once dulled since reading TVD. tbh we were robbed of more marshall + benedikt scenes, but i'm still so happy we got a few chapters with them. as always they stole the show even though they had nowhere near sufficient pagetime.

married roma and juliette have my heart <33 their love for each other is the purest and sweetest. lemme just hold on to them and never let go. ❤‍🩹🫂

⇢ the epilogue. changed my life for the better. this was everything !! after what felt like years, rosalind and orion are finally happy and in love. his proposal !! i want and need an orion immediately. thank you chloe for giving everyone the happy ending they deserve after all that suffering and pain. i was reading the epilogue so slowly and trying to savor every single word. let me be delulu and pretend that this isn't the end.

not to mention the plot twists the angst ??!! i've said it once, and i'll say it again, chloe gong is a mastermind.

“ the sky itself says i love you. i have loved you since we weren't actually married, and i can't bear another day living in a falsity. please, rosalind, put me out of my misery. ”

rosorion brainrot.

[Grace (irisroman & evajacks' version) ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 5/5 ★

Okay this was S T U N N I N G 😫😫 I actually hadn't had a 5 star in 2024 before this, but this book absolutely deserves all the stars 💌 This series holds such a special place in my heart and this was the PERFECT ending!! 🥹🥹💝💝

“I would have found you anywhere.” He reached forward. Tugged that piece of her hair, then tucked the curl behind her ear. “Across the world and under it. No matter how well you hide. It doesn’t matter where you go. I’ll always find you. Understand?”

Tropes:
🏹 Spies
🏹 Fake marriage
🏹 Black cat x golden retriever vibes
🏹 Strong fmc

“You are bound to me in matrimony. If you break it and descend into another plane of existence, I will chase after you and snatch you back.”

I've honestly been reading this series for quite a while- late 2022 was when I picked up these violent delights- so finishing this felt like the end of an era. i'm so glad these characters got the ending to their story that they deserved 💐✨️

⁀➷ Plot & Writing:

The plot and writing in Chloe Gong books are always immaculate and this book was no different 🤭🤭 I am obsessed with chloe gong's writing- it is perfect amounts of descriptive and action-packed, and i can really feel all the emotions the characters are feeling. i love the way her writing transports you straight to Shanghai and the culture threaded throughout this series is done so well 🥹🫶

The plots of every single book in this series are soo well thought out, and this one was exactly the same! i love how one tiny detail earlier in the book can be revealed as some crazy plot twist later on, it's literally so smart 🫶🫶 This book had such a great storyline and the last part of the book?! INSANE 😩😩 the number of times i was full on sobbing over this book is a little embarrassing actually. it just made me feel all the emotions aah!! 🥺🥺

“Tell your heart to stop pumping so fast."
"I can't," he replied weakly. "It swoons when you're around.”

⁀➷ Characters:

Omggg i literally lovee this characters sm!! I feel like i've grown such an emotional attachment to all of them throughout this series- they've all found their way into my heart and i'm never getting rid of them 🥹🥹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

➵ Rosalind: MY QUEEN i love her smm! 🤭🤭 I honestly think giving her her own series was such a smart move bc while she was not super likeable in these violent delights, there are so many different layers to her character and i've loved getting to know her more!! she's such a badass and i love her 😌💅
➵ Orion: LITERALLY PERFECT. HE CAN DO NO WRONG 😩✋️ i am utterly obsessed with his golden retriever energy and the sunshine he brings to this series is unmatched!! him flirting while they were in the most serious situations was the funniest thing ever omgg 🤭🤭 live laugh love orion hong 💝💝
➵ Celia: i also lovedd getting more of her in this series as well!! i really enjoyed seeing more of rosalind and celia's relationship in this book and after reading about celia for so many books, i've grown super attached to her! 🥹🫶

Plus the appearance of *ahem* certain characters was literally the best thing ever!! MY BABIES 😭😭❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 i'm so glad we got to see them one last time 🩷

⁀➷ Romance:

‼️ spoilers in this section for who ends up with who ‼️


➵ Orion and Rosalind:

ahhh i love them sm!! 🤭🤭 i must say, at the very beginning of Foul Lady Fortune, I wasn't so sure about their romance but i was very quickly proved wrong. I will eat up any variation of the fake dating/fake marriage trope and this book does it so well!! 😫😫 plus orion and rosalind's dynamic is soo good- they are the epitome of "he was sunshine, i was midnight rain" and I love it sm 🫶🫶 they had so many amazing scenes and their ending was actually the cutest thing ever 🥹🥹💓💓

➵ Oliver and Celia:

honestly they were the perfect side romance!! 🤭🤭 there has been so much tension between them and seeing them finally get together was so satisfying hehehe. loved their dynamic and oliver's quotes hit so hard. such a great couple! 💓💓

“Regret would always clothe her in a heavy shroud, change the way she moved and the way she met the world.
But so too did love. And it was warmer, thicker.”

