I love that this book picks up right where the last one left off. The world building was explained a little more thoroughly in this book as well, which I was appreciative of. Lore was outspoken and strong willed, but I found her to take a bit more of a backseat in this installment.

I can't wait for the conclusion to this after I finished with my mouth gaping at that cliffy!

I am sick to my stomach!! The ending wrecked me but honestly, so much about this book just HURT.

10/10.

The Hemlock Queen was an excellent continuation of The Foxglove King. So excited to dive into The Nightshade God right in July and see what happens to Lore and Bastian in what looks to be an epic finale!

4.25 ⭐️

Ya'll, I think this is one of my new favorite series. We continue following Lore, Bastian and Gabe as we deal with the aftermath directly after the end of book 1. The love triangle is SO REAL and honestly i don't want them to pick. I want them all to kiss and be happy... The tension is really one of the things that I am truly in love with.

Each of the characters are so damaged, my heart aches for them as we see the gods gaining power within them. Bastian is put THROUGH it. I really hope that we get a happy ending for him because I think he's my favorite character. I swear he deserves all the happiness in the world and I will riot if he doesn't get it!!

The plot twists are TWISTING in this book as the history and information about the Godsfall and the Fount are uncovered. I was shocked when everything started falling into place. Lore struggling with Nyxara in her head and how it strengthens. I love the aspects of the different gods using them as vessels, it gives a lot more depth to the characters and I am so excited for it to come to a head.

👑 Damaged Characters
👑 Love Triangle
👑 Unique Magic and gods
👑 Gothic Elements
👑 Swoon Worthy Forbidden Romance

That ENDING! 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 And Lore 😭 I cannot wait to see what trauma Hannah Whitten puts them through in the final book in The Nightshade Crown trilogy.

Thank you Orbit for a gifted copy of The Hemlock Queen for an honest review.

Okay, WOW. This book grabbed me and dragged me into its haunting, twisty, magical world—and I was so here for it. If you thought book one was intense, just wait.

The Hemlock Queen is a dark gothic romantasy packed with everything I love:
🖤 A richly layered world of death witches, ancient magic, and creepy forests
💔 A messy, emotional love triangle (and yes, it hurts—in the best way)
🎭 Secrets, betrayal, political games, and characters with secrets inside their secrets
🔥 And let’s talk chapter 35—because YES, it gets spicy. (Language and steam are present throughout, so consider yourself warned 👀)

What sets this book apart is the way Hannah Whitten balances all the darkness with heart. These characters are complicated, broken, powerful—and I couldn’t stop rooting for them, even when they made terrible decisions. The stakes are high, the magic is wild, and the twists? Unreal.

And that ending?? Cliffhanger city. I’m going to be thinking about it until book three drops!

✨Final thoughts:
Dark. Lush. Addictive. Painfully romantic. Deliciously magical. If you’re craving a romantasy that makes you feel everything, The Hemlock Queen delivers.

Couldn’t get into this book. I struggled staying interested and connecting with the characters. I loved the cover art for this book.

An amazing continuation of The Foxglove King. The tension between Lore, Bastien, and Gabe is hot. I love the vibrancy and magic in this world. Can’t wait for the conclusion to the series!

This is Hannah's best love triangle by far and I LOVE her worldbuilding. My book club read this and loved it!

. I was given the privilege to read and review this trilogy by Hannah Whitten and I have to say it blew me away.

The writing is fantastic, the world building is intense and enjoyable. You will absolutely fall in love with the characters and all of their flaws.

The ending was a perfect conclusion to Lore, Bastian, and Gabriel. The larger message of the story rings true today. That to make a better world we need to continuous be kind, hold onto one another, and not lose our humanness

Oh man, this sequel delves deeper into the world of dark magic, political intrigue, and complex relationships. Set shortly after the events of the first book, The Hemlock Queen finds Lore, Bastian, and Gabe in new positions of power. Bastian ascends to the throne as the Sainted King, with Lore by his side as his queen, and Gabe serving as the Priest Exalted. Despite their elevated statuses, the trio faces internal and external challenges, including distrust from the court, the encroaching threat of the Kirytheans, and the mysterious voice growing louder in Lore's mind.

The pacing in this book felt slower than the first one. In addition, I thought Gabe's role in this was is less prominent, leading to a sense of imbalance in the trio's dynamic. The Hemlock Queen offers an intricate blend of romance, magic, and political intrigue. While it grapples with pacing and character development issues, the rich world-building and compelling relationships provide a solid foundation for the series' continuation.

