What do you think?
Rate this book
The Nightshade Crown #3
The Nightshade God
The Nightshade Crown is in the hands of a ruthless god. Lore will stop at nothing to defeat him and save the troubled prince and tortured priest ensnared in his wicked plot, in this final installment of this lush, romantic, New York Times bestselling fantasy series from breakout star Hannah Whitten.
Lore has failed. She couldn’t save King Bastian from the rotten god speaking voices in his mind. She couldn’t save her allies from being scattered across the continent—their own lesser gods whispering to them in their dreams. She couldn’t save her beautiful, corrupt city from the dark power beneath the catacombs. And she couldn’t save herself.
Banished to the Burnt Isles, Lore must use every skill she earned on the streets of Dellaire to survive the prison colony and figure out a way to defeat the power that’s captured everything and everyone she holds dear. When a surprise ally joins her on the Burnt Isles she realizes the way forward may lie on the island itself. Somehow, her friends must help her collect the far-scattered pieces of the broken Fount—the source of all the god’s powers—and bring them back together on the Burnt Isles, returning all magic to its source and destroying, once and for all, the gods corrupting the land.
But as Lore gets closer to her goal, her magic grows stronger… and to a woman who’s always had to fight for survival, that kind of power may be hard to give up.
Lore has failed. She couldn’t save King Bastian from the rotten god speaking voices in his mind. She couldn’t save her allies from being scattered across the continent—their own lesser gods whispering to them in their dreams. She couldn’t save her beautiful, corrupt city from the dark power beneath the catacombs. And she couldn’t save herself.
Banished to the Burnt Isles, Lore must use every skill she earned on the streets of Dellaire to survive the prison colony and figure out a way to defeat the power that’s captured everything and everyone she holds dear. When a surprise ally joins her on the Burnt Isles she realizes the way forward may lie on the island itself. Somehow, her friends must help her collect the far-scattered pieces of the broken Fount—the source of all the god’s powers—and bring them back together on the Burnt Isles, returning all magic to its source and destroying, once and for all, the gods corrupting the land.
But as Lore gets closer to her goal, her magic grows stronger… and to a woman who’s always had to fight for survival, that kind of power may be hard to give up.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2025
543 people are currently reading
25773 people want to read
About the author
Hannah F. Whitten
8 books4,240 followersHannah 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 734 reviews
September 4, 2025
what an unforgettable ending!!
I still can’t fully process how deeply emotional I felt when I read the final chapters — the ending was breathtaking. It was original, raw, and uniquely beautiful in a way that perfectly captured the tone and heart of the story. it elevated everything that came before it. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying conclusion. 😭
from the very first page, the plot was expertly crafted. every moment. every twist, reveal, conversation, and decision was intentional and meaningful. the journey felt purposeful and cohesive, she weaved all the threads into a stunning conclusion. it felt inevitable!!
the characterization in this finale was exceptional. the author gave equal emotional weight and attention to each character, and no one felt sidelined or forgotten. What truly stood out to me was gabe’s development. In the first two books, I found him underwhelming 🫢 but here, he completely transformed for me. his growth felt organic and earned, and I came to genuinely love him. the way his personality opened up and his role deepened made me so proud.
and the romance oh my god. It was everything I needed and more. I was so relieved it didn’t devolve into a tired love triangle. the author made the bold and beautiful choice to unite the three of them, and it worked. It really freaking worked. their connection was genuine, powerful, and deeply moving. the love they shared was unconditional, balanced, and emotionally rich. it was the ultimate payoff. It’s been a long time since a romance made me feel so satisfied 😫
”She looked between them, her monk and her prince”
my babies 😭🔫
”Then Bastian stood up and walked over to his other love.”
"Remember that. We both loved you up until the very end, and whatever is left of us will love you long beyond that."
MAKE IT STOP 😭💔
the only reason I didn’t give this a full five stars is due to one minor issue: pacing. this was something I noticed in the previous two books as well. there were occasional stretches, particularly in the middle, where the pacing slowed a bit too much. While it didn’t take away from my overall experience, I do think the story could have been just a touch tighter in those sections. but everything else was perfect.
and AGAIN that ending… I could write pages just about how flawless it was. I want to scream and hug the author all at once. It was devastating. the kind of ending that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book. It made me tear up 🤚🏻
***ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books.***
「 the nightshade crown series reviews 」
The Foxglove King: 3.75/5 stars.
The Hemlock Queen: 3/5 stars.
The Nightshade God: 4/5 stars.
I still can’t fully process how deeply emotional I felt when I read the final chapters — the ending was breathtaking. It was original, raw, and uniquely beautiful in a way that perfectly captured the tone and heart of the story. it elevated everything that came before it. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more satisfying conclusion. 😭
from the very first page, the plot was expertly crafted. every moment. every twist, reveal, conversation, and decision was intentional and meaningful. the journey felt purposeful and cohesive, she weaved all the threads into a stunning conclusion. it felt inevitable!!
the characterization in this finale was exceptional. the author gave equal emotional weight and attention to each character, and no one felt sidelined or forgotten. What truly stood out to me was gabe’s development. In the first two books, I found him underwhelming 🫢 but here, he completely transformed for me. his growth felt organic and earned, and I came to genuinely love him. the way his personality opened up and his role deepened made me so proud.
and the romance oh my god. It was everything I needed and more. I was so relieved it didn’t devolve into a tired love triangle. the author made the bold and beautiful choice to unite the three of them, and it worked. It really freaking worked. their connection was genuine, powerful, and deeply moving. the love they shared was unconditional, balanced, and emotionally rich. it was the ultimate payoff. It’s been a long time since a romance made me feel so satisfied 😫
”She looked between them, her monk and her prince”
my babies 😭🔫
”Then Bastian stood up and walked over to his other love.”
"Remember that. We both loved you up until the very end, and whatever is left of us will love you long beyond that."
MAKE IT STOP 😭💔
the only reason I didn’t give this a full five stars is due to one minor issue: pacing. this was something I noticed in the previous two books as well. there were occasional stretches, particularly in the middle, where the pacing slowed a bit too much. While it didn’t take away from my overall experience, I do think the story could have been just a touch tighter in those sections. but everything else was perfect.
and AGAIN that ending… I could write pages just about how flawless it was. I want to scream and hug the author all at once. It was devastating. the kind of ending that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book. It made me tear up 🤚🏻
***ARC provided by the publisher Orbit Books.***
「 the nightshade crown series reviews 」
The Foxglove King: 3.75/5 stars.
The Hemlock Queen: 3/5 stars.
The Nightshade God: 4/5 stars.
Currently reading
July 16, 2025Yay I got it 😍 sad for this series to end :(
Thanks NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group/Orbit for the arc.
——
Orbit, grace me with the arc again pls because I’m dying to know what happens 😩 I need Bastian’s pov 🧎♀️
Thanks NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group/Orbit for the arc.
