"If you sin, make it count."

4.5 stars

“Hemlock Queen,” Amelia scoffed. “Such a fierce name for someone ruled by fear. Who damned the world because she was afraid.”

So, most of this is spoilery for this book and book 1, so I’ll start with some general non-spoilery thoughts.

“It sounded like something she’d heard before. All of this did, really—something that had happened before and would happen again.”

I was using my brain so much in this book, trying to figure out what was happening and what would happen, even if some of it sounded obvious, other things were revealed and I was like well, there goes my theory and my IQ😂

"Seems like allowing one god to tell all the stories before disappearing wasn’t the best plan."

It was a very solid book 2 and I am very very much needing book 3, especially after how the end was set up. We got more backstory and magic system explanations, which was long-awaited (well, not that long) and it was pretty satisfying, but that’s a spoiler, so I’ll wait.

“I could never lie to you, Gabe, could I? Not like you could lie to me.”

I flipped between liking Gabe and thinking he was a little bitch. It ended on me liking him so I guess that’s all that matters, but still, I need more growth from him.

“The attraction between them was obvious. The want was there. But this situation was already fucked through all seven days without adding actual fucking to the equation.”

The tension between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe is killing me slowly. This better end up happy otherwise I’ll riot. This also brings up the good queer rep in this book! I think the majority of characters are bi (or FF or MM pairings) and no one bats an eye. It’s nice to see it accepted in their society.

“I can take care of myself.”
“You have demonstrated over and over again that you absolutely cannot.”

Okay, so that’s not much but I don’t know what else to say without being spoilery so, spoilers below


SPOILERS


“Neither Gabe nor Bastian answered, still staring at each other with a heat in their eyes that could mean anything.”

But, like, I need it to be MMF, they love each other so much and are so tortured and I need it to not be feeling forced on them by the gods, because ohmygod that would be disappointing. Also, don’t be a love triangle in the end, 3 way or no way.

At first, Bastains behaviour was really pissing me off, but then Apollius is revealed and I was literally so happy that it was him being a controlling dick and not Bastian! Like, phew.

“There are two stages to truth. When you first know it, and when you finally speak it aloud to another.”

The way the gods were made!? That was shocking! I loved it though, It gave Apollius such character and I hate him so much more now! Hopefully, with Lore on her way to the Isles now she’ll get closer to finding a cure for them all.

“I will never be apart from you,” he said, the waters of the Fount streaming from his mouth. “You will be mine forever, and you will never speak against me, never share my secrets or betray me. You will never try to leave me, ever.”

But, let’s talk about Apollius…like, the most Ick man and Ick god. Wanting to conquer death by conquering the world too? Ick. The way he treated his friends (obviously not friends) and Nyxara (his possession, not a person, just an object of his ego) ICK

Caius is Jax!?

My jaw full on dropped when that was revealed! Hate that guy and he BETTER not end up marrying Alie, I will also riot.

And Alie is Bastians half sister!?

Literally, all the reveals throughout the book had me gasping 😂

“Part of him wants it,” Apollius whispered into her hair, like He could read her mind. “Wants the release, the rest, of letting Me take over.

Reading Bastian fighting for control with Apollius was so heartbreaking 😭 and learning how much control he didn’t actually have in the end, all the things kept from him😭

“He refuses water sometimes,” Gabe continued. “It’d been a hot day, that time you saw me here, and I was making sure he drank something.” The image of Gabe watering his mentor like a plant in a pot made her shudder.

Anton. That creepy fucker. He deserved the end he got.

Okay, I’m gonna stop here, this is long enough 😂

Fast paced & action packed, it was a gorgeous sequel to the first in its trilogy. I've never been a big fan of love triangles, so that got lost on me within both books, but the story made up for it with the intrigue & creepiness. I love how the book went more in depth about the lore (teehee) of the world and its magic, it helped settle a few questions I had left from the first book. And the story stayed fast paced throughout even when world building and laying all the stepping stones for that exciting finish. I can't wait for book 3!

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books for this ARC!

I enjoyed this more than the Foxglove King!
I’m excited for the next book! I need to know now 😩

I loved this even more than Foxglove King. I didn't think that would be possible and thought for sure this book would fall flat. The characters made me love them even more and I loved the way the story went from where Foxglove left us. I cannot wait for more!

This book felt like a sweaty fever dream in the best way. As is common for 2nd installments in any trilogy, it was action packed to the very last minute to set up for book 3. I enjoyed the wild ride and can't wait to see where Whitten takes us next. Certain plot elements and side characters felt a bit rushed, but it pairs well with the speed at which the story unfolds. I do feel as though Lore is in over her head, but I hope she comes out on top. Or, at the very least, in the middle of Gabe and Bastian ;)

I feel like not much happened but also a lot happened? Like the book dragged on a lot in some places but then it was like bam plot twist. Idk the pacing was off to me but I’m definitely interested to see what happens in the next nook

I loved the first book in this trilogy, The Foxglove King, and was so excited to receive this ARC of the second book, The Hemlock Queen. This book felt like a very strong worldbuilding portion of the story, and setup for what will likely be a very wild ride for the third and final installment of the series. This story jumps right in where The Foxglove King left off, so I think I could have definitely benefitted from a re-read since it's been over a year since I read the first book. But once I remembered who everyone was and where we left off, I was once again enthralled by this story. I love the unique magic – it's gorgeous in how its written, and it's so cool to see a different take on necromancy power.

