Rated 4.5 ⭐

I loved the first part of this book, right away there is an incident that sets up the plot and the future of Lore and the kingdom. Most of the second part is just adding to the atmosphere, introducing key characters to each other and some other important information that will be relevant not only later in the book, but in the following books of this series. This part felt slow compared to the first part. The last part of the book wrapped everything up nicely and a lot of things happened all at once. Nothing that was too shocking because it was either built up or alluded earlier in the book. My theory proved right, but not in the way I expected it to be. To me it was a sleepy read but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

What I loved?
♥️ Lore - strong female lead, spy, and “poison runner”. She has an interesting upbringing and interesting abilities, I loved how she handled herself in Court and how she was willing to change her mind the new facts were presented to her.
♥️ Bastian - the oh so charming Bastian, I loved his character and cannot wait to see how he grows as the series progresses.
♥️ Gabe - He is kind of the third wheel, but maybe part of a love triangle situation. IDK, their situation is weird. He is the religious one of the bunch and has a difficult time processing new information without letting Anton (the Exalte Priest) sway his opinion on the information he’s received.
♥️ The book atmosphere - This is something this author in particular excells at, and I will tell you, one of my favorite things is that she does it with as little words as possible, still highly immersive.
♥️ The passages at the beginning of each chapter. That kind of allude to the theme of the chapter.

This might be for you if you enjoy:
✨ Strong FMC that is just a little clueless of her powers
🪄 Magic
♥️ A witty MMC who was just a tad bit wreckless
♥️ Another broody MMC
👑 Royal Court intrigue
✨ Religious intrigue & manipulation

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
I was excited to read this due to enjoying the other books written by Hannah Whitten, and I was not let down!
I found this to be a fairly unique story, which is quite an accomplishment in the YA/NA Fantasy genre, of which I have certainly read a lot. The MC was an occasionally frustrating young adult with magic powers that we continue to learn about throughout the story. I found the setting to be very fun and dark. There is no spice/steam so don't expect that going in. Also there is a love triangle which is definitely not my preference in books.
This story took a while to build up, but then once it hit the actual plot it took off running, so be sure to give it until at least the half way point!

“This is what I saw, in the reflections of the tomb.” She whispered it almost to herself, broken-voiced. “It’s what the goddess dreamed, but I thought I could prevent it. I thought you would choose the world over yourself.”

“I’m far too selfish for that,” Lore whispered.”

The Foxglove King was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I was quite pleased with it. From the very beginning, we are drenched in atmosphere and this gorgeous, darkly captivating world. From the cover, to the opening passage and all the way to the end of the book. This book is an immersive experience and was made even more complete due to the fact that I was able to completely submerge myself in the world by reading my advanced copy and then switching on the gorgeously narrated audiobook.

Hannah Whitten is not going to be an author for everyone, but she sure is an auto-buy author for me. I love the way she writes and the energy she brings to her novels. I love that she’s not afraid of writing romantic fantasy catering to adults. She writes these cataclysmic, ethereal, moody books that somehow stay light at the same time. The magic system she has built here was so thoughtful but not unbelievable. Our characters, Lore and Bastian are two counterparts of darkness and light, while Gabriel is there to protect the sanctity of what he has been raised to believe. Oh yes, folks, there’s a love triangle brewing. I know some people hate love triangles, but I’ve never been afraid of a little competition when it comes to love. So if they’re done well enough, I quite enjoy them, and Whitten writes romance in a way that my heart grabs onto greedily.

“The air around him almost seemed to glimmer, gold dust in the dark. Moonlight made him more beautiful, yes, but in the same way that darkness emphasized a flame. He didn’t belong in it; Bastian Arceneaux was antithetical to night.”

And I’m going to put it out there now, I am Team Bastian. I like Gabriel (sometimes), but Bastian captures my attention from the second he walks onto our page, whereas I had to grow to like Gabriel. I don’t know if I’m going to win this one, but I’ll have fun along with way.

Whitten doesn’t shy away from tackling heavy themes in this novel such as elitism or religious fervor and the many hypocrisies that can arise from it. There’s examples we see in our everyday life that are transplanted to the page; medical treatment availability and how laws apply differently across the classes, the way religion can often be used in the name of doing something for the greater good, but causes harm to vast groups of people. All this and more still. Yet, she can keep the humor going throughout the novel. She is talented at balancing the heavier themes. The characters provide us with fun banter and keep things interesting as we read.

“More than one unmarried pregnant person thought hiding in the catacombs was preferable to dealing with their families on the surface.” “Doesn’t say much for their families.” “Or society in general. It takes more than one person to make a baby, but the onus always falls on the one who bodily carries the proof.”

