This is probably a 3.5 for me like some of the author’s other books this would have benefited from tighter editing. There’s probably like 100 pages you don’t need in this story dedicated to repeated run ins and repeats in general. The book is just too long.

I do still love the world of Shanghai and the gangs and the secret agents and all that stuff. And I was pleased that most of my theories were correct. I am wondering if Phoebe is gonna get a book?

Major spoilers follow:
So Rosalind is determined to save Orion. Celia is pushing Oliver away. Alisa is doing her own thing and protecting that last vial. Phoebe is a sniper and trying to trick her crush and family friend Silas to stop him from finding her.

So basically Roma and Juliette are alive (called it!) and Rosalind finds them and the whole gang is back together after saving Orion. Turns out his mom needs him or his brother Oliver to make the stuff she injects people with to turn them into super soldiers.

Phoebe is dumb and goes to her mom Silas is like a quad agent (this is where it gets honestly annoying like way too much is happening and it’s confusing when they get even more into the fake science).

They save Oliver too and find out Rosalind will die unless she gets the cure from their mom. So Orion gives it to her and nearly dies but her blood saves him and now they’re both normal and gonna get married.

For whatever reason Juliette and Roma are pregnant.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5

Having followed this series from the beginning, it was bittersweet to get to read the conclusion to the Secret Shanghai universe early. I will preface this by saying that I read this while moving into my first apartment, so I definitely didn’t give it the attention it deserved in terms of noting my favorite parts. Enough so that I eventually want to reread this book in a difference headspace and with all of this excitement I’d had after finishing FLF. I also will say that I definitely did not remember enough about FLF before reading, but nonetheless, I have a review.

Where Chloe Gong has and always will shine is her character relationships and character work in general. From Roma and Juliette to Phoebe and Silas to Orion and Rosalind, she creates unique, believable relationship dynamics that carry you through the story, gripping you. My main complaint about FLF in my review last year was a lack of attention paid to the side relationships but boy did she make up for it! Celia + Olivier as well as Phoebe + Silas very quickly became my favorite parts of the book and I was so invested (I know this is the finale but also PhoebeSilas book when?). However, I will say that in FHH, it felt almost like Rosalind and Orion were the ones taking a backseat, and while I LOVED the moments they did have, I wanted some more from them.

From what I remember (I finished the book about a week ago), Orion here felt a bit one dimensional, less of a leading man than he did in FLF, and I know there’s reasons for that, but still. Rosalind, however, remained just as compelling a character as always. My favorite characters however, have to be [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] as always (iykyk).

In terms of plot, it was difficult to tell where this was going at times, and I’m not sure that was necessarily good or bad, just hard to get a sense of. My favorite chapters beyond the cute character moments were actually the chapters where Gong, like in her other books, has a switch into a semi-omniscient present tense pov. These chapters are where some of the more gorgeous writing came through. The copy I have asks reviewers not to quote an unfinished version or trust that this review would be inundated with my favorite lines. The inclusion of politics and political tension was interesting, as always, but it felt less consequential than other books compared to a plot that was otherwise kind of all over the place.

I’m not sure if I would put this down to pacing, and that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book because I most definitely did, but the ending didn’t hit as hard for me as I would’ve liked, especially for the universe finale. I know there is an extended epilogue in the B&N edition, but as it stands, the epilogue felt a bit too summary, like a high school reunion of all the plot lines wrapped up in a way that felt a bit unsatisfying.

I’m realizing that this review comes across as rather negative and I don’t intend for that. I did really like this book, Chloe Gong is still an auto-buy author for me, and while it serves as a very good conclusion to the universe, I just found myself wanting a tiny bit more out of it. I 100% think that I was just not in the right mood/headspace to read this when I did, and that makes me so sad :(.

Thank you again to Netgalley as well as Simon & Schuster for an e-arc in exchange for this review.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing!
A fantastic continuation of the series! I am a big fan of Chloe Gong's books and was really excited to receive this arc. This book did a great job at ending this in a way that really did the story justice and left me wanting to read more by her. I am sad the series has ended especially cause I really love Rosalind as a character!

review ♥
foul heart huntsman- chloe gong
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Did Chloe Gong make me cry again? Yes. Yes, she did.