4.5⭐ rounded up to 5. I had mixed feelings about The Foxglove King, but I definitely liked this one. I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy!

❤️ Atmospheric and immersive writing style
❤️ Resilient, flawed FMC
❤️ Refreshing magic system and epic worldbuilding
❌ Predictable plot twists
❌ Lack of spice, slow burn done wrong (just do it already!)
❌ Info dumps and some dragging

Trigger Warnings: violence and death, blood and gore, explosion, gun violence body horror, cult, indoctrination, poisoning, drug and alcohol consumption.

Plot:
The corrupt king is dead and his plan to kill Bastian, his only son, and Lore, the woman he coerced into spying on him, has failed. Bastian is now king, with Lore at his side, and he plans on righting many wrongs of the past to make his kingdom a better place. But his behaviour is increasingly erratic, and his friends and advisors start to believe something is wrong. And Lore hasn’t told anybody about the voice she sometimes hears in her head, or about the goddess who’s trying to take control of her body and mind.

Betrayal, mistrust, romantic angst, life/death magic, elemental magic, godly possession, meddling gods, court intrigue, phew! This book has it all. The magic system is simple yet refreshing, and the worldbuilding is simply epic. While the cadence was slightly inconsistent, I feel like this second book in the series was faster paced than the first one. The stakes also felt much higher, thank gods. It was definitely harder to put down.

Characters:
In the first book, the only character that I really liked was Bastian. I felt like most of the others were one-dimensional or exaggerated, but many grew on me in this one, especially Lore and Allie. I absolutely loved Malcom and I’m glad Gabe is not quite the Dain-Tamlin in this saga. I still liked Bastian best, probably because he reminded me so much of Dorian Havilliard! Who doesn’t love a soft-hearted yet snarky bad-boy prince possessed by a villain?

I also felt like the relationships between characters (e.g., Lore/Gabe/Bastian, Lore/Allie) felt more complex and less forced than in the first book.

However, that many pages in, I would have liked the love triangle to progress into a threesome (there’s so much WC potential!) or to unravel/unfold. Or even for a third love interest to be introduced just so we can be done with the triangle thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good love triangle. But at some point, something needs to happen, otherwise it’s just a dual slow burn done wrong.

Writing:
For an uncorrected proof, this was surprisingly typo-free. I’ve seen published books with more errors. Overall, I like Whitten’s writing style. Immersive, evocative, atmospheric without sacrificing on plot. Varied and sophisticated without feeling pretentious.

Thank you for picking for an ARC of this I really enjoyed the first one but this fell flat for some reason. I really wanted to enjoy this book more but I felt like half the book I was just waiting for something to happen and the plot just dragged. I did not really care for either of the main male characters either. The 1st book there was so much tension between Lore and Gabe and this book felt like there was none!
I am disappointed but I like to enough to still give it a 4, i think my expectations were too high. However, the cover is AMAZING so I will still probably try for a special edition of the book.

The Hemlock Queen was a thrilling and engaging sequel to the Foxglove King.

Bastian, Lore, and Gabe reel from recent events. The former king is dead and Bastian has taken the throne with Lore at his side, his partner, both equal and opposite in magic. Gabe has been appointed the Priest Exalted, and the three of them must learn now to lead a country together, while rival nations are pressing in and war is on the horizon. While Lore is uncomfortable at the prospect of being queen, she is more worried about the nagging voice in her head. More than intuition, the voice feels real, but not her own. Seeking Gabe's help again is risking acknowledging what they once almost had, even more off-limits now given his new role and that Lore is tied to Bastian. Bastian is seeming more and more unlike himself, and yet, she feels more drawn to him than ever. With unknown forces at play, Lore, Bastian, and Gabe must reconcile with the consequences of their actions, and the weight of gods long past.

I really enjoyed this sequel to The Foxglove King, This was a highly anticipated read for me, and it did not disappoint! Middle books in a trilogy can be tough, as the author herself acknowledged. But this book was well done, with a strong focus on deepening relationships and letting our characters explore who they are and who they want to be. The plot also transitions from the thwarted plan enacted by King August and Anton in the first book, to the potential war with the Kirythean Empire. There is plenty of court intrigue, secrets and betrayal, and desperate romance. We also get more insight in the ancient gods and how they are still pulling the strings today. While a love triangle was strongly hinted at in the first book, it is really explored more deeply in this book. But, you learn some details that help make this feel much more than simply Lore not knowing her heart - there are forces tying this trio together beyond what they could have ever anticipated. The ending was wild and explosive, and I was on the edge of my seat for the last few chapters. The end is a pretty big cliffhanger, and I need the next book as soon as possible!! Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and an excellent transition between the introduction we got in book 1, to where we are headed in the conclusion. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to book 3!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the electronic advanced copy!! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adore Hannah Whitten's writing style. She has a way of entrancing the reader and the next thing you know the book is over and you're craving the next. The Foxglove King did just that and may me NEED to have The Hemlock Queen in my hands. I was not disappointed. Hemlock Queen gives us more of a look into the dynamics with Lore and Bastian. I'm here for a good love-triangle. All in all, I'm obsessed and can't wait for the next one. Thank you for the opportunity to read this phenomenal book.

