3.5/5 ⭐️
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this. I liked it. But I can’t decide if I liked For the Wolf by this author more? I enjoyed the second half of this book. Like I definitely reached a point where I couldn’t put it down.
The initial setting up of the plot and the world felt a little like a new writer checking off tropes. However, like I said above, I really enjoyed the second half. Like once it was all together and she was really off and running, it became great. This author continues to do a great job at the smaller plot twists. The bigger ones though, I saw a mile away cause some of the foreshadowing was heavy handed.
Our three main characters were very interesting and definitely kept me guessing. I had my favorite pick in the love triangle. But the ending is making me doubt myself. The ending also was fascinating enough, that I could see myself reading the sequel.
Overall, this book was definitely entertaining. There were some flaws, but I would still recommend this book to my friends. Especially for those that like love triangles and death magic.
Thank you to NetGalley & Orbit Publishing for providing an advance reader copy for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Orbit for the advanced reader copy of The Foxglove King, the first in a new series by Hannah F. Whitten!

Whitten builds a new, complex and convincing world for us to get lost in. Full of death magic, fallen gods and flirty men, what’s not to love?

The story starts when poison runner Lore gets caught in the cross hairs of Church and State trafficking illegal poisons. Poisons used by citizens to get high and prolong their life via a process called Mortem. Something Lore can channel naturally, her secret.

The first 15% lays down the politics, and the complex religious system, in a manner that sometimes felt like it was info dumping. It can a bit confusing but once the story starts rolling, you fall into the book head first. While Lore is thrust into a new world, it isn’t clear who she can trust, and it’s increasingly dangerous as she gets the feels for some of her allies. (No spoilies!)

There were some obvious “twists” in the book that I saw miles away, and I think it should have just been discussed earlier, instead of revealed at the end. However I see the author wanted to leave us on a bit of a game changing cliff hanger. Sign me up for book 2!

I made it about halfway through this book and the writing still wasn’t clicking with me and I just could not get into the book. Because of that, I won’t be reviewing this on Goodreads or Amazon because I don’t want to review a book negatively because I could not get into the writing.

I appreciate the opportunity to give this book a shot as I have enjoyed other things by this author in the past. I can see this really working for other people.

The Foxglove King is easily one of my favorite books of the year. It's only February but what can I say? This book had me HOOKED. I pride myself on pattern recognition and usually being able to call what's going to happen in the book pretty early on, but this is NOT one of those books.

Not only was this book incredibly written, full of angsty slow burn and a well-done love triangle, but it was full of humor and social commentary. Hanna Whitten's user of gender neutral terms and not assuming the gender of people in this book has not gone unnoticed. Like all of the best books, The Foxglove King tackles topics and themes that are directly mirrored with our own history, but with a fantastical twist.

I cannot say enough good things about this book! As a note, I received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley, but have already preordered a signed paperback because I cannot imagine not having this on my shelf.

My instagram review will be posted closer to the publication date.

I loved The Foxglove King!

The characters were my favorite part. The 3 MCs were compelling and distinct. Bastian was my favorite of course. I'm a sucker for a charismatic prince (and he's bi?!) I loved to hate Gabe, the rule-following monk (love a good eye patch). And Lore was a refreshing morally grey take on a typical YA lead. The love triangle was entertaining, but let's be real - it's Bastian for meeee. This book was a little steamy, but no spice.

The death magic was super interesting, and I really enjoyed it.

The world building was a little confusing at times, but it never felt like a total info dump. I liked the court politics, religion, betrayal, and mystery elements.

While The Foxglove King was something entirely its own, it felt a lot like Throne of Glass (book 1), These Hollow Vows, and The Bone Witch.

I feel this book is considered Adult because the characters are closer to mid 20s and some of the necromancy is descriptive + there's a bit of language. I'd 100% recommend for fans of NA fantasy that don't need spice.

Can't wait for book 2!