Foul Heart Huntsman begins after the attack at the warehouse, and Rosalind’s cover has been exposed. At the same time, Orion has been taken by his mother to aid in her chemical experiments of creating pure immortality. The catch is, that all of Orion’s memories have been wiped. Now Rosalind and her friends have to save Orion and stop his mother (and her alliance with the Japanese) from causing mass destruction to the world.

This book was everything I had hoped for as an ending to such an incredible universe. I am so sad to say goodbye to some of the characters who impacted my life so deeply, but I am so happy with the endings they received.

I loved reading more about the complexity of the civil war in Shanghai and the science behind the chemical experiments. It gave a full circle moment to the series and brought all the pieces together. I love how each couple had special moments and plotlines of their own. I was also so excited to read about cameos by the original duology’s cast.

Chloe never fails to write a captivating story with relatable characters who make you feel seen. Rosalind is someone I connect to very deeply, and I am so glad her story was told. I adore how a girl who was so desperate and reckless in love could grow into a confident woman. I love how coming into herself brought out the beauty in her personality, which was evident to Orion. I am ecstatic that she finally got the happy ending she desired in Our Violent Ends. Also… Roma and Juliette’s NEWS?!!!! I embarrassed myself talking about this fantasy in front of the author two years ago, and now it’s true!!!

I’m so grateful to have been given an advanced copy of the finale to my favorite series!!!! Thank you Jessica for this book!! I will cherish this forever!

#books #bookreview #read #reading #theseviolentdelights #ourviolentends #foulladyfortune #lastviolentcall #foulhearthuntsman

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Foul Heart Huntsman is a conclusion I’ve been direly waiting for! In it, Rosalind must save her country and her love with the help of the whole gang from Foul Lady Fortune. We get multiple povs and are taken through so many twists and reveals that had me screaming in shock and then smiling in joy from one page to the next.

The book pacing was steady with many questions being answered and new ones coming into the open. Although the pacing was consistent, I felt the stakes weren’t incredibly high as I thought they would be. Most of the book is under a sense of urgency, but not necessarily constant danger. Which isn’t a bad thing, just how the book was.

With shining cameos from Chloe Gong’s universe of characters, and conversations I was dying to see play out- a lot of the book stands out to me for the family and relationships aspect. The characters connections with each other was a beautiful web of love, banter, and of course some arguments.

So entertaining. So bittersweet to say goodbye, but it was one hell of a ride with Rosalind and Orion. I loved every second.

“𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Overall a good conclusion to the Foul Lady Fortune duology.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 1930’𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘪, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘈𝘴 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩.

I was so excited to read this one after really enjoying FLF, and I needed to know what was going to happen with Rosalind and Orion (and Alisa, I adore her). I did feel like this book could have been a lot shorter than it was, a lot of it felt a bit like filler. And without giving away any spoilers, I will say that I wasn’t a huge fan of the plot backtracking in some places. But I did still really like the characters and the story, and I enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end. I do recommend giving them a read! Thank you so much to @simonteen for my @netgalley arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 is available 9/26/23!

Thus ends such a clever, unique saga beginning with These Violent Delights all the way through Foul Heart Huntsman. I've come to love all of the characters and their unique journeys, and I absolutely love the 1920s spy world. It will be hard to say goodbye!

This book has many more POVs than Foul Lady Fortune, and it's fun seeing all the different storylines and characters intersect. The plot definitely gets more epic in this book, with higher political stakes and more family drama. I loved seeing characters from These Violent Delights too—the perfect way to wrap everything up.

The romance with Rosalind and Orion is delightful. I won't say much for sake of spoilers, but Orion has my whole heart. His cinnamon-roll character with his big golden heart perfectly compliments Rosalind's colder exterior. I love their banter and love.