——
Orbit, grace me with the arc again pls because I’m dying to know what happens 😩 I need Bastian’s pov 🧎♀️
April 27, 2025
WHAT AN ENDING!!
god i love being bisexual (that is all)
The Nightshade God concludes Hannah Whitten’s enthralling gothic dark fantasy trilogy, The Nightshade Crown which found its beginnings back with The Foxglove King. Brimming with death magic, fickle gods, and a chaotic bisexual trio—an arrogant prince, a duty bound priest, and a poison runner, embroiled in a sinister plot within the Sainted Kings court—The Nightshade Crown is a trilogy I’ve long considered as one of my favorites, perfectly poised against my more niche reading tastes. Entwining a deep expose into religion, its tendency to subjugate and the unavoidable allure of power, this conclusion sees our trio confronting the powers that have long sought to control them and their personal limitations. Lore, exiled to the Burnt Isles and cut off from her magic, Gabe lost and on the run in Caldien, and Bastian a mere puppet to a higher godly power. After two books of buildup Hannah Whitten lays bare the flawed roots of godhood, from the complexities of Auverraine’s religion to the godly beings who drank from the Fount centuries ago. This finale doesn’t let up on the relentless tension, and whatever you’re imagining for its end, prepare to be unmade in the transformative waters of the Fount upon the mountain.
Read my review
thank you to netgalley and orbit for providing me an advance copy to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
god i love being bisexual (that is all)
The Nightshade God concludes Hannah Whitten’s enthralling gothic dark fantasy trilogy, The Nightshade Crown which found its beginnings back with The Foxglove King. Brimming with death magic, fickle gods, and a chaotic bisexual trio—an arrogant prince, a duty bound priest, and a poison runner, embroiled in a sinister plot within the Sainted Kings court—The Nightshade Crown is a trilogy I’ve long considered as one of my favorites, perfectly poised against my more niche reading tastes. Entwining a deep expose into religion, its tendency to subjugate and the unavoidable allure of power, this conclusion sees our trio confronting the powers that have long sought to control them and their personal limitations. Lore, exiled to the Burnt Isles and cut off from her magic, Gabe lost and on the run in Caldien, and Bastian a mere puppet to a higher godly power. After two books of buildup Hannah Whitten lays bare the flawed roots of godhood, from the complexities of Auverraine’s religion to the godly beings who drank from the Fount centuries ago. This finale doesn’t let up on the relentless tension, and whatever you’re imagining for its end, prepare to be unmade in the transformative waters of the Fount upon the mountain.
Read my review
thank you to netgalley and orbit for providing me an advance copy to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
July 19, 2025
2 stars! ☆
⤿ major spoilers ﹒⟢
I’M FREEEE. oh my god. finally.
i’ve been trying to finish this for two days and i swear the only thing that got me through it was sheer determination. and the audiobook. because the way i spent three hours (with breaks) reading and only made it through 50 pages? yeah. there was no way i was finishing this on text alone. i had to switch formats just to make it bearable.
and look, i know a lot of the problem was me. i didn’t reread the first two books. every single reread lately has gone horribly and i actually liked the first book too much to risk it. the second? was okay. not my favorite. but i still didn’t want to mess with my memory of the series, so i went in blind and hoped for the best.
spoiler: it was not the best.
i got some recap, yeah. i pieced a few things together. but i was still confused half the time. there were so many moments where i just had to stop and look shit up because the book wasn’t giving me enough. and having to keep doing that while already not being in the mood to read? yeah. rough. i don’t even think this was technically bad, but i was so disinterested that it might as well have been.
which sucks. because this is the final book. and i could not care less.
like actually. if i hadn’t read this? i wouldn’t even be wondering how it ended. i just don’t care. i don’t even know what the plot was supposed to be. something about the fount, something about the gods, lore trying to stop apollius (again)? i couldn’t tell you what actually happened. there were dream scenes and quest scenes and prison scenes and somehow it all felt like filler. especially because the main three weren’t even together for 90% of the book. barely any page time between lore, bastian, and gabe until the very end. like. i get the whole dream meeting thing but it’s not the same. it was boring. they’re the best part of this series and we barely got them.
the only things i even liked were the throuple moments and the epilogue. and i don’t mean “i liked some lore x gabe moments and some lore x bastian moments.” i mean all three of them together. even in the dream scenes where only two of them were talking, they’d still bring up the third. it always felt like they were circling each other. and honestly? they just work better that way. i don’t care about lore and gabe as a couple. i don’t care about lore and bastian as a couple. but the three of them choosing each other? yeah. that was the only dynamic that made sense to me. i wanted more of that.
and the epilogue was actually good. i didn’t like that bastian and gabe died. but i did like how they came back. that whole ending scene? yeah, i’ll give it credit. that was a satisfying way to close the series.
but it didn’t fix the rest of the book.
it just sucks that i have so little to say. and the thing is, i know i’m not going to reread this. not even to see if it hits different in a better mood. because 1) i don’t want to risk liking the other books less and 2) i just don’t care enough to try. and the worst part? if i hadn’t read this at all, i wouldn’t even be mad. i’d be fine never knowing. which is not what you want from the last book in a series.
yeah… just disappointed. not even angry, really. mostly just glad it’s over.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱
probably should’ve reread but i’m skipping it out of self preservation. every reread lately has gone horribly and i actually like this series too much to risk it. fingers crossed my memory isn’t total trash.
the nightshade crown
⌗﹒ 01 the foxglove king — 4 ☆
⌗﹒ 02 the hemlock queen — 3.75 ☆
⌗﹒ 03 the nightshade god — 2 ☆
⤿ major spoilers ﹒⟢
I’M FREEEE. oh my god. finally.
i’ve been trying to finish this for two days and i swear the only thing that got me through it was sheer determination. and the audiobook. because the way i spent three hours (with breaks) reading and only made it through 50 pages? yeah. there was no way i was finishing this on text alone. i had to switch formats just to make it bearable.
and look, i know a lot of the problem was me. i didn’t reread the first two books. every single reread lately has gone horribly and i actually liked the first book too much to risk it. the second? was okay. not my favorite. but i still didn’t want to mess with my memory of the series, so i went in blind and hoped for the best.
spoiler: it was not the best.
i got some recap, yeah. i pieced a few things together. but i was still confused half the time. there were so many moments where i just had to stop and look shit up because the book wasn’t giving me enough. and having to keep doing that while already not being in the mood to read? yeah. rough. i don’t even think this was technically bad, but i was so disinterested that it might as well have been.
which sucks. because this is the final book. and i could not care less.
like actually. if i hadn’t read this? i wouldn’t even be wondering how it ended. i just don’t care. i don’t even know what the plot was supposed to be. something about the fount, something about the gods, lore trying to stop apollius (again)? i couldn’t tell you what actually happened. there were dream scenes and quest scenes and prison scenes and somehow it all felt like filler. especially because the main three weren’t even together for 90% of the book. barely any page time between lore, bastian, and gabe until the very end. like. i get the whole dream meeting thing but it’s not the same. it was boring. they’re the best part of this series and we barely got them.
the only things i even liked were the throuple moments and the epilogue. and i don’t mean “i liked some lore x gabe moments and some lore x bastian moments.” i mean all three of them together. even in the dream scenes where only two of them were talking, they’d still bring up the third. it always felt like they were circling each other. and honestly? they just work better that way. i don’t care about lore and gabe as a couple. i don’t care about lore and bastian as a couple. but the three of them choosing each other? yeah. that was the only dynamic that made sense to me. i wanted more of that.
