Hemlock Queen

4.5⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

Okay so this went a way I was not expecting. I was just getting my head around Lore’s powers with the Morte and then there were Gods. I enjoyed the way it went.
Bastion and Lore together are so cute. But not going to lie, this love triangle with Gabe would have easily been solved with a Why Choose. IYKYK

I’m excited to find out where the story goes!!

Thank you Little Brown Book group & Orbit for the ARC

We’re back with Lore, Bastian and Gabe in this one and picking up right where we left off. There are plenty more secrets, difficulties knowing who to trust, and a kingdom on the brink of war. Lore needs answers and she needs them fast, but they’re not easy to come by and all the while, she and her friends are in danger. Trust is at an all time low and the ground between Lore and Gabe is rocky after his betrayal in The Foxglove King. Will they repair their relationship? You’d have to read to find out! It’s hard to say much on this one without giving anything away. I enjoyed venturing back into the world of deadly magic and romantic pining but I would say it was pretty slow paced throughout. In any case, I look forward to reading the finale in the future!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

The Hemlock Queen is the sequel to Hannah Whitten's The Foxglove King, a lush gothic fantasy book following Lore, a deathwitch who can control the death energy around her. I absolutely loved this book as you can really see all the work done in The Foxglove King in terms of world-building and emotional involvement pay off.

The stakes are much higher in this book, with war looming over the kingdom and the gods taking a much more prominent role. The pacing in this book was perfect; Lore is constantly facing new challenges and overcoming obstacles. The ending sets up the third book extremely well, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

The romantic element between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe was even better. There was tension and betrayal on all sides, and I could not get enough. I am extremely hopeful that Hannah will give us a happy ending for the three of them. They all have such special connections that I absolutely adored, and their tender moments were amazing.

Overall, this was an absolute delight, and I need the next book yesterday! If the world-building and pacing in the first book intimidated you, please pick up the sequel. The stakes are higher, the world expands, and all in all, it's a masterpiece!

Love triangles are not my favourite trope. However, some writers can really make them work, and Hannah Whitten is one of them. I love the tension between Lore, Gabe and Bastian, and I just cannot wait to read book 3 to find out who Lore is going to end up with - but I know I'll be rooting for a three way couple!

The Hemlock Queen
by Hannah Whitten



Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy

#TheHemlockQueen #NetGalley.

I love Hannah's writing, but somehow missed the foxglove king so I read the sample, bought that , then requested this. What a terrific story, full of wheeling and dealing, danger, blackmail, treachery, it really has it all. Of course there's Lore and her long hidden special talents brought into the mix. Having thwarted the corrupt king's plans in the last book Bastian, Lore and Gabe now need to try to sort out the dross, and restore fairness and dignity. But all good plans go astray, and this in a very dangerous way.
Its a great read, the story expands hugely from book one, bringing in characters only hinted at before with Bastian and Lore under attack from within ;-)
The story grows ever more complex until at the end I'm left thinking “ how on earth is Hannah going to get them out of this mess??”
I really enjoyed this, a treat to read such a magical and complex story, just up my street!

Stars: five, fantastic read and I hope book three is fast on the way...

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

This is a testament to Hannah’s growth in writing! Foxglove king was good writing but this… this is totally immersive and all consuming.

Gothic romance will always have my heart almost as much as Bastian, Gabr and Lore because who doesn’t love a love triangle ?!
The character development here is 🫣🤌
Give me number 3. Immediately.

What can I say? I adored this book! In case you’re not aware, The Hemlock Queen is the second instalment in The Nightshade Crown series, which begins with The Foxglove King. It’s definitely one of those series where it’s better if you’ve read the previous book, so I’d highly recommend doing so - not only because The Foxglove King will orient you in the world and give you essential context for what has already happened (this story begins right after the Foxglove King ends), but also because it’s a fantastic book in its own right.

