***Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten from Orbit Books for review purposes. Thank you so much for opportunity.
I got to this book a little later than I wanted. Even though I read it last year, my slump rendered me getting to this copy after the publication date. I am still so very thankful to Orbit for the copy and I made sure to run out and buy a finished version for my collection!
Please note that this review may have spoilers! If you want to check out a spoiler free review of the first book go to, The Foxglove King.
In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten’s lush, romantic epic fantasy series, a young woman who can raise the dead must navigate the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.
The corrupt king August is dead. Prince Bastian has seized the throne and raised Lore—a necromancer and former smuggler—to his right hand side. Together they plan to cut out the rot from the heart of the sainted court and help the people of Dellaire. But not everyone is happy with the changes. The nobles are sowing dissent, the Kyrithean Empire is beating down their door, and Lore’s old allies are pulling away. Even Prince Bastian’s changed. No longer the hopeful, rakish, charismatic man Lore knows and loves, instead he’s reckless, domineering and cold.
And something’s been whispering in her ear. A voice, dark and haunting, that’s telling her there’s more to the story than she knows and more to her power than she can even imagine. A truth buried deep that could change everything.
With Bastian’s coronation fast approaching and enemies whispering on all sides, Lore must figure out how to protect herself, her prince, and her country before they all come crumbling down and whatever dark power has been creeping through the catacombs is unleashed.
Oh gosh, as always it had been a whole year before since I read the first book, so I went in a little blindly. However, it was easy enough to remember who was who and what was going on.
Lore is forever a badass and I’m so happy she got the place where she currently is in the story. Who would’ve thought that this infamous poison runner and secret necromancer would be the future queen of the kingdom! Lore and Bastian are trying their very best to undo what his father and the other Presque Mort have done. Bastian is definitely different from his father in the first book.
Our favorite former Presque Mort, Gabe, is now the new Priest Exalted. What does this mean for the trio that was at the bottom to now be in the highest roles of the government? Of course, nothing is going to be easy. Gabe is one of my favorite people and the scenes with him and Lore left me wanting even more.
Lore starts to hear a voice, which is never a good thing to randomly start hearing voices, but this voice is definitely something Not Good. Little does she know, it’s been happening to Bastian too, slowly but surely.
I absolutely loved this book. Hannah writes so well and I just love the dark, gothic vibes this world gives. Is there any hope for all of them? I’m just waiting to find out.
Now the big thing that I’m waiting for in the next installment: is there something between Lore, Bastian, and Gabe? Their chemistry is off the charts and I’m fairly certain they border throuple territory.
I gave it 5 stars!
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