The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten is the second book in The Nightshade Crown series and I've been waiting for this book since the minute I finished book one of this series. If you haven't started this series yet, you are missing out and I highly recommend you start it now.

The Hemlock Queen picks up shortly after The Foxglove King ends and I won't disclose any spoilers here. Just know that I'm willing to take one for the team and read an early copy of book three at any time if needed...seriously.

As I mentioned, this one starts right up and Bastian now has the throne. He has also made Lore front and center in his court and with all the changes he is making, there are a LOT of unhappy people. There is a noticeable difference in how Bastian is acting though and Lore can't quite figure out what is going on. At the same time, Lore is hearing a voice in her head and it's telling her that there is more to her story than she thought. Add to that, Gabe and the others aren't sure if they can trust her (and they know they can't trust Bastian...for reasons) so she's feeling slightly on her own with things. This book still has the religious undertones and the court politics at the core but it's clear there is something bigger going on and Lore is determined to figure it out.

I will say, this book kicks up the steam a bit. There is still the love triangle feeling and I suppose we will see how that all pans out in the next book but I'm not going to disclose anything around this piece at all.

I thought Whitten did enough in this book to keep things moving forward. There were times that it felt a bit slow but the ending made up for this (in my opinion) and I'll just be sitting here waiting for book three so I can see what happens next for this cast of characters.

If you enjoyed book one, I think you'll enjoy this one too so pick it up. If you worry about waiting for series...I have that same problem but actually just read it anyway. You can join the rest of us in the waiting game. And if you haven't started this series yet, now is a good time to do so. I enjoyed the audio so if you like that medium, consider that as well.

I enjoyed! For me this definitely fell into the trap of second book lull a little bit. At times the plot was slow and convoluted and the main characters could be a liiittle annoying and obtuse at times. However, there were also some very fun and rewarding scenes as well. Despite its challenges it was a fun quick read and I look forward to continuing the series!

I am loving this series. This sequel had a lot to live up to because I was head over heels for The Foxglove King. I think it did a decent job. I really jive with Whitten's writing. I love how she semi-straddles the line of modern and historic vibes but leans over to the modern side more often than not. By doing this, I find myself really resonating with Lore when she voices what I would say in a given situation. I liked learning more about the lore of their gods and watching the character development happen with that expanded knowledge. I will say that I was selfishly NOT satisfied with the slowness of the slow burn romance - I have extra high hopes for that aspect of the story for book 3. I do think there's an unfortunate lack of romantic tension between the main subjects because they won't take responsibility for their own feelings. (It's absolutely intentional and makes sense with the story.) I wouldn't care if the romance wasn't such a front and center part of the plot. It is, so it bugs me a bit. I am ready for book 3!!

Ummmm I’m not sure why people are saying this book has middle book syndrome, I think far from it, I loved it. It took me a minute to immerse myself back into the world, but once I did I was all in. I loved the background and history we got with this one along with the intrigue of what exactly was going on?! Praying to Nyxara for a throuple 🙏

The world that Hannah Whitten created in this trilogy is everything and gives the vibes needed for a romantasy book. Lore, Gabe, and Bastian have grown so much from book 1 to the end of book 2, and I am anxiously waiting for the third book in the trilogy. The rest of the gang, meaning Ali and Malcolm, have also joined in and played a larger role in this.

The drama and stakes in this book are high, with twists and turns. Some of the moves were predictable in the best way so that, as a reader, you felt like you were on the right track. Some of the twists that happened, like in most of her books, were highly unpredictable in the best possible way and kept me on my toes.

The world continues to grow, and mythology and history grow as well. Lore's mother, whom we met at the end of book 1, made another appearance, and my suspicions about both of the "main" gods and their relationship with Lore and Bastian were correct. The parallels between Dellaire and Paris still held for the majority of the book, and with Mortem allowing Lore to venture out into the world, we, as readers, were able to experience and learn more alongside her.

The best part of the romance between Lore and Bastian and Gabe is that it is a true love triangle, at least from the way I interpreted the book. Sexuality in this book is very open and is what it is, meaning that characters encountered in the books thus far have been open and not prejudiced. It has queer and bisexual representation throughout the storyline. It truly is a romantasy book.

This was one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2024, and it did not disappoint me. However, it was a very dense read, but that is consistent with Whitten's other books.

Thank you to Orbit Books for allowing me to be an early reader of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten is scheduled to be released on April 9, 2024.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten was everything I could have wanted in a sequel. The story and world I had already grown to love was brought back to life in splendid prose once again. With its nature as a sequel, this story is best enjoyed by readers who have already read and loved book one in this world. It does contain dark themes and moderate amounts of adult content. Be advised that this title and its predecessor may require parental discretion for younger readers.