and the epilogue was actually good. i didn’t like that bastian and gabe died. but i did like how they came back. that whole ending scene? yeah, i’ll give it credit. that was a satisfying way to close the series.
but it didn’t fix the rest of the book.
it just sucks that i have so little to say. and the thing is, i know i’m not going to reread this. not even to see if it hits different in a better mood. because 1) i don’t want to risk liking the other books less and 2) i just don’t care enough to try. and the worst part? if i hadn’t read this at all, i wouldn’t even be mad. i’d be fine never knowing. which is not what you want from the last book in a series.
yeah… just disappointed. not even angry, really. mostly just glad it’s over.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱
probably should’ve reread but i’m skipping it out of self preservation. every reread lately has gone horribly and i actually like this series too much to risk it. fingers crossed my memory isn’t total trash.
the nightshade crown
⌗﹒ 01 the foxglove king — 4 ☆
⌗﹒ 02 the hemlock queen — 3.75 ☆
⌗﹒ 03 the nightshade god — 2 ☆
July 15, 2025
3.5 stars (I’m mad about it too)
This is not how I expected to feel after finishing The Nightshade Crown series. I am a huge Hannah Whitten fan, and I really enjoyed the previous two installments in this trilogy. However, The Nightshade God was an underwhelming and messy conclusion to this gothic fantasy trilogy.
The characters have always been my favorite part of this series. Lore is an incredibly strong main character. I really liked exploring her relationship with her power and her feelings of guilt and responsibility. Gabe and Bastian continue to be angsty and entertaining characters to follow. I found the evolution of Bastian’s character particularly compelling.
I love a story about light v. darkness, history repeating itself, meddling gods, and past events being warped by institutions in power. And Hannah Whitten explores these themes in really interesting ways throughout this series.
(NOTE: vague spoilers for The Hemlock Queen after this point)
I was really looking forward to the new direction that the story was going to take after reading the ending of The Hemlock Queen. Unfortunately, I don’t think this shift was successful. The third installment felt like it was missing a lot of what made the previous two books successful. I was SO EXCITED to learn that this installment would have multiple POVs. But, unfortunately, the book fails to make up for what it loses with the three main characters separated.
Pacing—particularly slow beginnings—has been a consistent weakness across this series. And the pacing in The Nightshade God is no exception. The different plot lines lacked tension and urgency, and it felt like it took forever for the story to get to the main point. Over half of this book felt like a “slow start.” I think it was difficult to manage an engaging plot with all of them separated and in new places. There are too many convenient new things to get them out of impossible situations.
Alie’s story might have been the strongest perspective in this book. ALIE. The character I CONSISTENTLY FORGET EXISTS BETWEEN BOOKS.
I honestly think that this series would have been more successful as a duology with the conflict with the gods scaled down. I was completely invested in the plot with the gods in the first two books. But The Nightshade God tries to expand the conflict even further, and it just didn’t land for me. It became hard to follow what the characters were working toward, with the scope of the conflict constantly changing. The new settings, goals, and tools weren’t well integrated into the overall story. This final installment completely lacked the strong atmosphere that made both The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen shine.
I like the ending a lot for the emotional impact, but I don’t know if it really fits with the messaging of the series. (To be fair, I only noticed the discordant messaging after talking about it with a mutual.)
Though I am disappointed that this finale was not the resounding success I expected it to be, I still enjoy The Nightshade Crown series overall, and I will continue to read everything Hannah Whitten writes.
Thank you so much Orbit for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
This is not how I expected to feel after finishing The Nightshade Crown series. I am a huge Hannah Whitten fan, and I really enjoyed the previous two installments in this trilogy. However, The Nightshade God was an underwhelming and messy conclusion to this gothic fantasy trilogy.
The characters have always been my favorite part of this series. Lore is an incredibly strong main character. I really liked exploring her relationship with her power and her feelings of guilt and responsibility. Gabe and Bastian continue to be angsty and entertaining characters to follow. I found the evolution of Bastian’s character particularly compelling.
I love a story about light v. darkness, history repeating itself, meddling gods, and past events being warped by institutions in power. And Hannah Whitten explores these themes in really interesting ways throughout this series.
(NOTE: vague spoilers for The Hemlock Queen after this point)
I was really looking forward to the new direction that the story was going to take after reading the ending of The Hemlock Queen. Unfortunately, I don’t think this shift was successful. The third installment felt like it was missing a lot of what made the previous two books successful. I was SO EXCITED to learn that this installment would have multiple POVs. But, unfortunately, the book fails to make up for what it loses with the three main characters separated.
Pacing—particularly slow beginnings—has been a consistent weakness across this series. And the pacing in The Nightshade God is no exception. The different plot lines lacked tension and urgency, and it felt like it took forever for the story to get to the main point. Over half of this book felt like a “slow start.” I think it was difficult to manage an engaging plot with all of them separated and in new places. There are too many convenient new things to get them out of impossible situations.
Alie’s story might have been the strongest perspective in this book. ALIE. The character I CONSISTENTLY FORGET EXISTS BETWEEN BOOKS.
I honestly think that this series would have been more successful as a duology with the conflict with the gods scaled down. I was completely invested in the plot with the gods in the first two books. But The Nightshade God tries to expand the conflict even further, and it just didn’t land for me. It became hard to follow what the characters were working toward, with the scope of the conflict constantly changing. The new settings, goals, and tools weren’t well integrated into the overall story. This final installment completely lacked the strong atmosphere that made both The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen shine.
I like the ending a lot for the emotional impact, but I don’t know if it really fits with the messaging of the series. (To be fair, I only noticed the discordant messaging after talking about it with a mutual.)
Though I am disappointed that this finale was not the resounding success I expected it to be, I still enjoy The Nightshade Crown series overall, and I will continue to read everything Hannah Whitten writes.
Thank you so much Orbit for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
March 31, 2025
Finally, the wait is over, and the earth-shattering conclusion to the Nightshade Crown series is here! As the saying goes, "save the best for last"—and that couldn't be truer because this final book surpasses them all, leaving me clapping so hard my hands hurt. Honestly, I’ve read everything Hannah Whitten has written, and each book has been a five-star read, but this one? It belongs in a special category that deserves more than ten stars. I can't express just how much I loved it!
This book is a masterclass in storytelling—Whitten weaves an intricate, emotionally charged narrative that grips you from the start and refuses to let go. Lore’s journey in this finale is nothing short of breathtaking, balancing high-stakes action, raw vulnerability, and an ever-present sense of impending doom. Banished to the Burnt Isles, she must not only find a way to defeat the god who has stolen everything from her but also face the growing power within herself—one that might be just as dangerous. The stakes are higher than ever, the emotional turmoil cuts deep, and every twist and turn left me in awe.