This book is full of court intrigue, there’s a dash or twelve of cult-like activity, murderous family, found family, and so much sexual tension. When it ended, I was already wishing I had the second book in my hands. I love these characters and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Audiobook narrator Emily Ellet was the perfect Lore. She captured her confidence, bravery, and playfulness quite beautifully. She switched easily to male voices without making them sound like caricatures. The entire production suites the novel.

Thanks to Orbit and Hachette Audio for the review copies!

I loved For the Wolf and For the Throne by this author and I might love this new book even more. The characters are well written and realistic. I loved the fantastical element. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Orbit books for this arc! I can't wait for this series to continue!

This is the beginning of The Nightshade Crown series, with a morally gray heroine (to a morally black government) a setup for a delicious romance (via love triangle), and some really cool world-building for this fantasy.

Lore has lived on the streets since she escaped a cult and keeps to her part-spy, part poison-running assignments even if she isn’t particularly happy about it.

She has an ability to use Mortem, death magic and poison, and gets caught, leading her into the world of the Sainted King, his son, Bastian (the Sun Prince), and Gabriel, a Duke-turned-monk.

The writing is impeccable, as beautiful as it is gritty. Think adult, high-fantasy Holly Black but with a lot of priests running around.

I love Lore, how she has a (kinda) moral core and isn’t afraid to be self-serving. She’s had to be—all she has is herself. This is a character to watch.

As for the love triangle, I was pleasantly surprised by Bastian, who is stunningly strong and may be my favorite. And then there’s Gabriel, who has the whole priest/monk/temptation of the flesh thing going on…

Not to mention how Mortem appears to be impacting the entire country, poisons used as a drug. The question is how Lore ties into it all….

Five stars- this is my first from this author, and I’m so thrilled to have read it. I wouldn’t change a darned thing.

A lush, dark, romantic fantasy about a girl named Lore who can channel the energy of the dead, court intrigue, mysteriously murdered villages, and two men Lore can't decide who she should trust.

Let me say off the start that the magic here is rather uniquely written. Its somewhat eerie but it was a refreshing sort of twist to the kind of dark magic we are accustomed to. That said, Hannah Whitten's story telling was compelling and engaging.

Lore as a female protagonist was a refreshing read, having a young woman make her own decisions, defend herself, outwit others, and be able to be perceptive. Bastian was easily my favorite though. But I am weak for broody, depraved, cinnamon rolls. His interactions with Lore was dynamic and the chemistry equally as delicious. Gabe, on the other hand, felt too generic for me. The love triangle wasn't horridly written. As someone who despises love triangles I admit this one was actually thrilling to read.

What I didn't like in the story was the world building. We weren't given much information on the country. All we know are how the nobles are so generically written and the poor people who depend on thieving and the like. It just lacked. I felt we learned nothing of the world that surrounds our characters or even of the supposed neighboring country who wants a war.

The Foxglove King definitely kept me at the edge of the seat by the end and I am more than eager for the sequel. Please give me the Bastian x Lore I crave for.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent premise. Perfectly enjoyable read.

I do have a new book boyfriend in Bastian, but other than that, this one was a bit more of a palate cleanser for me. It has all the elements of a truly substantial book, but just isn't that. I won't be thinking about it past this review, nor did I find it impossible to put down. But that's not always a bad thing, and tit worked out just fine for this novel. I will definitely continue with the series.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I Friggin Loved It. This is my first Hannah Whitten book and I'm glad it was because it was AWESOME and definitely made me want to read more from her.

Lore is a death witch spy doing some smuggling and ends up being turned over and given an ultimatum, she either spies on the Sun Prince or else. I'm not sure what else to say that isn't going to spoil something but this is a YA Dark Fantasy that you should absolutely read. There's a Love Triangle that I wished was a Why Choose, I would not be sorry if the sequel drove over into NA territory.

#Fantasy #Romance #YAFantasyRomance
#LoveTriangle #Fiction
#HannahWhitten #GoodReadsAuthor
#TheNightShadeCrown #NetGalley #OrbitBooks

I requested this book prior to reading the other books in this series. As I was not a fan of the other books, I did not complete this one. I am sure others have thoroughly enjoyed the story line and the characters but this was not my cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this!

The novel takes place in a world ruled by royalty and religion. The magic system is broken into mortum and spiritum, two different essences which few people can control and use. Mortum is also used in the drug trade, which is how we meet our protagonist, Lore. Lore is a poison runner when suddenly the grand septum and king notice her power is unique, and they want to use it.