“No, Celia, tell the truth.” His grip tightened on her. One hand rose, sinking into her loose hair. “You spoke correctly the first time. You’re afraid. I tell you over and over again that I want you, but you generate excuses for me. I tell you that I refuse to worship my father’s image of respectability, but you make it a matter of safety. 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. It’s simple—just tell me you don’t feel the same, and I’ll let you go. But I won’t accept anything else. I won’t accept your refusal on the make-believe grounds of our work.”

⁀➷ In conclusion:

I absolutely loved this book 🥹🥹💓💓 I would HIGHLY recommend this series if you're looking for:

✔️ Spies!
✔️ Amazing plots
✔️ Stunning romances
✔️ Great writing
✔️ Characters to fall in love with

Now i'm just going to go cry in a corner bc this series is over 🥲💔

《 2024 Challenge: Book 39 of 115 》

･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ

⁀➷ Secret Shanghai series:

➵ These Violent Delights- 5★
➵ Our Violent Ends- 4.5★
➵ Foul Lady Fortune- 4.5★
➵ Last Violent Call- 4★
➵ Foul Heart Huntsman- 5★

･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ

First 5 star of 2024!! 🥹🥹 this was the PERFECT ending to the series & I loved it sm 💘💘 I can't believe this series is over now 🥺🥺💔💔

Rtc when I can see through my tears 🧸

[ingrid ₊ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"hey mom can you tell me how rosarion is a red thread of fate couple?"

[elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay wow. i cannot believe this series is finished???? i truly have no words. this was perfection, as usual.

the secret shanghai books and it’s characters and relationships mean the absolute world to me.
i’ve been reading these since these violent delights came out and have been looking forward to new books for the past 3 years — it’s truly my favourite comfort series…

if i wasn’t shedding tears at the thought of saying goodbye to all these characters i would write an essay about how much each of them means to me and what they have taught me over the years.
my brain is still spinning from finishing this and maybe i’ll someday come back here and write an actual review but for now:
goodbye to juliette, roma, ben, mars, orion, alisa, phoebe, silas and especially rosalind, my dazzling star who is truly one of my favourite characters ever written.

begging chloe to release a novella about each character (esp with those romajuliette news….. pls give me some fluff it’s what i deserve)

[rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

miss chloe said im a celebrity to her just so yall all know 🤍🤍🤍

[Ash ꣑ৎ (quit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡️| Infinite Stars 💫✨

Ahhh what a stunning conclusion to a truly magical series 🥹❤️‍🩹 Ngl I have been putting off finishing this series FOREVER, as I didn't want it to end, but the ending was way better than I could have ever imagined 🥳🥳 No joke the second I finished I re-read the epilogue probably 100 times. I want to cry (happy tears) bc of how much I love this book ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

I didn't know I could love Chloe's writing more than I did already, but I'm more than happy to be proven wrong 🤭🤭 One of the main problems I have had with her previous books is that the multiple povs can mess with my head, but thankfully I found FHH way easier to understand 😅😅 Also can we talk about how perfectly Last Violent Call and Foul Heart Huntsman connect, Chloe Gong is truly a mastermind 😍😍

.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Playlist

❥ Right Where You Left Me - Taylor Swift
❥ Midnight Rain - Taylor Swift
❥ I Miss You I'm Sorry - Gracie Abrams
❥ Back To December - Taylor Swift
❥ Love Is Embarrassing - Olivia Rodrigo

.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Characters

➸ “You are bound to me in matrimony. If you break it and descend into another plane of existence, I will chase after you and snatch you back.”

