🌶/5 - How does one even describe this book? It's probably the most well-done young adult/coming-of-age exploration of morality vs. spirituality wrapped up in a fantasy tale I've ever read.

After reading the blurb of this story - I thought I'd be getting something lighter, but The Foxglove King is a gothic fantasy tale you'll definitely want to add to your list! (If this series were to go to television - it's one that would do well to be directed by someone like Tim Burton! I definitely feel that darker surrealist energy throughout Hannah F. Whitten's writing!)

A SHORT PREVIEW:
Lore has worn many faces in her tenure as a young spy and drug runner of the illicit poison flowing through the city. When she's caught on a poison-running mission gone wrong and her powers come to light as a being capable of powerful 'Mortem' manipulation, the last role she thought she'd ever play comes to life: a courtier in the Sainted King's glittering court. While she makes unlikely friends and masses enemies, loyalties are tested, and secrets about Lore's true heritage are revealed. Life and death are at stake while she navigates budding romance, politics, and the oppressive religion of the Sainted King's court.

MUSINGS:
- You really have to pay attention to this book. It's on the longer side, and all of the moving parts are really important to the end. Especially for young adult readers, this is a more complex tale with a lot of heavier detail. Descriptions of the gilded castle and midnight-drenched gardens were beautiful and definitely helpful for visualizing.
- The author clearly drew a lot of inspiration from the Catholic Church (see notes below).
- I really loved how Lore was a strong female character in that she didn't just tumble over her feet when confronted with her handsome male counterparts. There was definitely attraction forming, but overall she was able to navigate those relationships while keeping true to her morals and not forgetting where she came from. (A great lesson for young adult readers!)
- Lore is one of my favorite strong female characters because she's so ANTI-MARTYRDOM. How often do we read about female characters falling on the sword to save others? Sometimes they don't even look for another way?? And while I can appreciate a self-sacrificing spirit - I particularly appreciate when FMCs display ingenuity.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- While I was reading, it took me until about 20% of the way in to understand who was who and their allegiances. Some of it was just confusing, and I had to literally take notes for example, the three main characters throughout have similar names August, Apollius (who turns out is a God and not really a character that interacts throughout the story), Anton... see what I mean? Just a little close for clarity.

FAVORITE QUOTES:
- "Idle hands turn to sin as naturally as flowers to the sun"
- "Cosmetic-lined eyes scanned the room, as if making sure their mirth was marked, and hopefully envied."
- "...the Citadel was just as violent as the streets of Dellaire, even if the blades were polished and the blood was mopped up more quickly."
So many good quotes!!

NOTES:
- If you're a devout Catholic, this book may not suit you. There are a lot of parallels between the religion practiced by the people of Dellaire and the Catholic church. I was raised in the Catholic Church and went to Catholic school so I noticed them immediately. The incense burning during services, and the way the 'scriptures' are discussed and interpreted reminded me heavily of the Catholic churches Catechism teaching etc.
- TWs: If you've ever been a part of or escaped a cult - I could see this story being somewhat triggering.

**I received this book as an advanced reader copy, but all reviews are my own. - SLR

This book was amazing! It was the first from Hannah Whitten that I’ve read, and it’s safe to say that it won’t be the last. The worldbuilding in this novel was spectacular; everything was detailed and very well told and organized without being overly complicated, and I loved how the author explained the world without doing massive information dumps. The politics in the story were also very thorough, and I absolutely loved how the plot was very court politic heavy, as I love political fantasies.
I also loved all of the main characters! All of them were so different, and it was so interesting to see how the author placed them together and worked with them. Each of the characters had such polar opposite core motivations and loyalties, and it was so interesting to see how everything played out! I honestly could not at any point in the book tell what was going to happen next, and I loved it. I also really enjoyed the romance and the tension; it definitely added to the story, without taking away from the main plot.
I cannot wait for the next book! This was a phenomenal opening to the series.

3.75 stars

As a fan of Hannah Whitten’s duology, I have been eager to read anything else she writes. And having received an eARC of The Foxglove King, the first book in her new trilogy, I know that I will continue to read anything she writes.