Reading this book, I was both anxious to finish to see where it went, but also wanted to slow down to savor each moment. Each word, each description of the people and the places and the environment that Lore found herself moving through was rich and layered. You can feel the unease and the desperation of the inhabitants of Auverraine. Yes, there is magic, but it is wielded in what felt like a new and dark way. Each player seeks some measure of control, whether over the magic of death, or of their own lives, or even of their place in the kingdom.

Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. Oh, those three. Each with their own battles to fight (whether internal or external or both). They have heft and nuance and an emotional undercurrent that bubbles up at times, but is often willingly set aside (or left unspoken), to be dealt with at a later date. There are bonds between these three that I don’t think they even understand the weight of yet. The banter and conversations between them are everything.

Political machinations. Religious fervor. Shadowy puppet masters. No one truly knowing all of the players, or all of the moves. This story doesn’t resolve neatly, it sets up the long game. One I very much want to continue.

*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher (Orbit Books). All opinions are my own.

Lore escaped from a cult when she was thirteen, and has been on the run ever since. However, her death magic ties her to the city, making this task pretty difficult. But then, she’s found by the Sainted King, who forces her to use her magic to find out who’s responsible for the mysterious deaths or die.

This was one of the few love triangles I actually didn’t mind. I know, I know, I just turned a lot of you away with the words “love triangle,” but just trust me on this one. Neither romance seemed random or unnecessary. I really enjoyed reading about both and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

The plot was also pretty cool and it left my head spinning at times. I especially liked reading about the magic and thought that was neat. So excited for book two!

Where do I begin?

The Foxglove King has left me speechless. Everything is brilliantly done. Hannah Whitten has created another immersive world with rich intricacies. As much as I loved the characters and thought they were all wonderfull. The world building is the star of this book. The magical system is one of the more unique systems I have read. I cannot wait to see the magic develop in the sequel. There is still so much of the magical system we don't know about. Not to mention the realtionship some of the characters have with said magic. I also adore seeing the complexities of the royal court come to play. A lot of it reminded of the King Louis XIV's court. The world building enabled me to vividly see the story come to life.

Lore, Gabe, Bastian are beautiful characters. The realtionships they have with each other and others are expertly crafted. I thought it was interesting to see how each of them operate within this society because they reflect contrasting life experiences.

I cannot wait to read the second book, but in the mean time you should go read this book.

Thank You to Netgalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this book!!!


Full review will be posted on 02/21/2023 on Instagram @abookwormsgarden

“Bleeding Gods” this was good!! The necromancy was so interesting, and how this power manifests and changes the person wielding it was so unique. I devoured this book. The Foxglove King was my first read by Hannah Whitten and it did not disappoint. Lore was a fantastic and intriguing main character. I might need to organize my thoughts a little more and come back to this review. I’m excited to see where this series goes next. Thank you to orbit books for this highly anticipated arc

I think many people will really enjoy this book. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I just didn’t really enjoy the world building and plot. I’m also not a fan of reading third person point of view, so this just took me a pretty long time to read. On the other hand, the magic system and the plot was very easy to follow. The magic system was very interesting and I feel as if a lot of people will be happy with this start to a series.

I read an Advanced Reader Copy of The Foxglove King thanks to NetGalley and the ABA.

Lore is a poison runner with a secret, she can manipulate Mortem, which is usually reserved for members of the clergy. When she gets caught using the magic she finds herself in a precarious situation, spying on the prince of the Citadel. Lore has to figure out how entire villages are being killed and if this means a war is approaching.
She forms an unlikely friendship with Gabriel, a monk, and Bastian, the prince. If they can all put their differences aside the can work together to figure out what is happening, and who is behind the deaths.


I haven't read a Hannah Whitten book yet and I really enjoyed this one! I enjoyed the story and was rooting for the characters, I think I said "just kiss already" a couple times while reading. I am excited to see where the story goes and what happens to the trio in the next book. I am personally a fan of Bastian and want to smack Gabriel a little bit. Lore makes a very interesting deathwitch.

