This book is a masterclass in storytelling-Whitten weaves an intricate, emotionally charged narrative that grips you from the start and refuses to let go. Lore's journey in this finale is nothing short of breathtaking, balancing high-stakes action, raw vulnerability, and an ever-present sense of impending doom. Banished to the Burnt Isles, she must not only find a way to defeat the god who has stolen everything from her but also face the growing power within herself-one that might be just as dangerous. The stakes are higher than ever, the emotional turmoil cuts deep, and every twist and turn left me in awe.
What truly sets this book apart is its rich worldbuilding, the complexity of its characters, and the way it effortlessly balances dark, gothic beauty with moments of hope and resilience. The multiple POVs were handled brilliantly, each perspective adding layers to the narrative rather than distracting from it. The last stretch of the book? Pure, unrelenting intensity-| was on edge, heart pounding, as everything unraveled in the most spectacular way. And the epilogue? I'm still recovering.
It broke me, healed me, and left me in stunned silence, cherishing every moment spent in this world.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you've followed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, then brace yourself-because The Nightshade God will shatter your heart in the best way possible. Hannah Whitten has truly outdone herself, and I will be first in line for whatever she writes next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing this brilliant fantasy book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

The time for this series has come to an end. Overall I did enjoy this book and thought it was a good book but I do think it was missing more between the relationship between Gabe, Bastian and Lore. I didn’t care to much for the other character POVs but they did add a bit to the overall all story.

I do think that the twist at the end was great. I wish there was more to it in terms of the after, but that will always just be me wishing for more.

Hannah Whitten is a fantastic author and I will always ready her books.

Thank you Netgally for the ARK.

4.5

Wonderful, thrilling, and fast paced conclusion to this fantasy trilogy. This book features one of my favorite narrative experiences, different perspectives all slowly inching their way towards one another until everything comes together and I was living for it. I love each of the main three characters in this book, and I was so sad to say goodbye to Lore, Bastain, and Gabe. I think it does a wonderful job tackling themes of humanity, power, and greed in a way that is fantasy focused but still really hits the mark. Overall, I loved this whole trilogy and was so happy with the way it all came together in the end. Would definitely recommend for any fantasy lover! (Especially now that you can read them all in a row)

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

So much happens in The Nightshade God—it's packed with action, twists, and emotional arcs—yet it still took me a surprisingly long time to finish. I already owned the first book but hadn’t gotten around to it, so when I received this copy, I quickly read both back-to-back to catch up. It was definitely a binge experience!

If you're a fan of the series already, you’ll likely devour this one. Personally, I think I may have read too many similar books recently, which made it harder for me to stay fully engaged. Some of the romantic dynamics felt a bit forced or confusing. I usually appreciate fluidity and polyamory in stories, but here it felt a little all over the place and hard to track.

That said, the core plot was really compelling. A few character arcs and twists (no spoilers!) were genuinely satisfying. I especially appreciated how Hannah portrayed Bastian’s struggle with Apollion—fighting for his own identity and autonomy—it was powerful and well-executed.

The first part of the book moved a bit slowly for me, but the pace picked up significantly toward the end, and several moments really took me by surprise in a good way.

Overall, while it wasn’t a perfect read, it was still a solid and imaginative story that left a strong impression. I’m glad I finally dove into the series.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the advanced copy!

Wow wow wow. What an incredible ending to this trilogy. It took me a little bit to get into, but about a third of the way in I was hooked. A lot of the setup from book 2 really came into play here and it was so rewarding to watch everything come together. Lore, Bastian, and Gabe are my babies and that ending was so bittersweet but made complete sense for the story. Hannah Whitten mixes unique fantasy elements with an incredible found family, and the religious aspects of the story are so interesting as well. Would highly recommend this trilogy!

3 stars. Let me start by saying that I really loved the first 2 books in this trilogy. I felt them to be fast paced with a really interesting magic system. But there's something about The Nightshade God that I struggled with. For starters, these are books that have to be read in order. Given the wide time frame between the release of book 2 and 3, I didn't remember much. But, Whitten did a great job of recapping important events from the previous book, without it feeling too heavy handed. But maybe because I didn't recently read book 2, I feel like I wasn't that invested in the characters anymore. Some of my favorite parts about books 1 and 2 were the court dynamics and political machinations, and of course, the interactions between the 3 main characters. But for most of The Nightshade God (at least 50+ % of the book), you get none of that. AND all the main characters are separated. It became harder and harder for me to feel really invested in any of these characters. Things do pick up in the last 30%, and the ending itself is definitely a memorable one. I think, personally, this would've been a trilogy I enjoyed more if I read all 3 books back to back (I read books 1 and 2 back to back, and like I said, loved them). All in all, I still really enjoy Whitten's writing, and I definitely look forward to all of her new releases in the future.

