I am delighted to share my review today for The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten. This is the first book in The Nightshade Kindom series and it is a fabulous book to delve into.

I wish to thank the publisher Little, Brown Books and Orbit Books for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.This title is due for publication tomorrow and I would like to wish the author a very Happy Publication Day 🙂

In this lush, romantic new epic fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely adored this book, a mix of dark magic, fantasy, conspiracy, cults, kings and monks all woven together to create not only a brilliant world but also an addictive story. The synopsis gives a tantalising glimpse into the story and it was one that caught my eye when I read it.

Death is something that Lore knows about, she is able to work the essence of death. She was born in the dark catacombs and doesn’t remember too much. As she gets older she is taken up into the world above where she becomes a spy, a runner of poisons. In this fantasy world poison is something to help prolong life.

When Lore is caught she is taken to the citadel where she is asked to spy on a traitor. Who is the traitor, well that becomes more confusing as there are differing opinions, theories, religious interpretations and also the quest for power. With the eclipse coming up time starts to become more important as answers need to be found. When everyone is hiding something it is difficult to know who to trust.

This is such a wonderful first book in The Nightshade series by this author, who is new to me. A world where death and life are in the balance just as much as truth and conspiracy. The differences between life outside the citadel and that inside are something that doesn’t sit well with some, and I do like the way the author touched upon the differences and how expendable people actually are. Having theories and differences is something that I really enjoy within a story as it pits characters against each other and creates such a mysterious element for the reader.

The way the author has described her characters, the realm, the religion and the way of life is wonderful. The imagery was great so I was able to visualise certain things as I read. There are some major characters and while I am not going into too much detail about them, they all have a reason for being there.

There is a sense of action and adventure in this story and I like this search for the truth as well as people being slightly less honest. It helps to build intrigue and suspicion in a setting that works well with the storyline and the characters.

I really enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to following this series. An addictive fantasy story that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and sometime in high school, figured out that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and children in a house ruled by a temperamental cat.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx