I certainly was not planning on staying up until four am to finish this book, yet here I am, and I am in tears.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again — Hannah Whitten is a mastermind. The way she weaves religion, magic, love and horror together is something that will never be matched.

In this magnificent trilogy that I will surely be rereading in the future, my personal favorite is the second book (a rather unpopular opinion, from what I gather), but even as I rate the finale a 4.5/5, it does not in any way diminish just how incredible this book is.

For me personally, the rating was affected by the pace which felt a little too quick in the first two thirds of the book, and by the slight lean into almost cosmic horror at a point. However, I could scream about all the things I adored about it and about the trilogy as a whole for hours, most likely. No words to describe the things Bastian had done to my heart, from the very first scene of him in the Citadel gardens (when we’re not even introduced to him yet) and all the way to the final pages. Gods, I love him.

And speaking of Bastian — I WILL NEVER get over the fact that in this story, we have been blessed by a love triangle that resolves INTO A THROUPLE. Bisexual men are truly my biggest weakness, and while Gabe never managed to steal my heart away quite like the Sainted King, I was kicking my feet and giggling when everything finally fell into place with three of them. The idea of a whole being comprised out of three parts rather than halves has rigged at something in me from the very beginning, perhaps due to me also feeling, at a point in my life, that there are two people that complete me.

For the last thirty pages of the book, I was just permanently in tears. Not kidding, at certain points I had to stop and just wait for the screen to resolve into a coherent shape again, because it was so blurred that I couldn’t make out the words. My heart was in my throat so many times.

This story is truly so much more than what the blurb makes it out to be, and as I followed it over the years, it had become one of my favorite narratives I’ve ever read. It truly holds a special place in my heart and I will come back to it many times. Simply magnificent in every sense of the word.

My deepest thanks to NetGallery and Hannah Whitten for providing me with a free copy ahead of the publishing date. I literally screamed when I saw that my request was approved and I got to learn how the story ends two months in advance.

I will be eagerly awaiting Hannah Whitten’s new books.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am bereft. I am devastation personified. This series is just so so perfect, and this final book really got me deeply in my feels. The world Whitten has crafted is so beautiful, so intricate and wonderfully gothic with this gorgeous magical system and world lore. And the characters? Gods dead and dying! Lore, Bastian and Gabe really went through it in The Nightshade God. They spend most of the book separated but desperately trying to get back to each other. Honestly pure throuple goals (and I usually don't like a Why Choose/throuple situation, but this was done so well and made total sense). The ending was deeply satisfying and I actually can't wait to read everything else this author ever writes!

The Nightshade God was possibly the book that I was most looking forward to reading this year. I loved the plot, the world building and the three main characters in the previous two books. Was it everything that I had hoped for? Not quite but it was still a good read.
The Nightshade God opens where The Hemlock Queen finished. Lore has been imprisoned on the Burnt Isles, Gabe together with Malcolm and Lore’s mothers have escaped to neighbouring Caldien and Bastien has almost completely been taken over by Apollius. And that for me was the main problem with this book. I loved the relationships between Lore, Gabe and Bastien and the fact that they were miles apart for virtually the whole book meant that this aspect was missing to a large extent.
It might have been OK if the story lines had developed other relationships in place of the main one but I didn’t really feel that this happened. I enjoyed the multiple POV and the fact that we saw things from other perspectives than just Lore’s. Surprisingly to me, Alie and her storyline was my favourite element in the book. She was powerless and had no way of influencing her fate so she just got on with doing what she could on the basis that the worst was going to happen anyway. She gave us a very clear view of what was happening at the court and how Apollius was exerting his power. I loved the way that she grew in confidence both in herself and in her godly powers and the moment when she literally grabbed her fate in both hands made me want to cheer.
Alie’s POV had an emotional depth to it which I felt was lacking with Gabe’s and Lore’s. The relationships they developed in this book didn’t really mean very much to them and so their parts of the story felt a lot more plot driven which I never find as engaging as when the characters are emotionally involved. I did enjoy the dual POVs when the gods were involved and liked the fact that each of the characters felt differently about having a god in their heads. There were definitely some interesting points about worship and the power that religion can have.
Hannah Whitten’s writing and world building is every bit as good as it has been in the previous two books. I especially loved the depiction of the Burnt Isles and the desolation compared to how it would have been before. She is able to really convey the sense of a place and I enjoyed the wider world that we saw in this book.
One of the things that I was most looking forward to reading was the resolution to the love triangle. I thought that the way the author built this up in the previous two books was brilliant and loved how Lore loved both Bastien and Gabe. I was really intrigued how this was going to be resolved but sadly, I wasn’t convinced. I don’t want to spoil anything so won’t go into details but I just didn’t feel that the way it was sorted out really fitted what had gone on previously.
And what about the actual ending? Apart from the way the relationship between Lore, Gabriel and Bastien was resolved not really working for me, the epilogue almost made up for any disappointment in the actual story. It really tugged at the heart in a way that some of the earlier story hadn’t. I thought that the end of the story as a whole was really fitting with what had gone before. I loved the development of the Fount and while the resolution was bittersweet, that felt right seeing how dark some of the preceding story had been. My one gripe is that I don’t think that Finn deserved his good fortune. She could have done better!
This was a fitting ending to a brilliant story and while I wished that some of it had been written differently, I still enjoyed it.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If there was one book I was looking forward to this year it was absolutely this one!

