3.5 stars 🌟 This book is exactly what I expected, young adult fantasy with a touch of more adult themes. There was very little in the way of spice apart from an uncomfortable love triangle. Overall the storyline was good and well written but some parts I feel lacked in their execution, as it was a really struggle to connect with some of the characters and I didn’t feel I could warm up to any of them.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book lifted me out of a reading slump.

The world building, whilst a little confusing at the start of the book ended up shaping an entirely new fantasy world that I loved.

Strong and witty FMC, with great banter throughout the book!

Highly recommend.

3.5 stars - so rounded up to a 4 on NetGalley.

Oh the tension! The drama between Lore and her men.
I need more, desperate for some of that aching tension to be relieved if not for my sake but poor frustrated Lore!

1. Did you find the story interesting, and did it hold your interest?
I initially found the story slow paced which I struggled with, however within a few chapters I was invested in Lore the FMC and Gabe (our hero maybe? Maybe not). I loved learning about the Sun Prince and the different magic systems.
I'd love a prequel about the Godsfall - I want to know what life was like during that time!
2. Did the writing, plot, and characterizations flow?
The story flowed well, there were some great twists and turns throughout. I felt like the romance element of the story was a very slow burn - there was litte "action" besides a few kisses/touches and potential foreshadowing for the next book.
3. Did you enjoy the characters? Did you find yourself rooting for the "good guys", and hoping the "bad guys" get their come-up pence?
Yes, I loved Lore - her backstory was slowly told throughout in small doses. I loved this as I think if we were given the information all up front - the love for Lore would be different.
4. Overall, did you enjoy the read, or not, and would you recommend it your friends?
I enjoyed this book, I would recommend it to my friends who enjoy adventure, magic, fantasy with a little bit of a young adult vibe. If you need spicy, this book isn't for you. Hopefully the next one might contain a little more spice however the story telling makes up for the lack of it!

Bits that left me underwhelmed?
- I felt that this story like many other young adult fantasy books has become a bit of a cliche. Fated partners, a love triangle, morally grey man, righteous good guy who isn't that gret.
- At time I found myself having to reread chapters to better picture the world. I feel that more world building would be beneficial.
- This book is not for those looking for a detailed romatasy, it isn't for those who want spice or who need more than just kisses.

"A foxglove for a foxglove."
First of all, I wanted to thank Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is by the For the Wolf and For the Throne author.
Anyway, it was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023 and I really wanted to read it, so much so that I was overjoyed when I saw that I received the ARC!
The Foxglove King is a new epic fantasy that was presented as: big religious trauma feels, lost gods, court intrigue, romantic angst, necromancy. And I must say that most of the premises have been kept, because the book talks about our main protagonist Lore, who manages to escape from the catacombs and hide, because she doesn't want her power to be revealed, but this obviously happens and our protagonist will find herself thrown between court plots, Mortem, the power of death itself, and much more.
The plot I must say that even if it is not totally original for what is its subject, or the fact of necromancy, the resurrection of the dead and so on, I still liked it. Its development runs like clockwork and there are also many interesting, new narrative twists that are perfectly in line with another element that I really liked: the setting. This last point in my opinion was done beautifully, as it captures every aspect of the narrative. What do I mean? Creating an environment is creating a worldbuilding, a world that has its own characteristics and even if you are not reading your mind creates a vision or in any case an aesthetic. And here for me it was very like that. I noticed it in the places described, in the Gothic currants, even a little French pre-revolution, also given the proximity of the plot to saints, the poor and the power of death. It is something that is totally evident in the description of the court, of what it does, the places as well as the ways of speaking and what is happening all around. I think it's one of the aspects of the book that I liked the most, perhaps the most successful.
The characters aren't bad either, since we follow the story with our protagonist Lore, but there are also the other two musketeers, as I call them, Gabriel and Bastian, who all together form this nice trio. As I just said, the characters are there too, they're okay, and with their characters they create a roundabout for this trio that works very well.
Despite all these points, the plot that flows very well, the characters that are very likeable, the setting that I particularly adored, for me, personally, something was missing. The book is beautiful, I have to say, it's interesting, but I didn't, let's say, become fond of the story, which, for me, is one of the fundamental things within my gradient of appreciation of a book. I didn't get that something that I wanted to happen instead, and, therefore, despite the book flowing very well, I didn't feel emotionally involved.
To say the least, I really liked the ending too. There's a nice twist, which might seem trivial if I look at the whole story, but I really liked it, because at that moment of reading I really wasn't expecting it!
Still, it was a very interesting and enjoyable read.
At present, especially after that ending, I don't know if I'll continue reading. A little bit of curiosity remained with me but I have to think about it very carefully!

