Special thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of "The Hemlock Queen' in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded down for "The Hemlock Queen". I had a fun time with this sequel to "The Foxglove King". I especially love how we got a lot of information about Lore's powers and the relationship between Apollius and Nyxara. I think the magical lore is quite strong and fascinating, and I enjoy the way Apollius and Nyxara's toxic relationship plays into their power use. I think my favourite aspect of the lore in the book is the way we get to see how Apollius "built" his own religion using charm and manipulation - very reminiscent of cult leaders throughout history. He's a great villain, I won't lie.

I also enjoyed Lore and Bastian's relationship in this book, from his *cough* situation to her internal conflict about her place in the world. I also must say: Chapter 35 was everything I wanted and more. I was giggling hard during all of Bastian's scenes... even when [redacted] was happening to him. Which is concerning, but... he's just so pretty!

I gave this book 3.5 stars because it was way too slow in its middle portion. Too much exposition and too much repetition on the internal monologue plane. I would have liked to get more plot and dialogue than Lore... thinking the same things over and over. But overall, not a bad read, and something I'd definitely recommend to persons who like romantasy.

I loved the foxglove king so much, and I loved the hemlock queen just as much, maybe more!
Such a great great series.
Well written, so atmospheric,
Can’t wait to read more by Hannah Whitten!

I read this book immediately after reading the first and fell in love with the series. I liked trying to guess what was going to happen but I was still wrong! I hadn't realised this would be a trilogy so the ending left me a little gobsmacked and I need the next in the series asap please. I found this book easy to follow and even though there are lots of characters I didn't ever get confused about who was who or what they were supposed to be doing. I'm very excited to see what the third book brings to see how everything will resolve, if at all!

Hannah Whitten returns with an absolute bang with the second installment in The Nightshade Crown series. All of the incredible elements of the first book - the politics, court intrigue and tangled web of feelings between the core trio - are elevated further in The Hemlock Queen, as well as the stakes being higher, and more key players being introduced. The magic system and worldbuilding is developed much further in book two, and I love the way in which it was done.
The narrative itself remains cut-throat and fast-paced the whole way through, right up until the exhilarating climax.

Lore is one of the most refreshing and likable protagonists I’ve read in such a long time. She is so nuanced and multi-faceted, she has real flaws and character motivations, and even when she is dealing with complicated and unwanted feelings, she does not shy away from them. She owns her desires, both romantic and simply in her personhood.

Speaking of romance, I am someone who typically does everything in my power to avoid love triangles, but the one in this series is fantastically done. Whilst I definitely have my preferences (a certain tortured monk), the care and detail Whitten puts into developing them as three distinct people who truly cherish each other makes the triangle a complex dynamic to explore rather than an angsty trope.

I really treasured every moment I spent reading this book. It’s the first one in a long time that gave me that ‘6 star book’ feeling, of wanting to do nothing but delve back in, reading in every spare minute I could. I am so excited for others to read The Hemlock Queen when it comes out in April, and to see what book 3 has in store for us.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Little, Brown and NetGalley for providing me an eARC to review!

The Foxglove King was a bit of a fun romp full of religious imagery and pretty dresses, but didn't have enough meat on its bones to carry into a series. The imagery and dresses remained, but sadly the fun didn't. The first 100 pages are spent having pointless conversations and going absolutely NOWHERE. You need to really care about the three protagonists and their dynamic to carry you through, and there wasn't enough substance there to support it.

Flicking to the end, I feel you could skip this book entirely and still make sense of the last book in the trilogy. This series is fluffy, cliche and predictable, but I think there are better guilty pleasure reads out there. At this point I don't think Whitten's books are really for me, but I hope her books find their audience!

An excellent sequel with a typically infuriating cliffhanger. The same characters you know and love dealing with the fallout from the last. Predictable but still satisfying

Received as an ARC. I read The Foxglove King as an ARC and I really enjoyed it. This book, I loved! The development of the characters is brilliant and all the plot twists I just did not see coming! I already can't wait to read the third book!

EEEEEEEK! THAT ENDING! WHAT!? I wasn't sure if this was a duology or trilogy so I was getting distressed by how it would wrap up towards the end but so glad there will be another book!

This is such a tense book, had me hooked on the edge of my seat, so much going on, I'm intrigued as to how it will all play out in the next book! I really enjoyed this, it was fantastically written and definitely one of my favourite series now!

I found the world building in the first book to be a bit lacklustre and I struggled to get into it but thought that this would be a bit easier given it’s the second book and would give the author time to work on the plot, however, I couldn’t get into this one and struggled even more. Wasn’t one for me I’m afraid and I don’t think the author is either.

I was lucky enough to be approved for an arc for this book however all my opinions are not due to this!

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I truly think I loved this book more than the first! It’s spicier than the last but not too spicy. The plot is easy to follow but not predictable.

I loved that the author has done amazing character development and additionally hinted towards to many plot twists throughout the book but you do not realise until they happen they were foreshadowed!

Enemies to lovers in the first book…. Lovers to enemies in the second! And oh my god is this my favourite trope.

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100% recommend for anybody looking for a gothic fantasy

I liked returning to these characters as I loved the first book, I did think the pacing was slightly off in this as it dragged at points - not sure it needs to be as long as it is but I still enjoyed this. I wish we had more of the ‘throuple’ that we are being teased with and really hope there is more romance in the last book of the trilogy.