Being the final chapter of the trilogy I was afraid of how the story would be handled but,instead ,I found it perfect! The author knew how she wanted the story to go and to achieve that she gave every sentence, moment, situation and character a specific purpose and depth and made them fit together perfectly.

Throughout the book, the protagonists are in different places and each of them follows his or her own path, but despite this, each storyline is deeply interconnected with one another.

Thanks to different POVs, the author managed to make each character the protagonist of the story by highlighting their development both individually and with all the others, managing to get us inside their heads.

I found the conclusion bitter sweet and I would have liked to see them spend more time together and I would kill to have a novel about them, but at the same time I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion!

✨in the end these were three books of emotions, suffering and characters you can't get attached to perfect for lovers of gothic fantasy!

as always thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy✨

The Nightshade God is one of my most anticipated reads this year. Following the ending of The Hemlock Queen, I have been eagerly waiting to see where our diverse cast of characters winds up and how they will defeat Apollius now that they are scattered to the wind. The Hemlock Queen hit me differently, and I didn't love it as much I loved The Foxglove King, but I still NEEDED to know how it all ended. And reader, let me tell you, it was absolutely worth the wait.

The Nightshade God drops right into where we left off. There isn't a dull moment to be had, but the pacing of the book doesn't feel off or rushed at all. The characters continue to stay true to themselves, with motivations and thoughts that seem distinct to each and offer perspectives across the map. Sometimes it felt like watching them head towards a train wreck as they struggled to deal with very human emotions surrounding the pain of loss and the anger that rises afterward. Some of the plot felt predictable and I did guess a couple of reveals, but overall I could not have guessed the ending.

The ending to this novel instantly put it into one of my top trilogies of all time. It was emotional, heartfelt, and absolutely wrecked me. I don't often cry at the end of novels, but this one had me in tears. Hannah Whitten has masterfully ended this trilogy in a way that feels satisfying, and this novel has put her straight into the list of my all-time favorite authors.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Little Brown Book for providing me with a copy in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.

Not me holding back tears towards the end of this.

The Nightshade God follows on from The Hemlock Queen, they're all scattered to the winds, Bastian (Apollius) is still not himself and only becoming The Worst, Lore is banished to the burnt isles, Gabe, Alie and Malcom are just not having a good time either.

Did it drag a bit? A little, did it pay off though? Absolutely.

Alie's character development was beautiful, that girl could not and would not care in the end and honestly? Respect it.

The ending of this felt like Hannah Whitten herself was repeatedly punching me in the stomach, making me tear up and just feeling like she was going to leave a hole in my chest. I loved the Poly relationship aspect and how it played out, the epilogue, my god, talk about leaving a lasting impression.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for this eARC in return for an honest review!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eArc of this book, much appreciated.

3 stars from me for this series and this book. I tried to enjoy the plot line and the side story’s of this book because I really was not a big fan of the 3 way relationship between Lore, Gabe and Bastian. Alie quickly became my favourite character in this book, she’s just so relatable and I think her character developed the most, also she gives no f*cks lol. I liked the general plot of this series, but it did feel a bit confusing in this book, like they were trying to get it all out in 3 books so quite a lot happened. The ending was a little sad how Lore had to watch all her friends and family pass on as she carried on protecting the magic but I am glad she finally got the happiness she wanted at the end, even if I wasn’t a fan of it.

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I massively enjoyed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, so naturally I was delighted to receive and arc for the Nightshade God. I love Hannah Whitten's writing, her worldbuilding is lush but accessible, her characters feel real and the multiple POVs handled well. I was truly invested in their journey, there is a lot of action to keep you turning the pages (last 30% was unputdownable!) and overall I thought it was a brilliant conclusion to the series and for the fans of the series - you will love this. For the fans of the genre, this is a solid choice, if you haven't picked it up yet!

Thank you to Hannah Whitten, The Little Brown Book and NetGalley for this review copy, all opinions are my own.

With The Nightshade God, Hannah Whitten brings her sweeping trilogy to a stunning and emotional conclusion, one that is as tender and raw as it is mythic and grand. This final installment cements the series as a standout in the fantasy genre, delivering everything fans have come to expect: intricate worldbuilding, hauntingly lyrical prose, layered characters, and big, thorny questions about love, godhood, and the power (and peril) of belief.

Whitten’s world remains one of the most unique and atmospheric in modern fantasy. It is shadow-drenched, lush, and alive with a sense of divinity. The inclusion of diverse identities and experiences gives the cast real breadth and depth, and characters often speak not only to each other but to something universal in us: our ache to be seen, our fear of being unworthy, our fragile hope that we might be more than the sum of our pain.

Themes of godhood, faith, and the capacity for religion to either corrupt or redeem are explored with nuance and care. Whitten never gives easy answers. Instead, she offers a meditation on what it means to be worshipped, what it means to believe, and how belief can shape or shatter a broken world. There’s plenty to unpack here, and the book practically begs for discussion, particularly in the way it blends mythic stakes with intimate emotional truths.

The use of multiple points of view is handled skillfully, giving each character their space to breathe and arc. That said, the middle third does slow somewhat under the weight of all that longing and introspection. There's a great deal of yearning, romantic, spiritual, and existential, and while it enriches the emotional landscape, it may test the patience of those eager for plot momentum. But once the final act begins, the pace surges forward like a tidal wave. The last 30% is utterly gripping: action-packed, emotionally devastating, and impossible to put down.

And yes, you will cry. Whether it's during a quiet moment of grace, a crushing revelation, or the gut-punch epilogue (which will haunt you in the best way), The Nightshade God leaves a mark. The conclusion is epic and bittersweet, a perfect, aching farewell that feels both inevitable and earned.

This is a finale that doesn't just end a story; it also marks the beginning of a new one. It elevates everything that came before. When you turn the final page, you’ll feel an irresistible urge to go back to the beginning, to see how every thread was spun, how every choice led to this heartbreakingly beautiful end, an unforgettable close to a truly remarkable series.

Really enjoyed this conclusion to Hannah Whitten's trilogy.
It was really well written, and I adore the world and the characters she created so much!
Can't wait to see what she brings out next!

A Gripping and Emotional Finale: "The Nightshade God" by Hannah Whitten

"The Nightshade God" by Hannah Whitten is a truly stunning conclusion to her trilogy, and I'm so grateful to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This book dives even deeper into its dark, gothic world, rich with religious undertones. It's wonderfully atmospheric and doesn't shy away from the shadows, perfectly fitting for fans of immersive dark fantasy.

What stood out was the inclusion of more character POVs, which added incredible depth and broadened the story. I was utterly on the edge of my seat throughout, desperate to know who would survive and how it would all end. The emotional impact, especially towards the powerful climax, was immense.

"The Nightshade God" is an unforgettable, brilliant end to the trilogy. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys complex dark fantasy, gothic themes, and deeply emotional reads.

