After reading and loving Chloe Gong’s YA, I couldn’t be more excited for her adult debut — Immortal Longings. Especially when I heard it was inspired by Hong King’s walled city, and had the vibes of a Wong Kar Wei film. Unfortunately for me, I think this was a case of my expectations being far too high. It took a while for me to get adjusted and settled into the world of Immortal Longings, and even now, I don’t think I could explain the intricacies of body jumping, the rules of the game, or any of the fantasy elements.

3 Stars. TL;DR: a decent adaptation with an unexpected ending, but I still don't "get" this author.

The long version: I was offered an ARC of Chloe Gong's debut several years ago. I found it a disappointing read, overstuffed with cliches and with a tone of smug self-importance. It was the reason I stepped away from YA for a good year or so. In the years since, Gong's star in the literary world has meteorically risen, and I felt as though I had just...misread the book or something. I had very different opinions than, it seemed, the rest of humanity.

So when I was offered the chance to read the ARC for Gong's adult debut, I accepted with some hesitation, but vowed to go into with an open mind. Authors grow and change. No two books are the same, yadda yadda.

I found Immortal Longings to be a solid read and an interesting adaptation: far more readable and enjoyable for me than her previous outings. I can appreciate her attempts to adult-ify her writing, though it still skewed VERY YA for me. I wonder if, perhaps, the first draft was a YA book instead. I will say, I found all the characters dislikable. If the plot hadn't moved so quickly, I would have put it down. I think that the characters were supposed to have been morally grey--and they are--but I just found them eye-roll worthy. I also felt as though the book's "game" cribbed far too much from the Hunger Games. Inevitably, any book now with "evil society has a sporting event for the masses" is going to be compared and this one...falls short of THG. However, the ending is a gut punch of a cliffhanger and makes me wonder if I will, actually, pick up the next in the series. I am intrigued enough, even if my own personal opinions are divided enough.

This isn't a bad book. I expect that Gong's fans will find lots to enjoy here and will be eager for this book to be published. As for me...I am very torn. And perhaps, for me (and me alone, I know), that is a good thing.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Eh is how I about this book, which is my first Gong title and will probably be my last. While nothing stood out as terrible, nothing stood out as great either. Everything about my reading experience was thoroughly mediocre.

This book is just another instance of a YA writer making an “adult” debut through a YA novel featuring a sex scene. The quality of the writing is eh, the world building is eh, and the magic system is eh. The protagonist reads like the author’s edgy dream as a hot, tall, murderous baddie immersed in the nitty gritty of poverty that she, as a royal, is so righteous to want to undo. Not even the “reveal”/plot twist of her motivations were enough to make me feel otherwise, as it landed so flatly, so “okay, now what.” Despite this book being written in omniscient third person for multiple perspectives, the motives of each character weren’t built strongly enough for me to feel any sort of interest in anyone. We’d be given their reasons and expected to accept them at face value, with little done to dive deep into their implications. Even the city, which is seemingly built as its own character, got uninteresting after a certain point, with most of its descriptors cycling through the same ideas said in different but clearly similar ways.

As for the magic system, it’s so haphazardly built I couldn’t properly explain it. It’s based in genetics to give it an inherent feel, like it’s accepted not as magic but as a natural part of being human, but then there are a whole bunch of other rules added to the mix to make the magic seem understood by the society as unnatural, and then there’s also talk about old gods and the powers being granted by them yet nobody believes in the old gods anymore except for cult communities and—as you can tell, it is a lot and not well done enough for it to be coherent and easy to follow. It reads like a half-baked addition to the world to make it seem more based in fantasy because the setting otherwise functions as a futuristic mess of an urban environment. And so much attention is given to eye color yet the protagonist's eye color isn't even her own? I'm sure this has been discussed already, but that feels like a major plot hole, even if it's to be addressed in the following books.

Overall, I find this book doesn't add much to the discussions related to its genres/themes. While it has potential, that's about where its promise ends, as little was done with said potential. If someone were to ask me for dystopian/fantasy novel recommendations, this book wouldn't even cross my mind to suggest.

I found this to be a delightfully unique story, with very interesting characters, a super fascinating magic system, and an ending that left me wanting more. The pacing was good, the character banter fun, and overall, that makes it a top read for me.