I loved The Foxglove King - it had everything I’ve been craving for in a read right now: a driven plot, court intrigue, a unique magic system and mythology, all with multifaceted characters, I could really empathise with.

Admittedly I picked up this book once, and the first chapter or two didn’t grip me. On my second read through, I devoured the entirety in two sittings! I’d definitely recommend pushing through the initially, slower start to get to the deliciously, tension-filled meat of the story.

The ending of the book really hit home regarding how much of a journey the three main characters have been through; their world views and loyalties shaken, their literal places in the world upheaved. It will be interesting to see where everything falls in the sequel!

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from netgalley, in return for an honest review.

I had so much fun with this book!

The setting was dark, the magic system interesting and I’ve felt engaged in the story from the beginning. It was so easy to care for the characters! How could I not fall for them when all three are broken, unloved, and know nothing besides distrust?

The foxglove king had a bit of everything: court politics, intrigue, cults, obcessive religious beliefs and behaviors.

The Foxglove king has one trope I hate - love triangle - but I’ve found myself completely on board with it, and although I’m biased towards one of the characters, I would be totally on board with a poly relationship in this series 🙈

The ending was gripping! I wish I had the sequel now to read!

I think it’s now safe to say that I love everything that Hannah Whitten writes. She creates characters that I find myself caring for almost instantly and relationships that I would go to my grave for.
The Foxglove King was no exception. The magic system and the descriptions of how the magic feels and acts is again one of the very strong points of the writing, but there’s also a sort of inherent poetry to Whitten’s writing that draws me to it. Quite often, I would find myself stopping on a sentence that was so full of longing that I would re-read the paragraph to enjoy that small nugget of magic and the way it echoed in the story again.

I loved the characters and could not help hoping for their eventual happiness together. The way they are tied together by destiny is one of my favorite trope ever and the betrayals some of them suffered made me want to cry for them. I found that the way Whitten writes longing emotions is something I can’t get enough of. That being said if this doesn’t lead to a certain type of relationship in the second book, I will riot.

Sure, there were things that were not perfect, but the overwhelming thought the book left me with, is that I can’t wait for the second one.

Thank you to Orbit and Hannah Whitten for an arc copy of The Foxglove King.

I loved this book! It hooked me from page one with its mystery and intriguing plot centred a magic of neuromancing. The pacing can be a little slow in places, but there is a lot of world building this book is doing so I think it slowed in places to build up the world setting and introduce the complicate political setting and royal court. The characters were all unique and likable, I liked we go a love interest that wasn't a perfect specimen, I love a broody, wounded soul type of love interest with bags of chemistry. Looking forward to the sequel to see where this story goes next.

Gosh I loved this book!

The beginning is slow. Really slow. I actually put it down twice before telling myself just to see it through as it sounded like the sort of book I would enjoy. I am SO glad that I persevered, because the change in pace after the first 40/50 pages is worth it. There's a lot of build up both plot wise and sexual tension - lots of 'will they won't they' at the same time as the deeper undercurrent running through the plot that makes you question what is going on, and if they are who they say they are.

The mix of magic, religion, semi-historical setting and intrigue worked really well. If I had to make a small criticism, aside from the slow start, a few elements felt a little rushed and therefore overlooked - such as a lot of characters seemingly turning a blind eye to things, Horse (I mean, really!), and Royal power and dynamics - but it doesn't really detract from the story or the flow as things progress. I will be rereading, and also eagerly awaiting the sequel.

I absolutely adored this book- I was swept away by a spectacular story and world.

I adore Hannah’s writing style and can’t wait to see what she has in store in the future

This book has it all: betrayals, twisted web of religion and court politics. Whilst the delicious slow burn of romance is addicting. I read this book in one sitting and it left me wanting more.