❥ Rosalind: Ok so I liked her in FLF, but I LOVED her in FHH 🤩🤩 She is so badass and such a queen 👑👑 I love how she would do anything to protect the ones she loves 🥰🥰 Her character development throughout the duology is AMAZING 😩😩 I'm going to miss her character sm 🥺🥺

➸ “Even if the memories never come back," he said slowly, "I'm going to love you again. I have decided to warn you in advance.”

❥ Orion: ORION THE MAN YOU ARE 🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️ I swear I melted into a puddle every time he called her beloved 🫠🫠 I felt so so bad for him, with all the things he went through and all of the plot twists about his family and just wanted to give him a hug 😭😭🫂🫂 It's safe to say I will be thinking about him for the foreseeable future 🤭🤭

➸ “I would have found you anywhere.” He reached forward. Tugged that piece of her hair, then tucked the curl behind her ear. “Across the world and under it. No matter how well you hide. It doesn’t matter where you go. I’ll always find you. Understand?”

❥ Other Characters: Omg all of the side characters have grown on me sm 🤭🤭 Ngl at the start I didn't know how I felt about Phoebe and Silas (especially Pheobe), but they grew on me sm 🥰🥰 I'm no joke O B S E S S E D with Celia and Oliver, petition to get their book (I don't ever want to leave this world lol 😂😂😭😭) I love Alisa so freaking much, I said it again and again in TVD that I needed more of her, and I finally got it 😄😄 And all of the cameo's, I'm crying I love those character SO SO MUCH 🥺🥺

.ೃ࿐⁀➷ Romance

➸ “Then somewhere along the way, between our last petty argument and the fifth time you decided to sleep on my shoulder, I fell in love with you, and once I’ve tumbled that deep, I’m trying to understand everything you say no matter which language it’s in.”

❥ Rosalind + Orion: Eeee I'm obsessed!! Ngl I wasn't the biggest fan of their relationship in book one, purely bc I couldn't distinguish what was real and what was acting half of the time, 🫣🫣 but to say their romance in FHH made up for it would be a severe understatement 🤭🤭 I feel so bad for both Rosalind and Orion when he was still being possessed, but Chloe totally made up for it in the reunion scene 🫠🫠 (It's not even funny how many times I read and reread that scene, trying to imprint it in my memory 😂😂)

➸ “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.”

❥ Celia + Oliver: I LOVE THEM SO SO MUCH 🥹❤️‍🩹 Is it bad that I was as invested in their story than Rosalind and Orion's 🫣🫣 The chemistry was on fire 🔥🔥 but the slow burn omg 😩😩 (It was worth every second when they finally got together 😂😂) The was Oliver called her sweetheart was so cute, the Hong brothers and their nicknames 🤭🤭 I need a Last Violent Call with Rosalind and Orion, and Celia and Oliver 💘💘

➸ “Of course I was committed to her beyond what was acceptable for the mission. I was so fascinated because I could see the parts of you in her. I've loved you this whole time, just split in two.”

❥ Phoebe + Silas: Honestly, they were pretty cute 🤭🤭 I don't love how Phoebe used him in the past, but I'm glad she recognised it and made an effort to improve 🫡🫡 Ngl I do wish we got a little more time focusing on their banter bc it was 🤌🏻🤌🏻

!! MAJOR spoilers !!

➸ “Biǎojiě," Juliette Cai said, grinning. "Don't you recognize me anymore?”

❥ Juliette + Roma: I'm sorry but I had to add them 🤭🤭 Eeee I'm SO SO HAPPY we got a cameo of them 🥳🥳 It's unhealthy how much I love these two 😩😩 I swear I could read a 1000-page novel about them doing the dishes and I would still eat it up. OMFG AND THE NEWS ABOUT THE PREGNACY!!! CHOLE GONG, YOU CANNOT LEAVE US HANGING LIKE THAT 😱😱

!! end of MAJOR spoilers !!

.ೃ࿐⁀➷ In Conclusion

Overall, a STUNNING conclusion to a truly magical series. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend if you are looking for:

✅ Plot Twists
✅ Spies
✅ Really sweet found family
✅ Black cat x golden retriever
✅ Beautiful writing

✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*✧･:*

🗡️| pre-read

It's finally time to finish the Secret Shanghai series!! Ngl I've been putting it off for so long bc I don't want it to end 🥺🥺 Fingers crossed it is as stunning as the rest of the series 🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I’m going to think about this series for a very long time.