That said, The Hemlock Queen continues the story of Mortem channeling, The Buried Goddess and The Bleeding God that our protagonist, Lore, was pulled into in the first book. We get lots more Bastian, a little less Gabe and a lot more death-manipulating, mind-twisting action. The various plot lines blend together seamlessly, with various hints as to what could be happening with the overarching storyline, so that the reader constantly feels like they’re playing catch-up with the plot - exactly like the main characters.

For those wondering, the love triangle between Lore, Gabe and Bastian continues, with a bit more spice and a lot more tension! We also see more of the relationship between Apollius and Nyxara and learn more about the gods before the Godsfall and the beginning of the religion that underpins the whole narrative, all woven into the narrative in such a way that it feels like a natural continuation of the story.

The twists and turns are engaging and keep the reader guessing, and while I predicted some, a couple caught me really off-guard (to the point of gasping out loud), which I loved. I really, thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story and would highly recommend the series to anyone who will listen, but particularly to fans of Belladonna; I think you’ll love this.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten is released today, April 9th and published by Little, Brown Book Group

I read the first volume of this series and loved it, but the second one isn't what I expected. The religious cults and ideas are still amazing in this one, and I like how Bastian becomes more powerful and adept at plotting and ruling. I also enjoyed all the plotting that happened in the court, how the pieces are moved beside the main scene, and how everything is working. I appreciate the idea of how in this new reign, everybody has a personal agenda and believes they are doing what's best for the kingdom, while not fully trusting others. It adds layers to the story and keeps you guessing about each character's motivations and alliances.
Additionally, I enjoy the mystery surrounding Lore's dreams and how the past seems to manifest itself in the present.
However, I can't stand the love triangle. There are many positives in this book, but the persistent presence of the love triangle from the first book even after the betrayal is something that I don't really like.

I had tons of fun with The foxglove king, and the exact same thing happened with its sequel, The Hemlock Queen. In an over saturated market of romantasy, this story feels original to me, and I’m invested in the series.

The story picks up immediately after the events of the first book, and we immediately start learning more about the magic, the gods and their power.

The pace of this book was a bit slower than I would have preferred, but the worldbuilding and plot remain interesting, full of manipulation, scheming and twists. I must say Hannah Whitten is doing a great job regarding the character development. I care so so much for everyone (of the good guys) in this story that it’s almost unbearable.

For the romantasy readers, the tension and angst in this book is palpable and off the charts. I had so many feelings, particularly regarding one particular character who is making my heart ache. I’m devastated!

I’ve said on my first foxglove king review that I hate love triangles but that Hannah put me on board for a poli relationship between Lore, Bastian and Gabe. I’m even more on board for it now! I love them all and I just want to see these damaged characters healing and experiencing a bit of happiness. Unfortunately, I’m not convinced there would be a HEA in sight, but I’ll have to wait and see.

I can’t wait to see what Hannah is planning for the third book!

<i>I would like to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Normally this is the type of book I would reserve full judgment on until I’d read the final instalment, because what happens next has the potential to completely change how I feel about everything I just read. However, this is a NetGalley eARC so my 5 stars are based on the expectation that the author will deliver in book 3.

I absolutely adored The Foxglove King. I was completely enraptured by the whole thing. I especially loved the characters and their entanglement but I also found many of the plot points intriguing.

The Hemlock Queen turns up the heat in terms of turmoil and uncertainty with more betrayal and a little bit of spice. The world building continues to be beautifully written and the plot fast paced. The pages practically turned themselves! The ending was a whirlwind of activity and revelation that makes me beyond eager for book three.

And this is where this gets tricky, because, if all ends well by the end of book three, then I will undoubtedly look back on this instalment as a masterpiece of a second book. A book that made me feel all the feels and the hurt would have been totally worth it, if you like. BUT, if it doesn’t and my little Sun King doesn’t come out of this all hale and hearty with the girl and his HEA then I’m really not sure I could still feel the same. I would definitely feel the need to start asking questions about specific plot points!