I really enjoyed the concept of the magic and the world. However, the characters fell flat for me, and I didn't care enough about them to really want to continue reading. The setting set up a really good atmosphere, and the politics were intriguing. The main downsides for me were the characters falling flat, the descriptions of every new character introduced, and the constant inner dialogue of the main female character.

Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Steam: 🔥/5
Plot: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Foxglove King is a lush, gothic fantasy set in a Versailles-esque city. It follows Lore, a woman who was born in the catacombs of the city and can channel Mortem, or death. She learns to navigate the capital and its politics, while also getting caught up in forbidden romance and a love triangle.

I was a bit sceptical going into this book because I tend to find that books about about court politics can be dry, but the Foxglove King definitely wasn’t. It was intriguing without being info-dumpy, and I absolutely loved it.

Lore is an incredible main character. She is flawed, yet still likeable. I really enjoyed how much we saw of her life, especially her past. It made her a much more interesting character. I loved LITERALLY EVERY SCENE with her and Gabe or with Bastian. I honestly don’t know who I ship her with more. I’m just hoping this turns into a poly relationship so I don’t have to choose!

I’ve heard many times that this is Hannah Whitten’s YA debut, and I don’t think that’s true. This is on the younger side of New Adult as far as the writing and character’s personalities go, but all the MCs are 23-24. There isn’t any smut in this one, but there are some scenes that are a little too explicit to be considered YA, so just be aware of that.

The first half of this book was slow, but the last half more than made up for it. I am SO excited for the sequel and will be devouring Hannah’s other books in the meantime.

Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Steam: 🔥/5
Plot: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Foxglove King is a lush, gothic fantasy set in a Versailles-esque city. It follows Lore, a woman who was born in the catacombs of the city and can channel Mortem, or death. She learns to navigate the capital and its politics, while also getting caught up in forbidden romance and a love triangle.

I was a bit sceptical going into this book because I tend to find that books about about court politics can be dry, but the Foxglove King definitely wasn’t. It was intriguing without being info-dumpy, and I absolutely loved it.

Lore is an incredible main character. She is flawed, yet still likeable. I really enjoyed how much we saw of her life, especially her past. It made her a much more interesting character. I loved LITERALLY EVERY SCENE with her and Gabe or with Bastian. I honestly don’t know who I ship her with more. I’m just hoping this turns into a poly relationship so I don’t have to choose!

I’ve heard many times that this is Hannah Whitten’s YA debut, and I don’t think that’s true. This is on the younger side of New Adult as far as the writing and character’s personalities go, but all the MCs are 23-24. There isn’t any smut in this one, but there are some scenes that are a little too explicit to be considered YA, so just be aware of that.

The first half of this book was slow, but the last half more than made up for it. I am SO excited for the sequel and will be devouring Hannah’s other books in the meantime.

2.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book fell a bit flat from my expectations, but I do think I just didn’t really vibe with it anyway - mainly because it deals a lot with religion and I’m very disinterested in the topic. It also seems to be a big part of book 2, which I really wouldn’t want to read about.

The characters were okay. Gabe really got on my nerves and the love triangle felt unnecessary. I liked Lore and Bastian, but all of them felt unoriginal and tropey. I felt like I knew what was coming the entire book until the religion at the end threw me for a loop that I really didn’t care about.

Unsure whether I’ll continue this series, but for a different reader this might be a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!!

I have... mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I really did enjoy it and on the other I feel like it could have (and should have) just been MORE than what it was.

You can definitely tell it's the first book in a series because the whole book just feels like exposition, like it's giving you the building blocks of the characters/world building/magic system etc so Plot can happen in the next book rather than plot being woven throughout. I liked the characters overall, but there was also no real subtlety about them or surprise when it came to them and the decisions they made. I did, however, feel like Lore had no real agency through the whole book, like she was just kind of being dragged along, which, from what you see from her introduction felt a little out of character for her and bothered me the whole book. I also feel like this book is going to fall into the same pitfall that The Cruel Prince series did - that people will pick it up because they hear it's a "fantasy romance" and end up wildly disappointed when it's not because the romance is (at least so far) subplot.

