The Hemlock Queen is the second installment in Hannah Whitten’s Nightshade Crown series, following The Foxglove King. Set in the kingdom of Auverraine, the story delves into the complexities of power, magic, and relationships as Lore, Bastian, and Gabe navigate their new roles amidst political intrigue and divine interference.

This book was really good! I loved the gothic feel to this book, with an eerie feeling that was unique and interesting. The characters were well done and felt real! I would recommend this book to everyone!

🌿👑 3.25 ⭐️ | 🌶

This book had some really cool elements, but overall felt a little uneven. The world is still super unique and the vibe is dark and eerie, which I loved—but parts of the story dragged and got a bit confusing.

Lore is still the best part for me. She’s messy, powerful, and always stuck between really tough choices. I liked the political drama, but the love triangle didn’t fully land—it had potential, but I wanted more emotion behind it.

Spice is super low—just a tiny bit. And you can really tell the author is working through some personal stuff with religion. It added an interesting layer, even if it wasn’t always clear where it was going.

Definitely feels like a setup book for the finale, so I’m hoping book three brings the payoff.🙌

Thanks to Orbit for sending me a physical and eARC of this book!📖

Thank you so much to Orbit for the opportunity to read this before the release of the Nightshade God! I absolutely devoured this book!

✨The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten✨

Genre: Romantasy
Pages: 512
Series: The Nightshade Crown, Book 2

📝Welp, this series was not immune to second book syndrome. The pacing was slow and not much happened plot-wise.

Bastian and Lore were the main characters driving the plot, everyone else kind of faded into the background. Gabe was missing for a good chunk of the book.

I’m probably going to continue the series, but we will see!

💫Thanks @orbitbooks_us for my #gifted copy💫

I will not be continuing with the series. This is a dnf for me. It pains me to say it. Hannah Whitten is one of my favorite authors ever and not liking her book is sacrilege and against everything I believe in. Unfortunately, The Hemlock Queen fell short of the amazingness that was its predecessor.

I put off writing this review because I keep hoping time would help change my feelings toward The Hemlock Queen. But the third book has published already so I think it's time to call it quits.

I may not have loved this trilogy but I'm certainly looking forward to whatever Hannah Whitten has for us next.

I really liked how Book 1 wrapped up. Bastian, Gabe, and Lore managed to outmaneuver both Anton and August. Bastian is now the Sainted King, Gabe has taken on the role of Priest Exalted, and Lore has become the deathwitch. But there’s this one moment at the end where Bastian feels just a little off. It’s subtle, but it leaves you wondering if everything is really as resolved as it seems. Did they actually win?

Book 2 picks up right where the first one left off, but if you're expecting nonstop action, this might not be the book for that. There's definitely some filler here. That said, the writing is excellent and I genuinely enjoyed reading it. The plot doesn’t move forward much, but there’s a slow build of tension and mystery that kept me engaged. Both Bastian and Lore are going through some strange changes, and a lot of the story revolves around trying to understand what’s happening to them, what they can do about it, and who they can actually trust. A lot of the information comes through conversations and memories or flashbacks, which adds to the slow-burn feel.

Lore felt a little weaker in this one. She’s still the same impulsive, terrible spy we met in Book 1, but she’s lost some of her spark. What she went through has clearly rattled her. With the nightmares and the voices she’s hearing, it’s no surprise she’s feeling a little unsteady. On the other hand, I loved seeing Alie step more into the spotlight. She’s quickly becoming a favorite. Also, I know I downplayed the love triangle in Book 1, but I think I missed some of the yearning between the lines. It’s more noticeable here and adds something interesting to the emotional dynamic, especially when it ties into the memory sequences.

By the end of Book 2, we’re left in a pretty uncertain place. Things are definitely not looking great, but it made me want to jump right into Book 3. Which I did, immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the free copy ahead of the Book 3 release!

This was an amazing sequel!! I feel like the stakes were really elevated and the plot really progressed from the first book into this one. I loved watching the romance unfold more and the ending was insane!!