5/5 hooked from the very beginning. Do you like dark romance with twists, turns, gods, and captivating worlds? This series has GOT you.
This is book 2 in the series and I honestly I’m usually “meh” about book 2s. This was NOT a “meh” book, it is so self propelling and enthralling. Pick up this book and immerse yourself in all the feelings.

Somehow I think I enjoyed The Hemlock Queen more than The Foxglove King and I never usually like the sequel more than the first book. Hannah Whitten’s latest book The Hemlock Queen follows Lore as she navigates her new role in Bastian’s court. Not only does she deal with haughty court politics, she has to handle her newfound powers and her love for Bastian and Gabe.

Hannah Whitten truly excels at capturing angst and longing. I cannot get enough of the relationship between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. Whitten leaves the reader wanting more with the ability to create tension not only from what is said but also what is left unsaid. Even with the conflict happening, she creates moments of vulnerability and tenderness between the characters. Whitten has such a profound understanding for her characters and it shows.

The author also excels at story pacing. I never found myself getting bored. Just when you think everything is ok and nothing bad is going to happen, she catches you off guard with a single sentence so I was constantly on my toes. While I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think “wow she is such an experienced writer” because her ability to craft such an interesting fantasy was amazing. My experience reading this sequel was top-tier and I cannot wait to dive back into this series upon the release of the next book!

The Hemlock Queen is the second installment in The Nightshade Crown series. I love the world building in this series. The magic system is unique and I’ve enjoyed watching it unfold. The Hemlock Queen struggles a bit in pacing. I have been invested in these characters and continued to read this book to see where the series goes. While about 75% of the book struggled with pacing, I do feel the final 25% was the reward. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Hannah Whitten for letting me read this ARC! I'm a tad bit late as it was published last week.

Whitten does not sacrifice plot, tension, or character development in the second installment of Nightshade Crown trilogy. I love the parallels between the main characters (specifically Lore, Bastian, and Gabe) with the gods. I appreciated how Whitten gives the secondary characters (Malcom, Alie, etc) more depth and interaction with Lore.

One of my favorite TV shows is Fleabag specifically for the Hot Priest. Gabe very much gives the same vibe throughout, especially as he struggles with his celibacy and affection toward Lore. I hope NOBODY has to choose.

Hannah Whitten just keeps killing it! I absolutely love the world she’s built for this series and I can’t wait for more. Lore is such a complex character and I really appreciate all the love and effort the author put into building her characters. I am absolutely rooting for a poly relationship and I’m so feral for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and the author for providing me an early copy.

I enjoyed reading The Hemlock Queen. The middle of the book was a bit slow but it picked up in the end. I’m excited to read the next book to see how it turns out. I liked how there was a mysterious, ominous vibe throughout the book. Trying to guess who knows what was interesting. Overall I’d recommend this series.

4.5 Stars!

Bleeding gods! What a fantastic sequel to The Foxglove King! I won't lie to you, I was a little worried in the first 20% of this that it was going to fall flat but I could not have been more wrong by the end of it. We pick up a few weeks after the end of TFK, and the beginning is a bit of a speed bump. The characters are all coming to terms with what happened and our beloved trio is Messy, with a capital M. I enjoyed TFK but I'm not sure if it's because I switched between reading and audio or what but I honestly couldn't sit here and recall much of what happened in detail, the first bit of this felt like that.

One thing I appreciated from Lore was her admitting fully that while she may have been a poison runner and a spy for Val...she was in over her head in the Citadel. We often see MC's that are just...great at everything but Lore isn't out here trying to sugarcoat anything, she never had a chance at the game she was forced into. I feel like we got to see more sides of Lore, especially the vulnerable and softer sides.

I'm realizing how much I love when a book is well-plotted and planned out, when all the little crumbs you find actually add up to something, even if that can make them a little predictable. Hannah accomplishes this for sure! This sequel also built on everything it needed to. The world expands, the politics become a little clearer, the side characters grow and get more page time and magic is more defined. I am so glad we got to see more of the gods and their story, so many books with this kind of trope or have active gods and gods-magic just leave it loosey-goosey but I didn't feel like that wasn't the case here. Sure, it might not have been as grand as what I was expecting but that might make it more tragic.

I think my biggest issue with The Hemlock Queen other than the bumpy start was there was a bit of a pacing issue that led to frustration. As the reader, you do pick up on what is going on what is happening before our characters do and it lasted just a tad too long. You kind of just want to say DUH when they finally figure it out. I guess you could say this slow burned in good and bad ways.

That ending!!!!!!!


PS. I'm still here for the throuple!
PSPS. So on brand for this to release the day after a solar eclipse!


Big thanks to Orbit & NetGalley for the eARC! The Hemlock Queen is out now!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This author and this series continue to impress me. This sequel absolutely went off and I loved it. Such intrigue! Such angst! Such twists and turns and action!

