
Member Reviews

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.
The Nightshade God starts off right where The Hemlock Queen left us. Apollius is still in control of Bastian’s body and is acting as king and god. The others are working against Him to try and get Bastian back and get the power back to the fount.
One of the things I loved about this book had that the characters make a lot of unexpected decisions, but ones that are in line with their characters. None of them are perfect, they are all flawed and complex and make decisions that flawed and imperfect people might make.
The story did drag in a couple of places, but the payoff at the end is worth the wait. I loved the ending.

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten is a breathtaking, emotional finale that delivers everything fans could want — lush writing, fierce stakes, heartbreaking choices, and a heroine whose journey is as raw as it is powerful. Lore’s battle for survival and redemption is gripping from the first page, and the desolate, haunting setting of the Burnt Isles adds even more intensity to the story’s emotional weight. Whitten beautifully explores power, corruption, and sacrifice, layering action and romance seamlessly throughout. With vivid worldbuilding, unforgettable characters, and twists that hit hard, this is a stunning conclusion to a series that’s both wildly imaginative and deeply human.

Well, this end to the trilogy is probably something that will take me many weeks to process and wrap my mind around. What beautiful character arcs and journeys this finale took us through. So much action, so well written, and so much pain, and love, and beauty. I really find myself sitting here at the end, clutching my Kindle, just relishing in the beauty that was this series. The beauty that is the love for Lore, and Gabe, and Bastian. What a beautiful end. Highly, highly recommend. Hannah Whitten is a must-read author for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Honestly I have been looking forward to this ending for a long time and I am a little bit disappointed in how the plot wrapped up. I love the characters and couldn't help but feel the political plot was getting in the way of the best part of this story - the romance!

An absolutely incredible end to The Nightshade Crown trilogy! This was everything I could have wanted and more for the epic conclusion and these wonderfully complex characters.
Things I am always wary of when reading the third book in a trilogy:
-Pacing, will the author be able to move the story along or will it either be dragged out or skip too fast to the finish line?
-Loose ends, will the story be wrapped up nicely or leave me unsatisfied?
I am so happy to say that I had nothing to worry about. Hannah Whitten was able to keep the story flowing smoothly; with all the characters spread out across the world I never felt the crushing annoyance of "wait no, go back to that POV!". The ending of this book was incredible, I couldn't have thought of a better resolution for these characters. It was equally heartbreaking and hopeful and I shed very real tears. The epilogue was EVERYTHING to me. Those loose ends I was worried about? Wrapped up SO nicely!
I'd highly recommend this trilogy and this book to readers who enjoy high stakes, political intrigue, and morally gray characters doing the very best they can. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this e-ARC!

4.5 stars
I can't believe it's over. This story has been one of the most unique magic systems I've ever seen. The idea that gods can reincarnate into living avatars is intriguing and terrifying.
We pick up the story with Gabriel, now on the run from his former empire and discovering the newness of a god in his head. I loved that we got to see more of Gabe's mind during this, and his relationship with not only his friends, but with himself.
Lore of course is on the Burnt Isles, but that doesn't last long. I won't spoil anything, but her metamorphosis is nothing short of terrifying.
Bastian (poor little bean) is a prisoner inside his own head, watching in tiny bursts, as Apollius destroys his world, his friendships, and the people he loves.
I loved getting to see their poly relationship, and their reunion was heartbreaking to say the least. I'm so sad to let these characters go.