I did struggle to get through large sections of this book. It felt slow to me, like some of the romantic and plot tension fizzled out. It could have been entirely a reading mood thing, but I wanted to get sucked into it. That just didn't happen. I still enjoyed it though, even if it felt long.

All in all, a fantastic series ender. I will be recommending this series for years to come!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 5
Overall: 4

Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley, for the arc!
Release Date: September 26, 2023

Trigger/Content Warnings: poisoning, fighting violence and death, mild torture, descriptions of wounds

Foul Heart Huntsman is a force of nature. It brings the Secret Shanghai series to a triumphant finish and wraps up one of the best YA series I have read for the past few years.

Gong did something extremely interesting within her emerging brand of Shakespearean inspired stories by choosing to pivot from the tragedies underpinning her previous work to a comedy. The previous duology in the series These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends drew on aspects of Romeo and Juliet and her adult debut, Immortal Longings, published earlier this year and drew some inspiration from Anthony and Cleopatra. The bones of Shakespeare here are excavated from As You Like It, a pastoral comedy of disguises, false identities and miscommunication. Gong brings those latent themes to the forefront in this claustrophobic, tightly plotted tale of espionage, experimentation and the looming threat of war. This is a series that has consistently raised the stakes, leaving a bloody trail in its wake. Foul Heart Huntsman doubles down on that, with looming threats materialising into real world consequences. The devastating final sequence of Foul Lady Fortune has far-reaching consequences. I absolutely adored the way these consequences linked back to the previous duology and there are plenty of nods for long-time fans, some of which are excellent payoffs from Last Violent Call.

That mesh of mixed identities is particularly prevalent for our heroine, Rosalind. Her cover has been blown and she is exposed as the latest fascination, an immortal super spy and former socialite. This duology has focused so much on her personal growth and development from the original series. It has been a real search for her own self-identity and grappling with the trauma she suffered before. Her voice is so cutting and calculated, but there is a deeply vulnerable ache to it that betrays itself from time to time. For me, it is like watching a flower blossom. That depiction of confronting your own guilt and trauma, no longer allowing it to dictate your life and who you are, is so impactful.

Gong’s writing is, as always, exceptional. She brings in unexpected moments of levity and joy, as benefitting the comedical roots. I did catch myself laughing at some of the witty dialogue and just from watching these characters interact. However, this is a dark story at times, delving into heavy topics and keeping those consequences real and bloody. Like the original comedy, there is a bleeding heart at the centre of it all, disguised in romance and levity. It cannot be fully concealed; it must be faced eventually.

There was one particular chapter ending that I knew was coming and the build-up had been deliciously unsettling. When I reached it, I had to put the book down for a second, stop and just take it all in. It was twisted and evil and so Chloe Gong coded. Luckily, I was able to tell her this in person. Everything truly has been building to this. After finishing this, there was an itch to go back and restart the entire series to see the little nods throughout. There is an attention to detail and mesh of genres that Gong pulls off so well. Those dramatic moments are earned through meticulous build up and only impact so well because you are heavily invested in these flawed, three-dimensional characters. The morality is always murky and firmly placed against the wider cultural and historical backdrop. There is that need to survive and that naive hope for something better than this, often characterised through romantic aspirations and interactions.

Foul Heart Huntsman brings together a beautiful series that I will hold close to my heart for a long time. It is a bombastic conclusion in every sense.

Foul Heart Huntsman is the last book of the Secret Shanghai series, and the second book of the Foul Lady Fortune duology. Here, we finally get the conclusion to the story of these characters, and how civil war might end up dividing not only the country but also their families. I DON'T WANT TO SAY MORE BECAUSE I WOULD END UP SPOILING EVERYTHING, but if you're here at this point you might know who the main characters of these books are, so I will name them at the end of the review.

Chloe really knows how to make characters go through hell and back, and honestly? I love the journey! All the things these characters have to go through is important for their development, for them to understand themselves and make the best decisions for themselves. However, that doesn't mean it didn't make me suffer. I SUFFERED! I was in pain! I didn't want anything bad to happen to any of them and seeing them having to face so many things made me really nervous. But it's all part of the experience of reading a Chloe book, so you just get used to it (in a good way).