[Jillian B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like giving this three stars is so controversial! But honestly, even though I enjoyed this book, I think it fell short of my expectations.

Part of the issue is that the first book in this duology was SO GOOD. I think Orion and Rosalind’s romance was so much more fun in the first book because of the enemies to lovers and fake marriage tropes. Their love story just didn’t sparkle in the same way in this one for me, and that’s a big part of why I’m giving it a kind of mid rating.

Random things I liked:
-I loved the way the author wove in real events from history. I definitely want to learn more about this time period.
-The 1930s Shanghai vibes remain flawless. I loved the clothing descriptions!
-All of the characters are honestly pretty likeable. It’s a fun ensemble cast.
-The ending was super satisfying and wraps the series up well.

Random things I didn’t like:
- The book felt like it was longer than it needed to be. It takes so long to get to the point where we’re even reunited with Orion.
-OK, I’m sorry, Oliver, but calling the girl you’re flirting with “sweetheart” is 🤢. I feel like if a pet name is something your grandma would call you, it should not be part of your banter! Is that just a me thing?

[Bryce Rocks My Socks · Rating 5 out of 5]

the only person with a foul heart is whoever decided to end this series 😭😭

[Avery]

Edit on the same day of my crazy reaction (3/8/23): I JUST READ THE EXCERPT AND I NEED THIS BOOK NOW

I swear, if it ends like OVE did I'm gonna scream 😭

I JUST SAW ONE OF CHLOE'S TIKTOKS AND SAW THE COVER WAS REVEALED AND SPRINTED TO GOODREADS AHH IT'S BEAUTIFUL

[Charlotte May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid instalment in this series!

Full of secrets and double crossing and romance. I’m not a big romance lover but the relationships all seem to work really well in here.

After the end of book 2, Orion has had his memory wiped and he has been taken by his mother for further experiments. Rosalind won’t let her fake husband go though, and will go to great lengths to get him back.

Meanwhile tensions between the communists and nationalists are still rife, with further threats of war from the Japanese. Full of action but also with sparks of humour. Chloe Gong is fast becoming a fave for me.

Also Roma and Juliette reappearing made this entire book!

[jazmin ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⊹ ࣪ ˖⌇𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧
╰⪼〝𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.〞

𑣲 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: june 15th, 2026 ⌝
⌞ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: june 17th, 2026 .ᐟ.ᐟ

──── .✦
⋆ 𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒗𝒔 (𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏)
⋆ 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: none, just kissing that doesn't go further
⋆ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: violence, death, murder, injures, weapons, war, cursing, human experimentation i was really invested, so i apologize if i missed anything!
──── .✦



‎ . ݁⋆ ꫂ᭪⌇𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
╰⪼ 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝟓/𝟓 ✰

i loved this sm. the plot was amazing, and for the most part it was really fast paced! i love all these characters so much and im so sad its over, i might need to read the duology that comes before this even tho i already know some spoilers for it. i thought the writing couldnt get any better, but it diddd

there may be minor spoilers below



.☘︎ ݁˖ ⌇𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

⊱ 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠
╰⪼ 〝𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺. 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥, 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳.〞

my girl. i felt so bad for her, especially at the start. despite all of her flaws, i love her so much and those flaws made her feel so much more real.

⊱ 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠
╰⪼ 〝𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯—𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦.〞

HE LOST HIS MEMORY AND STILL HELD SO MUCH LOVE FOR HER.

😭😭😭😭

there's actually no way, i wish he was real. i feel so bad for him though, he did not deserve all the things he went through

⊱ 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 + 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧
╰⪼ 〝𝖤𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄," 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽 𝗌𝗅𝗈𝗐𝗅𝗒, "𝖨'𝗆 𝗀𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇. 𝖨 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝖺𝗋𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗂𝗇 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾.〞

my babies 😭😭 i would protect them at all costs, they mean so much to me. normally i hate the amnesia trope but i actually didnt mind it here !