My only real criticism currently is that of the love triangle. It is indeed a rare thing to have a true triangle but I really need Lore to make a choice. I’m sure there will be people out there who will love and are rooting for the three way desire that is heavily hinted at, but that is not my thing. Whilst I love a ‘will they, won’t they’ scenario, it also must come to a head at some point where the one is chosen. I’m holding out for that in book three (*cough cough* please let it be Bastien 🙏🏼). And even if it is Gabe, I might not be pleased but I will be satisfied to have a resolution.

Overall a great continuation of the story with wonderful writing. Now we just need book three so I can stop obsessing over Bastien!

I received an e-arc of the Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten and this is my honest review.

4.25 stars

The Hemlock Queen is the second book following on from the Foxglove King. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and has raised Lore (necromancer and former smuggler) as his right hand.

The action picks up almost immediately from the first book and we quickly see the consequences of Bastian and Lore's decision to go against the prophecy. This book gives a lot of the history of the gods which plays into the ongoing issues for Lore, Bastian and Gabe. Alongside this, the lovetriangle between the three remains tense and unresolved. We get left with quite the cliffhanger at the end of book two and I am itching to see how it concludes.

Hemlock Queen gave me a lot more of a character deep dive, particularly into Lore's feelings and motivations. I loved how complex the characters and their relationships are. Hannah does such a great job in getting the reader into the minds of the characters whilst also painting such vivid imagery. I could create a movie scape while reading this, particularly on their journey out visiting families of society.

I think had I completed a reread of Foxglove king this book would have excelled even more for me. Definitely a series that will be worth revisiting to discover little details each time. Excited for the final installment!

#thehemlockqueen #thefoxgloveking #thenightshadecrownseries #NetGalley #necromancer  #fantasyromance

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC to review. All thoughts are my own.

When I say I was STRESSED reading this sequel!! Whilst The Hemlock Queen falls trap to second book syndrome, and the pacing at times is slower as it sets up for packing a punch in the latter chapters and for the next book in the series, there is still A LOT to work through in this novel.

If you're a Bastian fan, much as I am, purchase yourself some comfort food. You're going to need it. The foreboding nature of Lore and Bastian's life after the culmination of book 1 doesn't let up from beginning to end. It's hard to navigate at times, especially when you start to question what is going on. Whitten crafted a really intriguing tale here. Working from the religious building blocks of The Foxglove King, the tale of old gods and how they weave into the present is so fantastic and equally tragic. I guessed quite early on to some twists, and I found myself teetered on an edge as they played out, and the world grew dark and desperate with more magical entanglement. I liked how core characters, and not just the main three from book 1, were utilised in this intricately layered world, and how nothing was truly simple when feelings, beliefs, possession, and hope were in the way. Even in the darkest moments, watching Lore cling to hope that she could find a way to fix it and keep both Bastian and Gabe alive was poignantly done.

I never really brought into the love triangle in book 1, so the fact it continues in book 2 is a bit of a meh aspect to this book, and the main reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars. I didn't find anything helpful from Gabe's character in the romantic elements of this book, and his broody "I messed up and lost Lore" attitude was completely lost on me. Bastian remains my sole focus for Lore in the romance department, and with the way this book ends, I sure as heck need to get my hands on book 3 to hopefully get some solace for my frazzled nerves.

This book elevated this world for me, and I can only hope that book 3 comes with as much investment as I gave this The Hemlock Queen.

4.5 stars. I was so glad to continue with Lore's story after the big end of the first book and I was not disappointed! This part of the story focused more on the Gods and the legends about them. I found it so interesting learning more about the magic system, the new magic and how it was connected to the Gods. I spent this book unsure of who to trust and being surprised at which sides certain characters were on. I loved the interactions between Lore and Bastian and Alie is also a favourite character of mine. I'm glad of the character arc that Gabe had as well. I was gripped while reading this especially near the end and can't wait to see how things plan out from that ending!

