The Nightshade God was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it absolutely did not disappoint. Watching all of the ends tied together as we navigate through Lore’s stores had me reading well past my bedtime. The tension between the characters, the twists, and the atmosphere were 10/10. Highly recommend! Leaving this world is always challenging and puts me in a slump.

The Nightshade God had me hooked almost immediately. It’s got that dark, seductive energy that just calls to you, and the writing really leans into it without feeling over-the-top. The story blends danger and desire in a way that kept me flipping pages way past when I should’ve been asleep.

Pros:
• The titular Nightshade God? Deliciously mysterious. Definitely gave “touch him and die” energy, but with layers. I loved watching those walls slowly crack.
• The chemistry? Whew. Tangible. If you’re into slow-burn tension with just the right edge of forbidden, this one delivers.
• Vivid, immersive world-building. You feel the shadows pressing in—but in a good way.
• The emotional development snuck up on me. I didn’t expect to feel as much as I did by the end.

Cons:
• Some pacing issues in the middle—like the story meandered just a bit before picking up steam again.
• There were moments where I wanted more clarity in the lore; a few elements felt underexplained or like they were being saved for later books.
• The heroine took some time to really come into her own, but once she did, it was satisfying to watch.

Overall, it’s dark, a little twisted, and full of longing—basically, a very fun ride with depth beneath the brooding. Definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for something shadowy, seductive, and emotionally charged.

I really wish I could rate the book higher but I feel I have been disappointed more and more going from the first to the last installment of the series. I had such high hopes as the writing was good, the characters interesting and with potential to be multi-dimensional and complex... but it became more and more full of filler that I just skimmed through without interest and the relationships took a turn that I did not care for much.
I will admit I do not like why-choose and that might be influencing my enjoyment but the other issues remain and I would not have changed the rating. There are still elements that are commendable like diverse representation but overall I wish it had all been done differently.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of the book.

The Nightshade God picks up where The Hemlock Queen left off. Everyone is off on their own quest searching for the broken pieces of the Fount, hopeful that restoring it and giving back the power that was taken will banish the Gods living within them.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I am going to be really honest by saying, I am really disappointed. I felt that The Hemlock Queen was a bridging book, a way to give us the backstory we didn’t get in The Foxglove King and a way to setup the conflict of The Nightshade God. While I didn’t expect the action to start on page one, I also didn’t expect the first 75% of the book basically being a scavenger hunt split between like 7 POVs. I wish that after spending 2.5 books waiting for a relationship to develop we didn’t just get a few pages in the epilogue, the first chunk of the book could have been scaled back to leave room for more “after”. I guess basically, just know this isn’t the standard HEA Romantasy readers typically get.

Thank you NetGalley & Orbit Books for this advanced reader copy in exchange of an honest review.

The Nightshade God was an incredible journey and final installment in the trilogy! The characters I love grew so much. The way that religion is explored in this world and the way the curtain is torn down so that everyone who believed becomes lost is so eerie and thought provoking. I thought the dreaming was a nice way to include scenes with characters together, when they were kept apart for the majority of the book. I also found the multiple POV was well done and moved the plot along nicely. Although the story building in the first 50% or so felt slower I was fully engaged and enjoyed that build up all the way through. Once I reached 65% I couldn't put it down and read late into the night. The last few chapters and the epilogue had me sobbing and sobbing.

First I want to say that with this whole series, I did appreciate that it was very different from other fantasy/romance series. The characters were all unique to this series, the situations unique and the 2SLGBTQIA+ representation was just *chefs kiss.* That all being said, this book did not click with me in the ways others have. I tried, I wanted to love everything but in the end it just kind of hovered at good.

What I liked
-Lore, great FMC, strong in both body and will. Also body representation matters, fantastic
-Gabe, very different from cut and paste moody/broody. His growth and acceptance of who he loves was well done.
-Bastian, (not enough of him as himself) but he was such a soft MMC for someone who is described as self confident, sex positive, bi/poly representation
-Side characters, Alie specifically but also I was starting to like Jax, so kudos on that whole switch I should have seen it coming
-Ending, bittersweet but we don’t see that a lot in this genre so that was a shock and a nice change from what readers are used to.
-Also ending with a poly relationship that was MMF without fetishizing it was great! The love these characters had for each other really shone through and the happiness felt when together after 500 years was perfect
-2SLGBTQIA+ representation. Stunning. Cannot say enough about how wonderful it was to have a book of queer characters.