What truly sets this book apart is its rich worldbuilding, the complexity of its characters, and the way it effortlessly balances dark, gothic beauty with moments of hope and resilience. The multiple POVs were handled brilliantly, each perspective adding layers to the narrative rather than distracting from it. The last stretch of the book? Pure, unrelenting intensity—I was on edge, heart pounding, as everything unraveled in the most spectacular way. And the epilogue? I’m still recovering. It broke me, healed me, and left me in stunned silence, cherishing every moment spent in this world.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’ve followed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, then brace yourself—because The Nightshade God will shatter your heart in the best way possible. Hannah Whitten has truly outdone herself, and I will be first in line for whatever she writes next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing this brilliant fantasy book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter
This book is a masterclass in storytelling—Whitten weaves an intricate, emotionally charged narrative that grips you from the start and refuses to let go. Lore’s journey in this finale is nothing short of breathtaking, balancing high-stakes action, raw vulnerability, and an ever-present sense of impending doom. Banished to the Burnt Isles, she must not only find a way to defeat the god who has stolen everything from her but also face the growing power within herself—one that might be just as dangerous. The stakes are higher than ever, the emotional turmoil cuts deep, and every twist and turn left me in awe.
What truly sets this book apart is its rich worldbuilding, the complexity of its characters, and the way it effortlessly balances dark, gothic beauty with moments of hope and resilience. The multiple POVs were handled brilliantly, each perspective adding layers to the narrative rather than distracting from it. The last stretch of the book? Pure, unrelenting intensity—I was on edge, heart pounding, as everything unraveled in the most spectacular way. And the epilogue? I’m still recovering. It broke me, healed me, and left me in stunned silence, cherishing every moment spent in this world.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’ve followed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, then brace yourself—because The Nightshade God will shatter your heart in the best way possible. Hannah Whitten has truly outdone herself, and I will be first in line for whatever she writes next.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing this brilliant fantasy book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!
medium.com
April 4, 2025
huh. let me sit with this one for a sec because i adored the first two?? idk this was very anticlimactic 🤨
thank you to netgalley & orbit books for the arc!
thank you to netgalley & orbit books for the arc!
June 18, 2025
FUCK YEAH I GOT THE ARC
__________________________
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.
__________________________
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.
April 5, 2025
As a die hard fan of Whittens work, I knew walking into this I was going to love this book… what I didn’t expect was just how much.
This book had me clawing at my own throat. I wasn’t sure how she was going to pull it all off… so much happening and such high stakes… but by golly! Pull it off is actually not the accurate way to describe this finale. KNOCKED IT OUT the GODDDDDDDAAAMNNN FOUNT is more like it.
I can’t say what I want to say without spoilers, so I’ll just leave this here… make sure you take deep breaths before you start this. Grab. Kleenex. Wine. And a dark room to sob in.
This book had me clawing at my own throat. I wasn’t sure how she was going to pull it all off… so much happening and such high stakes… but by golly! Pull it off is actually not the accurate way to describe this finale. KNOCKED IT OUT the GODDDDDDDAAAMNNN FOUNT is more like it.
I can’t say what I want to say without spoilers, so I’ll just leave this here… make sure you take deep breaths before you start this. Grab. Kleenex. Wine. And a dark room to sob in.
May 14, 2025
6 fucking starsssss😭😭🥲. Finished this 10 minutes ago and I’m still crying. Full RTC
The Nightshade god is everything I’ve ever wanted from a fantasy novel. From the vivid world building, unforgettable characters, and writing that aches in all the right places. Whitten never fails to surprise. The way she crafts a story leaves you both completely satisfied and yet endlessly craving more. I’m in complete awe.
When I picked up the first book in the series last year, I didn’t expect it to consume me the way it did. By the end of book two, I was fully invested(heart, soul, everything). So when I was granted an early copy of The Nightshade God, I went in with impossibly high expectations. Somehow, Whitten exceeded every single one.
This book is brilliant. Every scene, every line, every moment feels intentional and earned. In the book the characters are scattered across different places, yet their journeys are seamlessly interwoven. I was initially nervous about how that would play out, but the multiple POVs were flawlessly executed. Not once did it feel overwhelming or disjointed, each voice added new layers to the story.
And these characters? I love them so much.The story picked up right where book two left off. Watching their growth, both individually and in their relationships, was so emotional and rewarding. I want to talk about them endlessly, but I won’t, because I’d end up spoiling the book😭😭😭
Whitten’s prose is rich without being heavy, poetic without losing clarity. Her worldbuilding is immersive, but never at the expense of the characters. And that ending? It was heartbreakingly perfect.
This is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. If you haven’t read it, you are truly missing out.
Thank you Netgalley and orbit for the arc😘🫶🏾
OMG, I got the arc😳😭😭😭😭
The Nightshade god is everything I’ve ever wanted from a fantasy novel. From the vivid world building, unforgettable characters, and writing that aches in all the right places. Whitten never fails to surprise. The way she crafts a story leaves you both completely satisfied and yet endlessly craving more. I’m in complete awe.
When I picked up the first book in the series last year, I didn’t expect it to consume me the way it did. By the end of book two, I was fully invested(heart, soul, everything). So when I was granted an early copy of The Nightshade God, I went in with impossibly high expectations. Somehow, Whitten exceeded every single one.
This book is brilliant. Every scene, every line, every moment feels intentional and earned. In the book the characters are scattered across different places, yet their journeys are seamlessly interwoven. I was initially nervous about how that would play out, but the multiple POVs were flawlessly executed. Not once did it feel overwhelming or disjointed, each voice added new layers to the story.
And these characters? I love them so much.The story picked up right where book two left off. Watching their growth, both individually and in their relationships, was so emotional and rewarding. I want to talk about them endlessly, but I won’t, because I’d end up spoiling the book😭😭😭
Whitten’s prose is rich without being heavy, poetic without losing clarity. Her worldbuilding is immersive, but never at the expense of the characters. And that ending? It was heartbreakingly perfect.
This is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. If you haven’t read it, you are truly missing out.
Thank you Netgalley and orbit for the arc😘🫶🏾
OMG, I got the arc😳😭😭😭😭
May 24, 2024
Need a Bastian POV
July 15, 2025
I went into this book SO excited.
Please be reminded that 3 stars is STILL a good book to me.
Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting this for book 3, and honestly, it didn’t give me what I wanted.
I am a true fantasy/romantasy girl at heart, so The Foxglove King was a 5star read for me this year. The Hemlock Queen was pretty good as well, but this third book took a different turn on things, and I kind of wasn’t ready for it.
While I did enjoy the progression of the side characters (Allie, Malcolm, Michal), I was really let down by the progression (or lack there of) of Gabe, Bastian, and Lore.
When they are finally all together, we simply get 3 sentences. I actually cried, because you’re telling me I waited 3 books of longing, pining, anger, enemies, and pain AND years for them to finally be all together happily, and I get less than a page?
Not even a chapter? Not even like… anything? I’m sorry, it just killed me.
Maybe I’m overthinking it, because I understand what the book was truly about - the world, humans, power and corruption. I just felt a little let down.
Please DO NOT take any of this the wrong way. I enjoyed the way they had an adventure to get all of the things they needed done, done. I loved the growth and power, the ideations. Again, I just felt let down with the very ending of the epilogue.
Maybe an epilogue 2.0? Just to see their happiness finally. Just a smidge. ANYTHING.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this advanced copy!
Please be reminded that 3 stars is STILL a good book to me.
Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting this for book 3, and honestly, it didn’t give me what I wanted.
I am a true fantasy/romantasy girl at heart, so The Foxglove King was a 5star read for me this year. The Hemlock Queen was pretty good as well, but this third book took a different turn on things, and I kind of wasn’t ready for it.
