The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown, 1), by Hannah Whitten

romantasy • forbidden romance • necromancy • court intrigue • love triangle

Lore has spent a decade hiding the death magic that ties her to the city of Dellaire, surviving by running poisons and keeping her head down. But when her Mortem power is exposed, she is taken to the Sainted King's court and given an impossible choice: use her forbidden magic to investigate a mysterious wave of deaths, or face execution. Thrust into a world of glittering wealth, dangerous politics, and religious power, Lore must uncover the truth before the shadows of her past catch up with her.

Spice Level: 🌶️ 1/5

The Vibe

Lore is a resourceful, fiercely independent survivor whose life has been shaped by secrecy, danger, and the need to stay one step ahead of the people who once held her captive. Her rare connection to Mortem makes her valuable to the crown, but navigating the Sainted King's court forces her to confront a world of power and privilege unlike anything she has known.

Bastian is the Sainted King's charismatic, troublemaking heir, whose position places him squarely in Lore's dangerous new world. Their undeniable chemistry adds another layer of tension to a court already filled with secrets, while Gabriel, a duke-turned-warrior-monk assigned to guard Lore, further complicates the feelings she is trying to understand.

With lush world-building, forbidden magic, religious intrigue, dangerous court politics, and a simmering romantic triangle, The Foxglove King is an atmospheric romantasy filled with secrets, power struggles, and the unsettling allure of death magic. Hannah Whitten blends gothic atmosphere with epic fantasy and romantic tension, creating a story that is as mysterious as it is immersive.

Tropes & Tags

• Forbidden romance
• Love triangle
• Court intrigue
• Necromancy
• Death magic
• Romantasy
• Forced proximity
• Religious intrigue
• Warrior monk
• Royal court
• Dangerous magic
• Found family
• Gothic atmosphere
• Political intrigue
• Slow-burn romance
• High-stakes fantasy

Books in Series (In Order)

1. The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown, #1)
2. The Hemlock Queen (The Nightshade Crown, #2)
3. The Nightshade God (The Nightshade Crown, #3)