After finishing "The Foxglove King" I knew I immediately had to start this one! Hannah did a phenomenal job with this sequel! I loved how she continued on with the world-building, how she elaborated on what became of Gabe and his new title, and how she gave us insight as to how the gods ended up in the position they are currently in, desperately needing to possess some of our characters to find a new vessel. It was very captivating overall.
I loved the interal (literally- because our main characters have now become possessed) conflict between Lore and her new inner host and Bastian and his inner host. She was able to touch on love, greed, one's deepest desires, and betrayal. It was a great read!
The only thing I didn't care too much for was the odd love triangle. I figured Lore would have let Gabe be but yeah.. lol
I still found it to be a great read and I would definitely recommend!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Hannah F. Whitten for this amazing ARC!

While I enjoyed The Foxglove King, I LOVED The Hemlock Queen. The Hemlock Queen took everything I loved about The Foxglove King and amplified it — the secrets are more deadly, the political machinations have a greater impact, and the betrayals hurt more than I thought possible. Whitten continues to have excellent depth to her world building paired with an engaging writing style. The plot moves and alternates pacing in a way that keeps you invested. The relationship/not relationship between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe continues to be an interesting axis for the story to revolve around particularly as we learn more about the Gods and their backstories. My heart hurt so much for Bastian, though, watching him spiral yet fight so hard against forces those around him can’t even imagine. Poor Lore is caught in between two men she loves, struggling with a voice she’s battling against, all while trying to keep everyone around her safe even if it means keeping them safe from her. If you thought the ending to The Foxglove King took your breath away, be ready for the absolute gut punch that is the conclusion to The Hemlock Queen. This book is absolutely fantastic, and I can’t recommend it enough.

This was an excellent sequel. The world building in this series is simply amazing. The magic system too. I can’t wait for the third!

Wow was I sleeping on this series for too long!!

I read The Foxglove King a few months back and liked it but didn't love it (mostly because of personal beefs, nothing relevant to the writing) but all those beefs disappeared in the Hemlock Queen. The pacing of this book was much better than FK and Whittens strength (worldbuilding) really shone in this.

If you loved the first one, you will not be disappointed by the follow up!

I had high hopes going into the second book in The Nightshade Crown trilogy I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 (The Foxglove King) and this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The beginning was ok, I became really invested in the situation-ship and betrayal between the main characters: Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. A good 50% of the book just left like a huge information dump and I personally felt like it was missing a major event that would have kept me more engaged. The last several chapters really picked up and grabbed my attention enough that I will be picking up the last installment of this trilogy.
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGally for providing an advanced reader copy of The Hemlock Queen in exchange for a honest review.

This is such a hard book to review. Mostly because I feel like I can’t talk about any of it without spoilers either for the first book or this one.
What I will say is I enjoyed it for what it is, but I was also frustrated. The director the plot took wasn’t what I was expecting, and by necessity of that direction, the characters were not the same I had enjoyed before. But the tension is waaaay ramped up in this installment. Everything and everyone is balanced on a knife’s edge for the whole book. One wrong step can cause the house of cards to fall.
We get verrrrry into the gods and their history, so I did find that interesting. But I can’t say more than that!
I will be eagerly awaiting the final book to see how on earth it all concludes.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

This book had me staying up waaaaay past my bedtime just so I could keep seeing what happens next in the adventures of the Trauma Trio. Hannah Whitten does a masterful job weaving together religious trauma, court intrigue, romance, an incredible magic system, with just a tinge of body horror to top it all off. If anything, I think I love this book even more than the first. Although, in the wise words of The Hemlock Queen: Maybe you can love them both. Maybe everything doesn’t have to be some impossible choice.

We follow Lore as she, Bastian, and Gabe reckon with the closing events of the first book and what that means for them and for Dellaire. I don't want to give too much of the plot points away, but I highly recommend this book and the journey you go on with Gabe, Bastian, and Lore (and of course the others!). I also am a sucker for a sneaky footnote, of which there were a few.

As an aside, I am so interested to see where Gabe goes in the final book in the trilogy. We don't get as much time with him as we do with Lore & Bastian, but in what we do see, there is a lot going on under the surface there, specifically around his religion and reckoning with that.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing with an early copy.

The Hemlock Queen does well to pick up the story where it left off and build more on the world and the Gods.

Overall writing quality is the same as the first book. Personally, it’s okay for me but I’m just picky.

In the end, I did enjoy the novel and excited to see the conclusion.

This is the second book after The Foxglove King. I absolutely loved this book because it was fast paced, eerie, and there was a love triangle! I absolutely love the magic system in the book as well as the world building! I also really enjoyed the romantic aspects of this book! Many times I feel the second book in a series just doesn't live up to the pull of the first book, but that is NOT the case for this book! It continued to build from the first book, and I cannot wait for the next book!!!