What did not resonate with me as much
-The pacing. I found it took a long time to get to the main point of the story, but at the same time each of our characters found their mount piece very quickly and very easily
-World building. There wasn’t a clear idea of the differences from these new places we have been reading about for two books, or they weren’t distinct enough to recall about a year later.
-Finn was an interesting character that should have gotten more page time, especially considering him and Allie getting married (another series about them would be great)
-A guide for gods and powers and who inhabits who may be helpful when it comes to wide release!
-There were some words used randomly through the text I felt were out of place considering the language used was pretty modern and casual. For example:
“He smiled at the god’s name, wide and beatific.”
“The rain seemed more than just odd to Lore. It seemed portentous.
-Another example of some of the seemingly out of place words
“In the distance, the Fount sang, a mournful melody, a dirge.” And then there are sentences like “...but the Ferryman knew his shit.” These sentences were just dramatically different when it came to the tone of the story. The out of place more uncommonly used words really stood out while I was reading and would pull me out of the story, especially if I had to look them up.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Wonderful conclusion to a all time favorite trilogy! Characters that will immediatly have your heart. Political intrigue and religious elements that will have you at the edge of your seat and ending that will leave you in pieces! Cannot wait to see what Witten writes next!!

Hannah Whitten has done it again with a stellar ending to a beautifully crafted atmosphere she has created. While gothic in nature, her elements of fantasy and storytelling are there. I feel as though all the readers of this series would be incredibly satisfied with this ending and the climactic plot points she weaves along the way. Out of the three, I perhaps enjoyed this one the most. It is evident the author put her heart into the development of the world she created.

Wow. That is exactly how you end a devastating fantasy trilogy. I have been in love with The Nightshade Crown trilogy since I received The Foxglove King in a Fairyloot box. The gothic atmosphere, love triangle, magic system, and unique world-building immediately drew me in and left me begging for more from this world. I cannot adequately express how perfect this conclusion was without spoilers, but I will touch on what I can.

As everyone is in different locations and situations at the end of The Hemlock Queen, I loved getting so many points of view in The Nightshade God. Not only did we get a glimpse into elements that occur in each individual, but also the perception that determines how we interpret the story. The way that Hannah Whitten chose to create shared moments while separated by distance, was just absolutely perfect. The character growth in each of our protagonists and side characters was so well fleshed out, and I was rooting for everyone by the end.

The amount of times that I kept thinking “there’s nothing worse that can happen.. right?” was ridiculous. But the emotional turmoil was completely worth the payoff. The ending was epic, glorious, and brought everything full circle in a way that was so painfully exquisite that I was in tears throughout the entire ending.

If you haven’t read The Nightshade Crown trilogy yet, start now, because The Nightshade God releases on July 15, 2025.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Books for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts expressed are my own.

The Nightshade God by Hannah Whitten
5 🌟
In a thrilling, heart-wrenching and warming end to the Nightshade Crown trilogy, we see the prophesied apocalypse spiral into view for Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. At opposite ends of the world from one another and the Gods knocking at their doors, they each have to piece together what the pantheon have in store for them before its too late.
This is one of those series I just never shut up about. I picked up the Foxglove King on a whim at Barnes & Noble in March 2023 right as it came out, and was immediately taken with this world and this cast of characters. It’s with great pleasure that I dove headfirst into this e-ARC, bracing myself for the end of a beloved series.
Whitten does a phenomenal job creating characters that feel like people you’ve met, with real frustrations and reactions and regrets and delicious, selfish motivations. The world building has wonderful depth while remaining smooth and easy to follow. The whole pantheon of gods and their history is extremely fascinating, too!
I will say I enjoyed this more than its predecessor, the Hemlock Queen, which while still a strong story felt slightly bogged down with information at times. This starts slightly slower in the beginning but takes no time at all getting off the ground and the second half of this thing FLIES, much to the detriment of my emotional wellbeing.
All in all, a beautiful end to a breathtaking series. I cannot wait for my preordered signed edition to come in and have the full collection 🖤
🌙 note: for every pre-order the author is donating a dollar to the trevor project, so if you’re interested please consider supporting!

"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.

non-spoiler book review ✨ (unless you haven't read the first two in this series, then semi-spoilers)

Hannah Whitten pulled me in immediately with the beginning and middle novels of The Nightshade Crown trilogy, and the third installment of the series proved to be just as captivating.

The characters in The Nightshade God continue on their journeys, both individual and shared, to overcome what was once believed to be a god worth worshipping but revealed Himself to be a dangerous force to reckon with. The relationships between the characters we have come to know and love are put to the test seemingly at every turn, that when partnered with the colorful storytelling and expansive lore (no pun intended), creates a depth that grabs and keeps the reader's attention throughout.