While I did enjoy the progression of the side characters (Allie, Malcolm, Michal), I was really let down by the progression (or lack there of) of Gabe, Bastian, and Lore.
When they are finally all together, we simply get 3 sentences. I actually cried, because you’re telling me I waited 3 books of longing, pining, anger, enemies, and pain AND years for them to finally be all together happily, and I get less than a page?
Not even a chapter? Not even like… anything? I’m sorry, it just killed me.
Maybe I’m overthinking it, because I understand what the book was truly about - the world, humans, power and corruption. I just felt a little let down.
Please DO NOT take any of this the wrong way. I enjoyed the way they had an adventure to get all of the things they needed done, done. I loved the growth and power, the ideations. Again, I just felt let down with the very ending of the epilogue.
Maybe an epilogue 2.0? Just to see their happiness finally. Just a smidge. ANYTHING.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this advanced copy!
May 16, 2025
I would like to start this review with a positive. Like all of Hannah Whitten's books, this one features her signature creative and lyrical writing. I'm always impressed with her use of language.
Unfortunately that is the only positive I have about this book. The Foxglove King is one of my favorite books of all time. I loved everything about it - the well-developed setting, the political maneuvering, the creepy religious magic, and most importantly, the incredible relationship between Lore, Gabe, and Bastian.
The combination of those three characters and their forced alliance to reluctant friends, to....? was perfection and something that I have been chasing since then. I loved her masterful development of their alliance and friendship, and the glimpse into their individual characters. It was a some of the best character development I have ever read.
Where were those relationships in this book?
This is not a book about Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. It is is a book about the gods that possess them. I was so painfully bored and disinterested in these stories that literally every page was a chore to read. Even the tiny number of pages where our main characters interacted (I think there were maybe 10-15 in the ENTIRE BOOK) were unsatisfying because they were so disconnected from each other at this point that it felt forced when they were together.
I was relieved when this book was finished, and that's a heartbreaking feeling for a book you anticipated so thoroughly.
Thank you to Orbit Books for this ARC
Unfortunately that is the only positive I have about this book. The Foxglove King is one of my favorite books of all time. I loved everything about it - the well-developed setting, the political maneuvering, the creepy religious magic, and most importantly, the incredible relationship between Lore, Gabe, and Bastian.
The combination of those three characters and their forced alliance to reluctant friends, to....? was perfection and something that I have been chasing since then. I loved her masterful development of their alliance and friendship, and the glimpse into their individual characters. It was a some of the best character development I have ever read.
Where were those relationships in this book?
This is not a book about Lore, Gabe, and Bastian. It is is a book about the gods that possess them. I was so painfully bored and disinterested in these stories that literally every page was a chore to read. Even the tiny number of pages where our main characters interacted (I think there were maybe 10-15 in the ENTIRE BOOK) were unsatisfying because they were so disconnected from each other at this point that it felt forced when they were together.
I was relieved when this book was finished, and that's a heartbreaking feeling for a book you anticipated so thoroughly.
Thank you to Orbit Books for this ARC
June 28, 2025
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 the three of them. The idea of a whole being comprised out of three parts rather than halves has tugged 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.
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 the three of them. The idea of a whole being comprised out of three parts rather than halves has tugged 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.
July 26, 2025
⇢ 3.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous and rounding up!
Honestly, this was the weakest book in the trilogy for me due to the pacing. Now that we're three books in, we should be rapidly building to this epic conclusion and really focusing on the newfound godly powers of our main characters, but there was still SO much meandering and repetition. I was disappointed by how slowly the first half of the book moved, but I did very much like the ending. The epilogue was actually my favorite part of the story, so it at least finished in a satisfying manner!
I've continued to enjoy the character growth of Lore, Gabe, and Bastion throughout the books, and I feel that this is where Whitten's strengths truly lie. Even when the plot was dragging, I was still interested in the character dynamics and dialogue. Unfortunately, these three were apart for the majority of the book. I was really hoping for more scenes with all of them together, especially toward the conclusion. Still, I'm happy for the poly bisexual win here - no love triangle!!
Overall, this was still a fun trilogy, and I'm glad to have read it!
Honestly, this was the weakest book in the trilogy for me due to the pacing. Now that we're three books in, we should be rapidly building to this epic conclusion and really focusing on the newfound godly powers of our main characters, but there was still SO much meandering and repetition. I was disappointed by how slowly the first half of the book moved, but I did very much like the ending. The epilogue was actually my favorite part of the story, so it at least finished in a satisfying manner!
I've continued to enjoy the character growth of Lore, Gabe, and Bastion throughout the books, and I feel that this is where Whitten's strengths truly lie. Even when the plot was dragging, I was still interested in the character dynamics and dialogue. Unfortunately, these three were apart for the majority of the book. I was really hoping for more scenes with all of them together, especially toward the conclusion. Still, I'm happy for the poly bisexual win here - no love triangle!!
Overall, this was still a fun trilogy, and I'm glad to have read it!
June 26, 2025
What do we do if the very foundations of our belief are broken? How can anything built on them stand?
3.75 stars
I really love Hannah’s writing. The lore (lol lore), world-building, and mythology were super interesting. I love love Lore and Bastian, even Gabe grew on me in this one. The side characters were fun, and everything wrapped up at a decent pace, ie. not stupid fast and unbelievable.
There is no dark that cannot be banished by a single candle
However.
I was disappointed in this one and no one is more disappointed than me😭 This was one of my most anticipated books this year!! By the 50% mark, nothing had really happened. After the end of book 2, I was expecting action and plotting and adventure. Nothing😭 There were 4 POVs (more?? I can’t remember) in this one, and it really dragged the story down. Our main characters were separated for the entire fucking book.
Yes, you read that right.
ENTIRE
FUCKING
BOOK
3 books of build-up for absolutely nothing.
So...what?? Sometimes I don’t mind a book that features the separation, since it’s so common now, but this?? Hell no. I wanted more Lore/Bastain/Gabe, and we got NONE. What.
And the end. No. Oh no no. I was not at all a fan, the end brought it down from 4 stars (for the writing style and Bastian, and Alie, she was great) to 3.75 stars. I won’t spoil it, but it’s not what I want from an ending.
Yeah, I pretty much cried the whole time, and it was well written, but no. It’s a HEA adjacent, you know? And I like a full HEA. Period.
I would still recommend this trilogy as a whole and it’s got great queer representation, but
I’m sad.
Thank you to Orbit Books and the author for this ARC!
The heart is the hardest thing to guard.
3.75 stars
I really love Hannah’s writing. The lore (lol lore), world-building, and mythology were super interesting. I love love Lore and Bastian, even Gabe grew on me in this one. The side characters were fun, and everything wrapped up at a decent pace, ie. not stupid fast and unbelievable.
There is no dark that cannot be banished by a single candle
However.
I was disappointed in this one and no one is more disappointed than me😭 This was one of my most anticipated books this year!! By the 50% mark, nothing had really happened. After the end of book 2, I was expecting action and plotting and adventure. Nothing😭 There were 4 POVs (more?? I can’t remember) in this one, and it really dragged the story down. Our main characters were separated for the entire fucking book.
