This book was so good. I loved the story line and the characters. The story kept me captivated and I didn't know where it was leading. I hope she writes more.

2.5 stars

The Foxglove King follows Lore, a poison runner in the city of Dellaire. She hides the fact that she can channel Mortem, a death magic, until she's found out and stolen away to the Citadel to play spy.

I like the world building in this book. Mortem and Spiritum (life magic) are unique magic systems. The way magic is weaved in with the religion is well done too, as I liked reading the little excerpts from their holy book.

While I think Whitten writes well, the way it's structured didn't really work for me. Some things that should've been obvious for the characters were brushed off so that it could be revealed later ("must've been my imagination" was used a lot). The love triangle also put me off because I just couldn't connect with the two love interests. We keep being told about the connection Lore feels to them but l never felt it as a reader.

Overall, I think this book works for someone who wants in-depth world building with a love triangle and a unique magic system.

This book was so good! I absolutely adored every minute of it! Lore is such a bada**, and her two love interests, Bastien and Gabe, are delicious! I loved the whole magic concept with the death and life, darkness and light, opposites attract feel. When I tell you I cannot wait for the next book to come out, what I mean is, I am mad that I read this book now and didn't wait for the next book to come out first. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who loves fantasy, with a little sprinkle of PG romance thrown in.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

I loved reading For the Wolf and immediately added Hannah Whitten to my auto-buy author list. So when I first heard the announcement for The Foxglove King, I was obviously counting down until I’d be able to read it. So it might be interesting to hear that despite getting the ARC at NYCC, I did not pick this up to read it until the past couple days.

I wanted to take my time with this book, to savor it, because I knew I would love it. To me, the writing has a nice flow to it. The descriptions and the characterization and the dialogue all just swept me away. So, I wanted to take my time and enjoy reading this one. I say try, because I definitely failed. Every time I opened the book I’d read at least 70-100 pages. Even trying to take my time it only took a few reading sessions, and just a few hours overall to finish the whole book.

It was lush. It was decadent. I loved the descriptions and the intrigue and the bits of worldbuilding we got. Okay, yes, I’ve turned into such a fan of worldbuilding the past couple years, and so I’ll basically always ask for more information, for more lore and myth and culture and religion and history…give me all the details, and I will enjoy every morsel.

Basically, I already feel like I want to read this book again, and I just might when I get my finished copy, because I really want to see the map for this world. But I want to actually read it slower, to see what details I might have missed by getting so swept away by the opulence and the court politics and the romance and the death magic. Okay, yes, fine, there are so many love triangle stories out there. What makes a love triangle effective to me is when it isn’t completely obvious which romantic interest will be the one chosen in the end. And there is a certain compelling element to Gabriel and Bastian, and of course I enjoy Lore as a main character.

But yes, this book lived up to my expectations, and I’m glad that I have the ARC in my collection, and I’m definitely getting at least the B&N Exclusive Edition because the map is in full color, but I also might see about any other special editions as well. Hannah Whitten is staying on my auto-buy list, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

"The Foxglove King" is about a girl who can control death magic who is blackmailed into helping the king and the high priest of the country she lives in. However, things go sideways real fast.

I went into this book completely blind. I had read the synopsis when I originally requested the book, but I couldn't remember what it was when I went into it. And I absolutely LOVED this book. I loved Lore's wit so much, and Bastian and Gabe were such dynamic characters, too. I knew it was going to end on a cliffhanger because this will be a series, so obviously there needs to be some mystery, but despite the cliffhanger I thought the book ended really well, too.

If I had anything bad to say, it would be that there was not enough spice!! But I'm sure that will be remedied in the sequels.

Already can't wait for the next one!

OH. MY. WORD. I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Lore is a necromancer in a world where death magic - unless it is being used in service to the church - is seen as a crime and a sin. She has hidden her past and her abilities as best she can, working as a spy and poison runner.
A series of events leads her to become entangled with Gabriel, a monk who can wield death magic and has his own hidden past, and Bastian, the prince who may or may not be committing treason against the Crown.

