Young adult
Foul Lady Fortune
Repeat author
Chloe Gong is back at Book of the Month – other BOTMs include Immortal Longings and These Violent Delights.
Quick take
Stay alert! The first imperative in this shadowy 1930s Shanghai tale of spycraft and hijinks where death is ever near.
Good to know
Romance
400+ pages
LGBTQ+ themes
War
Synopsis
It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.
Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.
Code name: Fortune.
But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.
To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.
Free sample
Get an early look from the first pages of Foul Lady Fortune.
Foul Lady Fortune
PROLOGUE
1928
Out in the countryside, it doesn’t matter how loud you scream.
The sound travels through the warehouse, echoing once over in the tall ceiling slats, booming through the space and into the dark night. When it escapes, it merges into the howling wind until it is only another part of the storm that rages outside. The soldiers shuffle nervously toward the warehouse entrance, pulling at the heavy door until it slides closed, though the rain falls heavily enough that it has already soaked onto the flooring and stained the concrete in a dark semicircle. The faintest whistle of a train comes from the distance. Despite the infinitesimal chance they will be caught by any soul passing by, their instructions were clear: Guard the perimeter. No one can know what is happening here.
“What is the final verdict?”
“Successful. I think it is successful.”
The soldiers are spread out across the warehouse, but two scientists stand around a table at the center. They stare impassively at the scene before them, at the test subject strapped down by thick buckles, forehead beaded with sweat. Another convulsion tears through the subject from head to toe, but their voice has grown hoarse from shrieking, and so their mouth merely pulls wide and soundless this time.
“Then it works.”
“It works. We have the first part complete now.”
One of the scientists, putting a pen behind their ear, signals to a soldier, who approaches the table to release the buckles in turn: all those on the left, then all those on the right.
The buckles drop, metal clanking to the floor. The subject tries to roll over, but they panic, jerking too hard and tipping off the table instead. It is a terrible sight. The subject lands in a sprawl at the scientists’ feet and heaves for breath—heaves and heaves like they cannot fill their lungs properly, and perhaps they never will again.
A hand comes down upon the subject’s head. The touch is gentle, almost tender. When the scientist peruses their work, smoothing at the subject’s hair, their expression is set with a smile.
“It’s all right. You mustn’t struggle.”
Why I love it
Stacey Lee
Author, The Downstairs Girl
It’s hard to pin down or describe Foul Lady Fortune, but the attempt gives me a rather violent delight. I am a writer after all. So in a word, Foul Lady Fortune is thrilling. At every turn, Chloe Gong keeps us on our toes, blending equal parts action and mystery in an epic tale of loyalty, honor, and betrayal. Make sure you have a comfortable chair before you start reading.
Foul Lady Fortune is a spinoff of the These Violent Delights duology set in 1930’s Shanghai, a time when "foreign devils" were exploiting China, while civil war brewed. Rosalind Lang is an assassin with a need to atone for her past failings. After being injected with an experimental serum that gives her the ability to heal from any wound, albeit painfully, she becomes the nationalist party’s top choice to investigate a series of murders that have terrorized the population. In order to reduce suspicion, she and another spy, the handsome and infuriatingly cavalier playboy Orion Hong, are embedded as newlyweds. Each of them hold secrets which threaten to undermine their mission.
As the book progresses, allegiances are questioned at every turn, setting sister against sister, and husband against wife. The experience will have you up late flipping pages furiously. I dare you not to be enthralled.
Member ratings (3,439)
Lauren L.
Birmingham , AL
Okay….wow. Just finished and I am speechless. The ending had twist and turns that I honestly didn’t see coming. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good spy novel! I cannot wait for the next book
Rhiannon M.
Frederick, MD
I love a strong female lead. I was beginning to worry when it slowed down so early in the book, but it definitely made up for that. It’s definitely not your typical story about an immortal character.
Courtney S.
New York , NY
This was a bit slow at first, but when it picked up, it really picked up. I loved the characters and I loved the action. There were several twists I wasn't expecting and I really loved the direction.
Alli M.
Minneapolis, MN
I regret not finishing the first duology before diving into this one, but still love the Shanghai that Chloe Gong has built. Selfishly, I wish there was more "fake" love between Rosalind and Orion.
Emmaline E.
Atlanta, GA
Foul Lady Fortune is amazing. From the intricate weave of the spies lives to the blooming romance in all of the characters I couldn't put this book down. I cannot wait to read what happens next.