If I could give this 1 million stars I would. I am obsessed with Hannah Whitten and her writing. I'll 100% be buying a finished copy and telling everyone I know about this book.

This is such a great read. The world was so different from anything I've read before. The world-building was so smooth and spread throughout the story. I never felt overwhelmed by it, and I was sucked in by the dynamic between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. I can't believe I have to wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Whitten, and Orbit Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm obsessed.

For me, the characters are the most important part of any good story. On that front, this novel absolutely delivers. Our main character cast consists of a curvy girl-boss who wields death magic, a chaste, one-eyed monk, and a chaotic bi prince. They've each endured having terrible parents and being subjected to religious tyranny, and they must overcome their traumas to avoid becoming martyrs. What I love most about this novel in particular, and what makes it so unique to other novels in the genre, is that our main characters are all morally grey. They constantly toe the line between heroism and villainy, highlighting their struggle to exist in a fantasy world with a magic system that insists on the binary measurements of good-and-evil, light-and-dark, life-and-death.
In addition, I truly appreciated the LGBTQ+ rep and the fact that all the women characters were girl-bosses.

While this book is advertised as an Adult Fantasy, it has many tropes commonly found in popular YA Fantasy novels: love-triangle, forced proximity, orphaned MCs, found family, finding and coming to terms with one's identity, overthrowing a corrupt government, etc.

The world-building and magic system remain somewhat vague in this first installment, but I highly suspect these aspects of the story will be delved into more in the following novels of the series. I can easily believe this book will quickly become a sensation among the reading community upon publication.

To sum it up: if you like stories about overthrowing a tyrannical government using divine death magic, all while the diverse cast of characters learn to accept the darker parts of themselves, and interspersed with sarcastic banter, sexual tension, and lots of cursing, then this could very well be the story for you.

This book was good and I enjoyed it. The world building was deep in the beginning but it was worth it to get the story moving. The magic system is interesting and I'm not sure I understand it, but it's there. There was so much buildup in this plot and I was super excited for some answers. Then I remembered it's book one of three. Not gonna lie I'm upset. I want more.
Thank you #netgalley #thefoxgloveking

Thank you to NetGalley and OrbitBooks for the eARC of The Foxglove King!

I am speechless! Hannah Whitten is constantly leaving me with my jaw DROPPED. The Foxglove King is one of the most intense dark fantasy books I have had the pleasure to read. The world this author creates is so intricate and well-designed. The magic system hinges on the power of opposites, light and dark, life and death- and the characters who wield them are chaotic. I loved this book for so many reasons, but the characters and the imagery that Whitten so expertly crafts really sold this for me. Who doesn’t like a Bi-King (Prince!) ??? Because I know I do! Bastian, our FMC Lore, and Gabe are so easy to fall in love with. I am already sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation for book two and this one hasn’t even released yet!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit Books for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

This book had absolutely no right being as good as it was! From the very first chapter, I was absolutely captivated by the uniqueness of the world and the story itself. It's unlike anything I've ever read before, and that's saying a lot considering how much fantasy I read. The world being built upon mortem and spiritum plus the poison runners was something so creative and unique that I wanted nothing more than to keep revealing more about the world and its rules.

I love Lore and how strong she is, but I also love her journey of self-discovery and the way that she learns so much about what she wants in the world. She is such a relatable character, and that made her journey so much more heartfelt and high-stakes. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and even though I felt as though I knew what would happen, it still didn't stop me from being way too surprised and having so much fun uncovering the whole truth.

Don't get me started on the romance!!! I loved both Gabe and Bastian and I'm just going to leave it at that for spoiler's sake. But love where the romance landed at the end of the book and I cannot wait to see where things go from here.

If you're a fantasy lover, please get your hands on this book the moment it comes out! You absolutely need this stunning world in your life!

