Hannah Whitten has done it again. When I read The Foxglove King last year it literally had me in a chokehold right up until the very end. The Hemlock Queen picks up where that book left off and has the exact same effect. This is simply a series that once you start it’s hard to put it down. The Hemlock Queen continues the story of Lore, Bastien, and Gabe as they navigate the world of royal intrigue and also the will of the gods. It builds beautifully on the foundation of the first book and keeps you guessing right up to the very end.
What I loved:
EVERYTHING!
Lore’s development: At the start of this book Lore has allowed Bastein to dictate many of her decisions as she navigates the lingering trauma left by the events of book one. There is definitely a journey she must go on in this book to find her bravery once more and it leads to a cliffhanger that had me wishing the next book was already available.
The way the author alluded to things in book one as needed. It means if you’re like me and didn’t have time to do a re-read of The Foxglove King, you can still enjoy this book without being confused. Personally I always appreciate when there are small reminders of what happened in previous installments, as long as they don’t slow down the story. Whitten navigates this extremely well making for an enjoyable reading experience that allows the book to flow.
The spice! I think one of my only complaints in book 1 was that there was very little spice. Finally, as I had hoped, Lore finds herself giving into passion and there are allusions to what might happen in book three that have me on the edge of my seat.
Overall: 
Spice: 
I absolutely love The Nightshade Crown series, and The Hemlock Queen is an excellent continuation of the story. It will keep you guessing as you go along for the ride with Lore, Bastien, and Gabe and desperately wishing for the recently teased The Nightshade God.