The Nightshade Crown Trilogy has come to an end and what an ending it was. I went into this book apprehensive as I didn’t enjoy book 2 as much as I enjoyed book 1, but from the get go this book completely knocked my expectations out of the water. Whitten’s story telling was exemplary in this book and the incorporation of multiple POVs was timed perfectly to be introduced in the finale. As someone who’s loved every character in this series, I really enjoyed the opportunity to dive into each one. The twists were so well done I didn’t even see them coming! You’re truly taken on a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. The humour was subtle but noticeable, enough to make you chuckle but not to derive from the plot. The ending well and truly gutted me, I was trying to read through my tears for the last 40 or so pages. It felt bittersweet seeing it all come together in the end, and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. The concept of the Fount was perhaps my favourite reveal of the book- it really cast the story in a new light for me and closed the chapter of this trilogy well. Overall, this is a thrilling, gut wrenching and superbly written finale to a series I will hold close to my heart.

Unfortunately I was just bored throughout reading this. There was nothing that gripped me and wouldn't let go which is a shame because I loved the first book in this series so much!

This book is very plot driven and keeps the main characters apart for most of the book.

Nothing really happens until there are only 100 pages left. <spoiler>We finally get Bastian back 😍 Finally! very briefly</spoiler>

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Nightshade God was the perfect conclusion to a series I absolutely love, and I can know say for certain will be one of my top-tier favorites!

From the very first book, I had the distinct feeling that the author knew exactly where the story was going, and how it was going to get there, and I'm happy to confirm that that's what reading this third installment felt like. Each chapter brought the story forward, the pacing was even, with no great highs or lows, but slowly building up to a crescendo that tore my heart out and therefore making the book impossible to put down.

I loved every character in this, how they all felt differently about their godhood but still their struggles were the same, how they all came together to save each other and the world. The ending hurt (the good kind of hurt) and I only wish we could have had more time with Lore, Gabe, and Bas being happy together - can I beg for a novella? A bonus chapter?? A post-it note stuck to the fridge??? I will be happy with anything!

Seriously though, this series is the perfect gothic dark fantasy, and has cemented Hannah Whitten as an auto-buy author for me: from "For the Wolf" to "The Nightshade God" each book has been better than the last, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

As usual thank you to Netgalley, Orbit, and the author for the review copy

Didn't quite go as I expected/hoped. Not that it's a bad book, and I do think Whitten ties up the loose ends neatly, but I thought this was too meandering, focused too much on the gods, and not enough on Lore/Gabe/Bastian. I didn't care for the other POVs; while the events themselves were interesting, the story felt bloated.
I'm rounding this up to 4 stars, but it's more of a 3.75.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for the ARC.

♾️/5 ⭐

I don't think I can put into words just how much I loved this book, and this series, in general. I truly feel like I'm in mourning now that it's over.

As with the two books prior, The Nightshade God had me feeling every emotion possible - there were small glimmers of hope (ha!), beautiful romantic moments, devastating twists and the constant, underlying feeling of impending doom. The ending had me ugly-crying in the early hours of the morning after silently weeping for the final 10% of the book - and I'm not a crier - if that's any indication for the emotional turmoil I experienced.

Hannah's writing style is decadent yet easy to follow and well-paced. I had no issues dropping back into this world despite reading The Hemlock Queen nearly a year ago, thanks to the subtle reminders of what happened throughout the start of this book.

The world-building was fantastic, with each location featured in the book having a very distinctive feel and the ability to conjure a vivid image in my mind. The whole atmosphere of the book had the same dark, steampunk-meets-gothic feel that its predecessors had, which I love.

The religion and magic system were so unique and detailed, with the lore behind the gods and magic being one of my favourite parts of the series, so I enjoyed exploring that further in TNG. The way the gods' lives reflected the lives of the protagonists was a clever way to entangle their stories even more so than they already were.

The relationship between Lore, Bastian & Gabe was just stunning and the way that they come to terms with their feelings towards one another had me feeling giddy! The romantic moments were so gorgeously written after almost three books in the making.

The characters felt relatable - they're selfish, they have flaws, they make mistakes, but they grow and develop and it was a joy to read. The diversity of the characters and relationships in the trilogy was fantastic, and this effortless representation continued in TNG.

The side characters brought just as much to the story as the main characters and being able to witness their character arcs from the first book through to the end of the third was fantastic. Every side character had their own ending which I really enjoyed as it meant there were no loose ends at the end of the series.

It goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed The Nightshade God and I am truly devastated that the series is over - such a bittersweet feeling.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC.

what a great way to finish off the series!