‘The Nightshade God’ is the final book in the Nightshade Crown trilogy and by far the best of the series!
‘The Hemlock Queen’ ended with our three main characters, Lore, Bastian, and Gabe being separated and the god Apollius taking control of Bastian and battling to regain the world as the god of everything.
‘The Nightshade God’ is a multiple POV story where we get to see how Lore, Bastian, Gabe, and even Alie are working hard to reunite with one another while formulating pans to take down Apollius.
The character growth amongst multiple characters is truly well done in this book and I really enjoyed seeing the characters become independent of one another while separated but fighting to come back to one another to reach the climax of the book.
I honestly was unsure of how the major conflicts of the book would get resolved and was surprised by some aspects of the plot towards the end of the book. I think it was a satisfying and fulfilling completion of the series and I would recommend this series, particularly this last book, to those who enjoy romantasy with a very interesting system.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for his eARC. I really didn’t know where this trilogy was going to go and how it would end. I enjoyed the pacing and the different POV’s, I like each character’s struggles and strength. I was super pissed off at one point in the book but after finishing it, I think it was a perfect ending. I really didn’t enjoy the epilogue. The only downfall is that I had to think back to different characters and world building aspects from the other two books. A simple recap at the beginning of the second and third book would have been helpful. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I JUST WANT ALL MY BABIES TO BE HAPPY AND TOGETHER AND HAPPY. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK????????
Magic 8 ball: my sources say read the book
This was everything I wanted from the conclusion. There was kicking my feet giddy moments, there was crying so hard that there was snot moments, there were fights, and obviously there were corpses.
Apollius continues to be capital W the Worst.
Gabe, Lore, and Bastian are perfect angels who can do no wrong. (If you try to point out any wrongs, you're wrong, because they're perfect angels, no matter what is written on that page).
Thank you so, so, so much to Orbit and NetGalley for the arc. All thoughts (and tears and snot) are my own.

I finished this a few days ago but every time I sat down to write this review, I didn't really know how to put my thoughts into words. I am rating 3 stars because I feel like it would be an injustice to the author to go any lower, considering the writing was great and the concept was imaginative and very fleshed out.. but I also feel I can't go any higher because I can't say I enjoyed this read much.
This series is beautifully written. It's one of those books that the imagery of the world and depth of the characters really pulls you into the story. I love the representation in the story and the fact that we got to see different character's POV's.
However, I've honestly had a hard time pushing through this series. I think it was one of those unfortunate situations where the first book just didn't click with me, and it's made reading the rest of the series more of a homework assignment than something I looked forward to. I had to push myself through the second book, and I had high hopes that this one would pull me right back in, but I still struggled. I think for me, it just took more effort than it should have to remember some characters' names, locations, and storylines. I had to go back and remind myself of details from previous chapters (or even the previous books) several times. Though the writing was very well done, I felt like the pacing was slow at times and it just made it harder to push through.
Overall - I think that as a reader, we all have those books that just don't resonate with us from the beginning, but we try to push ourselves to love it. I think for me, this is that book. I wanted to love it, and I held onto hope that the spark would come back for me, but it just never did. Sometimes, I think we just pick up a book at the wrong time and it sets us up for failure, because other than some complicated worldbuilding and slow pacing (which are not a rare problem for fantasy), there's nothing I DISLIKED about this book. It just didn't click.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

The Nightshade God is everything I love in a romantasy: atmospheric, emotional, and rich with mythology.
I was absolutely captivated by the dynamic between Lore, Gabriel, and Bastian. Their bond is so layered—with history, hurt, devotion, and longing—that I found myself craving more scenes with the three of them together. The few moments we do get are beautifully done, but I couldn’t help feeling like we were a bit cheated out of their happily ever after. Still, their connection carried so much emotional weight it made the ending hit even harder.
The pacing did drag a bit for me through the midsection—there were stretches where it felt like not much was happening, even though I loved the world and the characters. That said, the glimpses we get into the thoughts and personalities of the other gods and goddesses—especially through the people they possess—were fascinating.
And the ending? It wrecked me. I was not prepared. It was tender, heartbreaking, and so beautifully written it brought me to tears. Whitten knows how to twist the knife in the most poetic way.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the eARC! All opinions are my own.**

Perfect ending to this series! Had twists I didn't see coming and was well paced, never wanted it to end

This was a fantastic ending to the NightShade Crown trilogy. While I found the second book to be a bit predictable, the final instalment had me on the edge of my seat with multiple twists I didn't see coming. It was nice to have POVs from other characters and each one was distinct and had its own voice. This book had the perfect blend of emotion and drama and I absolutely devoured it!

I would first like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of the final installment in this wonderful series.
I really can’t say much without giving the ending away but what I will say is this is an excellent conclusion to the series! Lore, Bastian, Gabe and the rest have a heck of a time with the god’s in their heads! The sacrifices they all make throughout this installment just solidifies their connection and the depth they will go for each other! This is how a throuple should be written!

