THANK YOU to Orbit and Netgalley for gifting me an early ebook of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. All opinions are my own and boy do I have a lot of them. Infinity stars, no notes, give me another, inject it directly into my body. I have been foaming at the mouth for the conclusion to this story since reading The Foxglove King in 2023 and this earth shattering story absolutely rocked my world. Hannah Whitten has crafted a macabre, beautiful world and characters that I love deeply (I am still thinking about Horse). This was very thought provoking and somehow still felt action packed. Even though our main characters were separated for most of the book, and I was dying for Gabe, Bastian, and Lore to be reunited, getting glimpses of their relationship and their eventual reconnection was worth it. It was also fantastic to finally get to see some other POVs, especially Alie, and watch her journey. We also got to see some fascinating new characters, and learn more about beings that are more human than you might have expected. I cried for the entire final chapter and definitely the entire epilogue, which from me is a ringing endorsement.

This book was epic, painful, heartwrenching, and gorgeous. The themes and questions are horribly timely and while the twists were jaw-dropping and sometimes painful, Whitten leaves you at the conclusion with hope.

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten delivers a captivating continuation of the series, blending dark magic with intricate world-building and intense character development. With its suspenseful plot and richly detailed settings, it keeps readers on edge while exploring themes of power, loyalty, and sacrifice. You don’t want to miss this one!

I've been wondering to myself how this story would end, and if I would honestly be satisfied with it because of how much I love these characters and the world. And I can say that the ending to this was satisfactory and I enjoyed every second of it. Although I'm extremely sad to see it end, I know all good things sadly have to come to an end.
The characters in this book as they were in the last 2 are amazing as always, I love Lore and Bastian and even seeing Allies POV was nice. All of the POV's in this book were needed, and this is probably the only series I never have struggled with handling all different character POV's.
The twists and turns that were in this? Oh my some parts I truly wasn't expecting. The world building was immaculate as always and just drives you deeper into the story. And I loved learning more and more as the story went on.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars! I recently discovered Hannah Whitten's work and developed a fast appreciation for The Nightshade Crown series. I was fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of The Nightshade God. The conclusion to the series gutted me in the best way. Hannah skillfully addressed the complexities of love, religious systems, and relationship dynamics in The Nightshade God. The narrative conveys a sense of atonement at the end, leaving the me with a bittersweet yet satisfied feeling. I cannot recommend this series enough.

This trilogy has my whole heart. The characters, the magic system, the religious fervor - Whitten built a world her readers can completely immerse themselves in.

In this final installment, the stakes are higher as Lore, Gabe, Bastian, and Alie race to undo wrongs from centuries ago. This story has always been about the human condition - our need to explain the unexplainable, to have some higher purpose, and to escape the obscurity of death by living forever. If we learn anything, it is that history is doomed to repeat itself. This story turns that notion on its head, and shows how we are capable of growth and great learning when we have enduring love.

I loved Alie’s development and voice throughout this novel, but for me it has always been Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. The Nightshade God gave me everything I wanted for their relationship and wrapped up all the storylines in a way I didn’t know I needed. The ending was the stuff of epic ballads, and left me with feelings of hope and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a rollercoaster this trilogy has been. I have read everything Hannah Whitten has written thus far and will continue to do so! It took me awhile to get back into the world, but once I did my heart was racing. I was stressed for these characters. I knew it was going to be a rough ride. Hannah certainly didn’t hold back. She really gave everyone a tough time! I was so worried no one would get a happy ending! Lore, Bastian, and Gabe grow so much throughout the series, it is most apparent in this final installation. There was so much going on the last 100 pages or so. I did get confused at times with all the gods and their vessels, but it all made sense in the end. What an ending! Can’t wait to see what Hannah writes next!

Back with my man, Bastian. How I missed him!
This third book, and last of the series, was filled with just as much flair. I love Hannah Whitten’s style because it’s got banter, tenderness, and this fantastic mix of earthy-otherworldly-grit. A smile written on a character just so gives a shiver up your spine, and even the opulence is often described in a way that is eerie.

I loved the switches in POV between chapters and the quotes that started each one - proverbs, ancient tavern songs, journal entries, and so on. It really immersed me in the world. I also always note how inclusive it is with race, gender, body shape, and sexuality. There is no doubt this world is diverse, and that makes me so happy that it’s represented.

