By the end of the first chapter, I could tell that The Foxglove King was not the kind of book I typically enjoy reading. It's chock full of "romantasy" tropes - sassy know-it-all heroine who always has a quip (whether or not she's actually funny is up for debate), repressed bitter (but squishy inside) celibate priest who the heroine is supposed to be "enemies" with but naturally their attraction cannot be repressed, broadly drawn worldbuilding that doesn't make much sense, YA writing style with lots of telling, not showing, and of course another sexy bad boy royal love interest in case the priest wasn't enough. I was skeptical as to whether or not I'd like this book, but I gave it a solid go, figuring that it might be fun and I like romance well-enough.

Unfortunately, the plot holes were huge. The main character can't keep her mouth shut for a sarcastic comment; how am I supposed to believe that she's a spy? If she has such unique magical powers, why would the king let her grow up on the streets until she's 24 and then trap her, rather than get her young when she's more easily manipulated? Why is she forced to room with her love interest when they're in a castle with 2309483928 rooms and they're not supposed to be love interests in public (outside of the obvious trope)? The main character also suffered from being a) tragic backstory, b) wildly unique magic powers, c) a spy, d) a necromancer pivotal to the crown, e) coquette seductress, etc etc etc. It was just too much.

I could not with this book, so I did not. Emphatically not my kind of fantasy and the whole thing was so shakily rendered that I couldn't tell if I was watching a CW show. I can absolutely see that this sort of book would be fun if you're wanting something light.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Wow this was something else. Unique magic system, political intrigues and plots, forbidden romance, a sort of love triangle, mysterious powers, betrayals; this book has all of that and more. I really liked Lore and Bastian. I am super conflicted about Gabe; I figured out which role he would have in the triangle (ugh), but he's still so frustrating because I love a good tormented priest character.
The tension at the end was insane. I'm very eager to see where the story goes from here!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Whitten, and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a solid first book that can only (hopefully!) go up from here! There is loads of room for growth and potential for Whitten to truly blow our minds with this series, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing her accomplish. As it stands, this first installment was good, but still felt like it was missing something. It felt more like it was a stepping stone to the overarching story rather than it’s own story. Instead of a real plot, it felt more like a background story that was setting up all that was to come in the series, instead of a real romance it was setting up the tensions that may arise later. Therefore, as a reader I felt no real satisfaction at the end (or that I really knew what all had happened throughout the story) even though I had somewhat enjoyed what I read. I enjoyed the world-building and the ideas behind the magic system, I enjoyed Lore as a character, and I enjoyed some of the side characters. I look forward to see how Whitten develops and grows these elements from here to create her story.

DNF at 25%. Reading this book felt like pulling teeth. Every chapter seemed to drag on forever without pulling me in to the story. Was not captured by the world building, characters, magic system, or plot. I shouldn't be bored and confused this far in to a book. This author is just not for me because I felt similarly when reading for the Wolf (except I actually finished that one ).

This book was enjoyable for the most part. The beginning and ending were jam packed and moved quickly, but the middle suffered a bit of some pacing issues. While I understand the importance of some of the deeper investigative scenes and subtle foreshadowing it still felt a bit off balance at times - especially with how much the beginning and ending thirds of the book really sucked the reader in.

Altogether I really did like this book, though. I felt it was an interesting take on death magic and necromancy. While not original enough to stand out on it's own I still think it held it's own weight. Parts of the book read very similarly in tone to other popular books in the genre (fantasy). It fits in well with many other popular titles and is readable while still maintaining enough mystery.

The three main characters were also familiar enough to other characters throughout the genre but strong and unique enough to stand out on their own. Lore is a feisty female lead with a sordid back story and a lot to prove - to those around her and herself. With every challenge thrown at her, though, she is always her snarky self. The banter with her and the other characters was genuinely enjoyable and brought the book down to earth a bit when things got tense. Lore is not just a main character but she truly grounds this novel for the reader.

There isn't much to say about Bastian other than I adored him. Yes, he is another snarky and spoiled prince with a secret heart of gold but the author is able to write an immense amount of nuance to him that gives him greater depth than this usual trope holds.

And then there is Gabe. If I had 10 cents for every brooding clergyman/monk with a secret identity, an eye patch and deep seeded religious trauma then I would have 20 cents. I am not sure if this is a new trope but I feel like I was reading the same character twice between two different books and two different authors. There are enough differences between the two to make them subtly unique but it seemed a bit strange. Enjoyable and absolutely a coincidence, but also still strange.

It started off slow for me. I had to put it down, read a different book, and then came back to try it again. Once I was 25% of the way in, I loved it! I started to really like Lore and her story. She was born with a power that she sees as a curse. When Gabriel enters her life, they don’t get along. There is tension, which I like in my books. You want to trust him but something is always in the way. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series!

Basically in love with Hannah Whitten for writing this book!!!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Orbit publishing for the eARC copy!