This book picks up right where The Foxglove King left off and shares more info about the magic system and Gods. It was so enjoyable to see more magic use in this one and there was so much mystery! I was immersed in this one even though the pacing was a little bit slower. I think it helped that I understood the world a bit already. I’m still not a big fan of love triangles, but the tension and angst between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe was intense and just so well done. I’m looking forward to book three!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the gifted copy!

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The Hemlock Queen is a slow-paced and crawling sprawl of court and political machinations which gradually builds into an explosion of intruige, action, and intense excitement.

But only in the last twenty percent.

I think this middle book in the Nightshade Crown trilogy definitely must be the low point. I heard from many many people that this one was actually really good, but I personally don't see it. It was slow, repetitive, dry, and above all, boring in almost its entirety.

I wish the aspect of deadly poison as drugs hadn't been dropped, as it was one of the most interesting aspects of the first book, and I wish we had gotten to see more of Gabe. This book felt like a filler episode for far, far too long, keeping us held back from the really juicy details and story. Here's a breakdown of the first 80%:

Bastian does something without consulting his friends. Alie, Gabe, Malcom, and Lore are pissed. Bastian begs Lore to forgive him. Lore forgives him. There's "slow burn" romance between Lore and Bastian. Gabe is upset. Lore wakes up and has her hair and clothing done. The process repeats. About half a dozen times. How long does it take you to realize that Bastian is going to continue to fuck you over with no repercussions? By the second time, I was clued in.

And then we find out that Bastian is being possessed and controlled by the evil god Apollius, and Whitten does an incredible job at making him a despicable piece of garbage with abusive, rapey vibes, so much so that I was entirely against Lore spending any more time alone with Bastian, since he wasn't able to control the possession. Oh, and that voice in Lore's head, and all of the Mortem channeling and Night Priestess drama? It's because she's the vessel for Nyxara's possession, the mirror of Bastian and Apollius. And all of her friends get magical elemental powers via god possession too! It's a miracle. One I saw coming miles away and was incredibly bored by. I get that we have these established characters for a reason, but it just seems so predictable.

I do have to say, though, the shit hit the fan when Lore finally went to the catacombs and got shot back into Nyxara's memories. Chapter after chapter of the goddess of death's POV of becoming immortal, being abused and held captive by her lover alongside her fellows, and finally their escape was the coolest part of the whole book (sadly not saying much, there). And after that, it's all just action and fights and adrenaline.

I want the third book to be a stunner, because this one wasn't. While Whitten's talent for writing definitely still shines, it wasn't enough to make up for how much of the book was boring. And I desperately need the love triangle to be resolved. I can tell that Bastian cares deeply about Gabe. I would love the two of them to both end up resolving their conflict and a potential poly relationship to bloom out of it. I look forward to the next and final title in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for providing the ARC.

The way that I devoured this book.

I had a hard time with The Foxglove King. It felt very long, despite the fact that I was wholly intrigued by the plot and the characters. It took me way too long to get invested. I did eventually, but not anything like this sequel.

This book takes place almost immediately after the end of the first one and just as well because you immediately know something is wrong. The way that Witten crafts her story means that you can probably guess but you're doubtful for a while before the truth comes to light. Less political intrigue in this one and more backstory and exposition as you learn so much about the trajectory of the story as a whole.

And with Witten's lush storytelling, it is difficult not to sink into this world of her crafting. Every facet of this story is so vivid and engaging that it is hard to leave the world once you've immersed yourself in it. I can only bide my time until the 3rd one comes out.

Absolutely loved this installment.

Well, that was not at all what I was expecting. After all they went through in Foxglove King they certainly deserved a happily ever after, but then I guess it wouldn’t be exciting if it ended so blasé. The magic system in this series was already unique and the sequel has added a lot more depth. The love triangle intensifies and we get a taste of spice(🌶️). So many twists and turns, so much new information. So many more ways in which this story can go! Thoroughly enjoyable read, keeps you on your toes always guessing at what comes next. And now to wait for the next installment.

3 stars for The Hemlock Queen! This book really started to ramp up the world building for me and I enjoyed the progression of the characters relationship. I did find the middle a little slow to get through, and then the end was like the accelerator was floored and suddenly a lot all at once was happening. I adored every time Lore and Bastian interacted and the high stakes of the plot definitely kept me interested enough to keep going, even when I thought the middle was a little slow. Overall I definitely look forward to the next instalment of this series and will absolutely be continuing.

Eeeekkk!! Why did I wait so long to read this arc?? Honestly one of my favorite books so far this year. I love the author diving deeper into the storyline and conflicts between characters. I love the magic system that is developing and the history incorporated into the story.