The Nightshade God had me hooked from page 1 all the way through to the heart-pounding end, and serves as a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy. Lore, Bastian, Gabe, Ali, and so many other characters that lived and breathed this story to life will remain with me long after I have closed the final page on this series, but there is comfort in knowing I can pick them up again and experience the expansive world Hannah Whitten has created, and I'm looking forward to sharing that world with as many people as I can when I undoubtedly suggest The Nightshade Crown trilogy to anyone and everyone I can.

Thank you @hwhittenwrites and @orbitbooks_us for providing me with an e-arc and allowing me the opportunity to spend some extra time with this incredible read.

A bittersweet finale to this series, it ended a bit meh for me sadly. I wish we got more page time with the 3 main characters together but about 95% of the book, they’re not all together…

Also just not my favourite way to end the series.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.

I spent the first 50% of this book slowly getting into the plot. This was similar to how I felt with the Hemlock Queen, in that the first half of the book is setting the groundwork for the second half of the story. These earlier sections can feel dry at times, and I struggled to maintain interest for a while.

I think also this is another book that could have benefited from Dramatis Personae and The Story Thus Far sections. The plot has become intricate, the number of characters has grown, and the characters have all been pushed out of their usual setting so it’s harder to figure out who’s who from context.

However, the second half of the book flies. There are many complex discussions about power, as well as the quality of the person wielding it. Certain characters are used to show how a person can privately be wonderful to the people they deem worthy of respect, but still be massively harmful to the public at large. There were also lines in the story that felt reflective of our current political crises in the United States. For instance, a character remarks with surprise about a time when bureaucracy was still an effective way to create change; this line felt like a gut-punch.

I loved the character development. Lore and Gabe see the most growth; Lore is forced to reckon with her survival instincts and the destruction that can wreak, and Gabe is able to push beyond his jealousy, possessiveness, and fear.

The ending was absolutely beautiful. I wish we got to see more of Gabe, Lore, and Bastian together in the world they managed to build. However, I was crying through the end, and I’m still really grateful for the experience I had. It was reminiscent of the ending of Nier Automata, which is a high compliment!

Ultimately, this series killed me. I think I still like The Foxglove King the best, but this was beautiful.

Minor correction for the editors: There’s a point at 82% where a character prematurely knows about another character’s death before they are told. This is later rectified by the narrative so I’m assuming this particular line was missed in editing.

I absolutely loved this book. A stunning conclusion to the series. Emotional and driven to the end. I loved all the characters and character arcs portrayed in this book. I cannot believe it's over.

The Nightshade God was a really satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. The stakes have never been higher for our main trio, and there was some really excellent growth with some of the side characters. Alie really impressed me and enjoyed her chapters a lot. The ending fit with the overall themes of the book, though I do wish the epilogue had been a tiny bit longer. But I know why it wasn't either. At times I struggled with how much our characters were separated, but I absolutely understand why. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the trilogy as a whole.

WHAT A TRILOGY! I really enjoyed all the characters!!! Even the worst ones! This story as a whole was just so, good! I thought the world building was excellent and easy to grasp. I really loved the background of the power and then the ones who became gods from the power went it was just so intriguing!! I am so satisfied with the ending as well this was a great read! So many provoking thoughts concerning organized religion as well and I thought the acknowledgements addressing that subject added so much to it! Seriously, I loved this trilogy so much and I can’t wait for everyone to read the conclusion!!!!!

That was such a beautiful ending to this trilogy I’ve loved so well. If you’re a fan of dark, high stakes fantasy, this is the one for you. Hannah Whitten’s storytelling is unmatched. The world-building and magic system are unique, but easily grasped. Every single character has so much realness and life to them. I’ve been recommending this series since I first read The Foxglove King back in 2023, and the continuation of the series was nothing short of magical. This is hands down one of my favorite fantasy series I’ve ever read. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I was actively sobbing at the end, but then that epilogue just gives you everything you could ever ask for. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the pain of the last couple chapters. Thank you so much to Orbit for the advanced copy.

I LOVE GABE I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR!!!!!!! god i love bastien too but hes just ..... hostile-ly taken over by a mad god for a while so i didn't get his big parts to fall in love with like i did with gabe and im lore i love them both but unlike her where bastien is her sun and gabe her moon, gabe baby- gaby ? - you can be my sun. im glad they got a life together in the end (even if it was FIVE HUNDRED YEARS LATER hannah wtf) so i dont have to be taken away to the insane asylum screaming about them

It was very confusing, especially towards the end. I wish we got to see more of Gabe, Bastian, and Lore together, as it didn't seem very believable that they loved each other. It was also very convenient that everyone who helped them turned out to be a bad guy that just ended up dead. I did like how it concluded, with them waiting centuries for each other, and the writing was very beautiful.