The writing, as always, is perfectly on point. We have various POVs, and all of them work perfectly. I think, when a writer decides to use the multiple POVs resource, the author needs to make sure each character has its own voice and that it isn't confusing for the reader to know whose POV they are reading, and Chloe Gong works that perfectly. The switch was fast in some parts, but it just flows with the story and you know in whose head we are in every moment. I did feel that some moments were a little rushed, but that didn't affect the overall experience.

AND THE ENDING. IT WAS PERFECT. I LOVED THE ENDING SO MUCH I'M SO HAPPY I CRIED HAPPY TEARS.

Now about the characters (maybe a good time to stop reading if you don't know who the main characters of this duology are):
I've always loved Celia, I loved her since the very first book, so it was no surprise to love her in this book too. But with Rosalind, the experience was very different. The relationship with her is very complicated since TVD and OVE, and the fact that I know love her so much just shows how well Chloe writes her characters' developments. I loved being in her mind and understanding her grief and guilt, and how, slowly, she starts to accept the love that is given to her.
Orion and Oliver were a very nice pair of characters to meet, but my favorite Hong sibling is Phoebe. Her character is so good, so nicely built, and also very complex, because she is the "forgotten" sibling, the one nobody really thinks about, but she holds in her shoulders the fear of her brothers being hurt, of her family being broken since her very first memories. She doesn't have that many memories of her parents as her brothers, and she grieves that while she tries to make her own way to saving those she cares about. I love my girl so much I would read a whole book about her thoughts (I think she is my favorite character of this duology).

I hold these books very close to my heart, and I wish we had a thousand more book in this series, but for now I say goodbye to them, and I thank Chloe Gong for creating them.

This was such a great conclusion to a wonderful duology. I highly recommend reading These Violent Delights & Our Violent Ends before starting this series because there’s a lot of callbacks to characters from this author’s debut series.
I loved the characters in this and I was rooting for them all so much. I’m so glad this book had a happy ending. This author definitely knows how to make a book end off with a bang with lots of twists along the way.
This was a fast-paced and compelling read. I really enjoyed it and I’m excited to read more books by this author in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Chloe Gong's "Foul Heart Huntsman" delivers a spellbinding finale that beautifully wraps up the gripping Secret Shanghai duology. Transporting readers to 1932 Shanghai, the novel masterfully combines historical intrigue, fantasy elements, and heart-stirring romance in a way that keeps you entranced from start to finish.

Set against the backdrop of a chilling Japanese invasion threat and the backdrop of a wintry Shanghai, Rosalind Lang, known as the infamous Lady Fortune, faces the fallout of her exposed identity as a national spy. Gong's storytelling prowess shines as Rosalind embarks on a treacherous journey to save her mission partner Orion, who has been manipulated by his own mother. The stakes are higher than ever as alliances shift, old ghosts resurface, and the fate of not only Rosalind and Orion but the entire nation hangs in the balance.

While it may take some patience for the story to fully grip you, the narrative takes an enthralling turn around the one-third mark. Gong expertly weaves a tale of intricate twists and turns, making each revelation more satisfying than the last. The characters, who were already captivating in the first installment, undergo significant development in "Foul Heart Huntsman." Their raw emotions, personal trials, and alliances are deftly explored, making them feel all the more real and relatable.

One of the standout qualities of the duology is the depth of the relationships portrayed. Gong excels at crafting characters who interact in ways that are both heartwarming and humorous. The romances are subtle yet impactful, with gestures and confessions that leave an indelible mark on the reader's heart. Moreover, the theme of found family is beautifully woven throughout the narrative, evoking a sense of warmth and unity.

Gong's exceptional world-building effortlessly blends fantasy and history, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. The intricate tensions between different groups are masterfully introduced and established, lending authenticity to the story's backdrop. The fusion of historical context, Shakespearean inspiration, and imaginative fantasy elements creates a uniquely immersive reading experience.