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley

This book, this right here is the reason why I really dislike love triangles. The world building, the character arc's, the plot... literally everything else was amazing, but the romance and how much of the plot it took up did annoy me in parts and took me out of the story. If I had to listen to Lore internally antagonize over Bastian and Gabe (only one winner in my head btw) one more time, I was going to flip. That being said, everything else really saved this book for me and I was completely hooked by the plot and twists Whitten threw in.

The story picks up pretty quickly after the ending of book one. The King is dead and Bastian is readying to take the throne, Gabe has become The Priest Exalted and Lore is forever stuck between the two men she cares for, which would be fine except that became a big part of her personality in the book. Don't get me wrong, she still isn't one to back down from a fight, question when something seems wrong, but I do think a large part of her inner monologue and even actions, were focused on her internal struggle between the two love interests. She didn't become boring in anyway, she made some... let's say questionable decisions that leave her in a precarious position by the end of the book, but I did get a little sick of how much time Whitten spent having her observe on the differences between the two, and struggling to decide which one she wanted more.

Whitten expands on her world a little with this one, not just in the geographical sense, but also historical. We get a deep dive into the history of the Gods, and how they are relevant to the plight of our MC's. Her choice to bring the God's back in a way, in how they interacted with her characters, added a darkness to the story that I loved. I also enjoyed how the historical insights we get link with the current events and even prophesized some of them in a way. She uses this to not only further the plot, but also as an effective plot twist device and, even though I did find them predictable, it doesn't lessen the emotional impact at all, rather intensifies it because I spent the majority of the book hoping I was wrong.

Whitten treats us to her trademark lush and prosaic writing style, something that I have loved throughout all of her books. And she also knows how to write some truly tortured characters. I talked a little about Lore before but let me just say that girl needs to be more selfish. So many of her decisions throughout this book were based on her love and care for others and not looking after herself. Alongside that we have Bastian who was put through the ringer in this book, I wont mention how because spoilers, but suffice to say I felt for him so much. And then there's Gabe, my Fleabag hot priest who I have loved since book one. Say what you want but there is something inherently hot about a man of the cloth yearning for someone the way he does for Lore. The tension between these three was palpable and I would be thrilled if Whitten decided to write them as a poly-amorous throuple in the last book.


There's so much of this plot I can't talk about because it will give away major spoilers, but it's safe to say that Whitten wrote this one intending to emotionally cripple her readers as well as her characters, and it worked. Except for the love triangle mess I mentioned I really, truly, deeply loved this one. Second book syndrome apparently doesn't exist in Whittens world because I just know that everything we learn in this book is going to be so relevant in the last one, and after the absolutely heart wrenching ending I am in desperate need of it... in my hands... right now. If you love a romantasy that spends as much time character and world building as it does on the romance, with an intricate magic system and characters you will adore... look no further.

I didn’t think I would love a book by Hannah Whitten more than The Foxglove King, then The Hemlock Queen came along. I need more!

The shift from focusing on Gabe and Lore’s relationship to the love triangle with Bastian is an amazing choice. Whilst Lore is accepting her magic abilities, Basitian and Gabe both have their own new problems to deal with.

In terms of the story line, this picks up slightly after the Foxglove King, with new power plays, alliances, betrayals and mysteries. I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you have not read this series you need to and book three needs to hurry up and be released!

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

I need the 3rd volume.
In this second book we pick up things shortly after the events of The Foxglove King. In the first half (avoiding spoilers) things are relatively slow paced, the focus is mostly on our favorite triangle and how the relationship between all three of them develops (or regresses depending on perspective). The second half definitely picks up the pace, making me want book 3 out right now. The only thing I can say without spoilering things is that I am, as I was on book one team Gabe. The world-building remains the strongest point - I really want more books in this setting (maybe with less romance?) shortly followed by the writing style (it stays consistent with book 1). All in all, solid continuation, definitely no middle book syndrome. I enjoyed this probably more than the Foxglove King.