The Foxglove King follows Lore, a poison runner with the inane ability to channel Mortem (death magic); Gabe, a one-eyed Presque Mort (monk); and Bastian, the rakish prince and heir to the kingdom of Auverraine. Against her will, Lore is forced to work with the two men to discover why entire villages worth of people are disappearing at night, and also to spy on Bastian.

This has so many of my favorite tropes and subtle references! “Who did this to you?” One bed. Cocky prince sitting lopsided on his front throne and patting his lap. Snarky banter. “You wound me". A Reylo author using dialogue from TFA/TLJ.

However, in many ways, The Foxglove King left me wanting. For starters—it is too wordy! There are so many scenes that could have just been explained in a sentence or two or even skipped altogether. It’s hard to par how long this was but it dragged. I started this November 10 and just now finished it on December 28. I do prefer audiobooks and don’t have a lot of time to read ebooks, but still, that should tell you something.

That being said, I’m intrigued by where the book left off and will be continuing with the series. Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC.

This book took me for a ride - in the best way. Every time I thought I had it figured it, new plot twists were dropped. Some authors and stories do this just to pull the rug out from under the reader, but Whitten does it in such a clever way that demonstrates that not everything is as it seems until you start to peel the layers back. The characters are witty and lovable, and I really enjoyed the dialogue. I had some difficulty understanding all aspects of the magic system, and I’m hoping that the next book delves into it a little more.

This is the first installment in The Nightshade Kingdom trilogy. I think it really sets the stage for things to truly pop off in the rest of the story. It has a ton of potential, and I will definitely be continuing the rest.

I will post to my Goodreads and Instagram two weeks prior to the publishing date as requested, and I will post to Amazon reviews when it’s available. Thank you so much!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. 23 year old Lore is a poison runner that must hid who she really is and where she comes from. Much like For the Wolf, The Foxglove King had me at the edge of my seat through the twists and turns. And much like Fort the Wolf, explores the power of opposites and duality. It was deliciously suspenseful and absorbing. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Orbit was kind enough to give me an advance of this, and after reading For the Wolf, I was interested to see what Ms. Whitten could do in a fantasy world not explicitly based on a fairy tale. This ended up being a hell of a ride - Whitten gets to flex her political intrigue muscles, the character dynamics are incredibly well done, and the religious world that she built is actually pretty interesting. The one ding I will give this is that I am extremely over love triangles as a thing - can we please instead think about triads? At bare minimum I am extremely interested in where she goes next, and am here for the next installment!

I received an ARC for this book from Netgally. This book was so good!!!!! I really enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the next, I feel like this was very well written and not a story I've read before.

Lore has been working for her adoptive mothers’ poison running operation since she emerged from the Catacombs of Dellaire at thirteen. She’s competent, has the skill to infiltrate competing operations, and possesses death magic called Mortem that, if revealed, could get her killed or worse. This wouldn’t be much of a story if that exact thing didn’t happen right off the bat, thus leading to even more exciting and perilous acts. 

The shocking reveal of Lore’s magic in public drags her into courtly politics rather than to a hangman’s noose or pyre. While her magic might be feared, it’s also needed by the Sainted King and the Presque Mort, the church’s sanctioned Mortem wielders, to investigate the sudden deaths of entire villages. Lore also gets to play a social climbing noble to spy on the king’s heir, Bastian, so she can report if he is, in fact, a traitor. There a *so* many different plot threads, but not once did it get overly complicated or difficult to follow. To be fair, I also thrive on stories like this especially when they weave such a tapestry of secrecy.

The backdrop to this is one of stark contrasts. Many of the common folk in Dellaire live in poverty while the court of the Sainted King live a lavish world of their own, with acres of grounds walled off from the rabble. They never have to be confronted by harsh realities and are literally surrounded by gilt, luxury, and excess. The wealthy openly take the poisons that get them a Mortem high while a commoner, or a poison runner like Lore, would be shipped off to the mines or executed. You can practically feel the tension building as the story progresses and then the ending gave serious “Let them eat cake” vibes. 