However, some readers might find the pacing a bit sluggish in certain parts, a characteristic consistent with the series. While the book's length can feel daunting, the shorter chapters work well to break up the narrative, preventing it from becoming overwhelming.

In conclusion, "Foul Heart Huntsman" is a compelling conclusion to the Secret Shanghai duology that offers a satisfying blend of fantasy, history, romance, and intricate storytelling. Chloe Gong's ability to create rich characters, build a complex world, and interweave diverse themes is commendable. If you enjoyed the first book or are a fan of historical spy thrillers with a touch of Shakespearean inspiration, this duology is a must-read. While the pacing may require some patience, the rewarding journey makes it well worth the investment. A solid 4.5-star rating is well-deserved for this captivating and bittersweet conclusion.

(Note: This review is based on an ARC received from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

3.7 stars

After loving Foul Lady Fortune, you could say that I was head over heels for Chloe's writing and immediately wanted a copy of Foul Heart Huntsman. So my anticipation was pretty high while reading. I still prefer Foul Lady Fortune but this novel only comes a close second. There are a lot of things that were better in this than in the former. And also some things that weren't that great.

What worked:
- The pacing was so much better. This is one thing I struggle with in most of Chloe's books—the pace is slow-ish and sometimes, it just takes away from the reading experience. But I'm happy to report that this book had me turning the pages furiously to know what would happen next.
- The characters and their interactions we're both wholesome and sad. As a wrap-up for all of Secret Shanghai, most of the characters that appeared in the first duology also make an appearance here; be it brief or important. And their arcs were also satisfying to read through.
- The plot kept moving. Adding on to the first point, this book does end up in a very different place from where be began—but then that's the whole point. The little plot twists and reveals were so nice and especially because that's where Chloe's strength lies in.

What didn't work:
- The characters felt one-dimensional to be very honest. If you look closer and try to dissect each character one by one, you will find out that there's not much difference in them. They might feel wholly different in life experiences and stuff, but deep down it's kinda prevalent that they're cut for the same cloth. I want more original characters but it's not very present in any of the author's books (her adult debut included).
- The ending was kinda unsatisfactory. And by end, I don't mean "end" end, because that's quite interesting and know y'all will eat that epilogue up. But I mean how the final act was managed. There was a lot of buildup to something very phenomenal in almost every page leading up till the end but the last chapter felt a bit anticlimactic in my opinion.
- The politics that tangled up with the plot was messy. It worked to the story's favour greatly in Foul Lady Fortune but here, it just felt like a part that was unnecessary and didn't know where it belonged so just stayed there. And especially the part about Japanese mercenaries and the looming wars. They only served to play their role beside Lady Hong's "big scheme" but it wasn't as nuanced as to be expected. Felt like a big downgrade to me personally.

Anyways, that's about this review. I'm positive most of you will love this book if you loved her other works and especially Foul Lady Fortune. And I did too, except for the little inconveniences but I hope you liked this review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

4.5 stars

After Rosalind’s identity as the Kuomintang assassin “Fortune” was exposed, she’s been kicked off active duty and consigned to hiding in her apartment from trigger-happy reporters. But she can’t stay cooped up; though her marriage to Orion was fake, her feelings are real, and she can’t let him be used as a weapon by his hanjian mother. She decides to leverage her fame on a national tour to drum up morale among the Chinese people as a cover for pursuing Orion, but when the tour derails, her plans are thrown into chaos. Soon it’s not only Orion’s life in the balance — but the whole country’s.

This book was such a rollercoaster. It took me ****200 pages**** for me to finally feel invested in this book, which is over **one third** of this book. Chloe Gong’s books do admittedly have slow starts, but this was a little excessive, and I was really worried I would have to DNF my most anticipated book of the year.

But. ****But.****

After that first third?? This book became so fucking good, and I mean that so genuinely.

Gong’s strength in my eyes has always been character development (as opposed to plot development) and without spoiling too much, all the characters finally being allowed to interact in the middle act severely helped this book. They all played off each other so well, and there were some interactions that I did not expect at all but still added so much to the book. I feel like each character got their best ending despite some plot twists that had my jaw dropping.

