So here's the thing...

I read the first 2 books over a year ago and really liked them. The things is that I borrowed them and don't own them so I didn't get a chance to reread them before starting Nightshade God. I probably could have waited to read this till I reread them but I thought it would all come back to me as I read. It didn't. Because of that, I had a hard time remembering who people were and specifics on what happened in the previous books.

Obviously, this is a me problem and not the books problem. The writing was as good as ever and I loved that the romance in this one was an actual triangle.

If I were to be nitpicky on something, it was that the story jumped around a bit much for me. Which was inevitable when you're trying to tell a story that was happening in 3 different places to 4 different people. It just made it a bit jumbled.

I did really like the ending though.

Overall I liked the triology and will probably read it all in one go soon.

The three books just didn’t feel consistent throughout if that makes sense, like the plot wasn’t planned ahead of time. I don’t think I would read again or recommend it, but I appreciate the advance copy.

Whitten has written another hit and I'm honored to have received this ARC, as this was my most anticipated series installment of 2025.

I actually finished this book within 24 hours of receiving the eARC but needed time to collect my thoughts. I absolutely adore this series and the final installment wrapped up Lore, Gabe, and Bastian's story in such an unexpected way. It was beautiful and heart-wrenching, although I found the ending unsatisfactory - purely because of my love of Lore. **SPOILERS** I was heartbroken to not see the trio get to enjoy the happiness they deserved together. Lore choosing to spend 500 years alone, watching everyone she's loved grow older and pass away, becoming the lonely woman on the mountain.... Gods, she deserved more than that. I wish there had been additional epilogue about after they had reunited, even just a paragraph about them spending their lives together. That's the romantic in me though.

Thank you so much to Orbit books for this Arc. And thank you to Hannah Whitten for listing the trigger warnings ahead of the first chapter. You’re so real for that.

This book is a masterpiece, I laughed, I cried. I boo-hoo cried and then I cheered right before the world ended. I will be honest, I had no idea how Whitten was going to wrap this series up, but it was done brilliantly. I will say no more because; spoilers.

All of my religious trauma was brought to the forefront, then soothed, then cranked all the way up and then settled. 5 stars. Apologies for the rambling review, I feel like I’ve had a god (or four) in my head.

How is this the ending?!?! I need this series to continue. What an amazing conclusion to this perfect trilogy

I am in literal awe over this last book in the trilogy - I have liked every book more than the last and the Nightshade God was absolutely magnificent.
This epic conclusion continued to build off of the dark fantasy Whitten masterfully created in her first two books. Lore grapples with the cost of defying prophecy, faith in humanity’s ability to be kind, complexities of love and power, and how choices impact both the world and their godhoods.
Apollius was the perfect villain throughout these novels and getting to experience more of the gods break through in these characters we grew to care about was written beautifully.
A big theme I saw throughout this trilogy, which I really enjoyed, was challenging religion when it’s used to justify heinous crimes and hatred between people, especially in creating great inequalities.
The Epilogue left me in a constant flow of tears after everything Lore, Bastian, and Gabe went through. How could you do this to me Hannah Whitten?! It was so incredibly beautiful and soothed all the dark places in my heart.

Hannah Whitten is a phenomenal writer and it is evident throughout every page of this book. I saved so many annotations from this novel because they’re so thought-evoking. Thank you for a phenomenal ending to this trilogy.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

5/5

The Nightshade God concludes Hannah Whitten’s enthralling gothic dark fantasy trilogy, The Nightshade Crown which found its beginnings back with The Foxglove King. Brimming with death magic, fickle gods, and a chaotic bisexual trio—an arrogant prince, a duty bound priest, and a poison runner, embroiled in a sinister plot within the Sainted Kings court—The Nightshade Crown is a trilogy I’ve long considered as one of my favorites, perfectly poised against my more niche reading tastes. Entwining a deep expose into religion, its tendency to subjugate and the unavoidable allure of power, this conclusion sees our trio confronting the powers that have long sought to control them and their personal limitations. Lore, exiled to the Burnt Isles and cut off from her magic, Gabe lost and on the run in Caldien, and Bastian a mere puppet to a higher godly power. After two books of buildup Hannah Whitten lays bare the flawed roots of godhood, from the complexities of Auverraine’s religion to the godly beings who drank from the Fount centuries ago. This finale doesn't let up on the relentless tension, and whatever you’re imagining for its end, prepare to be unmade in the transformative waters of the Fount upon the mountain.

This is a portion of my full length review, which can be read in full on my blog.

This is one of the best endings I have ever read. Not only was this book full of schemes, action, and love. It also has tragic, sadness and hope. I can’t believe I just read that ending. I think my favorite part was Lore confronting that Fount and how she overcomes everything and on top of that she is patient for the life she deserves.
Reading chapter with different point of views was so entertaining. Sometimes it’s not my favorite but in this case , when the main characters are all over and they are all experiencing different things it was necessary. I definitely needed to read about Bastian being trapped and Gabe learning his god powers and Allie was a great addition here, I loved reading her point of views. This books series is one of the most unique series I have read, with the ideology of religion, the magic system and of course the very unique ‘love triangle’ which I definitely loved. Another great book series by Hannah Whitten, I don’t think I’ll ever stop recommending her books.