This is an interesting start to a new fantasy trilogy. I enjoyed this overall, and was intrigued by the glittering court drama, religious themes and class commentary. Lore is an instantly enjoyable heroine, a morally grey character longing for acceptance and a home who finds herself thrust into danger because of a power she was born with-the power to control Mortem, or death magic, that has leaked into the world from the dead body of the former goddess of death.

Lore, Gabriel, and Bastian are the three main characters. Lore was a spy working for poison dealers (taking poison in this world can get people high and add a few years to their lives because of the death magic involved), who is taken by the King and his high priest to spy on the Sun Prince, Bastian, who they suspect of giving information to a violent empire bordering on their kingdom and threatening a war. Accompanying her is Gabriel, a monk whose own near death experience also allows him to see and channel death magic, but of course, not to the extent that Lore can see and control it. It turns out Gabe is also a Duke, former friend of Bastian, and an accused traitor to the kingdom trying to make up for his guilt by serving the "one true god," the sun god/god of life, who is the only one left out of the six that used to exist. Ultimately, the three characters work together to try and find out who or what is killing off entire villages of people before the eclipse when magic is at its peak and when the King and high priest plan on pulling off whatever it is they are actually up to.

I really loved Gabe, although you can tell the author loooooooooves Bastian so Gabe had to become annoying and jealous because there's also a love triangle forming between Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. Sigh. For me, Bastian offers nothing new here there's no territory being broken with this Cardan-esque, Jace-esque, Will-esque, basically any other guy who is like sassy and sarcastic and pretends to be spoiled or bad or naughty but isn't really. And because there is a substantial chunk of this book where Lore and Gabe bond over their experiences before Bastian even comes into play, the shift to Lore and Bastian doesn't feel warranted or believable to me.

Despite all of this, the world was quite interesting, especially the religious and magic systems. You can kind of see where it is going, and the ending was not really a cliffhanger which is assuring. The ending did leave me a little bit concerned because I can't tell if there's enough set up for me to want to jump back in with a second book. I have an idea of what could or should be in the second book, and I just don't know if that is interesting enough for me personally, especially with this triangle situation. I do love Lore though...

In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

The foxglove king
When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a death cult from under the catacombs of the city of Dellaire, learning to hide the fact that she can use Mortem - death magic.
Lore falls in with a smuggling ring, living undercover to keep herself safe. When a drug run goes wrong and her powers revealed, she is taken by the Presque Mort, a religious band of warriors, and is offered a new job by the king.

If you’re looking for a book to give you Throne of Glass vibes (book 1), this is it. Hannah Whitten writes with such beautiful imagery it makes it so enjoyable to read.
We read the novel from Lore’s perspective so there’s a lot of info-dumping which I don’t usually prefer.

Lore is a classic reluctant, clumsy heroine almost to the point where it’s like, come on girl, no one is that clumsy. Then I remember that I am, in fact, that clumsy.

The love interest/triangle situation wasn’t super well-executed in my opinion. I felt the male characters could have had a bit more depth and detail but I’m wondering if the author did that on purpose so it’s not clear where the story will go.

Overall, I think it’s a strong start to a series that will scratch the SJM itch for many and I’m interested in following this series onward.

Currently praying to the gods and goddesses of The Foxglove King world that Hannah Whitten is writing a sequel (or series!!) because this book is AMAZING! The Foxglove King is a deliciously dark fantasy with excellent tension, political intrigue, and magic. The magic over life and death is written in such a different way than other fantasy reads out there but allows you to visualize and understand it easily. The difference in court/church positions and politics are easy to see and relate to certain times in our own history. Lore is such a well written FMC- you hurt and cheer for her at the same time and get such a great sense of what she wants for herself and her life. Gabe.. so much trauma and confusion I want to hug him and slap him at the same time. Bastian can be my best friend as long as he brings the banter, strength, and adventure. There is a delicious amount of tension and THAT ENDING.. I can't wait to see where the story goes from there.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC read in exchange for an honest review.