This was a really unique read, a lot different than my typical reads. The setting and storyline of this book is not your typical fantasy romance and it was great to read something different and fresh.

It was a slooooowwwww burn. Not that it was dense or boring, but it took until about 60% of the way through for things to really start happening and unfold. However once things started unfolding there were so many puzzle pieces that clicked together and so many plot twists I should’ve seen coming.

If you’re into political intrigue, this book is definitely for you. A tyrannical government, a corrupt religion, illicit substances, and a spy with death magic tasked to infiltrate them all.

The romance aspect of this book has completely thrown me for a loop. I’m really intrigued to find out what happens to Lore, Bastian, and Gabe in book two and see what new storylines unfold

Nothing I can say that hasn't already been said! A great book! I got this ARC to prepare for the 3rd book to come out later this year!

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book post-release in anticipation of the release of The Nightshade God!! I'm so excited to reread a favorite novel to get back into the world Ms. Whitten has created!

The Foxglove King
By Hannah Whitten
4.5 ⭐️

I loved this! So much worked for me with some teeny knit picky bits that I’m meh about - we’ll see how that unfolds moving forward. I loved the overall gothic, mysterious, dark feel of this. The magic system is so good! I’m excited to see more layers of that as the series continues. I really click with the FMC, Lore. Really, I think it’s fair to say all of the characters were really strong in this. They’re so good, I didn’t even mind a love triangle, and I’m usually not a fan of those. I’m excited to see where Whitten takes this!

Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Whitten, and Orbit books for this eARC.

I have tried to get into this book on three different occasions, and I just have not been able to connect. It's probably me and not the book because it seems like something that would be right up my alley. However, something about it just failed to grab me.

Though this intrigued me at first it did not keep my attention. Will set it down for now and try again in the future. Still open to trying other books by the author.

I truly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to diving into the sequel. I like the use of religion to pursue power in this book, the reanimated humans and creatures, the plot twist, and the romance.

The Foxglove King has an extremely compelling premise. In a world where people can channel and flirt with mortem, a substance that acts like death itself, poison is the name of the game. Taking poisons can manipulate the amounts of mortem in your body, a byproduct of which is extension of your life, which comes at a terrible price (vis a vis drinking unicorn blood in HP). Enter Lore, a young lady with the unique gift of channeling mortem, and a lot of it at that. Ripped from her small life as a spy by unfortunate circumstances, she finds herself thrust into the center of political intrigue in the city of Dellaire. I already have the second book and look forward to diving in, as soon as I finish writing this. My only critique is the book fails to capture a unique enough situation to feel set substantially apart from the typical romantasy book so popular lately. That said, those books are right up my alley and I’d happily read them for the rest of my life. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit books for allowing me to access this book as an e-galley.

After getting For the Wolf I was very excited to see another book by Hannah. I was not disappointed!

I am a fan of Hannah Whitten's previous work and followed many of the updates excitedly for this new series. So I was very happy and grateful for NetGalley and Orbit for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. The Foxglove king was definitely a step up into a darker world and corrupt characters. The magic in this book was satisfying, plenty of love interests, and once the pace picked up it was easy to get through. I will be recommending this and continuing the series!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Foxglove King is the first book in The Nightshade Crown series. Now this isn't the first time I've read this book, but it is the first time I'm reviewing it. In this, you will meet Lore. She is nowhere near perfect, but that's why it was so easy to fall in love with her. She had flaws, was selfish, and was extremely guarded due to how she grew up. And yet, two guys were able to get her to slowly lower her walls and become vulnerable.

Bastian and Gabriel, the two guys, were equally lovable. It's rare for me to even consider liking all players in a potential love triangle. Mostly because I absolutely hate love triangles. They each had a different kind of chemistry with her. Heck, it was hard to pick a favorite out of the two, but it's possible one is ahead of the other in my eyes. Time can only tell if that's how I will continue to feel whenever I dive into the next book of this series.

Besides the romance, there's also great world-building throughout the book and interesting magic to figure out along the way. Especially when it comes to Lore. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen next mystery or roamnce wise, but I'm intrigued to watch them figure it all out.