⊱ 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠
╰⪼ 〝𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴, 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥. 𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵.〞

i love her and rosalind's dynamic so much. it was so sad that she thought love would just pass over her and that she wouldn't receive affection from a lover, and then oliver proves all that wrong 🥹

⊱ 𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠
╰⪼ 〝𝘖𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳.〞

i still can't get over how he calls celia sweetheart 🥹 the hong brothers and their nicknames, i swear

and he sacrificed himself just so she wouldn't be found. my heart 💔

⊱ 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 + 𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫
╰⪼ 〝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. 〞

their slowburn was sososo good, ugh they were so adorable i cant even, they altered my brain chemistry, their banter just got better and better

⊱ 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠
╰⪼ 〝𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦. 〞

it was sososo interesting to see phoebe's dynamic with her mother, and just the memories she had of her as a kid. she was so bubbly and just very 'sunshine' (best way i can put it), and i loved it!! and her storylines was so interesting!

⊱ 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐮
╰⪼ 〝𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘣𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘨.〞

holy yearn. i actually can't. not to mention he's also a triple agent?? like damnn

⊱ 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐛𝐞 + 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐬
╰⪼ 〝𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦.〞

MY NEW FAVORITE COUPLE!!!, they were so cute i cant 🥹, they mean so much to me they're going in my bio, but sometimes i genuinely wanted to throw the book istg, they both made me so frustrated. don't even get me started on how phoebe messed with him, i love her but omg. or for her to reveal her true identity to him rather than warch him chase false leads 💔

THAT MUTUAL BETRAYAL THOUGH??? my god.

⊱ 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐚
╰⪼ 〝𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴.〞

omg i swear she carried this book. like theres so many situations where if she wasnt there everyone would've been fucked, i love her smm she's such a girlboss and she's so funny 😭



𓂃⋆.˚ 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 .ᐟ

➺ foul lady fortune(𝟔✰)
➺ foul heart huntsman (𝟓✰)



➵ . ݁⋆ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ‎. ݁⋆
𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
⋆ 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝟓/𝟓 ✰

ᯓ i need this book in my hands asap, that ending was not ok

update: i got it 🥹, if orion and rosalind don't have a happy ending im suing



ﾒ૦ﾒ૦

[isolde ⭑ hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

⊹ ݁⠀✦ ╮ pre review: 11/03/24

i cannot live without rosaorion. give them back to me, chloe gong, or i'll be seeing you in court. [unintelligible screaming]

⊹ ݁⠀✦ ╮ finished: 12/03/24

i bring a sort of incomprehensible babble about rosaorion foul lady fortune brainrot vibe to the social function (rtc ^-^)

[clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/16/23
guys i don't what to say.

this was so good and i dont have anymore adjectives in me to describe how much i love this book. like it was perfection, and of course some may disagree but its ok to be wrong!
honestly, i wont oppose to an extended epilogue of everyones stories once more bc lowk i though 545 pages were too much but babes tell me why i needed more than that when i was nearing the end. BUT chloe put me through so much with this book lmaoooo

i personally have never loved a sequel more, like this was perfection. PERFECTION. i was so immersed in this book i was thinking about her 24/7 like i couldnt stop reading. even though i love FLF, that book took me like 2 weeks to read, this didnt even take me a week AND i think its thicker than FLF. there were no plot holes (at least that i could find, but im not the greatest judge of character for that bc i cant remember shit), nothing was prolonged too much, and most importantly none of my fav characters died so win win overall!! and thats all i will say for now ◡̈ one of my fav books fs, i cant choose between FLF and FHH so theyre both #1 to me, theyre twins. anyways love yall, bye!

out of context spoilers below!
"I will love you if i please. i will make you my altar, ill out you above everything else in this world, ill revel in every morsel you are made of."
like how am i supposed to move on from that.

"you are bound to me in matrimony, if you break it and descend into another plane of existence, i will chase after you and snatch you back."
the response to this was so funny lol

"of course i was committed to her beyond what was acceptable for the mission, i was so fascinated because i could see the parts of you in her, i've loved you this whole time, just split in two."
UGH i was screaming finally when this was said!!!

-
WE HAVE A TITLE LADIES AND GENTS AND THEYS!!! i never would’ve guessed the title tbh lolol
-
i will come for you if my babies don’t get a happy ending😭😭😭 for ALL my babies🥹

[lana ౨ৎ ( semi ia ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

౨ৎ ๋ · ˚ ⊹ post read
⤿ finished on april 14

i actually love rosalind and orion so much 🥹


౨ৎ ๋ · ˚ ⊹ pre read
⤿ started on april 10

i can’t believe im almost done i’m going to miss this series so much i didn’t expect to like them so much 🥹

[emma ⚘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆ - 4.5 stars

read from march 13-15 2024

- wow! chloe gong, i wasn’t expecting you to end it so nicely! i can actually sleep soundly now.

