3.5 stars

I overall enjoyed this sequel, and it did a great job setting up the next book. My main critique is that the first half was fairly slow; it took a while for this installment to find its feet. But the second half had me hooked. Plus, the ending has me dying for the next book, ASAP!

The characters were enjoyable, the religious worldbuilding added new layers, and the side characters rose in importance. There's lots of tension and politics this time around, and a few gory bits sprinkled throughout. If you enjoyed book one, you should definitely read on.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I wanted to start by thanking Netgalley for giving me an ARC for an opportunity to read this book and provide an unbiased review.

The funny story about this ARC is that I actually was given a copy after I preordered a signed copy of the published book. So I was so excited to get my hands on it!

With that being said, the excitement was 100% valid with this story. The plot, the world-building, the magic, and the tropes were all EXCELLENT. The last 50 pages made my jaw drop so many times. I am so excited to see where this story goes and how the series will wrap up in the next book!

Just as in the first novel, this book is full of atmosphere and takes you right into the dark and rich world of Auverraine. I somewhat think this book unfortunately fell into the slump that 2nd books in trilogies do- I felt like it is just a bridge between the first book and what the third will be. The plot was very level, and existed throughout the whole novel, so there wasn’t much movement between the beginning and end. But reading was a fun time; the lush atmosphere that Whitten is always able to create was alive and well, and will suit your needs if that’s what you’re looking for.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for the e-arc!
The second half of this book hits so hard. I am so unbelievably flummoxed and flabbergasted. I could see the direction we were headed in from the start of the book but where we ended up was fantastic. have to say the beginning third wasn’t my favorite which is why it’s not five stars but I loved the rest. However, I do concede that the beginning had to be that way in order for the story and plot progress.
I am so happy that it looks like we are heading in a poly direction with Bastian, Lore and Gabe because that is what I want more than anything. The development and details we learn in the story about both our characters, and the general story are amazing.
I was so worried upon finishing the first book that the rest of the series wouldn’t hold but this book was fantastic. They were still just enough twists with the characters and plot to be unexpected while I was also able to be pretty close on my predictions.
And now I have to wait for the third book to come out ?!!!? I need it immediately!

I have been foaming at the mouth waiting for this sequel. Hannah Whitten’s world building is lushish and unique. Her prose are unmatched and everytime I pick up a book from here, I am sucked in. The plot of this sequel was fast paced and full of emotion. Betray, love, secrets and so much more filled the pages of this must read novel. The characters growth through this novel is top notch and so satisfying. Lore is one of my favorite protagonists. A must read series.

“Let this be a reminder that you are wholly your own”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Middle book syndrome who?! This was the exact opposite! The pacing, the plot, the character development, the world building - all of it was non stop!! If I didn’t have an adult job I never would’ve stopped reading

Usually the second book in a trilogy feels like a big jump from the first, whether that’s because of a change in setting, within the goals of the characters, etc. But this was such a smooth transition, it felt like such a natural progression of the plot and I loved it so much.

Slight Spoilers 🚨 but the main trope? theme? - characters being vessels for some type of God/Goddess - tackled in this book is usually one I have trouble getting into. I just get so frustrated and anxious and I never want to read about it. And I feel like the solution to that plot point is rarely satisfying for me. But as I read I just felt more and more connected to said character(s) and couldn’t stop rooting for them 😭 End spoilers 🚨

There were some little and some more obvious hints that gave you good insight into where the story was heading, but there were still plenty of surprising twists that kept me on my toes!

I’m also OBSESSED with the direction the romance took in this book, I know it might not be everyone’s cup of tea! However I really hope Hannah sticks with it for the last book. But if we don’t get happy endings for ALL of the characters I will be absolutely heartbroken.

In conclusion: Hannah, I’m obsessed with you, give me book 3 NOW (please 😭)

I read the ARC of this book and am rating it a 3.5
I mostly rate my books on how they made me feel.
I did enjoy the first book in the series, so I was excited to be able to read this one before it came out.
The first half of the book seemed to drag on, which made it difficult to want to pick it up and read it, but the second half is where all the action and exciting things happened. There were several twists and turns that I didn't see coming. And I was happy that more of the romance developed in this book, although it's still in a bit of a love triangle.
Like I mentioned in my review of the first book, there are so many big words in these books I'd have to have a dictionary next to me to know exactly what they meant. So that part made it a bit difficult to understand. Some of the plot points were a bit frustrating, I often found myself being annoyed at the choices the MFC was making, but I guess if she didn't make them then there wouldn't be a 3rd book.
Overall, it was just an okay read. I liked the first book more. I don't know if this one grabbed me enough to be excited for the 3rd one.

I liked The Hemlock Queen more than The Foxglove King. We dive much deeper into the gods’ history and Bastian continues to grow as my favorite character. The first book is good- it gives the foundation and The Hemlock Queen grows on it and it seems like there will be a third book which I’m predicting to be amazing! Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review!!

First off - HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m still reeling. I felt like the first book in this installment was good, but the second book is even better. There was more tension, trauma, deceit, and twists at the end I didn’t see coming.

I love that every character is distinct in their own personality and voices. There’s bound to be someone you can relate to, or love. For me, Lore is everything- I LOVE her! She is fiercely loyal and unapologetic. I really wanted more of her relationship with Gabe and Bastian.

This book completely swept me up and I really struggled to put it down. My only critique is that I felt the plot pacing in the beginning was slower than I would have liked, but I really think this is a nitpick for me and likely won’t bother most people. Where the plot pacing was slower, the character development and world building made up for it.

What a ride! I’m curious to see where things will lead in the next book and excited to watch the characters develop more. I know this series will become a future re-read for me.

