I have to admit, it was a little hard to follow this one because it seemed like a huge info dump. I felt like I struggled to keep up.

The world building is impeccable. The characters are complex and intriguing. I didn’t always agree with Lore’s actions but that’s typical for me with FMCs. I found myself bouncing between which MMC I was routing for up until the very end. I do feel like it was a little long and some filler stuff could have been left out but that’s just my opinion.

I love Hannah's writing style. The concept for this story was unique (pulling death out of things). The book didn't really feel like and adult fantasy. It felt very YA to me. The plot did start out slow, but I recommend sticking with it because when it picks up it's a really good story.

A smuggler who is forced to spy while discovering her true power. An overprotective guard who is also a hot monk with an eye patch (don't look at me). A prince that flirts with everything that moves (and maybe has a bit more going on under his cool facade). Add in religious zealots, a prophecy, and some necromancy and you get The Foxglove King.

There is something about a woman discovering how powerful she truly is that is so addicting to read. And seeing weaker men look at her with fear in their eyes? *chef's kiss*

The world is dark and gritty. People fight with swords even though guns exist and some of the dialogue is a bit modern. But there is also a fancy castle, ornate gowns, a masquerade, and evening tea parties. It was so intriguing to see the stark differences to life inside and outside of the castle.

I can't wait until the next book comes out. I need to know what comes next!!

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Quick summary: This is a highly original story filled with dead bodies (they aren't too creepy, I promise!) and a complex religious system. 4/5 stars and a solid recommendation!

Full review: "The Foxglove King" by Hannah Whitten is a unique new adult fantasy featuring brave heroines, a religious-based magic system, and a hidden stash of undead corpses. Making matters even more lively, the main characters include a poison runner, a one-eyed celibate monk, and a Sun Prince. It certainly made for interesting character dynamics!

I loved this story's complex religious system. It isn't the first book I've read involving necromancy, but it is the first one where the theme was done right. I enjoyed watching our main character, Lore, struggle with her power's sinister purpose. It made her character arc relatable and her relationships with those around her even more important.

Speaking of relationships, Whitten knew how to turn up the heat with the love triangle! I'm solidly on team Sun Prince, although the one-eyed monk has his moments, too. The trio's witty banter was delightful, and I'm looking forward to more of it in book two!

I noticed a couple of errors in my Kindle version, although I read an advanced reader's copy, and I'm sure the mistakes will be fixed by this book's publication. They aren't anything major, but occasional references to Gabriel's eyes (he's a one-eyed monk, so it should be singular), acid-green font (I held back the vomit—barely), and a duplicate epilogue (it was pretty good, so I didn't mind reading it a second time) made for an interesting read.

Concluding thoughts: "The Foxglove King" is one of the top five best fantasy books I've read in 2022. I loved the original setting, complex religious system, LGBTQIA+ characters, and unique magic system. The ending was full of power (literally), and I can't wait to see how things pick up in book two. I'm grateful to have been given an advanced reader's copy of this story; I recommend this series to fantasy, YA, and NA readers.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Orbit Books and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

The cover and title of this book first drew me in and I was super excited to get my hands on this ARC. The first chapters were slow and confusing. The book starts out with a lot of world building right from the beginning and it takes a while to comprehend what is going on. I honestly struggled with the first 1/3 of this book.

At about 40%, the book really picks up and we get a lot more insight into Bastian, Lore and Gabe. We get more background information on all three of them and we also get more information about the gods and the religious system governing their world, as well as the dark mystery that is plaguing the characters. I really enjoyed the banter between Lore and Bastian and found myself chuckling along with their snark. I was really hoping there would be more romance for Lore, considering the love triangle, and was sadly disappointed with how that unfolded.

There was a lot of religious ideology and political workings within this book that I found really interesting. I was hoping to get more explanation as the book unraveled its mysteries. I absolutely flew through the last 1/3 of the book, but the ending was rather abrupt. I felt like I wanted more pages to really explain more about why the book ended the way it did. It left a lot of unanswered pieces to the background story, which left me frustrated because this book has a lot of satisfying content and characters. Hoping there will be more answers in the rest of the series to follow.

I was also a tad confused why this book is labeled adult fantasy when the book felt very YA and why it was labeled LGBT when there were only vague references to Lore's adopted moms and Bastian's past partners. I expected more adult fantasy and LGBT aspects going in to this book than what was given.

If you like: dark fantasy, corrupt monarchies, necromancy, love triangles and religious undertones, this may be the book for you.

3.5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC.

"The Foxglove King" is a complex world built on theology, power, and it's own variation of magic. That being said, it is very difficult to gain a complete understanding of how this world comes together. While the book is not paced slow, it does take a while for the reader to lean into the storyline. This is simply because there is SO MUCH to understand between the vast amount of characters (minor and otherwise - hello, Michal's sister?), religious sects, black market crime families and then the monarchy of Dellaire. On the positive side, the theological discussions were incredibly RELEVANT and articulate arguments that mirror our current political/religious debates.

