Book Review of The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

 

 Name of Book: The Foxglove King

Author: Hannah Whitten

ISBN: 9780316434997

Publisher: Orbit 

Part of a Series: The Nightshade Crown 

Type of book: Fantasy, darkness, death, catacombs, witches, magic, prophecies, secrets, understanding, royalty, poison, war, undeath 

Year it was published: 2023 

Summary:

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.

Characters:

Main character is Lore and secondary would be Gabe and Bastian. Lore is an orphan with a complex past who gets adopted by poison runners. She has powers where she can control Mortem (Death) and can even bring people and animals to life. She also has knowledge of how catacombs work. She is resourceful, clever and is a supposedly talented actress. Gabriel is a Prestque Mort (warrior monk) who was a former duke, but due to a family betrayal becomes a monk. He is reluctant to come back to Sainted Court and quite often one senses a war inside of him. He is also extremely loyal to Anton, twin brother to August who is the current Sainted King. The Sun Prince, Bastian is another major character who seems to wear a lot of masks due to his upbringing but he is confident and wants to control his own narrative rather than let his father and his uncle control the story. He is best described as a dilletante but its best not to underestimate him. 

Theme:

What is truth? What is lie?

Plot:

The story is in third person narrative from Lore's point of view. Unlike the Wilderwood duology which focuses on another character for some chapters, this story is told completely from Lore's point of view. The tale begins with Lore living in a poor section with Michal but then her fortunes change when she gets captured and manipulated into spying for Sun Prince, Bastian Arcenaux. However things are not as they seem as both Lore and her reluctant companion, Gabe, spy on Sun Prince and are forced to become double agents. I also hope that the author will address their connection in future books (I have my thoughts about it which involve reincarnation but we will see...) 

Author Information:

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.

Opinion:

This is actually the third novel by Hannah Whitten that I'm having a chance to read, and while her Wilderwood duology is quite enjoyable (I still recall the injuries plants have done to Red and Wolf in FOR THE WOLF) THE FOXGLOVE KING is quite something else. I sincerely hope that the next two books in the series will be delved into more deeply because I sense a very dark and intriguing vibe going through them (I love dark stories). I definitely loved the main characters of the story, and I think I am shipping Sun Prince and Lore (sorry!) 

This was given for review

4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)