This isn't your average fairy tale with a sparkly damsel and a noble knight with his noble steed. No, in this tale the steed is Horse a dead animal zombie and the knights are two wildly different, flawed, and emotionally layered dick heads (pardon my language). And your damsel...well, she turns into a Witcher looking necromancer with the ability to bring the dead back to life in a weird puppet scenario that makes you wish they spewed pea soup.
There is so much flawless world building in this fantasy novel that at times I wished there'd have been a bit less description and a bit more left to the imagination, but Whitten was able to bring to life a kingdom and people that left no doubt to how real it was for her. I could imagine it all with spectacular ease.
At times I was annoyed by Lore's inability to protect herself and be the independent spy she was built up to be, but I also thought this was the author's way of showing just how young and shielded Lore was to the adopted mother's she claimed as her own. It showed their love for her even despite the Val's actions and betrayals. Sometimes the worst decision is the best decision.
If you are looking a for a fantasy novel with a good love triangle laced with sexual innuendo and tension, protective dick heads (again sorry), a world where poisons can extend your life, and a end you may not see coming...then this is your next read.
No regrets!

This was quite different and I loved every word! I went in completely blind, having not even read the blurb for this one and I was not disappointed at all! It’s a confliction between faith and rule, heart and soul, truth and deceit. This is quite a different take on necromancy while throwing a soft love triangle in the mix that I didn’t hate! The world building is great and a nice lead into the series that i truly can’t wait to continue to dive into.

*Advanced copy provided by NetGalley for my honest review.

I think this is a classic case of right book wrong person. After reading the synopsis and other reviews, I was hopeful and excited. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time following the story. It felt like a lot of information all at once and left me confused. I can tell this book has good bones, it just did not work for me. That is not to say it will not work for any of you reading this. Other reviewers I trust, highly recommend Foxglove King.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Orbit Books for the arc of this highly anticipated book.

I think I can officially say that Hannah Whitten is an auto buy author for me! I absolutely loved The Foxglove King. The synopsis sounded like something I would enjoy and yep, I was hooked from the very first page. The world building was fabulous and the magic system was unique. The court politics had me invested! I spent the entire book trying to figure out what was going to happen. No joke, I had a list going of all my theories!

The characters really had my heart! Lore was such a badass. She’s sarcastic, smart and a little selfish. She’s a necromancer and I loved learning about her abilities. Because of Whitten’s descriptive writing, I could just picture her channeling Mortem! Then there’s Gabriel who I have mixed feelings about. I loved him but I also hated some of his decisions. I just wanted him to realize what was actually going on right in front of him! Last but certainly not least is Bastian, the Sun Prince. I adore him! He has a great sense of humor and he was constantly surprising me!

I loved the relationships between the three main characters. It’s messy but in the best way possible. This book has very little romance in it and I enjoyed that. There’s definitely hints of it though. I’m very eager to see what direction the author will go in.

On a personal note, I absolutely loved the fact that Gabe had one eye. Of course this happened to him in a brutal way but let’s just ignore that info for a second! As someone who also has one eye, I was over the moon when I found out. Visual impairment representation is extremely hard to come by in all forms of media so I’m very grateful to find it here!

I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in the sequel!

The Foxglove King is a fast-paced fantasy with all of the charm of a YA book, layered with the emotional complexity of older protagonists. The story opens on Lore, a 23 year old poison-runner who can manipulate and wield the power of death. When she’s busted on a mission, and recruited into a plot to suss out treachery within the nobility, things get complicated.

Other people can give you the rundown of how this book’s plot goes, I’m just here to give you my opinion. For starters, I loved the world building and the magic system. The ability to wield the power of death, and the power of life, is not new, but the way it’s presented definitely feels fresh. In a way, I admit that the abilities of the wielders are somewhat ill-defined, and therefore they can sometimes feel overpowered. Because we’re dealing with magic-users whose abilities go beyond the norm, the laws sort of flex for them. However, I was wrapped-up enough in the plot that I didn’t mind.

Second, the relationships. There’s so much pining in this book— so much chemistry! Lore is paired up with the surly Gabe, a Presque Mort monk, also ability to wield the power of death due to a near-death experience from his childhood. They don’t trust each other, but they feel a bond— like they’ve known one another for a long time. And phew, I about lost my mind waiting for them to kiss. Toss in The Sun Prince and this love triangle is getting fun.

The pacing was great— I had a hard time putting it down and stayed up late reading two nights in a row. There was only one spot where I felt it was a little slow, and that was when Lore and Gabe are trawling around the Citadel, just wandering and chatting. It was pretty obvious info-dump slash get-to-know-me and I forgave it but I knew what was happening while I read it, so it felt slow.

The book definitely had mystery to it, and that helped the page-turner feel. However I found the ending a bit convoluted, and I was left with a couple of questions. That said, I put it down and thought to myself— Bleeding gods! How am I going to wait another year and more for book two!?

