Spoiler-Free Review

This is my review for book 2 in The Nightshade Crown series, The Hemlock Queen. For my review of book 1, click below:

• The Foxglove King

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

What’s The Hemlock Queen about?

After the events of the eclipse, things begin changing very fast for Lore, Bastian, and Gabe. Now they’re wrapped up in politics and scheming Gods while war looms on the horizon.

The first half was slow, but I loved the second half.

Before starting The Hemlock Queen, I recently reread The Foxglove King on audio to refresh my memory, and I’m glad I did! There’s a lot of characters and worldbuilding that I’d forgotten that were definitely necessary to jump back into this series. So if it’s been a while for you, I might recommend the same before reading.

Big picture: I liked this book. I like what it set up going forward, and how those things were accomplished. It just had a slow beginning.

I’m hesitant to use the label “second book syndrome,” but the thought did cross my mind. During the first half of the story, it felt like it was taking a long time for the plot to move from one thing to the next. I was also a little frustrated at how long it was taking the characters to recognize or act on what I knew from very early on.

However, it was an easy read and I loved the characters. The second half did have me hooked, and the ending made me so excited for book three. Despite the slow start, I generally appreciated the shape this story tried to take. It expanded the world, history, and complications – all of which I like. There was also a subtle undertone of gore; I had visceral reactions to the descriptions in several scenes of violence or the aftermath thereof.

Side note, but I’m still holding out hope for the love triangle to resolve into a throuple, as the tension feels perfectly coiled in that direction.

Should you read The Hemlock Queen?

If you enjoyed The Foxglove King, then definitely. I also recommend this series in general if you’re looking to transition from YA fantasy to adult fantasy, as it makes use of some YA tropes but with a 24-year-old main character (so refreshing).

Mark your calendars: this one releases on April 9th.