Thank you so much to Whitten, Orbit, and netgalley for the ARC.

The final installment of Hannah Whitten’s Nightshade series, The Nightshade Crown, delivers an intense and emotionally charged conclusion to Lore’s journey.

There were a few predictable moments in the plot that made it feel a touch familiar, but overall, the stakes were high and the final showdown was exactly the kind of epic payoff I was hoping for.

Fans of the series will be pleased with this final chapter, and though it wasn’t perfect, it left me feeling both fulfilled and sad to say goodbye to Lore and her world.

Let me just say, I’m so sad this trilogy is over, and I absolutely love Hannah’s writing style. Just kinda want to sit here and stare at a wall now lol.

Lore’s journey is incredible, from being exiled to the burnt isles, dealing with a ruthless enemy, and also wrestling with her own growing power, (which might be just as dangerous). The stakes are huge, the atmosphere is dark and haunting, and yet there’s still a thread of hope running through it all. The worldbuilding is stunning, and the way the different POVs are woven in just adds more depth and emotion to everything going on!

The final stretch of the book is definitely intense, ( but we love intense here 🤣 ) and I was at the edge of my seat basically the whole time. And the epilogue?! 😫😭

If you’ve read The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, you’re in for one unforgettable, heart shattering finale. Absolutely worth the wait!!

The Nightshade God will be out July 15th!

Thank you to orbit books & netgalley for this digital galley 💗

This was such a fantastic ending to this series. Holy crap. Lore, Bastian, and Gabe struggle to handle the gods in their heads, while their friends aren't as affected, they're all fighting to keep themselves.

As Appolius takes over more, Bastian fights harder than ever to be present. Lore is having her own battle, while Gabe is left to a while other host of problems entirely. Using the dreams to communicate seems to be the best way, but getting anyone there at the same time is rare. As they make their way to the golden mount, they are desperate to find each other again.

Unfortunately, the gods have other plans. This was absolutely heartbreaking. Everything they've worked for, to end like this. But maybe it isn't the end? Ugh. This was so good.

This was the prefect ending for a trilogy that has become an absolute favorite. Hannah Whitten writes with such deep beauty, creating characters and worlds that feel both familiar and like a glimpse of some long-forgotten past. Maybe all of this could have happened, lost to time and space and thought... A cycle of the universe.

As it is, in this final installment we find Lore banished to the Burned Isles. Apollius has taken control, but Bastian is still there. Clawing back from the depths, trying to hold fast. Gabe is separated from both of his loves, seeking some way to save them both. We also get Alie's POV, another piece on the board, one that is much needed as a counterpoint to our much-loved disaster trio. A trio at the core that is trying to find a way back so that they can finally love one another and live. And also save the world they know for the people they care about.

What I have loved about all of these books, but especially The Nightshade God, is the balance of seeking to shape power, to use it for good instead of evil. But also the idea that power can corrupt, especially without humanity. And that even in hands that want to do good, to make things better, power can erode control. And as much as they hurt, the parts that remind us that "the righting of the world cannot happen just once. it must happen over and over again" were some of my favorites. We do have to work to be good and just and right, to make things better for ourselves and the world as a whole. And it is not a singular event. It is a long process of remembering and continuing and building. Of finding beginnings in endings.

And at the end, after everything, what I can say is that Lore's name holds so much truth in it. For what is lore? It is knowledge, passed down, from one person to the next.

The Nightshade God is the third and final book in the Nightshade Crown trilogy. I felt that Whitten did well to wrap up the various loose ends throughout this book. The story was told through multiple POVs, which was necessary to tell the full story with the characters scattered and separate from one another. One of my favorite elements continues to be the strong world building and lore. Whitten did so well in the first two book with those elements and continues to shine in this installment. Another strong point in this book was the depth of the characters and their continued development. It was heartbreaking watching Bastian struggle with Apollius. Whitten has crafted these characters in such a way that you can’t help but feel for them making the emotional punches that much more painful. While I didn’t personally enjoy the ending, I do see how it fits the story as a whole and how it will satisfy many readers. Ellet’s audiobook narration was clear, crisp, and easy to understand. There was also energy and emotion creating an enjoyable experience. My main issue with the narration, though, was the lack of differentiation between POVs. I didn’t find there to be a distinct difference between the POV changes making it easy to miss the transition to a different character. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and series.