This story is set in the twin cities of San-Er, where games are held every year, in which one winner will earn an impossible amount of riches, by killing all of their competitors. At the risk of sounding reductive, this is a bit like Squid Game meets Hunger Games meets...reality TV? Everyone is fighting for the impossible prize, knowing that they likely won't get it, simply because conditions are so poor.

Everyone that is...except Princess Calla Tuoleimi, who is in hiding after the brutal murder of her parents. She is recruited by her cousin August to win the games, so that she can meet his uncle and put an end to his cruel reign, aiding August in taking the throne and earning a pardon. Once the game starts, Calla meets her fellow competitor Anton, and they decide to form an alliance...and the rest should be left unsaid.

The other major part of this book is the idea of jumping, which means that those with the affinity can jump into another person's body and take control of it, while still retaining their Qi. Both Calla and Anton have this affinity, which makes them strong competitors, but also adds to the mystery.

Anyway, while I think that the style and strengths of this book are somewhat different from These Violent Delights, which may have some readers and reviewers surprised, I will say that I loved this one, and I'm excited for the next book in the series!

At this point, you must know that I am a big Chloe Gong Fan, and I was absolutely dying to read her adult debut…Then I got an ARC and put off reading it for months because I was not emotionally prepared to actually start it. Once I did, however, I flew through it and now am desperate for the sequel. Set amidst a 90s-esque world, Immortal Longings introduces us to a story of love and obsession — and what one will do to free themselves.

Every year, the palace throws a set of games in the twin cities of San-Er. In this competition, eighty-eight people race to be the last one standing, either by killing or eliminating other contestants, in order to receive unbelievable riches. This year, Calla Tuoleimi, the last princess of Er and not seen in the last five years, enters the games, as does Anton Makusa, an exiled noble. Calla needs to win so that she can meet the reclusive and heavily guarded king — to kill him and finish what she started five years ago. When August, the king’s adopted son and her cousin, approaches her with a deal to throw the odds heavily in her favor, she soon rises in the ranks of the games, with Anton immediately targeting her as a threat. The two of them ultimately enter a hesitant alliance, but the tension grows into something more as mysterious threats to the kingdom arise.

The worldbuilding immediately drew me in. Gong has described this book as “Antony & Cleopatra meets Clove and Cato in a 90s Wong Kar-wai film,” which is the craziest string of words yet perfectly encapsulates the vibes of this book. It’s set in a world with 90s technology, so there are landline phones, televisions, computer cafes, and so on. There’s also a concept of “jumping,” wherein people can “jump” into other’s bodies in a flash of light. This adds an extra layer to the game, as players can jump from person to person and survive longer.

Calla and Anton hold each other at arm’s length for their initial acquaintance, especially since they’re competing against each other. However, this alliance turns to a fascination and then an obsessive love in the blink of an eye. I loved their dynamic and couldn’t look away from their scenes together.

It was also interesting to examine their different reasons for being in the games. Five years ago, Calla committed a massacre — including murdering her parents, the rules of Er. Since then, she’s been in hiding, biding time until she can complete her plan of murdering the king and toppling the monarchy. When August offers his help in the games, she can’t deny the boost. Even if August will become the next king, she trusts that he’ll be a better option than his adoptive father ever was.

Meanwhile, Anton was exiled from the palace years ago. His childhood love has been in a coma, and he’s the only one keeping her alive, although the debt is eating him alive. He wants to win the games for the large monetary reward, as he can’t let go of his hope that she’ll wake up one day. We also get August’s point-of-view, where we get a look into his own schemes and manipulations.

I couldn’t put this book down! I’ve been so busy lately, but I somehow managed to finish the second half of the book in one sitting. The ending of the book too…I finished it and sat in silence for a solid minute, honestly. I can’t believe this is going to be a trilogy; how can I wait at least another year for the sequel, much less the conclusion?

Immortal Longings immerses us in a new world from Gong, one you won’t be able to look away from. I loved the characters and the worldbuilding, and I am crying at the thought of waiting for the sequel. If you’re a fan of Chloe Gong’s other works and/or you’re intrigued by a bloodthirsty competition set in a 90s-esque fantasy, I definitely think you should check out Immortal Longings!