I loved that Lore is somewhat of an anti-hero - she was perfectly happy with her life of crime and was threatened into cooperation. My favorite part was hands down, the moment when she could make the righteous choice and literally acknowledged that she was selfish and wanted to live! Thank you - finally we get a character that chooses their life over heroism. Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite books have characters that choose the “right” path and make tough sacrifices, but it’s refreshing to see a character, especially a female character, who says no to all that. I’m banking on a downward spiral into proper villainy in the sequel, which will absolutely delight me.

I read The Foxglove King with gusto - I was so enthused about this book that I couldn't wait until near the release date to pick it up. I totally binged this book and then foisted it onto my lone book loving buddy and insisted she read it as well, just so I could chat about it with someone. I hope my unabashed enthusiasm is enough to make you want to check this book out when it’s released in March 2023, though I feel like the synopsis alone (plus that gorgeous cover) should really catch plenty of attention.

Whitten has a way of building a world that sucks you in from the start. I loved every minute from start to finish and can’t wait for more!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m glad that it is a part of a trilogy. I feel like this book was a step up from the author’s previous books which is a great thing considering great authors show growth in their writing skills. I enjoy world building that is well done and this story draws you into Lore’s world early on. I don’t mind the love triangle trope, and I thought it was very well done in this story. It was so hard to choose which love interest! Also, this cover is gorgeous! I definitely recommend.

I have both of Hannah Witten's other books sitting on my shelf, but have not gotten around to them. I was super excited to read this new book in a trilogy, because from what I have heard, I knew I would love her as an author. The pace of this book was perfect to me with sections of a lot happening followed by sections where it was a bit slower, but still advanced the plot even if you did not know it at the time.

Once you get to the ending, there is so much that stands out to you looking back at what you learned throughout, however I still figured out the twist about half way through.

The unique (to me) magic system in the book was exciting to learn about as well as the history of the main character. The reader learns about the bounds of death magic as the characters do which makes it feel even more personal and allows the reader to connect.

The relationships throughout keep you on the edge of your seat as a will they, won't they and a love triangle with what I consider 3 morally grey characters.

I love the main character, something about her internal struggles and how she presents herself seems more realistic than other books I have read recently. I am very excited to read the next book in this series when it comes out.

Lore has a secret power — the ability to raise the dead that plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the sainted King’s royal court. She escaped the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire and ever since she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you.
After ten years she’s caught and has two options… either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

“To anyone who chose themselves.”

I discovered Hannah’s books this year and have devoured ALL of them! When by some Christmas miracle I was able to get an ARC of the newest book— I was ecstatic.
First of all this book was dark, engaging, with mystery, magic, politics, and religion all in a twisted little bundle.

I will say that love triangles are usually a hard sell for me but this one is 🤌 I found myself struggling to choose between Bastian or Gabe. I really enjoy the sarcastic banter between the three of them— definitely reminded me of Neve and Solmir. I really loved how sexuality was such a fluid thing in this book (which is how I think life should be love is simply love).

“Opposites are not always an opposition; the day and night are equals. One isn’t good and the other bad. But when does illuminate things while the other obscures, and that has to mean something…”
The struggle between good & evil, light & dark, politics & religion, what’s right for you vs. everyone else in this book is everything!
Now I’m sad that I’ve got to wait for the second one.

Thanks NetGalley and Hannah for the opportunity to read this incredible book before it comes out in March. Don’t mind me while I sing it’s praises until then!

Lore is a spy and a poison runner, hiding her own secret past as she navigates life in Dellaire. Her secrets are not quite as secure as she thought, however, especially after she is forced to use her magic in the middle of a public square. Taken captive by warrior monks and presented to the Sainted King, Lore is coerced into helping the King expose a traitor within his court. She begins to find that nothing is as it seems, and she's not sure who she can trust. Even her instincts seem to be pulling her in strange directions, namely toward two equally infuriating men...

Let me start off by saying — I hate love triangles in my books. Haaaaate them. There's usually such an obvious bias or preference toward one of the choices, making the whole song-and-dance feel tedious and unnecessary. NOT THE CASE HERE my friends! My poor family had to listen to me chatter about Gabe or Bastian, Bastian or Gabe, for the several days it took me to finish this book. Truthfully, I'm a little in love with them both!

