I loved this book! Middle books in a trilogy can sometimes be tricky as it can sometimes be a “filler,” but I found that this book did not disappoint. The first half of the book is a little slow but afterwards it picks up. There is a lot of information that is discovered as secrets are uncovered.

This book begins a few days after the end of The Foxglove King. I first thought that because the corrupt king was killed off in first book that this book would be smooth sailing for our main characters. Definitely not! This book gives more depth to the background to the Gods and their powers. In addition, there is a lot of character development for not only the three main characters, but also some side characters. I enjoyed getting to know Alie more, and I hope we get to see her more in the third book. There were some plot points that were very predictable, but I didn’t find that to be annoying. This book definitely had plot twists that left me screaming.

As for our main characters, I can’t get enough of Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. The longing and tension in the romance between the three main characters kills me! I can’t choose who I want Lore to end up with more, Gabe or Bastian (maybe both?).

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I'm really torn. I'm not sure how to rate this. While I could see the ending of this book coming a mile away, I didn't expect it to take the turn that it did, so for me, the ending was five stars. But I don't think the whole book was. I loved the dark atmosphere, which is something that I enjoyed from the previous book as well. I also loved determination to try and find a way to fix/help the problem that Bastian was having throughout the whole book while also trying not to make too obvious that something was seriously wrong, even though she should have the minute she realized there were more issues then just her dreams and the talking voice. The politics and the pettiness of the court was enjoyable as well, as half of the time I was just rolling my eyes at their antics.

Am I the only one that could definitely see the main trio becoming a thing and wants that to occur? Because I think that would be great, and wouldn't mind seeing it.

As I said, the ending was great and I can't wait to see what Hannah Whitten does with the next book. Maybe after I've had time to digest what I've read, I'll bump it up to a five star, but for now, I think I'll settle for a four.

This book is so amazing. I don’t know how Hannah Whitten continues to put out absolute bangers. This book, in no way, has middle book syndrome. The plot moves forward in a way that gripped me throughout the entire book. The cliffhanger is unreal, and I’m left with a genuine fear of how this series will end. I don’t want to have to wait until next year!

The development of the relationships between everyone in the Citadel is unreal. Lore is in a new position within the court that she never thought she could be in. Bastian is now the Sainted King and wants to make changes to benefit the people. Gabe is now the Priest Exalted and now has to process his own relationship with Bastian and Lore. Alie and Malcom are a welcome addition to the crew. They each add something that Lore, Bastian, and Gabe don’t have.

While there are some pieces that were predictable, I was BLOWN AWAY with how the plot moved forward. I read this for the first time on my Kindle and I cannot wait until I get my hard copy so I can reread.

I loved The Foxglove King and could not wait for the second instalment in this series. Whitten has such a unique way of writing, she creates atmosphere and feeling wiht well thought and detailed prose. The Hemlock Queen picked up right where we left off with a few slight reminders for those of us who didn’t do a book one reread and to me this is incredibly appreciated and smart penmanship.

The first half of the book took me a little getting into, I was frustrated with a lot of the decisions being made but by the 40 percent mark things amped right up and never stoped. I was genuinely shocked by some of twists and reveals and I loved every one of them.

Whitten you are beyond creative and I can’t wait for book 3.

Detailed review to come when I post on Instagram closer to publication day.

Thank you to the publisher for the digital arc all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this sequel to The Foxglove King. Bastian has now taken the throne and both he and Lore are working to understand their powers. Gabe on the other hand has to work on deconstructing the religious beliefs he dedicated his entire life to. I continued to enjoy the magic system set up in this world and I think the dynamic that exists between Bastian, Gable, and Lore is so unique. I LOVE the direction the romance seems to be going and I really appreciate how organically everything is coming together. All in all a great follow up to The Foxglove King and I'm excited to continue with this series in the future!

Thanks NetGalley and Orbit for the e-ARC!

The second installment of The Nightshade Crown does not disappoint!

Where The Foxglove King introduced us to the world and its characters at leisure, The Hemlock King dives deep and leaves an impact.

What to expect:
✅ so much tension
✅ court politics
✅ old Gods
✅ love 🔻
✅ reluctant rulers
✅ prophecies
✅ devastatingly romantic
✅ spice 🌶️

The dynamics between the main players was so well done, that I was literally on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
It takes a lot to surprise me, but I really did not see most of this book coming. I felt the longing and trepidation between characters so whole heartedly and the mystery intrigued me so fully that I could not put this down!

I’m so fortunate to have received an early copy of this. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am brimming with anticipation for the final book!

A fantastic follow up. Immersive character and world building, leaves you wanting more! I was completely captivated by the court Whitten achieved to relay so wonderfully. I can’t wait for everyone to read this, they are going to love it!