Yes, you read that right.
ENTIRE
FUCKING
BOOK
3 books of build-up for absolutely nothing.
So...what?? Sometimes I don’t mind a book that features the separation, since it’s so common now, but this?? Hell no. I wanted more Lore/Bastain/Gabe, and we got NONE. What.
And the end. No. Oh no no. I was not at all a fan, the end brought it down from 4 stars (for the writing style and Bastian, and Alie, she was great) to 3.75 stars. I won’t spoil it, but it’s not what I want from an ending.
Yeah, I pretty much cried the whole time, and it was well written, but no. It’s a HEA adjacent, you know? And I like a full HEA. Period.
I would still recommend this trilogy as a whole and it’s got great queer representation, but
I’m sad.
Thank you to Orbit Books and the author for this ARC!
The heart is the hardest thing to guard.
August 4, 2025
3.75⭐️
🌶️1
This could have been an email 💔💔
🌶️1
This could have been an email 💔💔
May 28, 2025
⭐️ 3 stars
This wasn't the dramatic ending I wanted for some reason. Don't get me wrong, so much happens in this book and there's a lot of payoff that I was pleased to get, but for a final book in a trilogy...This dragged for me. Perhaps it was the length and the book would have been better served to be shorter but I'm not exactly sure that's the answer either. My main critique is that the relationships between the actual main characters (Lore, Bastian, Gabe) took a backseat in many ways to the relationships of the gods of the story. I know they mirror each other, parallel each other in so many ways blah blah but...I just ended up not really finding either throuple that particularly compelling because their relationships were battling poorly for the spotlight. Towards the end, I simply decided the story was too bloated for my tastes. That being said, if you were head-over-heels for the other books in the trilogy (which I wasn't. I felt more middling), then I doubt it would be an issue for you.
This wasn't the dramatic ending I wanted for some reason. Don't get me wrong, so much happens in this book and there's a lot of payoff that I was pleased to get, but for a final book in a trilogy...This dragged for me. Perhaps it was the length and the book would have been better served to be shorter but I'm not exactly sure that's the answer either. My main critique is that the relationships between the actual main characters (Lore, Bastian, Gabe) took a backseat in many ways to the relationships of the gods of the story. I know they mirror each other, parallel each other in so many ways blah blah but...I just ended up not really finding either throuple that particularly compelling because their relationships were battling poorly for the spotlight. Towards the end, I simply decided the story was too bloated for my tastes. That being said, if you were head-over-heels for the other books in the trilogy (which I wasn't. I felt more middling), then I doubt it would be an issue for you.
June 15, 2025
I have complicated feelings about this book that will probably take me a while to sort out. Until then… here are my preliminary takeaways upon finishing the book & completing this series:
I had a hard time reading this book. It was hard to get into and stay into it. I think being yanked out of one POV/setting is hard for me… I just start to sink my teeth into a character and their storyline when it’s time to leave and go into another. What’s funny is I genuinely love each character and want to hear about their experiences and thoughts and everything but I don’t know… I just found myself putting the book down and I had to make myself pick it back up. The previous books in the series captivated me differently- especially the Foxglove King. (I absolutely adore that first book!!!!) It took me a really long time to finish the Nightshade god.
Also, the love triangle turned throuple didn’t feel super authentic to me. It just felt like it didn’t fit into the original story? Or I cannot put words to my feelings on that yet but it just felt weird to me? Despite LOVING THE SHIT out of all three of them. And completely being unable to figure out who I liked with Lore more because they both seemed great for her. I guess the relationship between Bastian and Gabe was the part that felt a little forced and like it turned into a romantic relationship instantly instead of building towards that.
I really liked Lilia’s storyline and sobbed my head off towards the end of the book when she sacrificed her life for Lore. How Lilia’s last words to Lore were simply: Love you. I cried and cried when Bastian sacrificed himself for Lore. And I LOVE that Lore went back to the Fount despite her heart ache and asked for MORE in the kindest, most selfless way.
I feel like Alie was a character I came to love SO MUCH. I really thought Jax falling for Alie was changing his heart and did NOT SEE IT COMING when she pushed him off the ship! Oh. My. Lanta. That was crazy! And her and Finn?! Adore that. Love that so much for her.
The way everything played out with the Fount surprised me. I honestly can say I didn’t see it coming and felt like the epilogue was so interesting. I also absolutely loved the advice all three of Lore’s mothers gave her when it came to how Lore should go and live a big life. The last 10% of the book really captivated me most, I’d say. I liked the pacing towards the end of the book so much.
It’s wild we waited SO LONG for Lore to get her happily ever after and then we didn’t get to actually witness it. I get it but I kinda hate that! I just wish we would have gotten more happy moments with Bastian and Lore and Gabe and Lore. And maybe that is where some of my frustration with this book lies: this book wasn’t as much about Lore and Gabe and Bastian as it was about the gods.
Overall, I keep waffling between giving this a 3 or 4 ⭐️— so it’s honestly probably a 3.5 for me. I loved the beginning of this series *so* so much and I just didn’t feel as enthusiastic about this one, unfortunately.
So many thank yous to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC copy of The Nightshade God.
I had a hard time reading this book. It was hard to get into and stay into it. I think being yanked out of one POV/setting is hard for me… I just start to sink my teeth into a character and their storyline when it’s time to leave and go into another. What’s funny is I genuinely love each character and want to hear about their experiences and thoughts and everything but I don’t know… I just found myself putting the book down and I had to make myself pick it back up. The previous books in the series captivated me differently- especially the Foxglove King. (I absolutely adore that first book!!!!) It took me a really long time to finish the Nightshade god.
Also, the love triangle turned throuple didn’t feel super authentic to me. It just felt like it didn’t fit into the original story? Or I cannot put words to my feelings on that yet but it just felt weird to me? Despite LOVING THE SHIT out of all three of them. And completely being unable to figure out who I liked with Lore more because they both seemed great for her. I guess the relationship between Bastian and Gabe was the part that felt a little forced and like it turned into a romantic relationship instantly instead of building towards that.
I really liked Lilia’s storyline and sobbed my head off towards the end of the book when she sacrificed her life for Lore. How Lilia’s last words to Lore were simply: Love you. I cried and cried when Bastian sacrificed himself for Lore. And I LOVE that Lore went back to the Fount despite her heart ache and asked for MORE in the kindest, most selfless way.
I feel like Alie was a character I came to love SO MUCH. I really thought Jax falling for Alie was changing his heart and did NOT SEE IT COMING when she pushed him off the ship! Oh. My. Lanta. That was crazy! And her and Finn?! Adore that. Love that so much for her.
The way everything played out with the Fount surprised me. I honestly can say I didn’t see it coming and felt like the epilogue was so interesting. I also absolutely loved the advice all three of Lore’s mothers gave her when it came to how Lore should go and live a big life. The last 10% of the book really captivated me most, I’d say. I liked the pacing towards the end of the book so much.
It’s wild we waited SO LONG for Lore to get her happily ever after and then we didn’t get to actually witness it. I get it but I kinda hate that! I just wish we would have gotten more happy moments with Bastian and Lore and Gabe and Lore. And maybe that is where some of my frustration with this book lies: this book wasn’t as much about Lore and Gabe and Bastian as it was about the gods.