Lore is thrown into a world of dances, underground fights, and political chaos and soon befriends the monk, Gabriel and the king’s son, Bastian. Of course, a fun little love triangle ensues, but that is only the beginning of the antics and secrets Lore unravels.

I wouldn’t say I liked this novel when I first started it. I found some character descriptors somewhat repetitive and frustrating, and I didn’t like Lore all that much. Once she enters the city and begins interacting with other characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. And it only took about 50 pages to get there, which I don’t think is too bad.

The romance is subtle and sweet; you aren’t sure what will happen. The plot is incredibly intriguing, and I didn’t know the evil mastermind’s identity while reading. The ending comes with a ton of excitement and twists. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while, and I’m excited to find a new fantasy author!

I couldn’t put the book down once I got to the last quarter, and I am eagerly awaiting the second book. I’m very excited to see what happens next!
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: March 7, 2023

The Foxglove King is the first in a new series by Hannah Whitten. This is Royal court, fantasy, magic series with a focus on Church vs Kingdom, Good vs Evil vibe.

This was a bit of a slow burn to understand the magic and works building. I would have liked the author to have laid that out a bit more upfront to make it easier to get into the characters and the story. That being said, once I “got it”, I was hooked and really into the story and the characters!

Lore is an undercover poison runner and spy. Living outside the Citadel where the Church and Royals control everyone and everything around them.

Lord also has a unique ability to wield death magic like the Presque Mort, an organization dedicated to the church. Only each of the Presque Mort’s ability has come from near death experiences, while Lore was born with her ability. A secret she must keep to save her own life.

After a poison run gone wrong, Lore is apprehended by the Presque Mort and brought into the Citadel for questioning. Lore is thrust into the Sainted Kings court on a political mission that includes spying, magic and a little romance.

Seeking to learn the truth of why she was really brought into the court, Lore must trust and work with an unlikely pair. The Sainted Kings son Prince Bastian and the Presque Mort Gabriel assigned to keep her safe and focused on her mission.

I’m giving this one Four stars! I would recommend this book/series to any fantasy/magic series lover and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

#NetGalley #foxgloveking #hannahwhitten

Ten years ago, Lore escaped from a cult in the catacombs. Now, she is working undercover as a poison runner. Lore has the ability to wield Mortem, a form of death magic. The church has prohibited its use, allowing only members of the Presque Mort to channel it. But everything goes awry on Lore’s latest poison run, leading the Presque Mort to capture her and bring her to the Sainted King. Lore expects death, but instead, the king commands her to spy on his son Bastian. Now, Lore finds herself thrust into the glittering world of court intrigue and political machinations.

I love everything that Hannah Whitten writes, and The Foxglove King is no exception. I liked Lore’s refreshing character. She is a strong female character, confident in her sexuality. While the court dynamics are similar to other fantasy books, it is still compelling with all its opulence and revelry.

Whitten excels at constructing layered characters and relationships, and each book shows a greater assurance in her writing than the last. The Foxglove King is another such rich world and story. By the end, I felt I'd only begun to understand the complexities of this world and what the characters are in for. However, as much as I'm ready to read the next book when it's released, this isn't a book that was written for me the way Whitten's previous books were — and that's perfectly fine because I can still enjoy it, even if it doesn't own my heart. And others will certainly fall in love with it's twisting passages and exquisitely broken characters!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit for the eARC of this wonderful book so that I can give an honest review.

When I read Hannah Whitten's first duology, I had trouble getting into it. I really loved the story and the magic and the setting and I could NOT understand why it was that it had trouble holding my attention. This one initially had the same problem as it set things up, but I devoured the last 60% of the book and was completely enthralled.

This is the story of Lore, who was born being able to control the power of death, or Mortem. This power is typically contained in the deceased goddess under the city and only those who have come close to death can wield it; and nothing close to what Lore can do. Forced into doing the bidding of the Crown, she is tasked to spy on the Prince and to figure out the mystery behind why some of the populations of the small border towns are dying overnight without any sign of foul play.

The magic system is completely fascinating. I ADORE the necromantic magic. The story and the politics keep the reader guessing; I had several things I thought were going to happen based on the foreshadowing and I was mostly incorrect. These characters are fascinating and none of them are particularly easy to pin down. My only problem was that I didn't feel deeply attached to any of them because they are all so shrouded in mystery, but this is just the beginning. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

I thought that this was really good! After enjoying this author’s previous work, I was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release which is the start of a brand-new series. I must say that I think that this may be my favorite book of hers yet. I loved the magic, characters, and world-building in this story and was thrilled that the story kept me guessing right up until the last page.