Ugh hannah whitten, how i adore you. Thanks to orbit and netgalley for letting me review this ARC!

The Hemlock queen picks up a few weeks after the havoc that occured during the ritual meant to kill Lore and steal the powers of a god. Lore, having survived, finds herself a pawn in court and feeling powerless under the gaze of Bastian's protection. But something...isn't right with Bastian. They begin to be able to channel the magic of their realm together, and the man behind his eyes begins to seems less and less like the man she's known. Still leaning on the support of Gabe and her other allies, Lore seeks to save the world, quiet the voice now whispering in her own head, and save all the people she loves.

I went back through Foxglove King before i started this, and while i really liked the book, the ACTION action really took place in the last quarter of the book, and i do remember struggling to get through some of the beginning. Not the case with The Hemlock Queen-from the first pages it is clear that we are GOING IN. From the powers, to the channeling, to gods and finally getting to hear the real story of their coming to be, i was caught up in the action every second i was reading. On a personal note, I liked Lore's personal journey in this book. In the beginning shes so different from the spicy spy we met in TFK, but her world has been fundamentally upheaved- she was betrayed by her mother, the leader of her religion, a god, and the man she trusted most in the world and knows the world might end because she is alive. Seeing her grow from hopeless to empowered and from numb to experiencing her emotions was gorgeous. And omg this was the slowest of burns but i think the pay off is acceptable, knowing rhere is a third book to comeeeeeeee. Triangles, man. They always getcha.

I CANNOT wait for the third book.

I really hoped that, after finding the first book in this series moderately entertaining while a little lacklustre, the second book might kick things up a notch and make the story more engaging. In some aspects I definitely think that did happen, particularly with Bastian and Lore's ties to Apollius and Nyxara, but in a lot of ways this gave me the same feeling as the first book. I suppose that isn't a negative thing for anyone who really enjoyed the first book, but as someone who found it missing a little oomf this was equally as lacklustre.

I think my biggest issue is with the characters. I WANT to love them, I want to root for them, but they feel very cookie cutter and unoriginal. I've seen many books with the Lore/Bastian/Gabe dynamic, and after a while these archetypes get frankly boring. I'd even say they feel YA in a way that the characters don't feel fully rounded and real. I'd expect adult characters - even ones in their early 20s - to feel more layered and complex, but from the very beginning I felt like I fully understood all 3 main characters, and that doesn't make for the most compelling story.

I am happy that, for the most part, I got what I wanted with this tangled love triangle and that was my main motivator in reading this book. I can see where it's going and I'm sure that I'd find the end of the trilogy very satisfying in that regard, but it's really not enough to keep me engaging with this story. I can see why many people love this series, but I think it's just not doing what I need it to do. Overall it's just fine.

The Foxglove King was one of my obsessions of 2023, and The Hemlock Queen absolutely delivers. The magic system in this universe has a fascinating take on life and death, and we get to see these powers grow in our main characters. Expect many of your favorite characters as well as some delightful new ones. A captivating, 5/5 stars read.

I was given this book as an arc from orbit publishing. I really appreciate it. But I didn’t feel like this one was as good as the first one.

I feel like I’ve been kind of confused since book one. But this one was just a little bit more lacking in certain areas for me. I really appreciated the romantic story progressing a bit more. But I think more background about the gods and their powers is necessary.

That being said I understand it’s the second of 3 so I will still read the next one when in comes out in hopes that everything will be cleared up and make more sense.

For those over the whole self-sacrificial fair maiden female protagonists you so often find in fantasy book, THIS is the book for you. It’s so refreshing to have a female protagonist say “fuck you I’m not going to sacrifice myself,” and instead demand something even more radical - her freedom. Hannah is a master at weaving together complex characters and their nuanced feelings and thoughts. This books is rich with complexity and depth. I am feverishly awaiting the conclusion to this trilogy!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this!

Middle books in trilogies can be so tricky but I think this one did a great job. I read the whole second half in a day because I just wanted to know what was going to happen. It didn’t disappoint and now I’m sad I’ll have to wait for the last one!

First and foremost, thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book. It is beyond appreciated, but does not impact the content of my review.

This was so good. I literally just finished reading it, and I am beside myself. So so good.

This is the second book in the series so I’m not going to give a plot summary because it would quite honestly spoil the hell out of book one. That being said, you should read this series.

This is a gothic fairytale with dying gods, necromancy, and consequences from book one’s actions.

Also, I understand some people are going to feel that this book is slower than the first, which I guess is technically true, but that is because we have a lot more political intrigue, worldbuilding, and character work than book one. (Which are absolutely all things I very much love)

I did not reread book one before diving into this one. I was apprehensive that I would need to reread in order to understand what was going on, but nope, I think this book does a lovely job of referencing the events of book one to jog a few memories. However, I will admit that I was quite impatient to read this, and that may have factored into my not rereading book one.