The overall plot was convoluted, as is the norm in previous Secret Shanghai books. As mentioned, there were some truly shocking plot twists, some that were foreshadowed and some that weren’t. The character banter was really what carried me through this book rather than plot investment, to be honest. If you are a stickler for neat plots that you can clearly follow or aren’t particularly attached to these characters, you might not want to pick this up.

Speaking of character banter, the romances improved significantly compared to Foul Lady Fortune. In my FLF review, I wrote that Rosalind and Orion’s romantic development was a little abrupt, and I maintain that Gong struggles with romantic development between two strangers. If the relationship/friendship previously existed, though, she writes them exquisitely. Since Rosalind and Orion are already in love by the start of this book, their moments were much better than in FLF. Phoebe and Silas’s relationship still honestly confuses me (SILAS YOU NEED TO STAND UP!!) but certain events in FHH made them more believable to me.

Celia and Oliver completely stole this book for me, though. I’ve said before that Celia is my favorite character in the Secret Shanghai-verse and this book only reinforces that. Their moments had me actually screaming and putting my book down just to take some deep breaths. It just makes me so happy to see a trans woman find someone who loves her deeply and wholly, which brings me to my biggest positive takeaway from the Secret Shanghai books:

The queer representation.

I will always feel so grateful to her for deliberately including queer people in historical fiction, a genre where we have been frequently overlooked. In this duology, Rosalind and Alisa being acespec, Orion and Phoebe being openly bisexual, and Celia being transgender, all mean so much to me. Their identities never feel tokenized; they’re just another aspect of their characters, and it just. It matters so much to me, as someone who could never find books like these only a few years ago. I love that queer identities are being normalized in these settings, and I can’t believe these are the books teens are reading now.

I got a little sappy at the end but I figured it was now or never, since this is the last Secret Shanghai book. This series has such a special place in my heart, and FHH feels so bittersweet. It was the perfect send-off for these characters I love, but I can’t believe this is really the last I’ll read of these characters :(. If you liked FLF, or if you like historical spy thrillers with high tension and adventure (plus romances that’ll make you scream into a pillow), you will love this!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Foul Heart Huntsman is one of my anticipated releases this year and it really didn't let me down!
I went from hate to love Rosalind throughout her story. I really enjoyed her character development! And the emotional rollercoaster I had because of this book made me went speechless.
This is a perfect book for a series conclusion!
I will miss the characters and the series so so so much! I already pre ordered my copy and I can't wait to receive it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe Gong does it again! I loved this book just as much as the first in the series. I love her imaginative world building

Ok to be fair. I didn't love the first book in this duology (I do like this series as a whole), so I didn't have high expectations for this book. I did enjoy this one better and actually noticed the chemistry between Orion and Rosalind more. My main problem with the writing of this book is the pacing. We have multiple couples in this book and the perspective jumps around a lot, but not necessarily at the best times. Most chapters end in a sorta cliffhanger then moves to a different perspective. While I understand this choice as it can build anticipation, I found in this book, it just made it feel like nothing and also everything is happening at the same time and the book never found its rhythm.

It feels quite bittersweet to be writing this since, in many ways, Foul Heart Huntsman marks the end of an era. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’ve read the rest of Chloe’s Secret Shanghai books; I don’t think there’s all that much I can add here, so I’ll keep it relatively short. For starters, can I just say that there were so many funny moments in this book that made me absolutely cackle while reading?

One way I would describe this book is *conclusion*. All the threads left unresolved in Foul Lady Fortune, the end of the These Violent Delights duology even, they got jerked together and tied into a flourishing bow. While Foul Lady Fortune felt like families torn between enemy lines, Foul Heart Huntsman was everyone in it together, as a team… With a side dish of betrayal and self-interest in mind, of course.