Overall, I keep waffling between giving this a 3 or 4 ⭐️— so it’s honestly probably a 3.5 for me. I loved the beginning of this series *so* so much and I just didn’t feel as enthusiastic about this one, unfortunately.
So many thank yous to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC copy of The Nightshade God.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Orbit & Hannah Whitten for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review which I'm giving the title “Confused and underwhelmed, party of one—your table is ready.”
Look, I wanted to love this. I tried to love this. I even squinted real hard and turned the pages like I was decoding ancient prophecy, but alas—this finale left me more confused than enchanted. Should I have reread The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen before diving in? Probably. But in my defense, is a little "Previously on The Nightshade Crown" too much to ask? Especially after The Hemlock Queen ended with a intense level cliffhanger?
Instead of riding the high of that ending into a big, glorious payoff... I got lost... In the dark... With a broken lantern & blurry map.
The split POVs felt like someone hit the randomizer button on the plot. Lore, who I was dying to see react, grow, and maybe throw something dramatic at Bastian, got sidelined emotionally. Gabe and Bastian? Still angsty and complicated, but I needed more depth, more resolution, more of... literally anything that felt like a continuation of their tangled mess.
And then there's Alie. ALIE. Apparently the MVP of this book, except I didn’t even remember her until halfway through, when she suddenly became the only one with narrative momentum. The irony!
Don’t get me wrong, there are still glimmers of what I loved in the earlier books: gods meddling, institutions warping history, that juicy gothic atmosphere. But this time around, the pacing dragged, the stakes felt murky, and emotionally? I just didn’t care as much as I wanted to.
Final thoughts: If you’re going to tackle this one, maybe revisit the earlier books first and prep a murder board to track plot threads. Otherwise, you might end up like me: wandering through the Burnt Isles of confusion, wondering where all the magic went...
Look, I wanted to love this. I tried to love this. I even squinted real hard and turned the pages like I was decoding ancient prophecy, but alas—this finale left me more confused than enchanted. Should I have reread The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen before diving in? Probably. But in my defense, is a little "Previously on The Nightshade Crown" too much to ask? Especially after The Hemlock Queen ended with a intense level cliffhanger?
Instead of riding the high of that ending into a big, glorious payoff... I got lost... In the dark... With a broken lantern & blurry map.
The split POVs felt like someone hit the randomizer button on the plot. Lore, who I was dying to see react, grow, and maybe throw something dramatic at Bastian, got sidelined emotionally. Gabe and Bastian? Still angsty and complicated, but I needed more depth, more resolution, more of... literally anything that felt like a continuation of their tangled mess.
And then there's Alie. ALIE. Apparently the MVP of this book, except I didn’t even remember her until halfway through, when she suddenly became the only one with narrative momentum. The irony!
Don’t get me wrong, there are still glimmers of what I loved in the earlier books: gods meddling, institutions warping history, that juicy gothic atmosphere. But this time around, the pacing dragged, the stakes felt murky, and emotionally? I just didn’t care as much as I wanted to.
Final thoughts: If you’re going to tackle this one, maybe revisit the earlier books first and prep a murder board to track plot threads. Otherwise, you might end up like me: wandering through the Burnt Isles of confusion, wondering where all the magic went...
August 10, 2025
3 Stars - WTF? We got 1 minute of all three main characters together…one freaking minute …and that’s it. The first 80% of the book none of the three main characters are together, what so ever…not even in the dream world! I mean it’s a freaking dream world… get them together so they can have a freaking conversation at least… and then even in the „epic“ final battle they are not together!!! WTF? I am so unsatisfied! The first two books are so good because the characters are playing off each other…and I loved the gothic world…but now we got this? 😭 so disappointed…
❤️ Bastian x Gab x Lore
❤️ Bastian x Gab x Lore
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
The Goddess of Waiting 😭😭😭
✨ Preread
Here’s what I remember: The gods ruined everything and Lore’s supposed to clean up the mess. Personally, I’d take the magic and ghost everyone at this point.
Here’s to hoping I didn’t make a MASSIVE mistake by not rereading books 1 & 2 😂
The Goddess of Waiting 😭😭😭
✨ Preread
Here’s what I remember: The gods ruined everything and Lore’s supposed to clean up the mess. Personally, I’d take the magic and ghost everyone at this point.
Here’s to hoping I didn’t make a MASSIVE mistake by not rereading books 1 & 2 😂
March 18, 2025
I like to write my reviews as soon as I finish a book, fearing I’ll forget some details I want to discuss. But I had to sit with this one for a while. I thoroughly enjoyed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, so I was excited about the final installment. However, with The Nightshade God??? It shattered my heart and made me want to fight for these characters.
There are multiple POVs in this final installment, and Hannah did a fantastic job balancing them. I sometimes tend to favor one character’s POV over another, but with the overarching storyline, narrative drive, and emotional depth present in each of them, I couldn’t pick a favorite. They all serve the story in an effective way that also moves the reader.
The last 70% of the book is where the story picks up. The scenes grow action-packed, and this is where I became very worried for the characters. I finished one of the last chapters, closed the book, and let my sobs out, only to read the next chapter and proceed to close the book and cry my heart out again, except for an entirely different reason than the previous chapter. I was a tearful wreck at the end. The epilogue was so beautiful. It broke me, then mended me, putting me in a state of emotional paralysis. It’s going down as one of my all-time favorite epilogues.
Because of the differing POVs, so many themes and ideas are explored in various contexts. I was particularly fascinated with religion, religious belief systems, gods, love, and hope. It forced me to self-reflect, and that’s what I love most about books. I’m always changing as a person, and books help me figure out who I am. The Nightshade God just happened to reach several facets of my life.
I hope when this releases, it receives the love it deserves. If you enjoyed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, get ready for The Nightshade God. Hannah stepped it up with this one, and the dynamics between the characters touched my soul.
Thank you so much to Orbit for an e-arc of this book. I can’t wait to read what Hannah writes next.
There are multiple POVs in this final installment, and Hannah did a fantastic job balancing them. I sometimes tend to favor one character’s POV over another, but with the overarching storyline, narrative drive, and emotional depth present in each of them, I couldn’t pick a favorite. They all serve the story in an effective way that also moves the reader.
The last 70% of the book is where the story picks up. The scenes grow action-packed, and this is where I became very worried for the characters. I finished one of the last chapters, closed the book, and let my sobs out, only to read the next chapter and proceed to close the book and cry my heart out again, except for an entirely different reason than the previous chapter. I was a tearful wreck at the end. The epilogue was so beautiful. It broke me, then mended me, putting me in a state of emotional paralysis. It’s going down as one of my all-time favorite epilogues.
Because of the differing POVs, so many themes and ideas are explored in various contexts. I was particularly fascinated with religion, religious belief systems, gods, love, and hope. It forced me to self-reflect, and that’s what I love most about books. I’m always changing as a person, and books help me figure out who I am. The Nightshade God just happened to reach several facets of my life.
I hope when this releases, it receives the love it deserves. If you enjoyed The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, get ready for The Nightshade God. Hannah stepped it up with this one, and the dynamics between the characters touched my soul.