The Hemlock Queen was a decent follow up in The Nightshade Crown series.

While there were a lot of elements I enjoyed throughout this book, I unfortunately just struggled with where the storyline was heading. The pacing was very slow as well.

I did like that there was more magic, world-building, and action.

Overall, not my favorite but still a decent read.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Hemlock Queen continues the adventures that began in The Foxglove King. After the death of the king, Lore notices strange changes in Bastian. As the court chaos increases, Bastian claims the throne and Lore struggles to navigate her relationships with both Bastian and Gabe. With the voice of a goddess in her mind, can Lore save the throne and her friends?

I loved the character growth and development in The Hemlock Queen. Hannah Whitten’s dialogue is witty and filled with sensory details. Lore increases her bond with Bastian and learns more about the goddess haunting her thoughts. I hope there is more development of the relationship between Gabe, Lore, and Bastian. The Hemlock Queen is a fast-paced adventure that promises many more exciting twists in the third book. I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you to Hannah Whitten, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been such a huge fan of Hannah Whitten's work and was so excited for this book and it seems like she is going in directions with this series that I am not too fond of. The atmosphere in this book was still wonderful and the magic is interesting but not too complicated that its had to understand but the characters, they were so bleh. I understand trying to make a character have a believable trauma response but this was not it. I haven't had a book have so much second book syndrome in so long.

A dark and lush fantasy that absolutely delivered on atmosphere and emotion. I loved the morally gray characters, the slow-burning tension, and the sharp, lyrical writing. It’s gothic, gripping, and totally immersive.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the gifted arc in exchange for an honest review!

Second books in series are notorious for being a hit or miss, and this fell into the category of the latter.
Because there was no subtlety in regard to the ascension of the gods or the vessels they chose, The Hemlock Queen was both one-note and too long for what it was.

As for the love triangle between Lore, Gabriel, and Bastian, the narrative keeps alluding to the possibility of a polyamorous throuple, yet nothing has come of it and I’m tired of being strung along!!

Probably another 4.5 for me.

Idk yall this series is just doing it for me.

This is the second book in the series and I’m feeling VERY GRATEFUL I have the third one on deck. (Thank you Orbit books 😘).

I don’t know how to give details without spoiling parts of book 1 for those who haven’t read it so I will try to keep my thoughts brief.

1. I way Whitten writes the politics and the religious system in the book and critiques it is thought provoking and had me highlighting passages left and right.
2. I was having a hard time believing the love between Lore and one of the characters, but after getting more information I was a little more sold on it- though I wish it was explored more earlier on.
3. The information on the gods on the realm was interesting and I really liked the way it was revealed on the story.
4. THE LONGING I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE.

If you don’t mind love triangles, dark gothic vibes, intriguing magic systems, violence and death, and the occasional open door scene check this fantasy series out.

It is heavier on the fantasy than romance at this point, but has some romance elements to it. (Honestly I’m scared for the third book in this regard 😅- be gentle with me Hannah!)


Thank you for NetGalley and Orbit books for the eArc in preparation for The Nightshade God releasing in July!

First, I want to give a big thank you to Orbit for giving me access to this book! I really enjoyed The Foxglove King and this was just as incredible. This story is so intricate and detailed, but despite the complexity of the world and its magic, it's still easily digestible. I can't get over how unique the plot is. Also, I'm normally not a fan of love triangles, but I'm so attached to Lore, Gabe, and Bastian and super curious as to what will happen next with them. My heart was in my throat for the last 20% of this. I can tell the author puts a ton of time and effort into her stories and it is very much appreciated. Can't wait to dive into the 3rd book! Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC!

I was so excited to get back into this series and although it took me a bit to recall details from the Foxglove King, it did come back to me. A bit slow but still really enjoyable and was fun to read and discuss with the #fantasyfrenemies. Lore's character really developed well and I enjoyed learning more about the back stories and magic of the gods. I liked Bastian even more in this group but needed more Gabe. I will continue on in this series as I need to know how on earth this will end up.

I enjoyed this well enough but not nearly as much as the first. I admittedly skipped through from like 60-80% because I got pretty bored but the last 20% was good. I don't love when gods and goddesses play main characters in books so that's probably why I didn't love this. 3.5

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten is a dark and atmospheric fantasy that blends mystery, magic, and forbidden romance. With its richly developed world and complex characters, it grips readers from start to finish, offering a thrilling journey into a realm full of danger and intrigue.