Now, onto my highly subjective feelings… I loved it. I loved it a lot. I think this is exactly what a second book should be. There isn’t any sense of stalling or wasting pages. Everything feels like a consequence of the actions of the previous book and the worldbuilding added in this book is impeccable.

I love Lore, I love Gabe. I love Bastian. I just want them to be happy and of course, they are almost entirely miserable, but the chemistry! The pining. The bittersweet moments. It’s great. I think the characters stand very strongly in this book. I think the worldbuilding is done very well. Stakes are higher than they have ever been, and honestly it’s just cool. I love seeing how everything unfurls, and especially how our characters decide to deal with it.

This is absolutely a cliffhanger. Everything is definitely not resolved. But. I’m so excited to continue this series. I know without a doubt I will be continuing this series when the next book comes out. I will be buying this book when it comes out. I will be rereading. It’s very very good. Better than the first and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

4.75/5 stars

The Hemlock Queen is the second book in what will be a three book series.
The ending of the first book had me feinding to get to the next, however, I found the beginning of the second book to be a bit slower-paced. Once past that, I was fairly well hooked. When you find out the consequences of what the main characters did at the end of the first book, it's a total omg moment. Not only are there consequences for them, but also the people around them. And the ending of this book?
I had no idea there was to be another at the beginning, so I was absolutely FLOORED by the ending. I cannot wait for the next book.
Overall a great read, especially for those who love new magic systems and gods!!

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten is an epic fantasy and the second of a series that continues the adventures of Lore, a deathwitch (mortem, or death magic, wielder); Bastian, the Sun King and spiritum (light magic) wielder; and Gabe, the main religion’s high priest. I had a lot of high hopes for this book but unfortunately it didn’t work for me.

I really loved The Foxglove King and couldn’t wait to see what happened, but the opening was so slow and really dragged. It felt like the first 60% belabored the point of what was happening to Lore and Bastian. What was most frustrating was that it didn’t feel like Lore had any agency throughout most of the book. Things happened to her and she spent most of the book lamenting on how she couldn’t do anything about it.

One thing I did really appreciate was that the author allowed the main characters to fail and the consequences to be pretty big. It took the ending to an interesting place than I was expecting, and I did appreciate that.

It was nice to go a little further into the country and I expect the next book will go even further afield to places that have been mentioned, but we haven’t yet seen.

Favorite quote:
“Here she was, and here she’d stay, and everything in her was tuned toward making the best of it.”

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read this book as an ARC so I could give an honest review.

As Hannah Whitten references in the opening of her acknowledgements, “Middle books in trilogies are weird.” Second books in trilogies often pose the difficult task of growing the plot and characters in a way that feels like progress from the first book but doesn’t yet meet the climax of the third and final book. Whitten manages this well in The Hemlock Queen, the second book in The Nightshade Crown trilogy.

Whitten builds on the characters and relationships we met in The Foxglove King, but more substantially she builds out the world; the religion, the lore, the politics. The breadcrumbs she trailed in the beginning of the book come to a head in this book. The passing of the book was extremely well done, I wanted to keep reading, wanted to know what happened, and now I want to read book three.

I do wish she’d have built more on Bastian and Gabe’s relationship. Some aspects felt like they came out of left field and I would’ve loved more on page nuance there.

Overall, would recommend - especially if you were intrigued by The Hemlock King!

This story grabbed me right away. Loved it as much as book one. I was happy to be back in Lore’s world. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

I wanted to love this as much as Foxglove King, but unfortunately it is a passive book. Lore is just hanging about, waiting for things to happen, not being the director of her own life. I needed a lit more reminders of what happened in book one, and didn't have the time to do a full reread prior to this.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of which I was given in exchange for an honest review.

I'm convinced that Hannah can't write anything that I won't absolutely love.

The Hemlock Queen definitely feels pretty background heavy and character-driven, so prepare yourself before you pick this up. We learned quite a bit of history about the Bleeding God and Buried Goddess in this one. We also get a better sense of how Lore, Bastian, and (kind of) Gabe are feeling/thinking which I really loved; however, I agree with a review below that said "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.”

I hope in The Nightshade Crown #3 we see these three learn to communicate better and start to work through some of their issues because I definitely started to feel a bit frustrated with them towards the end. This ties into my only initial complaint which was that I thought this book felt a little long, but when I think back to all the things we learned I can see why it's so long. I'm basically certain I'll enjoy it even more on the second read through.

Thank you Hannah Whitten, Orbit, and NetGalley for the eARC! <3