Thank you so much to Orbit for an e-arc of this book. I can’t wait to read what Hannah writes next.
April 9, 2025
"That's how I'll remember you. Both of you. Fierce, and beautiful, and at a beginning rather than an end."
"And it was a glimmer of hope he hadn't known he needed, to hear the three of them surviving mentioned like fact. Like there was no other way this could go "
HARD SAME. Cried the whole way through the last 5% of the book, no notes.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy. I have enjoyed this trilogy the whole way through, with its characters and relationships and world building. Overall, the exploration of religion, power, and individual motivations was interesting to navigate through and watch how it affected the main characters.
The different perspectives were well done and really revealed the differences between our cast of characters (one minor quibble of a perspective switch in Ch 36 as a personal grumble, but I get why it happened). Learning more about the gods was intriguing, and I was on the rollercoaster ride of scavenger hunts, personal epiphanies, and fights both external and internal as everyone marched towards the conclusion.
Without spoilers, I will say that I'm ... mostly... pleased with certain developments related to Lore, Gabe, and Bastian (and experienced a full range of emotions from kicking my feet in glee to crying like a baby). I don't even know what to call it, but there's a ... plot device? character choice? that I am an absolute sappy romantic sucker for (fans of modern Doctor Who would recognize it). Overall, what a beautiful ending to a beginning.
I would invade a small country to get a post credits scene, though. I do really wish we could see what happened after after, since we spent an entire book in varying levels of pining and anguish.
Also, thank you to the author for a closing Acknowledgements that I deeply resonated with.
"And it was a glimmer of hope he hadn't known he needed, to hear the three of them surviving mentioned like fact. Like there was no other way this could go "
HARD SAME. Cried the whole way through the last 5% of the book, no notes.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy. I have enjoyed this trilogy the whole way through, with its characters and relationships and world building. Overall, the exploration of religion, power, and individual motivations was interesting to navigate through and watch how it affected the main characters.
The different perspectives were well done and really revealed the differences between our cast of characters (one minor quibble of a perspective switch in Ch 36 as a personal grumble, but I get why it happened). Learning more about the gods was intriguing, and I was on the rollercoaster ride of scavenger hunts, personal epiphanies, and fights both external and internal as everyone marched towards the conclusion.
Without spoilers, I will say that I'm ... mostly... pleased with certain developments related to Lore, Gabe, and Bastian (and experienced a full range of emotions from kicking my feet in glee to crying like a baby). I don't even know what to call it, but there's a ... plot device? character choice? that I am an absolute sappy romantic sucker for (fans of modern Doctor Who would recognize it). Overall, what a beautiful ending to a beginning.
I would invade a small country to get a post credits scene, though. I do really wish we could see what happened after after, since we spent an entire book in varying levels of pining and anguish.
Also, thank you to the author for a closing Acknowledgements that I deeply resonated with.
Read
June 20, 2025i literally cannot stop crying. i am going to wither away into desiccated husk dust. i must gather my full thoughts but in short: the middle of this dragged but the ending may be one of the best i’ve ever read!!!! jesus christ!!!!!! i’m UNWELL!!!!!
May 27, 2025
ARC REVIEW - publisher thx
I felt like this book had MAJOR pacing issues. While I liked having everyone’s POV, I felt like not bringing them all together until so far at the end was a big mistake.
I also just am having a hard time with how I feel about the meaning of it all, humanity, empathy, gods, religion, politics, power… it all feels like it missed the mark a little but also I am thinking about it a lot so maybe it didn’t at all?
I really loved this trilogy as a whole, lore will always be special to me and I do love the ending for my trio. I wanted a bit more on page though heheh.
I felt like this book had MAJOR pacing issues. While I liked having everyone’s POV, I felt like not bringing them all together until so far at the end was a big mistake.
I also just am having a hard time with how I feel about the meaning of it all, humanity, empathy, gods, religion, politics, power… it all feels like it missed the mark a little but also I am thinking about it a lot so maybe it didn’t at all?
I really loved this trilogy as a whole, lore will always be special to me and I do love the ending for my trio. I wanted a bit more on page though heheh.
July 28, 2025
4.5/5 stars
FUCKING HELLLLLL I WIN BUT AT WHAT COST... shit man that was quite the ending
FUCKING HELLLLLL I WIN BUT AT WHAT COST... shit man that was quite the ending
July 20, 2025
gonna need a week to process
April 14, 2025
Orbit, this is my most anticipated read this year. 🙏 I would low-key sacrifice the world like Lore would for an arc.
Final thoughts: God 3.5 ⭐
The Nightshade God brought a bittersweet end to one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Picking up where the previous installments left off, the story follows each character on their quest to recover the Fount’s broken pieces, hoping to restore power and banish the gods trapped within them.
But to be brutally honest, I was disappointed by this final installment. What I loved about the first two books—Whitten’s atmospheric worldbuilding, rich prose, compelling characters, and masterfully built tension—felt flat and one-dimensional here. The pacing was rushed, lacking the intentional structure that made the earlier books shine.
The scavenger hunt-style plot, spanning four POVs, felt disjointed, weakening the tension and resulting in an anticlimactic ending. This focus pulled attention away from character growth, depriving Lore, Bastian, and Gabe of the emotional depth that could have made their arcs more compelling. While their individual journeys made sense, how they arrived at their conclusions felt unearned.
The final 25%—especially the epilogue—was rushed and forced, verging on dull. While I respect a story that doesn’t default to a neat happily-ever-after, a few pages of the epilogue felt like an inadequate payoff for three books of development.
That said, I see a lot of potential in Whitten’s work, and despite my struggles with this installment, I believe it will resonate with Romantasy readers. It delivers strong themes of magic, diverse romance, and choosing your fate, and for those who enjoy these elements, it’s worth reading for what it is, even if it didn’t fully work for me.
Thank you, NetGalley & Orbit Books, for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Final thoughts: God 3.5 ⭐
The Nightshade God brought a bittersweet end to one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Picking up where the previous installments left off, the story follows each character on their quest to recover the Fount’s broken pieces, hoping to restore power and banish the gods trapped within them.
But to be brutally honest, I was disappointed by this final installment. What I loved about the first two books—Whitten’s atmospheric worldbuilding, rich prose, compelling characters, and masterfully built tension—felt flat and one-dimensional here. The pacing was rushed, lacking the intentional structure that made the earlier books shine.
The scavenger hunt-style plot, spanning four POVs, felt disjointed, weakening the tension and resulting in an anticlimactic ending. This focus pulled attention away from character growth, depriving Lore, Bastian, and Gabe of the emotional depth that could have made their arcs more compelling. While their individual journeys made sense, how they arrived at their conclusions felt unearned.
The final 25%—especially the epilogue—was rushed and forced, verging on dull. While I respect a story that doesn’t default to a neat happily-ever-after, a few pages of the epilogue felt like an inadequate payoff for three books of development.
That said, I see a lot of potential in Whitten’s work, and despite my struggles with this installment, I believe it will resonate with Romantasy readers. It delivers strong themes of magic, diverse romance, and choosing your fate, and for those who enjoy these elements, it’s worth reading for what it is, even if it didn’t fully work for me.
Thank you, NetGalley & Orbit Books, for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 734 reviews