I recently read Hannah Whitten's other books (the Wilderwood duology) and while I enjoyed them, I didn't LOVE them. I found the characters to be a little too flat, and the world building to be sort of sporadic. The Foxglove King is much more successful in both these areas, including characters I connected with and a world I could better visualize. Plus, the magic system is much easier to understand, though still very unique! I literally cannot wait for the second installment of this series. I am also a massive Francophile and loved the French names used throughout this book. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Orbit Books, Hannah Whitten, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Fantastic world building, exactly what I wanted from a Hannah Whitten title! I didn’t love the love triangle aspect (Gabe is clearly the best choice!), but the Mortem system is compelling and fun.

This book was incredible - I was pulled in within 3 pages and read the entire thing in one night. Whitten balances a unique magic system, rich world building, and court politics within this high fantasy story full of interesting, complex characters.

The plot: Lore possesses strong death magic and talents that make her an attractive spy for the king, who suspects his son Bastian of being a traitor to a rival nation. Gabe, a monk with an interesting past, is sent to provide cover for Lore’s deception. Once they arrive at court, it’s clear that not everything is as they have been told… and the stakes might be higher than they realize.

My opinion: Lore, Gabe, and Bastian are all well-developed, and attract the reader into the complex web surrounding the three of them. I truly couldn’t get enough of this story because it felt unlike any other fantasy I’ve read before… and I’ve read many! I’m so excited to see what Whitten will do with the sequels, and not-so-patiently awaiting their release.

Thanks NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC! I will post the review publicly two weeks ahead of release, as requested.

The Foxglove King
by Hannah Whitten - 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 7th

My thoughts:
The Foxglove King is my first Hannah Whitten book, and I've added her to my auto-buy list. There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It took me one sitting to read it. It was impossible for me to put it down.

Synopsis:
Twenty-three-year-old Lore is a runner for poison, an illegal drug that extends lives. Mortem is death magic that seeps from the tomb of a fallen goddess, and Lore has spent her entire life hiding her powers of it. After her magic is revealed, the Sainted King orders her to spy on his son and heir to the throne, Sun Prince Bastian. Lore must keep the king happy and avoid her past at all costs.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing this incredible book with me! I love every page of it!

#TheFoxgloveKing #HannahWhitten

This book was a wild ride from start to finish! I really resonated with all of the religious trauma themes and references, and the mystery component kept me on my toes throughout.

I'm not sure where she's going to go with the love triangle but I'm excited to see!

The prose is more concise than in the Wilderwood duology, but this lends itself tremendously well to developing Lore's voice throughout. I loved her as a character!

And that ending. 👀 I want to see where The Hemlock Queen takes us.

I loved the characters and the story. The writing was good, although the pace felt slow and awkward in a few places. Overall, the book was a great read! I would recommend it for most readers, and definitely enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book. I love Hannah Whitten, but I think I might even like this more than For The Wolf (which is hard!). There’s a little bit of everything you want in a book. Lore has a power that she’s been hiding her whole life, that makes her different. Find out what happens when the wrong people uncover her secrets, in this amazing fantasy! It’s fantasy, with unique magic, yet mystery, having you at the edge of your seat to find out what happens next! It’s got some romance, enough to satisfy all readers, and it’s written SO well! The intricate world-building and almost satirical religious belief system gives it such a deeper layer. I CANNOT wait to find out more!

Lore is born in the catacombs of Dellaire with the ability to channel Mortem, the essence and power of death. An outcast since birth due to her abilities, she works as a spy for her adoptive mothers who deal poison in the city. When Lore is sold out to the Citadel and enlisted as a spy to the king, she discovers that her innate ability is part of her destiny and intertwined with the life of the Sun Prince, Bastian, who channels Spiritum and is her direct opposite.

This book has amazing world building and the backdrop of the society in which the book occurs is very unique. The book is well written and, though a touch long for the content, overall, a very good read.