I have been eagerly anticipating this book since I discovered the series last year and I was so happy to see that I got approved for the arc. being back in this world was amazing and no one can deny that Hannah Whitten is a brilliant writer - I fell in love with the prose all over again 🖤

what really worked for this book was the split between POVs and settings, because it lent the novel an air of urgency, of danger. plus, going along for the ride with beloved characters and witnessing their inner and outer turmoils elevated the reading experience so much!

the only reason this book is not 5 stars for me is because I wanted more interactions between Lore, Gabe and Bastian, especially towards the end. alas, this was still a great book and Hannah Whitten is officially an auto-read author for me!

thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was everything I hoped for and more. The tone was intense from the beginning, and the emotions were so strong. Lore’s journey felt heavy and powerful. You can feel how much she’s changed and how much she’s carrying, and it made every moment with her feel meaningful. I liked how the story let her be strong and broken at the same time. Gabe really stayed in my heart too, his arc was emotional and complex in a quiet way. Bastian also surprised me, and I ended up caring for him more than I expected. The writing is so atmospheric. And when things got big, wow, the last part of the book was so intense. The ending hit hard. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review

4.5 stars.

Even without a full re-read of the first two books, The Nightshade God completely pulled me in. From the opening chapters, the tone is raw and intense—gods, power, grief, and survival all woven into something that feels both epic and personal.

Lore’s journey in this book is powerful. She’s angry, grieving, and determined—and you can feel that weight in every decision she makes. The writing is so atmospheric and emotionally charged that even in the quieter moments, there’s still this constant underlying tension. Hannah Whitten knows exactly how to hit you in the chest with her characters’ choices.

The romantic tension is incredible—complicated and heartbreaking in all the right ways. There’s longing, betrayal, loyalty, and love all tangled up in a way that hurts in the best possible way. Gabe’s arc especially stuck with me, and the resolution to that triangle was emotional without being over-dramatic.

The ending completely wrecked me. It felt earned, and it stayed true to the tone of the series. It was emotional, bold, and beautifully done. I genuinely didn’t expect it to hit me so hard, but it did.

⸻

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely—but definitely read the series in order. This isn’t one you can jump into without the emotional build-up from the first two books. But as a trilogy ender? It delivers.

'The Nightshade God' is the final book in this excellent dark fantasy trilogy, and it's a fitting finale to a very strong set of novels. It is best to read all three in order, but readers who need their memories refreshing after the second book will find that Whitten includes enough information to jog your memory.

As is usually the case at the start of final books in fantasy triples, our heroes are in a seemingly hopeless situation and all split up. The novel is told from multiple perspectives (with separate chapters for each, labelled with the character name), enabling us to follow all the different threads. Although Lore is still the central character, it is more of an ensemble piece than the previous books. Lore has been exiled to the 'Burnt Isles', whilst her friends Gabe and Malcolm along with her mothers have escaped the vengeful God-King to the neighbouring country of Caldien. Back at the palace, her husband Bastian is trapped in his own body by thoroughly nasty divine being Apollius, and Bastian's sister Alie is also trapped figuratively if not literally, promised in marriage to the warmongering Emperor Jax. The characters soon have their quest made apparent - find the scattered pieces of a broken divine fountain and put them back together on the central Burnt Isle, in order to rid the world of its unwanted deities.

Like all of this series, it is exciting and hard to put down, with non-stop cliffhangers and adventure. I cared about all of the characters and wanted them to succeed in their apparently hopeless missions. However Whitten is a clever writer and even when the characters appear to be getting their way, you know it's unlikely to be as simple as it seems. Despite being dark and gory - verging on horror - the central message of the book is one of hope and compassion - that people should try to do better and be kind to each other. In fact, an extremely simple message for such a complex and involved set of tales. Like Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials', Whitten is taking on the difficult topic of religion, and how abuse of power and the replacement of true feeling with rigid ritual can turn it into a negative thing. Not that the story is anti-religious, simply thought-provoking in terms of whether the sort of power a God can wield can ever not corrupt.

But the deeper meaning aside, it's mostly just an exciting story with really likeable characters and lots of magic and action. It also has a well thought out ending - not something you can always say for books that promise much, but this one was perfect. If you enjoy fantasy adventure and dark fantasy, this trilogy should definitely be on your to-read list.