Netgalley Arc review // Spoilers Ahead

When I started this book I was very confused by just about everything until around 20% in but to be honest I really still can’t wrap my head around the jumping aspect. Like all I could picture the whole time was just a bunch of random peoples body’s lying around because people were just jumping from body to body.

The whole aspect of the game didn’t really make sense in that way as well like I understood that only players with wristbands were competing, but the fact that it was just happening around the city was a little strange to me. It wasn’t until 38% that this is clarified. Seems like something that should be cleared up sooner. I think in general the aspect of the games needed to move a lot faster. I didn’t think of it as very “hunger games” esque in the beginning but when it got down to the ending and it was just the two of them it was really feel like the hunger games.

There were parts were I enjoyed the World building and Chloe Gongs descriptions of things but sometimes I felt like we “jumped” (no pun intended) out of the story write into this intense descriptive paragraph and then back to the plot and it seemed out of place.

I did enjoy the romance aspect between calla and Anton their quips kept the beginning of the book interesting. I think when they finally got together the scene with the dagger was very well done.

And I will admit the twist of august being the Villian was unexpected and the twist of calla being double was also unexpected but as someone who DNFs books it was maybe I little to far into the book if this wasn’t an arc review idk if I would’ve finished the whole thing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me and an advanced digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed it — all thoughts are my own.

I've been trying to make headway with this book for several weeks now, but (sadly) will probably be DNF-ing it. Though the premise really caught my attention early on, it's just been a very slow-going info dump thus far, accompanied by characters that are far too ambiguous for my taste. If I find myself able to return to this world without feeling like I have to force myself to be there, I'll be sure to update my review.

Thanks to Gallery Books, Gallery/ Saga Press & NetGalley for providing the ARC!

I've been highly anticipating <i>Immortal Longings</i> since Chloe Gong first spoke about it at one of her events, and I was lucky enough to receive access to an early review copy to read (which, by the way, does not affect my feelings or this review). I went into this knowing that it was a tale inspired in part by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra (which I'm admittedly not too familiar with), and that it contained more adult content than Chloe's previous releases.

Before I dive into further thoughts, let me say off the bat that I did like <i>Immortal Longings</i>. I've always liked the way this author writes her stories. It's a writing style that I know doesn't hit the mark for all readers, but it's worked for me with her other published work and that still holds true. This is also her first book set in a different world from her Secret Shanghai series, so it was interesting to see her lay the groundwork for a new setting (from the actual locations to the political layout) and to meet a completely new cast (more on them shortly). The plot was pretty straightforward (more on that shortly as well), but there were a few moments that surprised me, which is always a welcome turn of events.

That being said, <i>Immortal Longings</i> just didn't fully hit the mark for me in the way that Chloe's YA work has.
Since I only just finished the book, I'm still sorting out all my thoughts, but here are some initial thoughts:

* I felt like there was a wall between myself and the characters that prevented me from fully getting personally invested. I didn't really get to connect to Calla and Anton (honestly, I didn't get much of a sense of who they were outside of their motivations), even though I did enjoy many of their exchanges (I'm a sucker for banter and violence as a combo; but also, more on this in a sec). And the secondary characters too didn't leave a very strong impression.

* It makes me a little bit sad to report that the build-up for the romance just didn't feel like it was really there. I loved the antagonism and teasing between Calla and Anton, but when it eventually morphs into something more, it felt a little out of left field instead of feeling like there had been something gradually brewing between them that was hitting a boiling point. (I still screamed at certain points though. Can you blame a girl for liking specific types of moments? I think not.)

* The plot (and the setting) recalled other stories where a character is determined to do something drastic to change the way the world is for the 'greater good', as well as stories that feature tournaments in order to gain riches and recognition. I certainly would have liked more of the tournament (I'm just a sucker for tournament set-ups). And I would have liked to feel more strongly about the politics, but it felt pretty standard as far as those things go in these types of stories. It didn't feel like anything particular standout or fresh, so while I was compelled enough to keep turning pages, I wasn't as engaged in this series starter as I've been with Chloe's other books.

* This book is classified as adult, and while there are explicit scenes with violence, murder and sex, it does somehow still comes across feeling a bit more YA than adult to me as a reader. (That being said, I guess this means it would have good crossover appeal?)