This book had a good premise for an intriguing storyline but I felt that the execution wasn’t there. I felt confused at times when Lore and others were talking about Mortem. The explanation behind the power of death needed tweaking. The author adds in a love triangle -of sorts. Lore is working with 2 men to figure out who is behind the attacks on the outer villages and she has feeling for both of them. But there really isn’t any explanation as to why. So then as the reader, you aren’t pulled towards one or the other either. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I did think the prophecy that is revealed at the end was an interesting plot point. I did think there was something else going on with why it had to be Lore to figure things out. Overall a decent book. I’m interested in reading further into the series.

Ughghghg I wanted to love this so much. I have been trying to read it for ages and I've reached the point where it counts as a read but man it was painful. Something about this just doesn't click with me? I think it leans too heavily on tropes on feels like other books I've read there doesn't feel like a lot of originiality so it does not compel me to read it. HOWEVER, I know so many people that I think would truly love this so I think its found a great place and one I can recommend just didn't work for me.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Oh I want to read this so bad I just am never in the mood. I've heard it is quite queer and a few people who's thoughts I trust on books have given it five stars soooooo

"Excellent... If we have any further childhood traumas to work out after that, we can do it over breakfast."

Lore's adoptive moms have a lucrative poison-running business in Dellaire, and Lore has a couple of abilities that benefit the operation. She has a mental map of the catacombs running beneath the city and can sense mortem, the power of death that grows inside a person until they die... or take poison. Most people who gain some aspect of these necromantic powers do so in near-death experiences and are swiftly scooped up into the Church's ranks. Mortem leaks from a dead goddess in the catacombs, and the monks are tasked with siphoning off power when it gets intense enough to harm the city above. Lore didn't get her power in the normal way, though. And she's most certainly not on the Church's payroll... until now.

Let me be honest. This book's got a rough start. The simplicity of my first paragraph is not reflective of how easy it is to pick that information up from the actual book-- the first hundred or so pages are heavy on backstory but not on clarity. There are names with little to distinguish them, clunky world-building, and a magic system that doesn't actually make sense until way later in the book despite ultimately not being that complicated. It was overwhelming and frustrating to me, even as a regular and proficient fantasy reader. Entwined with this information-heavy start is, somehow, a need to escalate the action right away. It makes for a strange hodge-podge where everything's being thrown at you like: we're running! We're discovering politics! What even is poison? Who's that guy she's talking about and am I supposed to know him? It seems we're fighting now! It evens out, thankfully, as Lore's true quest begins.

Caught for her unsanctioned necromantic abilities when she lets them loose in public, Lore faces burning for heresy. Back against the wall, any alternative would be a relief. Into that void, the head of the Church and the King (brothers, as it so happens) charge her with a task, claiming the fate of the country is at stake. First and foremost, as the only known, live necromancer (the monks aren't as powerful as her for secret ~reasons~), the regal powers that be want Lore to help them investigate the annihilation of two entire villages, presumably at the hands of the neighboring empire. She can reanimate them and ask questions no one else but the victims could answer. Further, her past as a proficient spy for the poison runners makes her ideally suited for another job. Lore's skill set is needed to uncover if Prince Bastian is aiding imperial forces, and her circumstances ensure her diligence and loyalty in gathering the information. She's presented to the court as the cousin of a duke, a duke who has served as a monk for the last decade under the thumb of the church. Gabriel never wanted to return to his other role, but the high priest convinces him it's a matter of holy duty. The two are trapped in this farce together, reluctant but suitably motivated to see it through.