This was perhaps more interesting than the hazardous love triangle Whitten attempts to string together. Lore's preferential feelings for Gabe seem unfounded and there is little explained to the reader as to why, outside of his bodily warmth and physique, she desires him. Similarly, it seems almost absurd that Lore would continue to prefer Gabe, especially given his prejudices as a holy man, versus Bastian. Bastian is described as incomprehensibly handsome and he also has that underlying familiarity Lore feels with Gabe. Let's be honest, he's likely a "hot body" too, both in physique and body temperature. Both men make it impossible for the reader to root for, although Lore's lack of guilt around her sexuality is VERY refreshing in today's literature.

Overall, Whitten has created a truly unique and complex world. There is so much potential here, but more needs explained on the page. The reader needs a simplified and oft repeated description of how the Gods, cults, and religions interplay. The reader would also benefit from learning more about Gabe, Lore and Bastian's feelings. There is so much description of what they can do (their various powers whether mortal or magical), but no real love or camaraderie detailed.

Perhaps the addition of a glossary would help to break down the differences between the characters as well as the different religious sects/political landscape.
[i.e. Exalted Priest, Presque Mort, Buried Watch, Night Priestess/Night Watch, Apollius/Nyxara/Minor Gods (4 of them), Saint King/Sun Prince/Deathwitch, Spiritum/Mortem]

DNF: 17%

i've spent the past month trying to get through this, but i really can't do it.

there's nothing technically wrong with the writing; i enjoyed the descriptions of the world, and i thought that the premise was super intriguing.

that said, i was under the impression that this would he an adult fantasy (and i believe it's marketed as such), but it really reads like it's YA. i can picture middle school me enjoying this, but for adult me... it's just a little too immature. the characters are written in that cliche way that a lot of YA books tend to fall victim to—they're all chock full of witty comebacks, their actions make no sense (why in the world would a king be so willing to divulge his secrets to a random girl?) and there's a lot of descriptions of characters that don't actually align with their traits. like, the FL is constantly touted as being this AMAZING spy... but on the one mission we've seen her do, she tripped over nothing and absolutely blew her cover. i wish that this author had done less telling, more showing, because as it is i'm rolling my eyes every time the FL's amazing skills are mentioned.

again, this is all just my preference. i just think that this book is a bit too young for me to properly enjoy.

The Foxglove King has all of my favorite fantasy tropes: divine magic system, corrupt kingdoms, political intrigue, chosen ones, a love triangle, and morally grey characters. It had a lot of familiar tropes but still managed to feel unique and had my favorite depiction of necromancy that I’ve ever read. Despite the book being blurbed as a romance, there wasn’t a lot in this first book. But there was enough angst and pining to keep me satisfied and I’m excited to see how it develops. The book is labeled adult fantasy but aside from some darker themes and cursing, it leaned more towards the YA side of the spectrum.

One trend I’m not loving in fantasy lately is when an author does such a great job building a unique world, only to have the characters use modern language. While it’s good for a laugh in the moment and helps the reader connect to the characters, it comes across as a bit lazy. There was also a couple of plots points that I’m unsure about (no spoilers here) that I hope get expanded more on as the series continues. Lastly, there was too much foreshadowing. To the point where absolutely nothing was a surprise. With all of that said, I really loved this! It was a fantastic reading experience and I’ll totally be continuing on with the series. If you love popular YA/NA fantasy books, you’ll definitely enjoy this.

4.5 ⭐️

The Foxglove King was a really awesome read that kept me engaged the entire time. I am super excited to see where this series goes and thank you so much for the ARC! One of my favorite reads of the year.

What. A. Ride. If you enjoyed For the Wolf, this book definitely lives up to Hannah’s incredible writing skills while also being a completely different story. Oh my gracious I absolutely ADORED this book 🫠🤌🤌

It’s rare to see a love triangle done right, but Hannah has it down to a science 🤌 I was literally pulled between every character because I love them all SO MUCH! Their development through the book is unmatched. To feel so deeply for more than one character at once goes to show how well written the story is.

Don’t even get me started on the romantic tension and the angst, I was grinning like a fool with the banter and then felt like I couldn’t breathe the next minute, it’s romance done in the best possible way.

Keep in mind it is a book about necromancy and death magic so there are some creepy parts, but it was on the level of cool creepy that gave me chills and not super scary creepy if that makes sense!! I promise you, if I, a scaredy-cat chicken who can’t handle scary movies loved this book, then you will too 🙌

To say I can’t wait for the next book is an understatement 🙈 I can’t wait to see where the story goes and I will read anything Hannah writes. Period.