Hannah Whitten truly went all out with this finale—and wow, did it hit hard.

Before diving into The Nightshade God, I needed a refresher (it had been a minute), so I binged The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen on audiobook through Libby—and let me tell you, total immersion. By the time I opened this ARC ( set to release July 15.2025), I was in deep and completely obsessed with this world all over again.This final installment delivers everything I hoped for and more—gothic atmosphere, intense emotion, dangerous magic, and characters that cut right to the core. Lore’s journey is as fierce and heartbreaking as ever, and the added POVs from Alie and Bastian only made the stakes feel higher. Lore’s world is rich and dark, but never without glimmers of hope, resilience, and messy, complicated love.
If you’ve been following the series—or even if it’s been a while—this finale is absolutely worth diving back in for.
This ARC was given to me freely by Orbit and NetGalley in return for an honest review .

This series as a whole is good, but I was a bit disappointed in the final book. The pacing was quite slow, and while I appreciated the additional POV’s, I felt like it ultimately detracted from the emotional depth between Lore/Bastian/Gabe that was so powerful in the earlier books. The inter-character dynamics definitely take a backseat in this story and the plot didn’t really feel interesting or climatic enough to offset that change. I definitely credit this author for having such a unique world and characters, and love the representation that is missing from many other fantasy series. I just wish this packed a bit more of a punch and had a more satisfying ending that brought everything together in a more cohesive way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Review of The Nightshade by Hannah Whitten

The Nightshade by Hannah Whitten is a captivating read that masterfully blends dark fantasy with intricate character development. One of the standout elements of the book is Whitten's ability to craft vivid, immersive settings that draw readers into the shadowy, enchanting world of Nightshade. The atmospheric descriptions and the engaging narrative pace keep the pages turning effortlessly.


Overall, The Nightshade earns a solid 4-star rating for its gripping storytelling, rich world-building, and memorable characters. It's a must-read for fans of dark, atmospheric fantasy.

I often find that I love Hannah Whitten's ideas more than their execution, and I found that to be somewhat the case here. It's always hard when central characters are separate for large chunks of a story, and while she found some ways around that, I still felt I was spending more time with people I didn't care about rather than watching the central trio grow as a unit. I love how she uses her fantasy to explore religion and control, and she has some striking set pieces, I just wish the emotional peaks had hit me harder.

This book made me want to SOB!! Hannah Whitten has truly outdone herself with The Nightshade God — it’s haunting, lyrical, and completely unputdownable. From the very first chapter, I was sucked into a world that felt both darkly magical and deeply emotional.

Now let’s talk about the multiple POVs — because normally, that gives me the ick. Too many books try and fail to balance them well. But y’all… Hannah Whitten found the balance. Each POV is purposeful, distinct, and so beautifully woven into the narrative that it keeps the momentum going without ever feeling jarring. Every character’s voice matters, and every chapter pushes the story forward in such a satisfying way.

The writing? Gorgeous. The tension? Palpable. The heartbreak? Real. This story will claw its way into your heart and refuse to let go.

Thank you, Orbit, for the e-ARC of this absolute masterpiece.
10/10.
Just read it.

Thank you so much to Orbit Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC

When I read The Foxglove King, a few years ago, I wasn’t super into it. I think I was waiting for a bigger love story than what I had gotten, but the love story was in its very infancy then. Also, the trilogy isn’t necessarily a love story to begin with. It’s about faith, and losing that faith; learning what you’ve been told your whole life is wrong; realizing everyone has different definitions of love; and the sacrifices people are willing to make for others.
I really loved the multiple POVs in this book, I thought it made the story work so much better across multiple locations and seeing how each character was dealing with the gods and the world around them.
I think people will love the ending, though it’s sad, it’s also realistic and then the epilogue was perfect to. Seeing the journey of the fount protector become its own lore, but not a religion was fun.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it most certainly delivered. The story wrapped up just perfectly!

My favourite part was definitely the characters. Everyone’s arc had a a very satisfying conclusion. The multiple POVs were well-done and balanced, with each character having a distinct voice. Lore, Gabe and Bastian have a special place in my heart.

I love the way that author examines the nature of religion and how easily it can twisted and exploited in this story. You can tell that Hannah Whitten put a lot of thought into creating the belief system of this world and it really paid off. The discussion of godhood and humanity really struck a chord. The epilogue was just perfect, so heartbreaking yet so full of hope.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing the ARC!

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten

Grateful to have had the chance to read this book before its release on July 15, 2025! Shout out to Orbit and NetGalley for sending me an arc!

The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen were among some of my favorite reads in 2024!