For this portion of the book, I became invested in Lore's task and even more so in the banked sexual tension she has with her co-conspirator. Gabe's seemingly unyielding, single-minded devotion to the Church and its head priest (his only buoy in a world that tells him he must atone for his father's evil) runs into limits when it comes to Lore. He goes out of his way to look out for her, even against his or his boss' interests, knowing the price she'll pay for failure. They room together, snoop together, and compare notes on mortem channeling and general heresy. Lore has longed for human connection in the constantly revolving door of spying in her life, a desire discouraged by the very mother who betrayed her to the Church. In many ways, I think the partnership is an unexpected boon for her bruised, lonely heart. Just when you think you're settling into these excellent, trope-y vibes, there's Bastian. The flirty prince is meant to be the object of Lore's schemes, but he's not all he seems. Early on, it becomes clear that the king underestimated his son, putting Lore in an unwinnable situation. Despite my appreciation of Gabe, I understand why Lore feels more comfortable with honesty when it comes to Bastian and feels she's seen with more clarity. Gabe can be overprotective and fails to see all of Lore's rough edges. In other words, despite my disdain for love shapes... fair enough, Lore. Why choose? Is that a door we can pick? Bastian's definitely queer, so. But all clues point in a different direction. Your girl is very stressed by love shapes, and this one veers into quadrilateral territory, clearly a step too far. It's made yet more complicated by another round of secret magical ~reasons~ I wish I could tell you but oughtn't. It involves a fantasy trope I'm not a fan of but can't specify due to those pesky spoilers. An author can convince me to get on board with it, but it's a project that's not skewed in their favor.

So what else is there to recommend the book? It's a queernorm world with a few different stripes of representation on the page. I have to say that Bastian seems to be bi in a very stereotypical sort of way, re: flirting and sleeping with anyone pretty. Other examples we see are Lore's adoptive moms, one of the gods who uses they/them pronouns, and a side character who mentions her trans brother in passing. Any of these scenarios is treated as socially unremarkable. On a different note, we love to see a curvy lady in the lead, and this is an example where said lady does not lack for self-confidence or external validation of her beauty.

Where do I land on this one? Mixed. There was a sweet spot in the middle where I was genuinely having a good time after the plot took over and before the love shape and fantasy trope revelations came fully into play. I overall didn't have a bad experience reading it, but I'm not sure I care enough to read for myself what happens next. It might depend on what I hear from other readers about future directions. Thanks to Orbit for my copy to read and review!

I enjoyed this book so, so, so much. It was such an enjoyable, easy-to-read fantasy with an addicting slow burn love triangle.

I thought the magic was interesting, I loved the high society setting, and while I’m currently Team Bastian, I’m interested to see how my thoughts change as I continue the series.

Lore was a fun main character — she was snarky and sarcastic, but in a way that felt realistic, not overdone.

The only thing I’m upset about is how long I waited to read this!

5 Stars (I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Currently I am reading the second book in the series and definitely reminding me that I had not yet, completed the review for The Foxglove King. I remember being so excited to get the ARC and trying to sneak in little bits of reading. Mortem is a very interesting magic system and something that still confuses me a little. While I am not a big fan of religion/ church related plots, it works well and integrating gods and goddesses into the mythos (Notice how I didn't say Lore...lol). Really trying not say anything about the second book but I'm kind of a sucker for outsider/street person comes into a royal court. Also I have been noticing the character names are names that I love, such as Bastian and Gabriel. I don't want to say to much because I love going into the author's books with the minimum details. This series has more of a steampunk/pirate/Victorian vibe as opposed her previous fairytale forest, creepy and magical journey series. All time favourite auto-read author I will pick up every time.

3.25

I'd been sitting on this book for a long time because I'd heard such mixed reviews and to be honest the first half of it I was pretty bored. A lot of it felt like the same old fantasy tropes and I thought more than once that this was mediocre Catholic history fanfiction. That being said, I found the second half much more interesting and even put a library hold on the sequel.

Yes, there are a lot of clichés here. There's competing potential love interests where one is a scarred broody man and the other is "sunshine" and both are big cases of insta-lust. Sidenote, the sunshine character ticks a lot of my loveable himbo boxes so I could potentially be biased here. There's death magic and a struggle between Church and State and a neighboring empire that may or may not be pushing for war.

That being said, I found the atmosphere very compelling and some of the twists (whether expected or not) made the story much more interesting. Much like the loveable himbo character, I am also a sucker for gods among us/returning gods, which this appears to be going that direction.

Overall, this wasn't a perfect book but I am glad I pushed through it and I am intrigued to see where the rest of the series goes.