This story is dark and twisty, with detailed world building and intriguing church vs, crown conflicts. Lore's first=person POV is very well done - her personality feels so real - and all of the MCs are satisfyingly morally grey. There is a love triangle that is not a love triangle (it makes sense, trust me), and so many good reveals and shocking moments.

I enjoyed Hannah's debut duology (For the Throne/For the Wolf), but sometimes found the descriptions to be too abstract. The Foxglove King, though, kept me completely enthralled and engrossed in the story from beginning to end.

Such a good start to a new series - I cannot wait for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Adult
Content: language

The first quarter of the story had be hooked! I was so intrigued by mortem and the drug people are obsessed with. It was such a unique concept, I had high expectations for the rest of Lores story. I also loved how Lore showed Gabe the truth about the religion ge blindly followed and how often she called it out.
But it felt like the plot got mixed up. In th3 first half, I had no idea how the story would end or where it was gonna lead to. But the 2nd half it switched up and became predictable. But the plots didn't line up so it left me confused and disappointed.
But I'll still be reading book 2 to see where it goes!
Also, in the beginning it was funny when Lore pointed out Gabes 'one eye' but by the 15th time it was kind of annoying and felt unnecessary

This was a solid start to a new fantasy series. The writing was descriptive and created a wonderful world and definitely breathed life into the characters. On top of all that, the storyline was inventive and unusual. it was set in a court-type fantasy world but with some different twists.

Lore is the main character. She's a young woman who has survived on the streets at all costs. She's been a poison (a drug in this time) runner, a spy and more. Yet most people don't know her big secret....that she possess magic that can reanimate the dead. Once it's discovered, there are those that want to take advantage of it.

The fantasy aspect of the story was done well. However, I was also hoping for a strong romance element. Even though there were hints towards attraction, there wasn't any true follow through. However, there was a solid love triangle in place which gives hope for the sequel to continue along this line.

There was really fluid character evolution during this book. Not only did Lore change and grow during the story. So did Bastian and Gabe - - the other two primary characters. I look forward to seeing what the author will do with the storyline and characters in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

The Foxglove King follows Lore, a young woman who escaped an underground cult when she was 13. But when accidentally reveals her magic publicly, she is captured and tasked by the Presque Mort and King August to find out why entire villages are dying. August suspects that his son, Bastian, is conspiring against him.

Lore's guard is Gabriel, a member of Presque Mort with a dark past and messy relationship with the court.

This book has an interesting magic system and just the right amount of angst. It took me a while to get engaged with the story, so I can't give it five stars. I was pleased to learn that there will be a sequel!

The Foxglove King is the perfect book for people who love high fantasy with high stakes.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The foxglove king was a gripping, dark fantasy book with a sprinkle of romance (I say sprinkle because we mostly just get the tension in this book). I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book at first. It took me a while to really get into it and get invested in the characters/plot. It didn’t really get going until about the 30% mark in my opinion.

I can honestly say now that I do love our main characters and the way they develop. I love characters with depth that have been through some stuff. And the love triangle and the romantic tension!! I actually enjoyed it and I’m not always a fan of love triangles. I feel like I genuinely liked both Bastian and Gabe and could see her with either one. I’d love to hear more of their backstories though, especially Gabe’s!

I’m pretty good at piecing clues together and had a good idea of how the plot would unfold (I felt like it was kind of hinted at a lot?), but I was still excited to find out how everything would happen. However, I do feel that the ending was a bit rushed. The way everything was explained and wrapped up just happened so fast. Maybe I felt that way because of all the foreshadowing and hints being dropped throughout the book? It just felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic for me.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I’m excited to see what happens in the next one!