What twists and turns and suspense. This was a great read. Once they enter the citadel the story really takes off leaving you wondering what is going to happen next. The pull and tug of knowing their paths are tied and who Lore will chose is intoxicating. I am still not sure who i want her to chose. It was hard to put down this book and when I had to I was wondering what was coming next. Of course it would leave off with you wanting more but all the better to know that there has to be more. There will be another one right? I am fully invested in what is to come and just hope that I will receive the next ARC as well.

Thank you Orbit, Hannah Whitten and NetGalley for providing this eARC in return for my honest review.

The Foxglove King is the first book I've read by Hannah Whitten and it will certainly not be my last.

I was immediately entrance by this world built on poison and magic steeped in death. I can't think of any other fantasy book with a world/magic system quite like this one. I couldn't put my ereader down as I got further into Lore's journey among the nobles.

The world building and characters themselves are some of my favorites in the books I have read this year. I highly recommend The Foxglove King for anyone who is looking for a unique and entertaining fantasy.

I cannot wait to shortlist this for my store and get it onto the shelves. And I am eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Lore's journey.

This book truly has it all! From the first chapter I wanted to know more about the bad ass poison running FMC! The one eyed monk and cheeky prince made this story even better! The twists and turns had me on my seat and I fell hopelessly in love with this book and world! Can’t wait for the next book!

I really liked this! Lots of action - wonderful characters and I am excited to see where the story goes next!

Thank you for the early copy!

This book felt very different from a lot of other books I've read, but in a good way! It was refreshing.

The worldbuilding was fascinating and made sense without feeling too predictable. All the layers of myth, religion, and politics fit together really well.

It definitely had some creepy vibes, but I appreciate that even though it was dealing with really dark subject matter, it never felt gratuitous. It also didn't feel like it was trying to prove something and be dark for the sake of being "edgy."

The characters were compelling and multi-layered, particularly Lore and Bastian.

I have only two complaints, the first being that I did not enjoy the love triangle aspect, especially the further we got into the story. That could be personal preference, but I really didn't understand why Lore would be drawn to one of them.

I also feel like one of the characters had a major personality change in the final chapters and that there wasn't enough lead up or reason for it. It felt like it came out of nowhere.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down!

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was really fun! Pretty standard YA magical story with some love triangle thrown in. I really enjoyed the world building of this one, which is one of the biggest pulls for me. I'm looking forward to more in the story.

I think this is a book that I need to read in physical form, it just doesn't keep my attention on an ereader but I'm finding that happening sometimes with fantasy. As of right now it's FINE but I don't love it.

The Foxlove King started off very slow and a bit messy for my tastes...BUT, once you get to know Lore, the real story starts. I could not put it down.

As a huge fan of dark fantasy, I really enjoyed Whitten's different take on the magic system and how she wove it into the religion and culture of Auverraine. She included Auverraini songs, proverbs, etc...which really rounded out the world building for me.

I enjoyed the compare and contrast of the criminal underbelly of the city to the posh ruling elite, and seeing how Lore fit into both worlds. Lore is a super complex character which has always been a survivor and thrived no matter what life handed her. The story gets so much more interesting when Gabe and Bastian appear. Their prior history as well as their interactions with Lore make this tale so much more interesting. Love triangle perhaps?

Whitten did a great job with keeping you on your toes. There were so many twists and turns. You find out pretty quickly that no one can be trusted and nothing is as it seems. The book is very fast paced, and leaves you with a swirl of emotions. As soon as you think you can trust, betrayal strikes. Then just as fast., a new truth emerges and changes everything.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Hannah Whitten for the ARC. This book is set to release March 2023.

Admittedly, this book does hit you very hard very quickly with the worldbuilding, but once you get through that (and it doesn't take very long) oh my gosh this is one of my favorite books of the year. Lore is a wonderfully complex heroine and I loved the conflicted and flawed Gabe and Bastian. The magic system was so unique and I loved how it was reflected in the religion/culture Whitten set up. It was rich and sumptuous without being too much. At this point I think I would read Hannah Whitten's grocery list; I need book 2 immediately now.