Have to pause my review to thank NetGalley for this eARC! I rated this based on how excellent the writing is. The story itself wasn’t always for me. It had a lot of Gabe in it this go round and he is just not my cup of tea, but everyone likes different personalities, and I’m sure it will be a treat for those who like him.
The romance aspect fell very flat in comparison to the other preceding storylines. I adore a love triangle, but wasn’t satisfied where this one leads.

I’d say the first 75% of the book is a bit slower, but it really gears up after that and you just don’t know what will happen next! The ending? Again, not to my taste, but it was very well-done. I can’t read this and think “I’ve read a million fantasy stories just like it”. It’s fresh and new, and that’s always fun in my opinion. I am definitely going to continue following Hannah Whitten’s works and buying them as soon as they hit the shelves.

I love this series so much.

The second I could request an early copy of this book I RAN to do so. This has been my most anticipated finale of the year and I desperately needed to know how Lore, Bastian, and Gabe’s story ended.

Hannah Whitten is a master of building atmosphere and character. The tension in this book and how the characters react and interact to the world is incredible. Our cast of characters is not perfect, far from it, and it makes their choices in this finale heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.

You get to see the story from a few perspectives this time. Each of those characters make tough decisions, some that will make you gasp and cry, but the beautiful thing is, the reasoning makes sense. The bad decisions, the loss, the sometimes horrifying results all are so human!

The themes of this book though, are what made me cry the most. I’ve always been drawn to Hannah Witten’s writing myself as someone who has a complicated relationship with religion. This book handles religious complexity beautifully. There were a few lines that made me tear up and want nothing more than to pass this book along to my younger self.

For fans of the series, you’ll be happy with this conclusion. It’s a perfect blend of love, humor, introspection, horror, and magic.

Thank you for writing this series Hannah, it’s officially one of my favorites.

What an ending for this magnificent trilogy! It was suspenseful, emotional, hopeful, and full of love. I didn’t get everything I wanted but I got what I needed and what I didn’t know I needed from this book. Must read.

\The Nightshade God was an absolutely breathtaking finale! The complexities of religion and Godhood were masterfully woven throughout the plot, which made The Nightshade God thought-provoking in ways that surprised me.

For example, a divine being does not always possess divine desires, as Apollius’s quest for Godhood made clear. Despite grand, impassioned claims that He would reshape the world in His perfect image, Apollius acted in self-interest only. His pursuit of Godhood and immortality was never about bettering the world; it was about escaping the pitfalls and mortality of being human, and the fear felt deep within his bones of the unknown and of the dark. He was a human who desperately wanted to be a God so that he would have power over any and every thing, including fate itself. Lore, on the other hand, was a human with the powers of a Goddess and she spent her entire life wishing for normalcy; she wanted nothing to do with Godhood or the powers that surrounded it-- she just wanted to survive and to live her own life, free of the Gods' invisible strings.

I loved the insight into Alie's growth throughout this book and I was happy to see some other familiar characters return, especially Val and Mari. Surprisingly enough, though, I think the Fount became my favorite side character; I appreciated the lessons that were shared between it and Lore, and I loved the way things were wrapped up in those final 500 years.

The Nightshade God was perfect in a bitter-sweet kind of way, and I will be thinking about this epic conclusion for a long time to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah Whitten is queen. I adored this trilogy and The Nightshade God was such a satisfying conclusion. Thank you for the ARC, NerGalley and Orbit. Full review to come.

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!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Nightshade god by Hannah Whitten
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: NA Romantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 15, 2025
📖 480 pages

Thank you so, so much to @orbitbooks and NetGalley for the digital review copy! I absolutely devoured this amazing trilogy! 💜

Deathwitch
Love Triangle/Why Choose
Queen in Banishment
Evil Deities

The final installment in the The Nightshade Crown trilogy, and my favorite book of the series, The Nightshade god is riveting and beautiful and absolutely devastating. These characters grew so much, I sobbed and laughed out loud with them. I don't love throuples, but it felt minor in the scheme of things and it didn't bother me enough to take away from the overall story. I absolutely recommend this trilogy.

PG-16: ⚠️ SA, religious abuse, mild gore/horror elements

This series has been EVERYTHING! I am stuck in this perfect world and have been enjoying myself so so much. These characters and this world and this macabre storyline will stay with me forever.

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.

This conclusion had all the feels. I was happy and sad and angry. Why did you have the do this to me. I loved this series so much. I want a little spin off diary of what happens now. Even just a chapter or two of some of the trouble that everyone gets into. I don't want this characters to end. I want more. All of the loose end were tied up nicely and I feel very satisfied with how it turns out. I definitely recommend this story. But read it all at once. Having a break between books is to hard.