I have enjoyed Hannah Whitten's other books well enough but this book shows the full strength of her talent as a storyteller. While I hesitate to classify any book as 'perfect' this one is rich and lush. The world building is much more solid and inventive. I love the magic, the religion, the politics, and the way there is a pervasive threat of war looming. Whitten's works are never lacking in atmosphere and her characters here feel very nuanced and intriguing. I am so genuinely invested in this story and am very pleased with the possibilities this book sets up for the series to come. Will definitely be picking up the sequel when it drops.

Hannah Whitten’s new series begins with ‘The Foxglove King’ about a girl who can raise the dead in a world that forbids such things, to simply put it. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable enough read but there was nothing particularly original about it? Once I started reading, there was nothing that really sparked for me. The main character has a bit of the “not like other girls” vibe, there’s a tired love triangle, and while the world-building is certainly the most interesting part, it’s not original enough to keep my interest. It ends with a very predictable cliffhanger and while there certainly is always room for a series to recapture me with future installations, I think I will be ending with this one.

I do think many people will enjoy this book but it wasn’t for me. The author has definitely improved in writing style from her previous works (which I did enjoy) and it’s nice to see progression.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a big fan of Whitten's Wilderwood Duology (For the Wolf/For the Throne) and looked forward to this new release! The Urban fantasy world here feels distinctly different, but it didn't take long for me to be completely immersed. This time around we follow Lore as she she goes from street savvy poison runner to undercover spy in the King's court. The setup takes a while to develop, but it is well worth it. The court politics, intrigue and interesting cast of characters kept me engaged as Lore begins to uncover secrets and find out things are not as she expects.

When I learned this duology would feature yet another love triangle I must admit I was frustrated that this is such a repeated trope these days. I could really do without the drama and often it feels forced or one sided. But here again Whitten pulls it off well because she has invested time in developing each character's strengths and weaknesses where we like them both. In addition, any attraction is also secondary the complex situation Lore finds herself involved as she learns to to control adverse effects of her magic.

I have read a few reviewers say that Whitten has "improved" as a writer and I have to agree. While I bristle at the implication that The Wilderwood Duology was underdeveloped ( I did not find it so) I'm thrilled to see that she has raised her game here all the more. I'll take part #2 ASAP please.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for access to an eACR for this honest review.

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

Lore has a secret power to raise the dead, and finds herself leaving a life of crime on the streets, to inside the Sainted King’s royal court. Forced to assist the King, Lore is tasked with spying and finding out who is responsible for killing nearby Villagers. What she finds is danger and death, and with so many lies and secrets uncovered, she must decide who she can trust to keep herself and her fellow villagers alive.


“𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺?”

I admit, it did take me some time to get into this one. It seemed to drag on a bit and it took me awhile to understand the Magic system. That being said, I’m glad I stuck with it because it did end up being an enjoyable read by the time I finished. And now I need the sequel! So many unanswered questions! Particularly in the love category 😁. So much sexual tension in this one 😆. I loved the banter between the main characters so much, and once I figured out the Magic system, I found it unique and refreshing!

I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Swipe (Instagram)

Thoughts:
- The ideas of magic, the old and new gods, and mortem in general were so intriguing and original that I couldn't get enough.
- Lore as a character has so many layers - she is someone who is unapologetic for who she is, and we root for her as she conquers and addresses her own sorrows, and trials and tribulations. I loved that she has two mothers, and wanted to see more of them! Maybe in the next ones?
- Our world building in this novel was a bit dense, and hard to follow at times, especially with the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, but if this is something that doesn't bother you then it won't be a big deal. I do wish there was more description around the setting itself that didn't necessarily have to do with Mortem, but this may be more of a personal preference.
- My favorite part of any romantasy novel, the romance, I was slightly disappointed by. I do love a good fated mates trope, but wish there was more tension and build up earlier in the novel so that when we get to the fated mates portion it's more of a surprise and/or we are more into it. I wasn't believing Gabe and Lore being into each other, and even when Gabe and Bastian acted jealous of each other over Lore it didn't really seem as believable as I'd have liked.
- Overall, the general elements of the world and the story felt very original, and new to me, which is hard to do in this day and age in a fantasy novel, and the end really leaves you guessing - what's going to happen next?