4.5/5 ✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this story and found the love triangle to be great! I also enjoyed the magic system and it kept my interest the entire time. I also liked the way the cross cross was handled. It was a very engaging story and I will be reading book two!

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I absolutely loved Whitten’s precvious books and could not wait to get my hands on this one.

While still an interesting storyline, the characters did not catch me like her other works.

The beginning of the story was a little slow for me but I'm glad I pushed through. The story was so engaging and kept me reading with excitement. Whitten didn't disappoint!

Though The Foxglove King started out slowly for me, I ended up becoming completely immersed in this unique fantasy world. Lore was born with the power to channel Mortem, the essence of death. After getting captured by the kingdom’s high priest and his order of Mortem channeling monks, she is forced to become a spy. With the help of disgraced duke turned monk Gabriel and the heir to the kingdom Bastion, Lore gets deeper and deeper into the mysteries of her power as well as the truth of a series of massacres around the kingdom.

For a book that is essentially about the perils of religious extremism and court intrigue, this book ended up being much more interesting than I initially thought. The world building is complicated, but the intricacies are more revealed through actions rather than info dumps, which I appreciate. Lore is appropriately surly, and while her relationships with both Gabe and Bastion develop quickly, I was intrigued by both of them.

I loved all the action at the end, and I’m really excited for what it set up for the next book (which I will definitely be reading). Definitely an intriguing start to a series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC; all opinions are my own.

The beginning (first few chapters) is a little rough for me. I wish it had been reworked just a tad during the editing phases. It took me some time to really get a firm grasp on the world-building and magic system. I needed the concepts to have further explanation when they were first introduced, because it can be a lot to take in (for example, there are eight names in the first four pages). But once I fully understood the nature of Lore’s abilities and the landscape of the political/social workings, I was completely immersed.

Death magic is so freaking cool! I love the juxtaposition between life and death, light and dark, and the sun and the moon. The lore of gods and balance of church and kingdom make for a very compelling environment for this story. It feels simultaneously mythological and historical in context. I truly couldn’t put this one down, I was so invested in everything that was happening.

I just love a fierce, intelligent female protagonist and Lore is exactly that. Her past is mysterious and intriguing. I’m a sucker for the grumpy, over-protective male like Gabriel. And I couldn’t help falling for Bastian’s charm. The witty banter and hilarious dialogue are a delight. I love these characters. Their dynamics are so much deeper than a cheesy love triangle and the romantic aspects of the story do not overpower or overshadow everything else. The relationships between these three are tangled. There is tension, lust, affection, connection, desire, history, destiny, and warring motivations, that all intertwine to create something emotional and provocative.

One thing that really stood out to me about this story is the cohesion between plot, characters, and world-building. All three were equally balanced and played a crucial role in my enjoyment of the story. I really felt each of these narrative aspects to be strong and given the appropriate amount of development.

Even if you (like me) didn’t absolutely love this author’s first duology, I still highly recommend picking this one up because it is so much better. I feel like this author is growing in their craft (as are we all constantly improving our writing) and it really shows. The world is complex, the characters are nuanced, and the plot is thrilling. Forbidden romance and forced proximity tropes work wonders in this story. I can’t wait to see where it takes us next. The ending is a satisfying completion of act one of this saga and it leaves me dying to know what happens next.

“Not exactly the most opportune time for a propositions, but I respect the effort”
(Love all the Bastian and Lore banter)

There is nothing like a refreshing new world to experience. Lore is able to control Mortem (or death). And has had a hard life. Mother abandons her, picks up two mothers, gets betrayed by them as well. Then she has a choice of death or spying.

And she is a terrible spy. Not only does her mark know she is stalking him and trying to get close to him, but he set traps that she followed blindly.

I love the dynamic between Bastian and Lore. Light and dark. Carefree and anxiety hand and hand. Their bouts of humor helped bring some light to such a dark read. I mean, raising the dead to create a dead army for a dead god that is to be reborn… frightening.

All in all, this little love triangle was a great read.

On editing note: Epilogue is in the kindle version twice 🙂

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit Books for sending me an early copy of this book!

The beginning felt a little slow at times, but overall I thought the plot development was good. The magic system was interesting and the world building was unique.

While this book is marketed as Adult, I believe it fits more into the YA category. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy with a cool magic system, a love triangle, and lots of intrigue and betrayal, I would highly recommend this.

dnf @ 57%
i don’t like DNFing arcs, but i just couldn’t get into this one. i found the writing dull, i couldn’t really bring myself to feel invested in the characters, and the plot fell flat for me, it felt like not much happened even though i read a pretty decent chunk of the book.
thank you very much to orbit books and netgalley for providing a digital arc of this book!

I loved this book so much i couldn't put it down I was completely hooked from the first page will definitely recommend and be buying. I loved absolutely everything about this book so much there's so much I want to say but I don't want to give any of it away