Overall, I did like <i>Immortal Longings</i>. That's not really a surprise given Chloe Gong writes in a style that works well for me as a reader and the plot was done just well enough to carry me through to the end. It's not my favorite of Chloe Gong's work, it's true. And in my opinion, there are quite a number of things that could stand to be (hopefully) more developed in the sequel. Still, there's potential here for this series to get better with every installment - and that's what I'm earnestly hoping for.

Thanks to Gallery Books for this ARC!

Immortal Longings is Chloe Gong's adult fantasy debut and WHEW - it is incredible!

In the kingdom of San-Er, the palace hosts a competition - a fight to the death - for money and glory. The thing is, in San-Er, many have the ability to jump between bodies, meaning that physical appearances change often. Princess Calla Tuoleimi plans to use this competition to get her revenge on King Kasa... and she has a major advantage because she's a trained fighter and everyone thinks she's dead. But then she meets Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat who also plans to win the games. The rivals team up, but everything will come down to the question of which comes first: love or kingdom?

I absolutely loved this action-packed adventure. It's a Shakespeare retelling of Antony and Cleopatra, but in a uniquely crafted world where people can jump bodies, there's devastation and poverty, tyranny, and lots of bloodshed. The last 40% of the book had so many good twists and turns and then THAT ENDING...!!! I need book two immediately.

Read if you:
- like The Hunger Games, Shakespeare retellings, and The Keeper of Night
- are looking for an adult and more detailed fantasy read
- love a lot of action in your books
- are okay with a CRAZY ENDING knowing book two isn't out yet

I had a hard time engaging with this book and the characters, I think because of the narrative distance. I tried many times to pick it back up, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me. I also had a difficult time fully understanding how the world works. I get the class issues, but if jumping is forbidden and everyone can see it, I’m not sure I follow about doing it anyway…

I think I need to accept that Chloe Gong's writing just isn't for me, no matter how much I wish it was. I'd previously DNF'd These Violent Delights but then I tried Foul Lady Fortune and enjoyed that one a lot more. So of course I was curious how I'd like Gong's adult debut. I made it about 17% before I had to DNF. I don't know what it is, but something about the writing feels like it's written for a tv screen instead of readers. It just doesn't work for me, which is obviously just a preference, so I'm sure there will be plenty others who are going to love this! The Hunger Games themes are very strong in this, so if you're looking for an adult fantasy version, I'd say this is worth checking out.

IMMORTAL LONGINGS by Chloe Gong
The first in an Asian inspired fantasy series that is like Antony and Cleopatra if they were competing in gladiator games to the death. In a corrupt kingdom the wealthy and royal are sucking the life out of the people who live there. For some an annual game that promises a huge cash prize may be the only way to insure survival. Taking this gladiator game to the next level is the ability for most of the contestants to jump from one body to the next leaving them a way to hide and attack seemingly without warning. Two of the top contestants agree to work together each with their own reason to win the prize and each a fugitive from the crown. Calla's goal is to get rid of the king's oppressive rule which is Anton's goal as well but he needs the hefty prize money too. They agree to work together knowing that if their plan works they will still have to meet each other in a final battle to the death. It was so much easier before they began to care for each other. Fast paced with great world building and horrific battle scenes that will appeal to fans of Pierce Brown's RED RISING series or DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS by Sue Lynn Tan My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This title was one I was excited for because I have heard great things about the author but don't normally get into YA. So to have the option to read the author's debut adult novel. Overall this was an enjoyable read that included some influence from things we don't get to see as often in SFF.

The world building was rich and fun, if a bit difficult to grasp at times. There were a few elements that still had a bit of a YA feel to them like some cookie cutter templates that did still manage to work well together. The characters were well written and I enjoyed them. The fight scenes were engaging and those along with the twists made the things I did not enjoy as much less noticeable.

This is a book I will recommend to people if they are into this style even though it was not one of my favorites.

Hunger Games for adults set in a shape shifting world. That sentence alone sounds complicated and possibly hard to follow, but surprisingly it was not. The world building was well done, the characters and their chemistry/contempt was believable, and I found the story engaging throughout. I will be thinking about that ending for a while. This was a nice surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pitched as Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra meets The Hunger Games, Immortal Longings is, above all else, a grand testament to Chloe Gong’s extraordinary talent as a writer. A stellar adult fantasy debut!

