An immortal assassin posing as a newlywed spy must work a deadly case in 1930s Shanghai with the husband she didn't choose.
- Score
- 78.8
- Spice
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Sweet
- POV
- multi
- Ending
- HEA / HFN
Tropes
Content warnings
Curated signals, not an exhaustive guarantee.
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What readers think
Readers consistently praise the electric chemistry and witty banter between Rosalind and Orion, Gong's lush, research-grounded prose, and the vividly rendered 1930s Shanghai setting. The grumpy-sunshine fake-marriage dynamic is a fan favourite, and the diverse supporting cast—including an asexual character—earns frequent mention. Common criticisms include mid-book pacing dips, plot twists that arrive very late with little foreshadowing, and some repetitive prose tics. Reviewers also note the book rewards readers who have already met Rosalind in the These Violent Delights duology, making it less accessible as a true standalone.
Read it if
- · Readers who love fake-marriage spy romances set in richly detailed historical worlds
- · Fans of Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights who want more Shanghai and a new central couple
- · YA readers who want political intrigue and sharp-tongued heroines over explicit romance
Skip it if
- · You need high steam or explicit romance payoff—this is firmly closed-door
- · You haven't read the prior duology and want a fully standalone experience without backstory
- · You find mid-book pacing slumps frustrating, as the plot takes time to accelerate toward a late-breaking climax
If you liked this
- · For fans of These Violent Delights—same world, sharper spy thriller energy
- · Like Flame in the Mist but set in 1930s Shanghai with fake-marriage espionage instead of feudal Japan
- · For fans of Six of Crows who want historical thriller atmosphere with more romance
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