“FOUL Heart Huntsman” is the second and final instalment of the “Foul Lady Fortune” duology, and this duology tells the story of Rosalind Lang, the first protagonist, Juliette Cai’s cousin.
The first book of this duology is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”, and this book has excavated from the literary genius’ pastoral comedy of fake identities, miscommunication, and disguises blended with historical fiction, romance and fantasy set in 1930s Shanghai.
The Japanese invasion threatened the country after the events in the “Foul Lady Fortune”.
Rosalind’s status as a national spy has been exposed, and she is confined in her apartment, scheming a plan to go after Orion Hong, the person she realises she has feelings for.
What makes it worse for Rosalind is that Orion is brainwashed and controlled by his mother, Madam Hong, who is working on strength-enhancing and immortality-inducing chemical weapons with the Japanese, threatening the fate of China.
She then volunteers to tour China as it is the only way to leave Shanghai and to lure Madam Hong and Orion to rescue him by claiming that she has the final vial of serum that will create the supersoldiers that the Japanese and Madam Hong desire.
However, the tour goes wrong, and she is again exposed; this time, she takes refuge outside Shanghai, where old wounds open up again, and the most unexpected people become her allies.
Rosalind and her allies must find a way to take Madam Hong’s traitorous invention away from the hands of the Japanese, and she must not fail as she races against time for the sake of Orion and all of China.
I have been a fan of Chloe Gong’s books since I discovered her first book, “These Violent Delights” — a retelling tale of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, on TikTok.
Not only did the book have a pretty cover, but the retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” piqued my curiosity, which started my love for the series.
Worth mentioning, the book is titled after a quote from the epic tragedy written by a literary genius from the Elizabethan era.
This is the same for “Foul Heart Huntsman” because the book has little reference to “As You Like It”, but it is set in a more modern time in an Asian setting.
The narrative of Gong shines through once more, captivating readers with a fascinating mix of action and intrigue.
From the first page, the story grips the reader’s imagination, plunging readers into a world where danger lurks at every turn, creating a curiosity that excites them.
The narrative’s intensity is distinguishable, drawing readers deeper into the story with each passing chapter, making it impossible to put the book down.
Even when you are away from the book, you are constantly thinking about the possibilities of what will happen to the characters.
Gong’s ability to breathe life into her characters allows readers to experience the characters’ emotions about the situation they find themselves in.
I personally believe that character development is the heart of a good book, and this book shows how the characters transition through their personal development. The characters’ growth is evident if you have started reading Gong’s “These Violent Delights”.
In “Foul Heart Huntsman”, Gong crafts a narrative that has an impact, and she has successfully included the sense of duty and love during a difficult time amid war.
So, you are looking for a tale of adventure and romance that centres around a strong female protagonist with a perfectly drawn character and an almost historical setting filled with action.
In that case, “Foul Heart Huntsman” is the right book for you.