- this was the last book i have read in the secret shanghai series. while it was a pretty short journey, i enjoyed every minute. all of these characters have a special place in my heart, and i really hope that this isn’t the very end.

- this book was overall really good and it gave me the closure i needed! but i feel like there could’ve been more. something was lacking and i’m not sure exactly what…

- but first, the characters. rosalind lang is the main character of this series, and she is just such a perfect lead. she is independent, calculating, badass, and still feels very strongly for others. there was really nothing to dislike about her! i loved the relationships she formed with the other characters.
- rosalind overall is just a super sweet and enjoyable character to read about. i have learned that every side character deserves a chance.

- orion put me through so much in this book! “who are you?” - that killed me. i was dreading the amnesia trope, but he still managed to act so cute with memory loss. the way he fell in love with rosalind all over again had my heart melting. he was so adorably confused the whole time and i loved seeing the innocent, childlike side of orion.

”Even if the memories don’t come back, I’m still going to love you again.”

- when the memories finally came back, i expected it to be more climactic, but i was still excited no matter what! he is the kindest, silliest, and cutest character ever. so glad he got his happy ending.

He had the heart of gold. She was the cataclysmic mess.

♪ i don’t wanna live forever…i just wanna keep calling your name, until you come back home.

- even while orion was suffering from the experiments, we still had every bit of oliver. the way he goes around calling celia “sweetheart” so casually is insanely hot. i’m so obsessed with this man.

- celia was fine. she had some good development. i wanted a little more from her, but she was by no means a bad character. i loved her relationship with rosalind at the end.

They could fall apart and split onto sides at two different ends of the universe, but they would still find their way back. There was nothing that could truly pull them apart.

- silas and phoebe were cute, but oh my gosh! it took them forever to quit acting like idiots. phoebe messed with him way too much. and then the mutual betrayal? that just complicated things even more!

♪ it’s always 1 step forward, and 3 steps back.

- all poor silas wanted from the beginning were for his feelings to be validated and reciprocated. he’s just a guy in love! have some mercy, phoebe!

♪ i won’t fight for love if you won’t meet me halfway…all i want is love that lasts, is all i want too much too ask?

- things finally came together and they obviously fell in love. did it take a little too long? yes. but i’m happy for them. they didn’t have many scenes though. :(

- now, the plot. to be honest, the plot was a little..messy? i liked so many parts of it, especially the scheming they all did together. but as for the action i was expecting? i mean, there was some action at points, but not as much as I expected. the first 350 pages were a little slow. it took the plot a lot longer to build in this one and there weren’t as many plot twists as i expected. i was hoping for this to be super epic and jaw-dropping, but the only times my jaw dropped was when benedikt and marshall finally arrived or when roma and juliette came to save the day. (yes, i’m obsessed with all of them.)

- i was still so invested in the story at the end, but then i turn the page and it’s already the epilogue?? when i tell you i was shocked, i literally could not believe it. it came out of nowhere! i wanted more from the other characters. we for sure got enough from the rosalind and orion, but what about roma, juliette, Benedict, marshall, alisa? you’re telling me this is the last book in the whole universe and my favorite characters only get a brief mention in the epilogue?
- i am a full on benmarsh stan, and i was so mad when they didn’t get more page time! the novella was not enough!!

- but anyway, i love happy endings. i love endings that, instead of making me throw my book, i hug it close to my chest. that sounds insanely sappy, but it’s the only way i can describe it.

- so, i would definitely not say the plot was bad, at no point was i actually bored. it was still interesting and i loved the characters!! i just wished it could’ve been a little more epic, you know?

- i mostly went over everything i have to say. i am so obsessed with this set of characters and this setting! it’s really hard to say a proper goodbye, but this is one of my favorite universes/series. i urge everyone to immediately check these books out! gorgeously written with such well-thought out plots.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. With the kind of dramatics you'd expect from a Shakespeare retellings set in the covert world of 1930's Shanghai, Foul Heart Huntsman is an achingly romantic and action-packed curtain call of a finale.