I think if you like death magic, unique magic systems, court intrigue, love triangles, and war with gods- then this series is for you.

Such a satisfying conclusion to this duology! At this point, I will read anything that Hannah Whitten writes! There is enough suspense to keep me turning the page way past the time I needed to be in bed.

DNF @ 32%.

I wanted to love this, but I don't and I can't make myself either. The storytelling feels scattered, and there may be a reason for that. However, the story just doesn't keep my attention well enough to find out. Rating is influenced by my read of book one, and the parts I read, and them flipped through of the sequel.

It's not only that it feels messy, it just couldn't keep my attention.

Thank you so much, Orbit Books & NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for this ARC.

I was excited to start this book because I hoped it would be stronger than the first. The first book lacked some character development for Gabe and I was hoping to see more of him. The world development was pretty much the same and I do like that we are included a map also. I really enjoyed that we got much more background of the Gods, I found myself lightly skimming over the chapters that focused solely on them. The pacing of this novel was very slow and I found myself also skimming certain parts.

Though there was a lot of interaction between Bastian and Lore, I felt like it lacked chemistry and depth in their interactions in the second book. They didn’t have that same angst that they shared in the first book. I know that he wasn’t himself because of the God over taking his body and mind, but I wished they conspired more rather than him not wanting to discuss what was really going on. I hope that spark and chemistry returns in the third novel. Their intimate scene felt a little forced and I hoped it would be more passion and drama in it. I wish she told Bastion in person, not just whispering it while he slept, that she loved him. The relationship between Gabe and Lore really felt non-existent. I still question as to why Gabe has feelings for Lore since we don’t really get much out of him.

That all being said, the ending left me dying to read the next one.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Hemlock Queen on April 9, 2024.

I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. The Foxglove King was a top read for me in 2023, and I loved the way it set up The Hemlock Queen. But ultimately, the plot moved too slowly for me, and the characters spent more time in their heads than with each other.

Mild Spoilers ahead!

I'm so glad Hannah Whitten ended up alluding to (but not fully confirming?) the throuple in this book. All three clearly have feelings for each other -- but we were TOLD this. The three characters themselves NEVER all interacted with each other at the same time. It was only ever Lore with one man or the other, talking about how she wanted both of them. While the brief spicy moments were individually great, we never got the moment when all three of them could acknowledge what they felt for each other and act on it. The romance really let me down in this book compared to the first one, and I think that's part of the reason why it's 3.5 and not 4 stars for me.

But the plot also slowed things down too much for my liking. I love a good possession storyline, but it happened SO gradually that I just spent the first third of the book actively hating Bastian because I didn't realize what was going on. This also killed the romance for me because he just gave off massive ick energy (which I realize now is because he was possessed by a god). But for being 400 pages, literally NOTHING happens until the last 50-70 pages of the book besides Lore and Bastian and Gabe dancing around each other and realizing Bastian is possessed. I didn't actively want to pick it up or keep reading.

Hopefully, things pick up in Book 3, and this romance finally has some resolution.

I don’t usually enjoy love triangles, but I caught myself actually rooting for Gabe/Bastian/Lore and will be happy with whoever ends up together. Starts out fast-paced with tension and stays that way through to the ending. I LOVED how the book ended and how we got all POV’s which is something I usually don’t like. This book did not disappoint and I found myself liking it more than the first one. I love that there is darker edge than other fantasy books and that’s what kept me intrigued! The connection to the gods was really interesting and I wanted to know more as the story went on. I’m impatiently waiting for the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the first book. The second installment fell a little flat for me. I was consuming quickly until about halfway. Things just felt super repetitive. We were also given a lot of hints about what was happening, enough that there wasn’t any shock value. I ended up not caring much. Second book syndrome.

The Hemlock Queen is second book in Hannah Whitten's Nightshade Crown series. I LOVED book 1 and book 2 did not disappoint!

The Hemlock Queen follows Lore and Bastian after the fall of King August and Bastian's looming coronation. I found it eloquently written, suspenseful, heart-rending, and dark/gothic. The twists and turns were unexpected to say the least and the character development was unparalleled. I care so much for these characters and am so worried for all of their fates! The love triangle is full of tension, but we certainly had some payoff for the tension in this book! The spicy scene was *chef's kiss*.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I wish I could read book 3 right now!

It was a very interesting and action packed book. I was so excited to continue following Lore’s life and be with her through the hardest decisions of her life.
If you enjoy love triangles then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book. Who will Lore end up with at the end..Bastian or Gabe..and does she really need to choose?!
Looking forward to the third book and can’t wait to see what’s next on Lore’s life journey.

First of all, what did the trauma trio ever do to you, Hannah?? Second of all, these poor babies oh my god no one is having a good time.
Second books in a trilogy can be so tricky, but The Hemlock Queen absolutely delivered in every way. I spent the whole time as a high strung ball of anxiety with multiple audible outbursts throughout. Without any spoilers, I loved how much deeper we got into the magic system, I loved the history, and I loved the build up from side-eyeing to full, undiluted distress (complimentary). These continue to be some of my favorite characters of all time, and I will be waiting on the edge of my seat to see how the plot continues in book three!

Not me panicking the whole time forgetting this wasn't a duology wondering how it was all going to end. That's ok because now that I've finished I'm just going to be in a perpetual state of panic wondering how on earth this is going down in the next book.

The many times I was like oh good they figured it out oh god now there's an even bigger issue. You can't do this to my emotions! I'm so worried for Lore and Bastian. Gabe too. And can they all just be a darn thruple already...but then also what if?! The revelations in this one threw me.

I was so excited to be back in this world. If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed romantasy with a hint of a love triangle, betrayals, and plot twists, this book is for you!