If you've read her other books and enjoyed them, this is just as promising!

With a slower start and introduction to the world similar to For the Wolf, this is filled with imagery and descriptions that just put you into this world!

Things I loved:
- The main character is really interesting and I love her witty, strong personality
- The death magic system
- Full of politics, people you don't trust, people you want to trust
- A love triangle to come 👀

I cannot wait for the next book and to see where this series goes!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I enjoyed this. Different kind of magic than usual which was neat to see. Bit of a slow start but once I got into it it was hard to put down. Curious where this will go!

Lore doesn't feel she is good at anything, except for running drugs, and being a spy. After being caught channeling mortem she expects to be sent to her death. Instead the King has a different idea, he plans to use Lore as a spy to find out his son, the princes, real motives and if he is in fact a spy for a warring country.

Hannah Whitten has this unparalleled ability to create the most magically unique and intricate worlds that instantly enthral the reader.

Instantly I found myself complete captivated by Lore's back story and who she really was or who she would become. As the story unfolds the reader is only let in on enough of her story to keep you hooked and wanting more answers. I found it so hard to put the book down and go to work because I need all of the answers. I loved Lore's relations with both Bastian and Gabe and found myself flip-flopping back and forth between who I think she'll end up with.. Needless to say after book one I'm strongly sitting on team Bastian.

With any book I know is going to be a series I reached the last 100 pages with way to many unanswered questions and feared I was going to be left not knowing the answers. However the story does an incredible job of wrapping up all of the loose ends while still leaving me wanting the next book immediately.

Jammed packed adventure murder mystery.
The Foxglove King is a fantasy story following a young lady name Lore, part spy, part poison runner.
When a shipment goes wrong, she is captured. To avoid death, Lore is thrusted in a political gambit task filled with magic, deceit, death, and hidden truths. Entangled in her task is the overindulged womanizer Prince, who may be more than he seems and the religious sector guard, Gabriel. Together they need to find out who is causing the death to all the outskirt villages to prevent imminent war.

WOW. WOW. WOW.

This series is going to be EPIC. Very fast past and witty dialogue, this story keeps you turning the pages until there is no more. I am in complete book withdrawal here people!

The three main characters all had distinct roles and I could kinda see where they are heading for.
However cliche, the writing style and the way she twist certain prose did not make it seem like it. Even though I predicted most of what was going to occur.

Lore is very strong and level-headed. She is definitely not a damsel but a hero in her own right. Mortal, flawed, and so relatable I liked her character very much. Gabriel. oh Gabe.. The definition of drowning in "woes me"... I hope the next book he will have the epiphany to get out of the constraints he is in.. But VERY predictable character.. it is always the religious ones that end up [endacted].

The magic system of this world is so cool! Mortem is the essence of death, power that you can use only when you have experience near death. This power is leaked from the dying goddess of death. Harnessing other gods powers is gone because they no longer "leak" and are gone from the world.. But are they?
I remember listening to Hannah in a virtual book tour talk that she was exploring religion and society so it was cool to see her research become so fruitful! I enjoyed learning about the gods that ultimately became this world's religion. How power became about. How the ruling family was chosen. I hope the next book explores more of the dying/dead gods and what TRULY happen in the past.

Sigh 2023 is SOOOO FAR but this is definitely a GEM of next year. I CANNOT wait to get a physical copy and I hope a book box will pick this up for a special edition. *prays*

I heard this is going to be a trilogy. Thrilled.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten is the first book in what promises to be an epic and romantic new fantasy series. Lore, the main character, is a young woman with a secret power, which plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the king's royal court.

The Foxglove King is a fast-paced and addicting read with plenty of action, romance, and intrigue. Whitten has created a rich and detailed world that is both familiar and yet unique. The characters are well-developed and fascinating, and I can't wait to see what happens to them in future books.

I highly recommend The Foxglove King to fans of fantasy fiction. It is an excellent start to what promises to be an exciting series!