i have read gong's books ever since she first published these violent delights. i loved every second of it: the tragedy, the starcrossed lovers, the expert use of tropes in they do not seem forced, gong's writing. it was only as I was reading foul lady fortune that I realised how much gong's writing as improved since her debut. though this book still follows the same criticism I have for her others (quite world-dumpy at the beginning but once she sets everything up, omg the book is an amazing ride), I am proud of her. I was once a young writer who wanted to be a bestselling author straight out of university and seeing chloe gong thriving and writing stories that she loves, it has returned some of my writing spark to me.