This was so much better than the first. I do think Hannah Whiten is a great writer, she knows how to write a lush world and complex characters. I am here for the romance too. Can't wait to check out the 3rd

I first read the Hemlock Queen in April 2024, and this was my first reread of this book in anticipation of The Nightshade God release.

I never ended up writing a real review the first time around (just a bunch of incoherent fragments and screaming) — I always meant to come back with my thoughts, but I guess I never really knew which words would do the story justice.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. I mean this so deeply and completely; it felt like the world and its characters seeped directly into my bloodstream as I read. The Hemlock Queen amplified everything I loved about The Foxglove King, deepening its plot, character dynamics, and ideological questions. The worldbuilding is lush, layered, and immersive. I felt myself so thoroughly manipulated by and yet aligned with the writing, and I cannot WAIT to see where the events of this book lead us in book 3.

I LOVE Lore and our trauma trio and [REDACTED bc kind of spoiler]. I love the way Hannah Whitten writes people and humanity: with such dimension and empathy. She has an incredible talent for making the reader FEEL and ponder.

I have been CHAMPING AT THE BIT for the Nightshade God, and I can’t believe it’s FINALLY HERE (July 15th OMGGG). I AM SO EXCITED, and at the same time I am so not ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world. 🥹 I already know I will be rereading this trilogy frequently.


(Note: I went down a whole rabbit hole of chomping vs. champing at the bit and now they both sound wrong to me so I just went with the og 😭 you know what I mean)

The Hemlock Queen was a fantastic sequel! Lore is more passive than in the first book, but her internal struggle felt believable and relatable. The court politics and tension among Lore, Bastian, and Gabe continued to captivate me, and I loved how the history of the gods, especially Apollius and Nyxara, was woven into the plot.

The pacing does dip in the middle - there’s a lot of internal debate and less external progress - and Lore’s indecision about the love triangle can feel a bit repetitive. Gabe’s role also takes a backseat, which left me wanting more of his perspective. Still, when the story kicks back up, the stakes are high and the revelations about the pantheon really elevate the narrative. This was a great sequel that builds beautifully on the foundation from The Foxglove King!

Bastian is King and Lore is tied more closely to him than ever before, but the more they channel spiritum and mortem, the more strangely Bastian behaves and the more Lore feels something once again trying to control her.

I thought the beginning was a little slow, since I felt that the characters were taking a long time to understand something I felt was clear from the first book, but I thought the second half of the book did a good job of raising the stakes and finding the right amount of conflict and resolution for the middle book in a trilogy. I'm excited to see how the series will conclude.

I love this series so much and the characters are easy to connect to. I love the adventure and the bonds everyone makes.

This book was something of a first for me. This is the *only* book with a love triangle that I’ve *ever* read where I found myself thinking “a threesome would actually solve most of the problems here.”

This much spicier adult religious fantasy is the second book in an almost complete duology (the final book coming out July 15th, 2025). You will get political intrigue, secret identities, and a few "WTF" moments! The first book sets up the magic system, so there is less discussion about that in this installment. Nevertheless, it's as fascinating to observe how Lore and Bastian employ their abilities in unorthodox ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the Nightshade trilogy. It didn't have that "middle book lull" that can often happen in trilogies which I appreciated. This book has a lot of twists and turns that were very interesting. I can't really get into much without spoiling details, I'm sorry!

Read half of this on my Kindle and listened to the other half through Libby. Let's talk about the narration. The voice, particularly "Bastian", is really cringey during the spicy scenes. I really couldn't handle it and skipped the remainder of whatever chapter the spice was in. I would have skipped it anyways though, because I am a spice skipper lol.

The amount of information you absorb from this book. The Hemlock Queen answers SOOOO many of the questions I had from book one.

I would write and talk about this book so much but I am not going to be responsible for spoiling this for you at all so I won't say much.