Lore works as a spy and poison runner. After things go wrong, she is brought to the palace to spy on Prince Bastian and help the king and his priest figure out what is going on in some of the villages that are being wiped out. Lore is brought to court with Gabe who is posing as her distant cousin. Lore, Gabe, and Bastian were all great characters that were up against an almost impossible situation. I loved learning about the magic system in this book. Lore can use a type of death magic known as Mortem which I found fascinating.

I was never quite sure who could really be trusted and I thought that the politics of the story were incredibly well done. The story was exciting and had enough action to keep me glued to the pages. To say that some parts of the story came as a shock is a bit of an understatement. There is a bit of a love triangle but I didn’t mind because romance is not the main focus of the story and I thought that it was handled well.

I think that fantasy readers will really enjoy this one. I found the story to be very entertaining and almost impossible to put down at times. I am eager to see what will happen next in the series.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Orbit Books.

It is not often that a book has a choke hold on me from start to finish, but Hannah Whitten’s The Foxglove King managed to do just that. The book follows a young woman named Lore who can channel Mortem (or death) and finds herself forced to spy on a prince whose father seeks to brand him a traitor and remove him from the line of succession.

I loved the way Whitten tied the magic and world building seamlessly into her story telling. At no point did the plot drag, allowing me as the reader to get lost in a world of intrigue, danger in romance. Also, as the main story progresses the reader is never completely sure who Lore should trust. She is thrust into a world of old alliances and unsure whether to believe in the church or the crown. While reading Lore’s experience of trying to navigate this well established court, the reader can only hope that the friendships she builds are those that will last throughout the series.

Wrapped into the plot was a perfectly written love triangle. Lore finds herself stuck between Gabriel, a Duke who became a monk after his father’s act of treason, and Bastien, the prince she is tasked with spying on and possibly framing for treason. These two men have a complicated and heart wrenching history that they try to overcome as they work with Lore to discover the truth that has brought them all together.

I found the characters in this book to be extremely well written and developed. Lore is someone who has been constantly betrayed and abandoned by those who care for her, and yet she is still a kind and sympathetic character. She is not a perfect heroine, but she is a relatable and likable one, which is much more important to me as a reader. She has flaws, but those flaws are what make her seem all the more real.

Most of Lore’s interactions include Gabriel or Bastien, and both are also intriguing characters. Gabe has spent his life feeling as if he needed to pay for the sins of his treasonous father, having left behind court life to become a monk. He is charged with protecting Lore and finds his long held vows tested by his feelings for her as the story progresses. Bastien is not what he appears to be when the audience first meets him, and it was fun trying to unravel the truth about him right along with Lore.

I have to say I am excited to see where this trio ends up at the end of the next book, as this one leaves you with a cliffhanger. I am also firmly on team Gabe who, for this former member of the Catholic Church, fits the phrase “Father what a waste,” but the possibilities for Bastien’s future have me interested in seeing how he progresses as a character.

This book was a solid 5 out of 5 for me. There is very little spicy, but the possibilities for book 2 are endless. If you liked Belladonna, Throne of Glass, or Untainted this would be a perfect series for you.

I was excited to have the opportunity to read The Foxglove King after reading The Wilderwood Duology. Hannah Whitten didn't disappoint! Lore's character sucked me right in and didn't let me go! I look forward to seeing where Whitten goes after that cliffhanger!

What a ride!

I throughly enjoyed this book! I loved how original it was and how seamlessly the story flowed!

Lore, Gabe and Bastian were so much fun to get to know! I loved how bad ass Lore was but that she wasn't just automatically good at everything she did. She was very relatable! And I found myself bouncing between loving Gabe more or loving Bastian more and I still haven't made up my mind on that one! Both of them are so amazing in their own ways!

I cannot wait to see what happens next with this story! I loved the way life and death was intertwined with gods and the sun and moon! Everything fit together so well!

The world building was easy to follow and very interesting! The characters were awesome and the plot was incredible! I'm ready for book 2!

Thank you to the publisher and author for this ARC in return for an honest review!

it was okay. there were moments where i felt like lore was almost over powered and i don't particularly like fantasy books where the main character has too much power to a point where it feels unrealistic. that is ironic given that this is a work of fiction and a fantasy book, but what i mean is that i like when there are certain limitations. and while i did see why things were done the way they were, it did still feel like a little too much. i did also feel a little confused with the plot in general, it was a little all over the place but i feel like i would give it a chance as this is going to be a series. thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! :)

I really enjoyed this, especially the tangled relationships and little history/world snippets before the chapters started, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next!