There is nothing better than watching three absolutely chaotic and lost characters being in a no win situation and seeing what cunning plan they come up with. The love triangle, the twists, just everything is amazing in this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I honestly can’t wait for the next one.

#currentlyreading #bookreview #bookreader #bookstagram #bookstagramer #ilovebooks #fantasyreader #romance #netgalley #TheFoxgloveKing #hannahwhitten

"The Foxglove King" is the first installment of "The Nightshade Crown," a fantasy romance series, with dark overtones, written by Hannah F. Whitten and currently in progress.

"The Foxglove King" has succeeded in an incredible feat: making me appreciate the LOVE TRIANGLE! Because yes, the love triangle plays an important role within the book and no, it is a trope I usually detest. Yet here it convinced me! Seriously, I kept expecting the arrival of the annoyance,,, after the initial excitement, but it never came! And that left me pleasantly surprised, as well as disconcerted! But okay, love triangle aside, I loved this novel so much! I've never read anything by the author, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I came away satisfied. The gothic and sumptuous setting, the dark and articulate worldbuilding, the intricate and intriguing plot, the refined and sophisticated style, and the complex and tormented characters won me over, making me swoon repeatedly! I recognize that it is not a perfect book, I perceived some flaws, however, I cannot express anything but compliments!

The story is set in the kingdom of Auverraine, inspired by France of the past. A kingdom ruled by a cruel and power-hungry king, squeezed under the weight of the Church, marked by sharp disparities between nobles and common people. A land in constant tension, threatened by the shadow of an imminent war with the neighboring empire. A place where fallen and deceased gods release power from their burial places, with more or less severe effects on their surroundings. More specifically, the events take place in Dellaire, the great capital of the kingdom, characterized by the illegal traffic of poisons and the intake of poisonous substances. I was captivated by this gothic, dark and gloomy world building, where the glittering splendor of the court contrasts with the squalor of the outside and the lugubrious atmosphere of the catacombs and crypts. I appreciated the magic system based on the magic of life and death, as well as the various annotations, at the beginning of each chapter, regarding the history and traditions of Auverraine.I admit that some elements seemed vague, poorly explained, but this does not affect my high general liking.


The story unfolds among court intrigues, power plays, masquerade balls, banquets, receptions, furtive encounters, subterfuge, deceptions, secrets, betrayals and much more! The author uses elegant, evocative and sophisticated writing, full of descriptions and observations, which make the narrative slow, but no less smooth. I personally did not perceive any moments of boredom or heaviness, but it depends on taste.

I loved the characters! Lore, protagonist with her only third person pov, is a woman with a difficult past, gifted with unpredictable death magic, who tries to make her way through a complex situation. Strong, determined, ironic, mischievous and deceptive, she convinced me from the start! And then there are Gabe and Bastian, the two male characters! Gabe is a warrior monk of Presque Mort, a former duke, tasked with guarding Lore. Marked by a difficult past, he is a strongly loyal man, devoted to duty and his vows. Bastian, on the other hand, is King August's only son and heir, seemingly listless, reckless, filtering, arrogant and irreverent. They are three wonderful characters, beautifully portrayed, who made me freak out beyond belief! Seriously, I was captured by their sizzling interactions, the chemistry they exude! Between a slooow burn very sloooow, a heavy dose of angst, a forbidden love to die for, and the fact that they don't cooperate, I found myself sweating a lot! I really like Gabe and Bastian then gosh, I can't choose and I don't want to! I repeat: I didn't think I could appreciate the love triangle, but it really got me here!

All in all, "The Foxglove King" is a fantastic start to the series and I can't wait to read the sequel because I need to know!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an arc copy of this book by netgalley.

The was an immersive gothic tale. I really enjoyed the way the book was written and look forward to reading more from this author. Lore was an interesting main character and the fact that she had unusual abilities made you want to read the book more.

This book has been on my wishlist for quite some time, but since I have the author's other series still unread on the shelves I was not allowed to buy this book yet. However, the British Paperback is releasing this week and therefore Netgalley offered some review copies. I couldn't help myself and had to request one too. I was incredibly happy when Orbit, part of Little Brown Book Group UK, granted me a review copy.