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

considering the fact that i haven’t been able to actually get through a fantasy book in month, i was skeptical about whether or not this one would take. will this be the book to finally get me out of my fantasy slump? spoiler alert: yes, yes it is.

there’s honestly nothing that can compare to the feeling you get one of your most anticipated releases actually comes through for you and HITS. took me a few chapters to actually understand what was going on and to really get into the book but definitely worth waiting for.

if you love reading about necromancy, court conspiracies and fantasy books with dark themes in general then make sure you give this book a shot !!

This was my first book to read by Hannah Witten. I have not read her other series For the Wolf yet. I finished The Foxglove King a few days ago and have been thinking about what to write for this review.

I did like the book but it did fall a little flat for me. I liked the herione Lore a lot and Bastian but I am on the fence about Gabriel and not sure how I feel about his character. Also, I don’t know if I like any of the potential love interests for Lore, at least I am not rooting for either character yet.

Why I gave this book 3 stars (really 3.5 but Goodreads and Amazon don’t do half stars) was that in a few places the timeline was a little off and confused me a bit. I also didn’t like how she always referenced Gabriel’s eye by saying his “one eye” all the time. I felt that it was unnecessary to say it all the time and that just saying eye (singular) would have sufficed. I also figured out most of the twists and betrayals. I did find the book slow in parts but I feel like this books was laying the groundwork for what is to come so the slower parts didn’t bother me as much.

I will read the second book. I am very curious on where all these character’s journeys will take them. I want to see if characters I didn’t like will actually be characters that I will root for and see what happens with the characters I do like and hope that their journey ends up being as good as I am hoping for them and that they don’t turn out to be some sort of villain.

After reading the book, I am curious about Hannah’s other series For the Wolf and want to read that duology now.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Hannah Witten for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Orbit books for sending me this e-arc in return for an honest review.

This book was exquisite, mysterious, and seductive! I loved it so much! I love the three main characters we are introduced to, Gabe, Bastian, and Lore. Right from the beginning I loved Lore, her background, the way she is always fighting just to survive, the differences we see with her and the lore and religion of the land.

I loved the twists we are taken on as we are immersed into a Parisian court of the style of Antoinette, and caught up in the illicit use of the drug mortem, which causes people to come close to death so that they may live longer. The mysteries of the court and the tasks Lore is given, just made want to turn each page until it was the end.

I really was a beautifully crafted story filled to the brim with debauchery and secrets that could kill.

I had been waiting and waiting for this one and let me tell you- Hannah did not disappoint!

I was hooked right away. I love a good dark fantasy and this was just excellent. Moody, but also a really freaking good time! Lore, Gabe, and Bastian are EVERYTHING. The banter was so fun. Their personalities, the way they play off one another.. the way Gabe is torn between his loyalty and this pull he feels towards Lore.

A perfect start to the series and I cannot wait to see where we’re headed!

Hannah Whitten is just getting better and has solidified herself as an author that I automatically add. I will say this book series is pretty different from For the Wolf (which I also enjoyed) in tone, writing, and pacing. If you didn’t enjoy For the Wolf, you might still enjoy this one.

The Foxglove King was a fun, highly enjoyable read. I loved the court intrigue, hidden motives/agendas, and the romantic tension. It was everything I hoped it would be.

This is an adult fantasy. The main character is a necromancer, which was interesting. Loved Lore, Gabe, and Bastien. I can’t wait to see what happens next in their story. There is a love triangle here, but it’s done well. They all care about each other, but their relationships with each other are also complicated and maybe more than a little messy. The romance doesn’t take over the plot, which is also a plus for me.

The magic system is interesting without being overly complicated. I thought it was well done.

I’m a little sad my preordered physical copy isn’t here yet, but I am so thrilled that I was able to snag this free ARC. Thank-you Hannah Whitten, netgallley, and Orbit for providing this arc.

Now I need the next book…