I’m pretty sure I already gushed about Rosalind in my review of Foul Lady Fortune, so I shall refrain here (but mention it, for you to keep in mind, since I do love Rosalind), however it’s time to scream about Phoebe and Alisa. The youngsters truly shined in this book! Alisa is such a badass in general, as is Phoebe in a more hidden way. One of my favorite subplots was Silas chasing Priest, and the way this was resolved, omg.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @simonteen for an early copy of Foul Heart Hunstman by @thechloegong. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Check out the blurb here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5776362471

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Foul Heart Huntsman is unputdownable! This is so, so much better than the first book! There are a lot more twists, revelations, and action that were very unexpected and kept me on the edge of my seat. Unlike in the first book, we now see much more developed characters, and despite working for opposing sides, have now teamed up and each has their own significant roles and I feel like almost equally were given a much deeper storyline. I had a newfound fascination with Phoebe’s character – she seemed fiercer and braver this time around and I can’t believe she had everyone fooled with her alter ego. I honestly wish there could be another series with her as the lead!

I mentioned in my review of FLF that I found Rosalind and Orion’s chemistry quite bland, but with a lot of things at stake and with them being apart for a while, I felt like their chemistry and love for each other only grew stronger, and honestly, amnesiac Orion who’s more carefree than covert Orion is a tad bit better; his flirting with Rosalind, although quite a few times only, made me swoon.

FHH is a perfect ending to the series and I honestly feel like I just watched a blockbuster film. It was a delight to have read this early on, and I’m rating this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5. Releases September 26th, 2023.

Foul Heart Huntsman is one of the most perfect conclusions to a series I have ever read.

Chloe Gong, the god of impeccable writing (and making me CRY) that she is, has returned with a book where her masterful storytelling is on a WHOLE new level. Every event and plot twist was tied off in a perfect bow with how seamlessly everything fell into place. The plot was engaging and so full of action, and as usual, her descriptions were beautifully written. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

This book completely stripped the characters down to their rawest selves. There is so much pure emotion poured into the writing as they face their final threats and I truly felt like I was experiencing it along with them. Throughout this book, the characters go through many difficult trials as they’re forced to decide where their priorities lie and what the future could mean for them, and I LOVED the way it developed the story and each person.

There’s so much I could say on what I love about each and every character, but I’ll give you the highlights:

Firstly, Alisa is just being absolutely iconic on her own, and I think her + Phoebe are the best annoying younger sibling duo ever. Rosalind was really able to reflect on her past in this book, which was so heart wrenching but also clearly important for her character. I LOVE CELIA + OLIVER. THEYRE SO SWEET AND IT MAKES MY HEART HURT. Phoebe is truly an underrated character and I loved getting to dive into her relationship with her mother, especially in the context of the situation at hand. Her and Silas’s mutual pining amongst the complicated secrets between them was so angsty and I enjoyed every second. ALSO, GETTING TO SEE RETURNING CHARACTERS FROM THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS WAS THE BEST THING EVER. I LOVE YOU CHLOE GONG.

I also really liked getting to see all of the characters finally come together and work as a team. It fed my found family trope addiction so well, I haven’t felt this attached to a group of characters since reading Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Just seeing them interacting was so sweet and hilarious at times. The characters felt really well-rounded and personable in this book, which is great story-wise, but terrible for me because now I’m devastated to see them go 😭 Chloe, you better write a cheesy novella about them or something because I NEED it.

I’m such a sucker for the soft romantic moments and urgent last minute confessions that Chloe Gong writes, and THIS BOOK WAS NO DIFFERENT. It literally makes my heart ache just thinking about all the heartwarming scenes. Celia + Oliver, Rosalind + Orion, Alisa, and Silas + Phoebe, literally all of them have such a special place in my heart now after this book. I actually cried at the epilogue and I’m going to miss these characters so much.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc!


This was everything I could ever want and then some. We pick up after the events of foul lady fortune and there’s not enough good things I can say about this book. It’s fast paced, SPIES. The romance. THE SPIES.

Foul Lady Fortune was my favorite book of 2022 and Foul Heart Huntsman is the perfect conclusion to this world.