I have to admit that it took me a little time to get into this book. The magic and mythology is quite complex and it was hard to grasp anything at the beginning. A lot of what happened didn't really stick, because I had issues understanding what was going on. The more I read though, the more I started to fall in love with the characters and eventually also with the magic and lore. I started reading faster and faster and then I reached the point I just had to finish.

The finale of this book was amazing and it was impossible to stop reading once everything came together. All the explanations, all the building up, all the research, all the sneaking around, it was all leading to those final chapters. There was this moment where I started understanding what was happening, a little before the characters in the story did, and from that moment on I was incredibly invested in watching everything unfold.

I also absolutely loved the three main characters in this novel. I especially like them because they're all three flawed and they're all three far from perfect little angels. There are moments in this book they mess up, there are moments they pick themselves over the rest of the world, there are moments they betray people they love and care about. But I understood them. I understood why they did what they did and I can't wait to see what's waiting for them in the sequel!

I went into this book with lower expectations that I would usually, because at the time of reading I had had a string of not so great reads, but I was really pleasantly surprised. I was hooked pretty much instantly, and by the time I was done, I was desperate for more. Cannot wait for the next book!

The first book in this series is a gothic, atmospheric fantasy filled with court intrigue, secrets and prophecies. It tells a tale of power and how religion can be used to secure and control it.

Our main character Lore was born in the catacombs beneath the city and since she was young she has been able to wield death magic. Whilst the use of this magic has been outlawed by the church and monarchy she is unable to leave the city due to her magic's tie to it.
She is soon plunged unwillingly into the Sainted Kings royal court and ordered to solve the mysterious mass deaths of citizens in nearby villages by using her magic. Whilst there she must learn how to navigate the opulent courts politics where few can be trusted.

I was hooked on this book early on and finished it over the course of two days. I found the plot really interesting, the characters relatable and likeable and the sprinkling of potential romance will have me eagerly awaiting the release of The Hemlock Queen in April.

A solid 3.5, rounded up to 4 because I will continue the series.

This is a book of intrigue and mystery centred around three main characters; Lore, the smuggler/spy with an affinity to death magic forced to uncover a mystery surrounding dead villagers; Gabe, a monk and former noble tasked with escorting her in the court of Auverraine's king; and Bastian, rogue prince and heir to the throne. These three need to figure out who to trust and how to stop more villages from mysteriously being wiped out overnight.

This was fun once I got into it. The first act is super exposition-y and I don't think it was all that effective as I got through most of the book not being totally certain of the magic system and the worldbuilding. I considered DNFing early on. However, around the 35-40% mark the plot really picked up, which made me stick with it. I'm glad I did, because the conclusion is great with some twists that I didn't see coming.

Lore is an okay MC. I like that she never compromises on her beliefs and admits that she looks out for herself first.
Sooo many times though, she writes off something obvious that she sees as "just her imagination" which is a bit infuriating. There's also the beginnings of a love triangle - not ususally my favourite trope but it seems to be done quite well here, with both potential relationships feeling believable and like it really could go either way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to get stuck into the next in the series.

The book follows Lore, a poison runner with the power to channel death. As the story unfolds, you find out more about this power, her history and how it links to the religious extremism of the world.

I really enjoyed the magic system and felt like it and the history around it were explained well without loads of info dumping. You learn more as Lore learns more, which works as it stops everything from being too heavy.

There's a bit of a live triangle in the story but a lack of spice. I feel like both male main characters could be built out a bit more as there is lots about their histories that can be explored in greater detail.

I've not read any of the author's other works but this was a great introduction. The story definitely gets stronger as it goes on and I have high hopes for the second book in the series.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, such an original storyline.
The banter was brilliant though I wasn't keen on the love triangle, but that's my personal preference. I loved the poison and necromancy aspects and i would like to read more of this genre because of this book. I will definitely be reading book 2.

Ok, so I went in this book not knowing much except that it was a Romantasy...
What I didn't expect was to find the MFC being a necromancer....
and (obviously) she quickly get stuck in a situation she wants no part of, but can't escape.
So yes, I'm all in for a badass MFC, 2 love interests, good banter, many many secrets and questions.
I must say all the mini cliffhangers at the end of the chapters kept me going as well!
You do get most of the answers, and now I cant wait for the second book in the serie to see how everything will turn out...

*Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for access to the ebook against an honest review.*