Reviewer: @bookworm.pages (Instagram)
Rating: 4/5
Foul Heart Huntsman is the latest installment in Chloe Gong’s Secret Shanghai series, and the final book in the Foul Lady Fortune duology. We follow familiar favourites like Celia, Rosalind, Oliver, Orion, and all their friends and family, and we also get to reconnect with some other well-loved characters.
I can’t lie to you and say that I fully understood the political aspects of the plot – this is certainly a period and area of history I need to learn more about. But I can tell you that I enjoyed this immensely!
I felt like it was a bit of a weird book in the sense that so much is happening at once, but at the same time, it felt like a very slow read. While the plot itself was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages, the main reason I loved this so much was the characters.
This is a long book, but it’s worth it, because we get to know the characters on a much deeper level. Their banter, relationships, and growth truly made this story stand out to me. Again, I think a lot of the plot went over my head (and in my defense, this was one of the last books of the year for me, so my brain had already checked out), but if we’re going on vibes? Wowie wow wow.
The atmosphere and the writing were glorious. I FELT things. It’s also clear how much effort the author put into this. You can tell how much she loves the characters, and you can also tell how much research she’s put into this book, and this series as a whole. This is a clear labour of love, and it makes it all the more vivid and realistic.
Basically, I really liked this. Chloe Gong is super talented, this world and its characters have a special place in my heart, and I’m already looking forward to doing a reread!
Reviewer: @bookwolftams (Instagram)
Rating: 5/5
Foul Heart Huntsman was one of my anticipated releases for 2023 and let me say, Chloe Gong did not disappoint.
Once thing I love about Chloe Gong’s writing is that you feel like you get to know all of the characters, not just the MC’s, and you love the side characters just as much.
With politics and sci-fi both amping up in this conclusion, there is a lot going on. And yet the characters really carry it. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. And there were some fantastic twists that I truly adored.
There were also some funny little twists that added humour, such a Marshall and Orion having flirted in a bar once. It’s these small interludes that keep the stories going without feeling heavy.
I would 100% read a spin-off with The Magician and Priest running amok. And what I NEED is a book with Alyssa and Phoebe teaming up to cause chaos.
Reviewer: @readingwithloe (Instagram)
Rating: 5/5
Uhm…. Let… Me.. Gather… My… Thoughts..
Okay, I think I got it….
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭….
Yep that’s it for this review friends. Just joking..
But I will say it’s very hard to put my feelings and thoughts into words. Chloe Gong has become my favorite author.
Her work was absolutely outstanding in this duo. And I LOVED It!!
Don’t get me wrong These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends were amazing too. But these story had me feeling all sort of things.
I loved how this duo, focused more on Rosalind, Kathleen (aka: Cecilia) and Alisa. I absolutely love these strong women and I loved how each of them had each other in a sort of way throughout the story. These girls showed true empowerment and they held true throughout.
Each of them had challenges that helped add onto their character. While reading, we got introduced to a few new characters. Orion, Oliver, phoebe and Silas. I absolutely loved them as well. They made the whole story work.
A lot went on in this series, but honestly I loved how Chloe was able to write such an incredible story. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this gets adapted into a series or movie cause I will be all for it.
I would definitely recommend this to you to read. It’s one that had me on my toes, end of my chair, giggles and alot of “Whatttt!!!!!” “WHYYYYYY” moments.
I would recommend you read These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends before you go into this two. It will help a lot in understanding the characters background and a bit of the story background as it picks up some years later after Our Violent Ends.
I can’t wait to read more of Chloe Gong’s books
Foul Heart Huntsman is available at:
