Reviews with content warning for Animal death - The Foxglove King

Deliciously dark and gloriously intriguing! Hannah Whitten’s prose was once again a breathtakingly vivid and atmospheric treat for the senses, merging magic, court intrigue and a deliciously addictive (forbidden) romance that utterly ensnared me.

I adored protagonist, Lore despite her flawed and often selfish tendencies. But her upbringing (raised by poison smugglers) and the necessary secret keeping when it came to her abilities (to control death magic,and even occasionally raise the dead) really showcases her need for self-preservation. When first introduced, Lore’s a sharp witted and incredibly guarded character who rarely trusts anyone, but as she spends more time with warrior priest, Gabriel and roguish Prince Bastian, we begin to unearth a slightly softer, more vulnerable side that I found incredibly endearing.

Bastian and Gabriel, as characters were both quite endearing and in depth as well, as we delve into their pasts and understand the actions and motivations that have shaped them. I liked Bastian who’s flirtatious and outgoing demeanour could rival even Cardan and Jacks at the height of their charm . But, I have to admit it was the brooding but loyal, duke turned monk (Gabriel) that managed to steal my heart.

His chemistry with Lore was palpable and their intensity together was spectacularly swoonworthy. It did get some love triangle esque vibes between Lore, Bastian and Gabriel so interested to see where (and how) things develop.

It’s definitely my fave of Hannah Whitten’s books soo far and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy the sequel.

Content Warnings

teaand_tomes's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

5.0

A dark yet stunning tale that masterfully interweaves elements of magic, mystery, and drug addiction into a dense web of political intrigue. Every element of Whitten’s narrative is unique and beautifully crafted, making this a standout in the realms of romance and fantasy. Her writing style is nothing short of commendable, and this book sets a high bar for the rest of the series.

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manaledi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book started slowly but had some interesting developments and I'm very curious to see where book two goes. A fairly hit you over the head with it religious imagery on themes like separation of church and state. I thought the poison element was interesting but wished mortem was laid out more clearly.

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mlottermoser's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Poison society with magical elements and political intrigue. Death and reanimation are used frequently in the story. (Horse/Small Child)

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givemehappyendings's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I genuinely can not figure why this book has not popped off yet, IT’S SO GOOD.

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for a year, on a whim I decided to read it, easily one of my top fantasy books this year.

I ate this book up in DAYS

Our FMC is witty, sassy, growing into her power, and I dare say, a GIRLS GIRL. I genuinely love Lore so much and am so excited to see where her character goes.

Bastian and Gabe are the perfect MCs to compliment a strong FMC, and WOOOOWEEEEEEE do we love a flirtatious prince and a religious man tempted by sin😮‍💨

The world building is immersive but nothing too heavy for those dipping their toes into fantasy.

It’s giving Cruel Prince level political intrigue, and the plot twists do not disappoint.

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lunaquarius's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The premise of the book felt novel, albeit steeped in well known tropes. Our mail character Lore felt somewhat flat, I found it difficult to parse out her personality, though her shining characteristics in the end were surprising.

I enjoyed the religious overtones of this book, with experts of texts beginning each chapter.

I made a note of each time a character was explicitly described as white, which I count was at least 8 times. Only one other character was described otherwise. It felt awkward and overt to call out each time, especially with insignificant characters. There is no diversity in this book.

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cdoubet's review

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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bex_readz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I'm sorry, but where was the romance in this book? I think if something is nominated for the best romantasy book in 2023, then there should be at least a medium presence of romance within the storyline. Two subpar kisses and zero chemistry/banter/etc. does not make a romance book.

The plot of this book felt promising. The magic and world building did feel a bit different than other books I have read and I enjoyed that. What I was not expecting was having characters that felt flat and had no chemistry, bumbling through the plot line. Many of the plot twists were VERY easy to spot, and yet the characters were clueless throughout. No chemistry AND dumb. The best part of the book was like the last couple of chapters, because at least then some of the characters had the possibility of being interesting.

I just don't know. I feel like this book had potential but the execution was done poorly.

Plot- 3/5🔆
Spice- 0/5🌶️
Romance-0/5💗

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