Where to even begin with this? So first off, initial reaction 4 stars. I enjoyed this but didn’t love this as much as Foxglove King. I think it’s the constant state of not knowing what is going on right till the very end that marred it for me.

The world building is as superb as ever. We get more history and insight into the Gods and how they came to be. We get character development in spades. Lore is back and still swiveling between Gabe and Bastian. Bastian has a lot of issues and is losing himself. Gabe is still a being a dick and Lore somehow manages to forgive him for his betrayal. I feel like Apollonius is a major character in this book and he is awful.

Plot wise we have a lot of questions and things that don’t make sense till the end and still leave a lot open. This detracted from the overall book for me but it was still a very enjoyable read.

I wanted a threesome between Lore Gabe and Bastian at the end of Book 1. At the end of this I still kinda want that. Lol.

Solid 4 stars

"The Hemlock Queen" is the second installment of "The Nightshade Crown," a fantasy romance series written by Hannah F. Whitten and currently in progress.

Incredible but true, this series continues to make me appreciate the LOVE TRIANGLE! Because yes, this trope plays a crucial role in the story and no, I haven't stopped disliking it. And after the almost impossible feat of "The Foxglove King," "The Hemlock Queen" managed to increase my passion for this particular love triangle!

I love Lore, the protagonist with her third person pov. Sarcastic, mischievous, deceitful and determined, in this book she begins to accept her death magic, trying to navigate the new situation she is involved in. Alongside her are Bastian, the proud, spoiled, charismatic and caring prince, and Gabe, the extremely tormented monk torn between faith and desire. All with their own new problems to deal with. I cannot go into details to avoid spoilers, but I loved the dark atmosphere that hovers between the pages. While the previous novel focused more on the relationship between Lore and Gabe, here the story focuses more on the complex relationship between Lore and Bastian. A choice I appreciated, although I suffered from the lesser presence of Gabe, toward whom I confess to having a slight preference (sorry but I love all the angst he conveys). In practice, however, I continue to love Lore with both of them, I don't want to choose and I hope I don't have to! The chemistry between these characters is always through the roof, their interactions are sizzling, and I swoon badly! The spicy then is really tasty!

In terms of story, the novel picks up a few weeks after the end of the previous one, expanding the world building and weaving a new web of court intrigue, power plays, subterfuge, alliances, betrayals, lies, revelations and mysteries. I loved this title so much and absolutely need the third book!

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

Last year, I loved The Foxglove King so I was really looking forward to its sequel, but I was disappointed. First of all, I think that the pace was too slow and the story slightly repetitive. Also, the main characters felt flat, especially Lore: I found her passive while in the first book she appeared more active and alive. Also, after a while, the love triangle started to sound boring and repetitive. For this reason, it took me a while to finish it and, even though I am curious to see how the story will resolve, I don’t know if I am going to read book 3.

This book has it all:
- badass characters
-... spice
- a love triangle
- mysterious backgrounds
- plotting & dark secrets
- intricate magic
- a plot that will leave you wanting more
and really cool world building!

I got accepted for this book, not having read The Foxglove King. I was about 20% into The Hemlock Queen, having googled all the character's names and backgrounds, before deciding I kind of wanted to read the first book first, and so I ended up purchasing the first book myself, and reading that before rereading this entire book.

I really enjoyed this as well. The story of book 1 takes off where it left of, and we follow Lore through her shenanigans as she faces new challenges and tries to survive a pretty ruthless world. I once more enjoyed reading about her, though this time it felt different. I could tell there was a clear change between book 1 and 2, which over the course of the book made a lot of sense. I just wasn't extremely fond of the change, but again in context it makes sense.

The thing that had me hooked was me really wanting to figure out why certain things were happening, and how the author would be able to explain what was going on, and it definitely did not disappoint.

The writing/prose in this is nice, it feels both easy to read but also descriptive enough that I found myself easily being able to picture scenery, scenes and the character's feelings.

Overall, 4,5/5 stars rating for this. It was a really nice read, I enjoyed it quite a bit!