I fought for my life in this book when it came down to Lore's feelings. Bastian, Gabe. Why not both? I have a love hate relationship with love triangles and I was VERY curious as to where this was going to go. Well, you find out...a lot. Oddly enough, it kind of feels like Bastian and Gabe kind of dig each other too so maybe we are getting a why choose????? -- although with things we learn and the feels I was feeling if she has to choose -- pick the damn Monk bestie.

also this:
"You made a choice," she murmured. "That night in my room. You left me, and then you betrayed me. Whatever could've been between us, you stomped it out. If you regret that, you have no one but yourself to blame."

"And I do." His mouth was so close to hers, now, so close she felt his breath across her lips, took it in as he gasped it out. "Every fucking night, I do."

Hello? My face is wet because he really thought he was doing the right thing in book one.

I will say in terms of readability book two does slow down significantly from book one. It's like book one was action pack and Lore was so fierce then we get to book two and Lore is...not as bold. Like she was made less. There is a lot going on so all those factors make sense, but if you were hoping for the same badassery that there was in book one, you may not enjoy this as much. Even though, I truly missed the Lore we had in book one, the storyline with the gods and learning all about...well the main point of the serious makes it so worth it.

📚 Love Triangle
📚 Betrayal
📚 Plot Twists
📚 Prophecies
📚 Gods/Goddess
📚 Court Intrigue

This is out of context, but I never smiled so hard at my garden shears before. 💅🏼

🌲👑 Book Review: The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten 👑🌲

Dark, lush, and utterly enchanting—The Hemlock Queen is a hauntingly beautiful fantasy that pulls you deeper into a world of ancient magic, tangled fate, and the cost of power. Hannah Whitten once again proves she’s a master of gothic storytelling.

What it’s about:
As conspiracies close in and old gods stir, Red’s grip on her power—and her kingdom—grows more dangerous. With secrets unraveling and enemies circling, The Hemlock Queen explores what happens when destiny demands sacrifice... and whether love can survive the storm.

Tropes & Themes:
🌒 Slow-burn fantasy romance
🗡️ Political intrigue
🌲 Dark forest magic
💔 Found family & betrayal
👑 Morally grey characters

This sequel to The Foxglove King is deeper, darker, and even more intoxicating. If you love lyrical prose, brooding tension, and high-stakes emotion, don’t walk—run into this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheHemlockQueen #HannahWhitten #FantasyReads #DarkFantasy #MorbidityAndMagic #SlowBurnRomance #Bookstagram #GothicFantasy #MorallyGrey #BookReview #TheFoxgloveKingSeries

A wonderful follow up to the first book. I appreciated more do the world building and expansion on the magic systems after the first book. I am excited to read the next installment to see how this love triangle plays out lol

The second book in the series, we see Lore thrust into the spotlight with Bastian. We see them trying to save the kingdom from whatever is rotting it from the inside out. Something is changing Bastian and Lore can’t figure it out. Gabriel is still the same Broody man who doesn’t want to break his vows but want to do the right thing. I feel like this book was more world building and set up for the third book. At the end we get to see the trio on 3 very different paths bit all hoping to save themselves, the others and their kingdom.

Rating: 3.5/5
Spice Level: 2/5 – A few open-door scenes

This book picked up right where the first book left off. It while it took a bit to get going, but when it picked up it was good!

Things That Stood Out:
- Slow start, strong-ish finish: I wasn’t fully hooked until about halfway through. The pacing was an issue at first, but once the secrets, and tension started to build, I was more invested.
- The Lore–Gabriel–Bastian triangle is intense: The tension between these three continues to simmer. There’s so much history, longing, and loyalty tangled up between them.
- The magic system took a backseat: This book leaned more into character dynamics and political power shifts, so we didn’t get as much of the death/life magic or poison use that was so strong in book one. A bit of a bummer because that was one of my favorite things in book one.

This was a goof second book—slower, but still full of emotion and high stakes.

"The Hemlock Queen" is less world building and more magic and yet the pacing was still kind of slow. There were certain sections that almost felt like filler at times.

There is also so much tension and angst on the romance side of things and that made things especially interesting.

All in all, I am excited for book 3 and can't wait to get my hands on it.

Thank you Orbit for selecting me for this ARC.