I have never read a book by Hannah Whitten, but, after this one? She is now an instant buy author! The fantasy world she created was so rich in description and the characters felt so real that you couldn't help but root for them. I was completely invested by the plot and only took minimal breaks because I could not put this book down!! If you are in a reading slump and need a fantasy kick, this is the book!

I need more eye-patched men in my life. I am completely obsessed this book didn't go the way I expected it to but I am kind of obsessed! I love a vengeful goddess story and it is seemingly like Nyxara has a good reason to want to seek revenge. I also loved the relationship between Bastian and Lore they immediately accepted the weirdness of their relationship, they acknowledged that they felt like they had always known each other and that it was weird of them to feel like that but they just listened to their instincts and trusted that they could trust their instincts around them. I also loved that despite Bastain being a bit of a hoe he never really feels like one and while it's clear he's happy to engage in nighttime activities he wasn't overly sexualized or sexually. He kind of gave me a darker Nikolia Lanstov vibe and I am one hundred percent here for it. He is clearly intelligent and I love how complex he is and am super excited to see how his relationship with Gabe evolves. Gabriel is a special boy and like Lore I like him or I want to like him but he ultimately is a disappointment kind of like Captain American he is super self-righteous and fails to see things from anyone else's point of view. He has allowed the cool aid and is deep in the cult mindset that being said I like that he didn't immediately recover from his trauma just because of Lore or because he was back in court, He has a lot of therapy and growth he needs to accomplish do I'm excited to see what happens to him in the next book. Finally, Lore, I loved that ending for her and I am excited, it was definitely clear where this story was going and who Lore and Bastian are but I am still very excited to see what she does in the next book given. how certain both religious sectors where that Lore needs to be handled delicately. I am very excited to see Lore and Bastain’s relationship grow and what will happen with the Monks and the Night witches. I also love how Anton and August were handled and am curious to see the consequences for Gabe, Bastian, and Lore.

I adore Hannah Whittens books. Her stories are so incredibly creative and interestingly written.

We follow Lore a mortem wielder through a journey of self discovery and hopes of saving her kingdom. We pick up Gabe and Bastian along the way, and while both men are very mysterious only time will tell who really has the heart.

Personally the ending wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t bad or good but I’m just not sure what to do with it. Is this the ending? Will there be another book? The ending kinda could go both ways. The story was incredible though so I’m going to keep it at a 5 because I’d read this again. I also hope there is another book since I’m rooting for Gabe ;).

ARC for my honest review

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

WOW this book was amazing! I loved Hannah Whitten's writing after reading For The Wolf and I was SO excited to see something new coming. I loved Lore's character, she had such a witty personality. The magic system was interesting, the world building was intriguing, and the complexities of the story were immersive. I think I loved this more than For The Wolf, honestly! Overall, such a beautifully written story!

One of the best books I’ve read this year! Fantastic world building with an intriguing magic system.. Compelling interpersonal dynamics and character development.. I loved this book.. could not put it down!

Everything I hoped for! After reading For the Wolf and For the Throne, I had high expectations for this book. Whitten did not disappoint! The world building, the magic system based on death, the religious fervor, this book was pure fantasy perfection. I fell in love with Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. I loved the slow reveal of Lore’s past and learning more about the mythology Dellaire and Auverraine were built upon. My only complaint is that the book ended! I need the sequel ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten is an highly entertaining story!

WoW! Like I don't even know where to start!
Hannah Whitten’s writing is superb. It’s poetic and vivid.
The atmosphere is engaging. With characters that are beyond memorable in so many ways!
Her storytelling was perfectly done the plot keep me intrigued.
Her creative world-building is unlike anything I've ever read before. Freaking amazing!
And the characters, Woah! Brilliantly written. Lore, was just fascinating and stellar. Not other words needed.
I dove head first into this book and could not put it down!
Thie stunning cover and synopsis caught eye.
I'm so excited to have this sit on my shelf come Sring 23'

Orbit Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

The Foxglove King is Whitten's masterstroke in the fantasy genre.

This book had it all: a polished magic system of the budding mainstream interest in necromancy, curious plant poisoning themes, espionage, forbidden romance, and characters that felt well-rounded. I was a big fan of For the Wolf but I found the magic system in Foxglove was much more expanded on.

She has successfully taken her writing to the next level and I cannot wait to read the following books in the series. Big thank you to Orbit for the ARC and all public reviews will be held off until the date set by the publisher.

I am SO UPSET this book ended because I enjoyed it so much. Even though the worldbuilding could be a bit confusing or almost overworked at times, I was immediately all in. The world was absolutely magical and unique, but also somehow reminiscent of From Blood and Ash (but better) and Legendborn. The characters were strong and believable, and I am way more attached to them than I’d like to admit. The main reveal about the characters identities could be seen from a mile away, but that somehow made me more excited to get to the reveal itself so I could see how each character would react. I not only adored this story but the way that Hannah Whitten wrote it - her turn of phrase was just as magical as it was in For the Wolf. Highly recommend this to fans of books about dark magics, corrupt royalty, and political intrigue!

I couldn't get into this. It felt like a generic YA fantasy, despite being in the adult category. I didn't care for Lore or Gabe. I cannot get behind the over-protective guardian trope. I thought the magic system was really unique, and I enjoyed reading about that. The dialogue often felt out of place with the setting. It's fantasy so they can talk however they'd like I guess, but the setting was giving Versailles and the dialogue was very much not. The dialogue was giving CW show.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I pretty much inhaled this book. I started it and didn’t want to stop reading, which is always a good sign. Lore, Bastian, and Gabe hooked me, and I already can’t wait for more of their story. Lore has a complicated past, shrouded in darkness (literally) that slowly gets revealed as the story goes on. She has a connection to the death magic that her city is essentially steeped in, and when horrors are unfolding, she gets pulled in by the Church and Crown to help. She makes a sudden, and unwilling, jump from criminal to royal court and the strangely familiar Gabe is there to watch over her transition. Add to that, Bastian the Sun Prince who isn’t what she is expecting and seems far more cunning than she’d been led to believe. Taken together, her new life in court seems far more dangerous than her previous life dealing with contraband and criminals.

Whitten crafted multilayered characters that I cared about fairly quickly and made me want to know what happened, hence the reading it all in one day. There were a few notes that didn’t hit quite as true, such as Lore’s skills as a spy being quite inconsistent. However, the complaints are minor when faced with an interesting story, shifting villains with multiple motivations, characters who have imperfections and pasts that have shaped them, and excellent romantic tension.

TL:DR – Super enjoyable, can’t wait for the next installment

I wasn't a huge fan of Whitten's For the Wolf, but this one had me engrossed, which is saying a lot as I was in a middle of a book slump. I found the magic system really unique. The author put enough of her own twist to it that it felt brand new. The three main characters (Lore, Gabe, Bastian) were fleshed out and intriguing. The development was well done, and the reader can tell that things are being set up for the next novel, and the whole "prophecy" angle takes this novel to a whole new level. All in all, a really great read, with a ton of promise! Highly recommend and we will definitely be getting this for our collection!

5/5
The Foxglove King is a knife-sharp amalgamation of court intrigue, high fantasy, and forbidden romance that captured my heart and held it captive until its glorious finish. Hannah Whitten is an adept storyteller, and her Nightshade Kingdom series is certain to be the world's next epic fantasy sensation.