Every year, within the walls of San-Er takes place a lethal competition where daring individuals who possess the ability to leap between bodies compete ruthlessly, battling to the death in pursuit of wealth and, more often than not, freedom from the suffocating, over-populated city. After years of biding her time, the long-thought dead Princess of Er, responsible for their regicidal massacre and demise, Calla Tuoleimi is back to finish what she started; to topple the oppressive monarchy once and for all. With the help of the adopted crown prince, August, Calla seeks to avenge and free the kingdom of Talin by killing its remaining king, the reclusive King Kasa. Her way in? Winning the games. Anton Makusa, a banished noble and possibly the kingdom’s most skilled jumper, has been grappling to keep his comatose beloved alive since his exile. As debt piles high and her survival is nearing impossibility, Anton joins the games as his final lifeline; one last-ditch effort to save her. Both are cunning, ruthless, and will stop at nothing to attain victory. Pushed by their circumstances, or perhaps intertwined by fate, they form a reluctant alliance that, while slowly but surely turns into an all-consuming bond, is constantly challenged by their distinct ambitions, and the imminent reminder that there can only be one victor. Needless to say, chaos ensues.

It is truly fascinating, the way that Chloe Gong was able to draw direct inspiration from well-known characters such as Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra and essentially breathe new life into them, fashioning something entirely fresh and of its own, using this deadly competition as the catalyst that pushes two head-strong, untrusting, unrelenting individuals such as Anton and Calla, into an intoxicating relationship that is constantly pushed into a territory of ambiguity, perpetual reshaping and continuously on the verge of betrayal, navigating everything from dependency to love, to passion, obsession and everything in between.

Thriving on the exploration of the historical and the political, in the crafting of this story Chloe Gong has proven herself to be a master world-builder. Drawing from Hong Kong’s walled city of Kowloon, she created San-Er by exploring class, monarchic corruption and political unrest against the backdrop of a suffocating, over-populated city, accurately conveying the claustrophobic feeling of navigating a crowded space, of walls closing in. Oftentimes I felt like I was stumbling through the world-building, which, while it might sound off-putting, I found it served the story and the setting remarkably, further proving Gong’s ability to wholly immerse readers into the world she has so meticulously crafted.

The exploration of qi, of a traveling consciousness and a society were bodies are seen as vessels to occupy, mere assets to be attained and discarded as they see fit, was a fantastic addition to this story. Beyond creating a unique “magic” system, it is a way to challenge readers’ attachment to characters beyond the physical, and I’m eager to see how Chloe further expands on this in the coming installments of the series.

To sum it up, I am in awe! I have nothing but praise, love and admiration for what Chloe Gong has crafted in Immortal Longings. It is dark and twisted, gritty and complex; an outstanding display of storytelling. I cannot recommend it enough and I’m ecstatic for it to be out in the world soon. All the stars!

I went into this book with a love for Chloe Gong retellings and a lack of knowledge about Cleopatra/Antony. I left this book with an even bigger love and still not a lot of knowledge but my gosh do I need the sequel.

Immortal Longings is like a futuristic-historical Hunger Games set loose within the city (unlike in the bubble boundary of Hunger Games). The depth given to the characters and the various intricacies surrounding them was phenomenal. The magic/jumping is so unique and was probably my favorite aspect of this book. You never know who is gonna jump into who and what’s gonna happen. It’s such a fantastic first book in an adult series. It might even be better than These Violent Delights.

My goal in life to become Immortal Longings's, and Chloe Gong's in general, Bigolas Dickolas, because everyone needs to read this book! I don't care if you don't know anything about it, READ IT. In the era of The Hunger Games resurgence, we need a book that embodies the dystopian literature not only as literature entertainment but as the raw unfiltered lens to the greed of humanity, cocooned in the sci-fi fantasy retelling of Anthony and Cleopatra.

This book will feel familiar in many places, and refreshing take in other places. Fans of Chloe Gong will feel the familiar verses as they flow through the pages, turning a static city of San-Er into a moving, breathing entity. Yet set in the raw streets inspired by Hong Kong, Wong Kar-wai, and ancient Rome, it feels a refreshing take from most of dystopias in recent past.

This book is fantastic.

One of my favorite things about this story, though, is that the author pulls from so many sources of inspiration. Greek & Roman? Check. Asian? Check. Arab? Check. Shakespeare? Check. Lots of SFF references? Check check!

