August 1, 2023
Several months after losing Orion to Lady Hong in Foul Lady Fortune (2022), Rosalind Lang sets out to save her kidnapped partner. Since the confrontation at Warehouse 34, a heartbroken Rosalind has remained sequestered in her apartment to avoid reporters who want a glimpse of the Nationalist assassin Fortune. When the Nationalists refuse to rescue Orion and reveal plans to decommission Rosalind, she volunteers to tour the country, using her fame to boost Chinese morale in the face of Japanese military aggression. Rosalind's true motive, however, is to lure out Lady Hong and Orion, and she sets herself as bait by claiming to possess Lady Hong's final vial of a serum that creates invincible supersoldiers. As soon as the Communists discern Rosalind's plan, they assign Celia Lang and Oliver Hong to follow Rosalind and capture Orion for their own cause. Meanwhile, Nationalist triple agent Silas Wu continues his single-minded pursuit of the enigmatic Communist sharpshooter Priest, unaware that Priest is actually Phoebe Hong, who is equally determined to maintain her facade as merely Orion and Oliver's younger sister. Conflicting loyalties and long-held secrets put characters to the test in this packed but nonetheless fast-paced sequel, which is told by the main cast in third-person narration. With the stakes higher than ever, they must carefully choose whom to trust as they race against time to save their friends, family, and country. An impressive, albeit stuffed, conclusion to the duology. (Historical fantasy. 13-18)
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Starred review from November 1, 2023
Gr 9 Up-Following the devastating standoff at the end of Foul Lady Fortune, Rosalind Lang has been exposed as the deadly almost-immortal operative Fortune while her former mission partner, Orion Hong, has been kidnapped by his own mother for further Frankenstein-esque experimentation. Although Rosalind's friends and family are irrevocably tangled in the political knot enveloping 1932 Shanghai as the Communists, Nationalists, and Japanese imperialists wrangle for control, they all come together to rescue Orion and stop Lady Hong's terrifying experimentation in its tracks. This installment extends points of view among more characters than the previous novels, incorporating more significant contributions from Alisa Montagova, Rosalind's sister Celia, and Orion's sister Phoebe. Much like previous books, the nebulous antagonist is given brief point-of-view moments that simultaneously provide clues about their motivation and sow doubt regarding their true identity. Both politics and mystery unfold with precise pacing, while the character dynamics remain riveting throughout. Most significant characters are East Asian; several characters are bisexual, Rosalind is demisexual, and Celia is transgender. VERDICT Heavy on a classical interpretation of science fiction as well as clearly explained history that is rarely highlighted in Western media, this is a first pick for any library searching for a refreshing take on either genre.-Austin Ferraro
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