The Foxglove King

By Hannah F. Whitten

Book Overview

In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman's secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she's lived by one rule: don't let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore's job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore's power is revealed, she's taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what's happening and who in the King's court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King's glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August's ne'er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031643499X
• ISBN13: 9780316434997
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Orbit
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Beautiful Start to A Series

Honestly, I went in thinking The Foxglove King would be a specific kind of dark, necromancy-heavy story. While it wasn't exactly what I expected, I ended up loving it significantly more. This book was a total blast to read from start to finish—I’m currently waiting on The Hemlock Queen to arrive in the mail, and the anticipation is killing me! The world-building is immersive and expertly crafted, but for me, this series is all about the characters. I fell completely in love with the core trio: Lore, the prince Bastian, and the “monk” Gabriel. Their dynamic was incredible, and I felt so deeply invested by the time I reached the end of the book. What I truly appreciated was the pacing. This isn't one of those stories that feels rushed or "fast-forwarded” in the detail. It is a proper, well-earned journey where the plot breathes, allowing the stakes to feel real. The twists consistently caught me off guard, and I loved every second of the discovery. I’ve read three other books while waiting for the sequel to arrive, and nothing has quite lived up to the standard this series set. If you’re looking for a badass, character-driven fantasy that will completely hook you, look no further. I cannot wait to see what happens next!