And yet, despite the seasoning of lots of flavors, this book is uniquely its own. Of course, fans of scifi and fantasy will gravitate to this story. And my steampunk heart found it oddly satisfying. But I also would suggest it to historical fiction fans, and fans of adventure, thriller, espionage, and dark academia will find something to love here as well.

"Do be careful. High treason in the throne room tends to be frowned upon."

"Calla knows that she should feel something more in this moment. Some sense of victory; everything that she has been working toward for years, fulfilled. But she only feels empty."

4/5⭐️ First off, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!! I am a huge fan of Chloe’s books and I loved them all. I’ve been excited for this book, and honestly I was a bit disappointed. The first third or so was pretty slow and I didn’t feel engaged with the story very much. However, it did pick up, and the rest was pretty good! The plot is sort of hunger games-like in a way, which as a fan of that series I enjoyed seeing a twist on it. This has true enemies to lovers core as well and I really liked Calla and Anton together. Overall, I did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens!

Many thanks to Saga Press and Netgalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.

These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends: ☆☆☆☆☆
Foul Lady Fortune: ☆☆☆
Immortal Longings: ☆

To be frank, had my expectations not been through the roofs, my disdain for this work would have been less strong. The profound affection I hold for the These Violent Delights duology led me to eagerly anticipate another Shakespearean retelling by Chloe Gong, particularly within the realm of adult urban fantasy. As I now conclude this book, a bitter sense of disappointment lingers, and I am left regretful for having wasted my time.

At the outset of the book, I was captivated by the setting of San-Er, a place inspired by a historical area of Hong Kong. The vivid portrayal of the city authentically captured the essence of a bustling metropolis in East Asia, evoking nostalgic memories of the sounds and the dense urban landscape of my hometown. However, it seemed that Chloe Gong believed readers required an extensive amount of city description throughout the entire book. Frankly, I've read French classics with less information dumping than this. Gong's paragraphs seemed to repeat the same information, just phrased slightly differently. While I understand that this may not be the final version of the book, it felt more like an unedited draft, despite its considerable potential.

The worldbuilding was disappointingly average. If you're attempting to create a game similar to THG (a game that serves as a catalyst for the downfall of a system), it should possess a unique and exhilarating quality, with grandeur worthy of the players' efforts. In this book, the game itself was the least memorable aspect. The stakes were supposedly high, yet the lack of tension leading up to pivotal moments, due to the short and infrequent action scenes, was infuriating. Gong did make a point to repeatedly describe the games in paragraphs, though.

The political system presented in the book was one of the most poorly constructed I've encountered recently. If you're going to contrast the prosperous urban center with the desolate and rudimentary countryside or the business hub of Er with the slums of San, it's crucial to explain the mechanics underlying these differences. How is wealth generated? How does the monarchy afford lavish feasts, jewels, and gold? How are the armed forces organized? What about the management of the country's borders? Are there distinct institutions? How are various social classes treated by the legal system? Is there even a functioning court? One cannot write a semi-dystopian story without addressing these fundamental questions about establishing a government that won't crumble like a paper castle. Perhaps, a crash course "Politics & institutions 101." could have been a good thing for this book, because while it's convenient to appropriate historical events and politics for a historical fiction, a fantasy world must be at least believable in its construction, particularly when incorporating the concept of a game like in THG.

Lastly, for the love of god, I wish authors in general would refrain from labeling every single character as morally gray. There is nothing ambiguous about it. The intentions of each character are explicitly spelled out, leaving no room for our own moral reflections. Every character adheres to a specific archetype, playing a predetermined role, which renders the book agonizingly predictable and, consequently, exasperating to read. (I guessed the plot twist at 30% and the ending at 50%. Quite amusing, really.)"

And don't me get me started on the romantic relationship: there is more chemistry between me and my pile of Spanish homework. (But really, I don't understand how Chloe Gong, the same author who penned Roma and Juliette, could have written a relationship this flat.)

To concldue, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book. In my personal opinion, but Chloe Gong seems to lack the finesse of a seasoned fantasy writer, resulting in a rather poor attempt of the incredibly complex genre, despite the obvious potential. I don't see myself continuing with this series or checking out any future releases from Gong, except for the remaining books in the Foul Lady Fortune series, which still hold some appeal to me.

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