Thrilled to be back with my favorite cast of characters! This should be your warning that if you haven’t read the first two books STOP HERE!!

Okay, I love the premise of this series. Dark, gothic, fantasy vibes? Yes, please.

In our final installation we get multiple different POVs from each of our main characters. While I missed the banter of everyone together, it wouldn’t be realistic for how book two left off.

We find Lore cast away on the Burnt Isles trying to survive her imprisonment. Gabe is across the continent trying to make do. And Bastian is king..or at least some form of him is.

This book felt action packed from the very beginning. At first I hated switching between povs, but I think it felt more authentic. I was becoming attached to each character and hated being ripped away from their story.

I loved getting to feel each characters raw emotion and watching them come to terms with their “magic”. While the gods still play a huge part, I liked how the focus was still on our main group.

Calling all One Dark Window lovers because I think you will enjoy this series, too! I certainly did 😬

Review of The Nightshade God by Hannah H. Whitten (The Nightshade Crown #3)

Passion filled and action packed, The Nightshade God is the latest jewel in Hannah H. Whitten’s storytelling crown. In this compelling conclusion of The Nightshade Crown trilogy, she brings us back to the world of a ruthless god and the all too human heroes who struggle to defeat him.
Lore is trapped on the Burnt Isles, separated from everyone she loves. She must survive her banishment and devise some way to defeat Apollius, the god possessing King Bastion, who is steering the world toward an all-out war. The key might be closer than she thinks, hidden on one of the isles. Her friends must help her restore the Fount, the source of all the gods’ power, to destroy and finally defeat the gods and set the world to rights. Surprising new allies and her growing magic move Lore closer to that goal—and create unexpected complications. Saving those she loves may mean losing herself.

I loved this book and the whole series. More than Whitten’s other books, this series provides a truly thought-provoking journey, a deeply engaging exploration of spirituality, religion, and love—with loads of action, magic, and adventure, of course. If dark fantasy is your cup of hemlock, I highly recommend that you add The Nightshade God to your reading list.

Note: If you haven’t yet read the first two books in the series, The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, do read those before you dive into this one. While Whitten deftly weaves in the backstory from those previous books, you will be lost if you read this one first. Also, content warning: This is a dark fantasy with a lot of gore and violence, adult language, and sexual content among other elements that may disturb more sensitive readers. For a full list of content warnings I suggest visiting Whitten’s site.

The Nightshade God brought a bittersweet end to one of my most anticipated reads of the year. But to be brutally honest, I was disappointed by this final installment. What I loved about the first two books—Whitten’s atmospheric worldbuilding, rich prose, compelling characters, and masterfully built tension—felt flat and one-dimensional here. The pacing was rushed, lacking the intentional structure that made the earlier books shine.

The scavenger hunt-style plot, spanning four POVs, felt disjointed, weakening the tension and resulting in an anticlimactic ending. This focus pulled attention away from character growth, depriving Lore, Bastian, and Gabe of the emotional depth that could have made their arcs more compelling. While their individual journeys made sense, how they arrived at their conclusions felt unearned.

The final 25%—especially the epilogue—was rushed and forced, verging on dull. While I respect a story that doesn’t default to a neat happily-ever-after, a few pages of the epilogue felt like an inadequate payoff for three books of development.

By the end, I kept questioning the writing choices made throughout. Was the scavenger hunt necessary? Did Alie’s perspective add anything meaningful, or was it just filler? Why didn't we get her POV and Malcolm’s? Did we need them? Why didn't we see more of the other Gods awaken? Did we need to? Or, better yet, instead of other POVS, could the space have been used to deepen Bastian, Lore, and Gabe’s emotional journeys? Could we have seen more time between the three of them to understand what their sacrifice truly meant?

That said, I see a lot of potential in Whitten’s work, and despite my struggles with this installment, I believe it will resonate with Romantasy readers. It delivers strong themes of magic, diverse romance, and choosing your fate, and for those who enjoy these elements, it’s worth reading for what it is, even if it didn’t fully work for me.

Thank you, NetGalley & Orbit Books, for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't have words to describe the ending of this book/series. It breaks my heart that the group spent so much of this book apart to then spend lifetimes apart after. I loved everything about this book though, from the character development, to the new settings, finding out the rest of the gods history, and yes, even the heartwrenching ending. Lore's growth in this final book made me wonder about the girl we first met and how she grew up so fast and took on the responsibility of so many. watching her say goodbye to everyone over the years of her exile and hearing about what all those folks ended up doing with their lives because she saved them.

The Fount was one of the most interesting characters in this book. Learning it's true intentions and then having it realize the assumptions it made about humanity were wrong. It was interesting to see it go through it's thought process and emotions about how it viewed humans.

I can't even really put in to words how I felt at the end minus the tears, so many tears.

I think this was a perfect ending to the trilogy, everything was wrapped up and there were no lose ends in my opinion, it's a super satisfying read and definitely one of my favorites