[jolie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

for those of you wondering, you can read my non spoiler section without reading flf! it will make a lot more sense if you read it before this book tho!!

“I kept you at a distance because I knew I wouldn’t respond to you like other people did, and I had no business playing with fire. Then somewhere along the way, between our last petty argument and the fifth time you decided to sleep on my shoulder, I fell in love with you, and once I’ve tumbled that deep, I’m trying to understand everything you say no matter which language it’s in.”

my heart is so full and i officially have a gaping hole in my heart after finishing this series. i can’t believe this is the end! i have to say, this entire series is definitely infinity stars. although this book wasn’t my favorite, i still enjoyed it thoroughly.

hm: bisexual mmc! i can’t believe i didn’t catch on earlier but omg that made me love orion even more. the fact that orion and marshall met before bc marshall bought him a drink had my jaw ON THE FLOOR. i love them both so much.

this book delivered on the plot aspect. it was captivating every step of the way. i’m ngl i had a hard time wrapping my mind around everything that was happening and comprehending it all but idec. i ate it up the entire time even tho it was just so mellow in the middle of the book when everyone was preparing for war just to make the ending all the more interesting. i love that chloe gong was able to make the end suspenseful up until the very end but GIRL LET US BREATHE!! i honest to god bawled my eyes out after i finished this series. i can’t believe it’s all over.

rosalind my bb deserves better. i feel like it’s so realistic for her to still be suffering from her past and all that has happened and really shows that getting over trauma isn’t a straightforward process. she deserved sm better i felt so much for her while i was reading this book. chloe gong was able to perfectly capture her emotions and feelings in this book and i am in absolute disbelief at how well she writes.

oliver is SO. FUCKING. FINEEE it’s not even funny. him and celia were so fucking adorable and the build of their relationship was chefs kiss. i love them so much it’s actually insane and i can’t believe we didn’t get to see them married. i am unwell

alisa not having a love interest in this series was a crime. wdym everyone else fell in love happily except alisa?? i love my queen tho if she won’t get w anyone she can get w me. she was such a girlboss in this book idc she’s too good for anyone.

- spoiler section -

lady hong is one of the most complex characters ive ever read about in quite a bit. i didn’t expect to actually feel for her as much as i did at the end (i still hate her, but not as much as before). seeing things through phoebe’s perspective and seeing her struggle to forgive or hate her mom bc she’s still grieving the loss of a family was so sad to read ab. although phoebe wasn’t my fav character, her emotions and thoughts were so real and conflicting.

the reunion with rosalind, juliette, roma, and alisa was so heartwarming. i gen passed away after i read about them all being together in a room after years. seeing rosalind battle with herself for blaming herself for her cousin’s death and seeing them console each other healed a part of me that i didn’t know needed healing. my brain chemistry has genuinely been permanently altered after this series. i fear i will not see anything in my life the same.

chloe gong is gen so fucking smart and idc if you say i’m glazing her bc IT’S TRUE! the way she connected something so minute in the first book to something that had such a big role in this book was actually mind blowing. wdym they met when they were younger in paris and that was the first memory orion got back of rosalind?? i had to put my book down and stare at the wall i genuinely can’t believe orion isn’t real bc i’m actually so in love with him.

“I wish I could remember,” he said into the dark. “I wish I could remember the first time you told me this.”
“I have good news, then.” Her words were barely audible. “That was the first time.”
Orion shifted forward. Uncrossed his ankles. “Then I still wish I could remember, because under different circumstances, if you told me you loved me, I would have kissed you.”

orion had me crying every time he opened his mouth i love him so much omg. he carried this book the entire way and i was living for it. i loved seeing traits that were present before he lost his memory. and he still fell in love with her without their memories I AM SOBBING. the reveal where he got his memories back was so heartwarming but i wanted more. benedikt ruining their moment and them not even reconvening after was cruel. i wanted 1 and 1/2 books for this.

i really wanted this book to be a 5 star. however, i felt like the ending was a bit rushed and after all the action the characters faced, they deserved like at least 50 pages of them being happy. instead, we got an extra chapter of rosalind and orion’s wedding the day they got married and didn’t even read about the ceremony. i wish it was more normalized to actually INCLUDE the wedding when an author writes about these scenes.