Such a good ending to this trilogy, I cried!

It crushed me, then brought me back.

This is the ending Lore, Gabe, and Bastian deserved.

The Nightshade Crown series has been a bit middle of the road, but still a solid series, but The Nightshade God?! Fantastic, and a such a great conclusion to the series!

Honestly, what an entirely satisfying and emotionally-charged conclusion! I have to admit, I was very apprehensive starting this book knowing it would be the culmination and end to The Nightshade Crown trilogy. These characters have fought and sacrificed so much up until this book, I had no idea where it was going to go! Whitten artfully interwove themes of political machinations, the corruption of power, and the manipulation of religion to maintain said power into now what is one of my favorite fantasy trilogies of all time. Seeing our trio of Lore, Gabe, and Bastian face insurmountable challenges and still choose the good was impactful to say the least. Their love and dedication to each other overcame fickle gods and the raw power to unmake the world. This book was so emotionally devastating in the best way, and I will be mulling it over and recovering from it for a very long time. The rich world building and character development culminated in one of the most intense conclusions to a series I have encountered so far. The last 10% of the book had me in tears and unable to look away. If you are looking for a fantasy series that has gothic elements, death magic, political moves and countermoves, soul-deep yearning, grit, and the hope to craft a better future… this is the series for you. Hannah, thank you for this world and these characters, I will cherish them always.

As always, thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for access to this eARC for review; all thoughts are my own.

And so continues the story of the crew turned into gods. Bastian is struggling to fight his way back to his own body that’s been overtaken by Apollius, Lore is imprisoned on the Burnt Isles, Alie is navigating a hostile Apollius-led Citadel engaged to Jax and Gabe and Malcolm have fled the country. How will they find their way back together and destroy the gods once and for all?

Not a bad ending to the trilogy but not my favorite of the 3 books. It kind of felt like everything just kept working out for them, like they just kept getting lucky. But I did enjoy the series as a whole and would recommend it to others!

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

How do I even describe a masterpiece like this series? How does one even begin to put all the emotion and love behind this series into words? The symmetry of these books and the way that these characters weasel their ways into your heart as just unmatched. This is the perfect end to the series and I could not think of anything to make it better.

From love to grief and everything in between, these characters embody humanity at its finest and at its worst. Their journey isn't just filled with magic and fantasy unlike any other, but it's filled with depth and beauty beyond words.

I don't want to give anything away, but this book had me screaming, crying, throwing up and then kicking my feet while I giggled two pages later. It was perfection. Get your hands on it. Now.

The Nightshade God is the conclusion of the Nightshade Crown series by Hannah Whitten. I love this world Whitten has created of false gods and the humans they inhabit. It has become one of my favourite series!

“What do we do if the very foundations of our belief are broken? How can anything built on them stand?”

The Nightshade God is the perfect end to the Nightshade Crown trilogy, and I am unsure how to exist in the world as a normal human being after finishing it.

At every step of the way, it left me wondering how our friends would make it out or if they would at all. It delves into the tangled mess of power and religion and fear and control and love and hope and autonomy and what it takes to make a world worth living in. And the ending. The ending! It was everything. I think I was outright sobbing for the last 15 percent or so. It was brutal and hopeful and utterly perfect. It does all of this while still managing to make me laugh out loud.

Lore and Gabe and Bastian and Ali and Malcolm are characters that I loved from the very first pages of The Foxglove King. Their character arcs through the series are incredible and I know they will stay with me for a very long time.

This book and this series was everything I needed and wanted. I look forward to reading it again and to reading anything and everything Hannah Whitten writes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this e-arc!

Thank you so much to Orbit for the earc of The Nightshade God, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this series as a whole, really wished that this book in particular explored the relationship of Lore, Gabe, and Bastion more. The conclusion was great, of Lore completing the task of making the Gods fall a second time. The ending was tragic, I found myself crying throughout the last chapters until the end.

Lore, Bastian, and Gabe are everything. They're such a great trio and I'm going to miss them so much! I have so many thoughts about this book, but almost all of them are spoilers concerning the previous books AND this one, but know I was in my emotions and on the edge of my seat the whole time.