All In all I’m giving this one 4/5 stars for characters I already adore, a love triangle I’m already ensnared in, and a magic system I love reading about. Bonus points for all the times both Gabe and Bastian were shirtless and for having a bisexual character because we need more rep!

Thank you to ORBIT and NETGALLEY for a free copy in exchange for this honest review.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Whitten's For the Throne duology. However, this story really shows how much she has grown and improved as an author. As soon as I finished The Foxglove King (in the middle of the night) I got online to see if the next book was announced. This is the biggest downfall of reading ARCs. You have to wait even longer sometimes for the next book. I'll be so bad if I don't get an ARC for the second one!

The world building was really unique. The magic system is simple, but different.
What made this book so great is the characters. We have a main female character who is witty and more caring than she shows on the outside. Our two side characters are quickly becoming friends with her, though they probably shouldn't. One is grumpy, the other funny and lighthearted (or is he?).

The plot is intriguing, but best of all it leaves so much to be answered in the following book. I can't wait to see where it goes.

10/10 This book was really great! I enjoyed the writing and hard a hard time putting the book down, which is always a good sign. I’m looking forward to the next books in the series!

For fans of: Throne of Glass. The main characters: Lore, Bastian, and Gabe have major Celaena, Dorian and Chaol energy.

Spice level: basically non-existent. There’s one scene where there’s a little spice, but they don’t take it all the way. Since this is the first book in the series, I have a feeling the author is warming up to it and we’ll get more spice in the next books.

Tropes: Forced proximity, love triangle, and destiny.

Intricate magic. Gods and goddesses. Religion. Politics. This book had all that and more! This is such an interesting world Ms. Whitten had weaved. I was hooked from the first page.

There was a modernity to the world which didn’t take away anything for me.

I loved Lore from the start. She had this “I won’t take shit from nobody” attitude and I was all here for it! I loved that she never backed down and stayed true to herself.

As for the romance….love triangle? It’s a possibility though I know whose team I’m on #teambastien

I loved Bastien from the jump. Something about arrogant and witty princes always gets me. Gabriel was.. Gabriel. I liked him, but I felt the chemistry between Bastien and Lore was more.

Mannn there were so many different characters. Reading through this book, I didn’t know what who to trust! The plot twists were just as crazy!

I’m so excited for book 2 because that ending.. wow. The last 15% were wild af and I have soooo many questions. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds. I will definitely be reading the second book.

Be warned: it does end on a cliff hanger.

Also: this is very different from Ms. Whitten’s previous duology so if you’re skeptical, give this one a try. I can definitely see where she has improved in her writing and storytelling.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for gifting me this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was super fun! Really cool world building and loved the premise. The last quarter of this book was the best part and the ending left me wanting book two asap.

Loved the premise behind the Foxglove King with Mortem and Lore’s abilities to tap into it. The opening scenes were intriguing! But, I admit that my interest started to wane once Lore moved to the castle.

I struggled to stay engaged with the main pull or purpose of this book and almost put it down.

The book blurb made it seem like this was going to be a “lush” romance but that side of things was slow. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Lore and either main beau, so when something does finally happen it felt kinda weird and out of the blue.

Things picked up again about 3/4’s of the way through, but the ending bounced all over the place. Who is the main villain here? Love triangle building sorta, but it’s not super strong, IMO. Lacking in chemistry overall. Not sure I’ll continue with the series.

This was an okay start to a fantasy trilogy. Could the world building use some work? Yes. Was the magic systems a bit confusing? A little bit, yes. Was the romance well written? Sort of. Though many times a fantasy series first book is the building block for the rest. All in all, this was an okay read and I'll more than likely read the rest of the series.

3/5 ⭐

I've never read Hannah Whitten before, but after reading this book, she is now one of my favorite authors. I loved everything about this book, the writing style in particular. The words and sentences seemed to flow on the page, and Lore's POV was the perfect way to tell the story. The story really shone in its writing. I also loved how even though there was romance in this novel (a love triangle that makes it really hard, in a good way, to root for any one character), it didn't overshadow the plot, which is a trend that I've been seeing in books that aren't even primarily in the romance genre. The Foxglove King checks all my boxes for what a great fantasy novel should be, and I'll definitely be picking up a copy when it comes out!

I have to say that I love the magic system world because like who doesn't love the complexity of magicccccc. But the romance in this was what caught me off guard but it wasn't like I did not like it but I don't think it was necessary to be added especially with the love triangle. The romance would of been better if it was not for the love triangle in my opinion.

What an incredible start to a new fantasy series. The world and magic system being related to gods is so interesting to read about and I’m excited for future installments to learn more about the history of the world and the gods! Lore was a great protagonist and the tension between the main three characters was so fun to read.

Overall looking forward to the next books in the series!

Thank you to net-galley and orbit publishing for an e-book in exchange for my review.