phoebe in the beginning of this book was so rude. like silas thought she found his endeavor uninteresting and a lack of time bc she brushed it aside. she didn’t even try to explain why she disliked him exploring the task in a nicer way. most definitely my least favorite couple in the entire series. like chloe also gave us the least amount of crumbs possible with this couple, and i didn’t even like them half the time because of their betrayals. i liked them after, but what really sealed the deal was how open ended their relationship was at the end. like wdym after all that your relationship remained so ambiguous? “oh, we aren’t technically a thing but i would follow him around to the ends of the world” ok! it’s giving a modern relationship in the worst way possible

reading updates

update 5 — 67% (if any of you make a 67 joke i’m gonna riot)

he 😭 called 😭 her 😭 beloved 😭

update 4 — 52%

“Children,” Celia interrupted, “if we are finished flirting with each other, may we discuss the small change in plans?”
Alisa giggled. Rosalind knitted her brows together, feeling rather unjustly accused.
“I was not flirting—”
“I was.”

WORDS CANT DESCRIBE HOW HAPPY I AM RN

update 3: 43% — TVD DUET SPOILER!

“Are you trying to scare me on purpose?”
Roma frowned. “No, of course not.”
“If you scare me, I do think it might help. Your eyes are so piercing that I can feel my heart rate picking up, and it’s sharpening my thinking—”
“All right, all right,” Juliette cut in, giving Orion a push out of her kitchen and toward the entryway. “Stop wooing my husband. Rosalind, keep him under control.”

I LITERALLY LOVE THEM SM STOP IT 😭 the whiplash im getting from this book from laughing and crying is actually insane but i’m loving it

update 2 — 32%

this household was far too pleasant. Everything was neat and tidy. When the morning came, it would be sunshine and well-lit corridors. No hiding places in sight. Bleugh. She thought they were supposed to be former gangsters.

i’m crying i love alisa my diva

update 1

“The shirt was warm on her shoulders. It felt safe in a way that her own clothes didn’t, as if Orion were still around, making a racket through the apartment.
She missed him. Terribly. She had thought him a complete menace while he was here, complained to his face that he was a terror in her space, and he had only ever grinned in return, making an effort to bring her food or smooth her hair down when she was busy writing something.”

making me cry 3% in 😭 i see how it is chloe

[rei ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(had the wonderful privilege to read the arc! ♡)

to everyone who loves the secret shanghai universe like me, please hold on to your heart, foul heart huntsman is the best thing that you’ll ever behold this year.

this book did its part so well to conclude this stunning universe. i wouldn’t want it any other way! it involves so many exciting revelations, twists and turns, and answers we’ve all been waiting for. i love how it focuses mainly on what it means to being a family, blood or not. i’m excited for everyone to finally get a glimpse of rosalindorion’s growth in their relationship, as well as olivercelia’s and phoebesilas’s! additionally, chloe gong did a great job at putting importance to romajuliette and benmars even at the sidelines (as they didn’t steal the thunder of the main characters in the book, but had impact all the same). overall, every single one of the character’s involvement were planned really well and also gave each and every one their deserved development and their moment to shine!

the plot itself is already intriguing, but for me, what really MADE this book are the characters themselves. it is the way they flowed in the story that kept me reading. it’s more of “what will they do next?” more than “what would happen next?”. it really is an avengers assemble of the secret shanghai universe, and chloe gong did it perfectly.

as an avid lover of this series, especially to my rosalindorion, i really enjoyed this book. i hope everyone who’ll read it on september would too!

fortune, my precious girl.
huntsman, my darling boy.

high tide, you changed me for good. ♡

a solid 5/5! 🥺🩷✨

[eden ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

after reading foul heart huntsman i have learned six things:
1) the midnight rain x daylight “cause he was sunshine i was midnight rain. and i can still see it all (in my mind) all of you, all of me (intertwined). i once believed love could be (black and white) but it’s golden (golden)” audio has orion and rosalind written ALL. OVER. IT.
2) orion hong is one dramatic, over-the-top motherfucker and i adore him for it
3) celia saying the sentence “i should have absorbed you in the womb” to her triplet rosalind was the funniest and simultaneously the most intimidating shit i’ve ever heard
4) i will read anything chloe gong writes
5) there is a rosalind, orion, oliver, celia, alisa, phoebe, and silas shaped void in my heart and now i feel empty
6) there is a very strong urge to re-read already