Again, Hannah Whitten blows me away with the final book in this trilogy!!
I came into this book, not remembering much from The Hemlock Queen, so it started a bit slow for me. I think it definitely would have been a more exciting start if I had re-read the previous two books in the serious. The beginning starts of pretty much right where the previous book left off, with gang broken up facing their own struggles. It was a bit difficult to feel as connected to the plot at the beginning because it was pretty slow, and individual -- lots of emotion from everyone involved. But past the 30% mark it really starts to pick up, and one the characters find their way I had so much fun. The ending left me with literal tears, and I just loved the way everything wrapped up. Such a lovely good, bittersweet conclusion. :)

The wait is over, and the earth-shattering conclusion to the Nightshade Crown series has arrived.
This book is a masterful tale of storytelling, with Lore's journey in this finale being nothing short of breathtaking. The stakes are higher than ever, the emotional turmoil is deeply felt, and every twist and turn is awe-inspiring.
The rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and delicate balance of dark, gothic beauty and hopeful resilience set this book apart. The epilogue is a poignant conclusion, leaving me stunned and grateful for the time spent in this world.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing an eARC for me.

e-arc provided by Netgalley
This was a great conclusion to the series - I got a little lost at times which has been happening to me lately with Fantasy so I don't think it's the books fault - but overall I really enjoyed this and especially the romance

absolutely spectacular finale to the Nightshade Crown trilogy. excellent characters and worldbuilding, I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.

🌿✨ A Spellbinding Conclusion to the Nightshade Crown Trilogy ✨🌿
I just finished The Nightshade God, and wow—what an exhilarating, emotional, and utterly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy! If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, morally complex characters, and epic stakes, this book is an absolute must-read. 💫📚
🔥 Lore’s Journey: From Survivor to Savior 🔥
Lore’s transformation throughout this series has been nothing short of remarkable. In this final installment, she’s banished to the Burnt Isles, a prison colony where survival is a daily battle. But Lore is no stranger to adversity. Her resilience, cunning, and unwavering determination shine as she navigates this harsh new world. As she gathers the scattered pieces of the broken Fount—the source of all the god’s powers—Lore grapples with her growing magic and the temptation of absolute power. Her internal struggle is portrayed with such depth and nuance, making her one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve encountered. ⚔️🖤
💔 Emotional Depth: Bonds That Transcend Time 💔
The relationships in this book are rich and multifaceted. The connection between Lore and her allies is tested by betrayal, sacrifice, and the weight of their shared history. Whitten delves into themes of trust, loyalty, and redemption, crafting moments that are both heart-wrenching and uplifting. I found myself deeply invested in these characters, rooting for them to overcome the odds and find peace amidst the chaos. 🤝💖
🌌 World-Building: A Dark and Enchanting Realm 🌌
Whitten’s world-building continues to impress. The Burnt Isles are vividly realized, with their own unique magic, politics, and dangers. The intricate details of the gods’ influence and the complex systems of power add layers of intrigue to the narrative. The atmosphere is thick with tension and mystery, drawing readers into a world where every corner holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. 🏝️🔮
⚡ Plot Twists and Pacing: A Thrilling Ride ⚡
The pacing in The Nightshade God is expertly crafted. The plot builds steadily, with each chapter adding depth and complexity to the story. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and the final act was a whirlwind of action, emotion, and revelation. Whitten masterfully ties up loose ends while leaving just enough open to spark the imagination. 🎭📖
🌟 Final Thoughts: A Triumphant Finale 🌟
The Nightshade God is a triumphant finale that delivers on every front. It’s a story of growth, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope. Whitten has crafted a world that is as dark as it is beautiful, and I’m grateful to have journeyed through it. If you haven’t started this series yet, do yourself a favor and dive in—you won’t regret it. 🌹📚

In this earth-shattering conclusion to the Nightshade Crown series, The Nightshade God is here! As the saying goes, "save the best for last"—couldn't be truer because this final book surpasses them all.
Whitten weaves an intricate, emotionally charged narrative that grips you from the start and refuses to let go.
Lore’s journey 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, which may 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 light heartfelt hope and resilience. The multiple POVs were handled brilliantly, each perspective adding layers to the narrative. With pure, unrelenting intensity—I was on edge, heart pounding, as everything unraveled in the most spectacular way in the conclusion of this book. After reading the epilogue....... I’m still recovering and left in stunned silence.
I cannot recommend this book enough. If you’ve liked The Foxglove King and The Hemlock Queen, then give The Nightshade God a try. It will shatter your heart in the best way possible.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!