15 hours ago June 30, 2026sarahylockwood

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten

Rate: 2/5

Medium: Audiobook

Overview (No Spoilers):

The Hemlock Queen is an interesting continuation of the Nightshade Crown Trilogy that takes the story into the far recesses of mythology and lore with endless options with which to direct the story. 

After Gabe’s devastating betrayal at the end of The Foxglove King, Bastian and Lore are left to pick up the pieces and figure out how to rule after the mess his father left the country in. At the same time, the two also need to navigate exploring the capabilities of their own powers and what it means on a grander scale.

There are currents of unknown that pulse through the vast majority of this book. Bastian begins to increasingly act out of character and with his secrets becoming more and more alarming. What grew tiresome for me was the lack of alarm that Lore exhibits during these strange exchanges, not to mention at the same time she is also having worrisome symptoms that she is promptly ignoring. The theme throughout is ignoring problems, despite how dire the consequences could be for everyone involved. Even when people started voicing their concerns, the level of panic isn’t nearly what I felt would be appropriate in light of the situation at hand. I am wondering if my frustration at this unconcerned tone might be a personal pet peeve as I can’t fathom not saying anything in the face of problems that will only grow if left ignored.

Where Whitten took this story is fantastic and the best part of the book. I loved the potential of the reemerging gods. The flashbacks worked well to fill in the void and give us context of the dynamics that lead to the legends. That said, the past leaves a measure of foreboding for Lore and the rest of the cast. 

Overall, The Hemlock Queen has a bunch of young adults thrust into leadership roles who have yet to learn to attack problems head on, especially if those concerns involve deities. 

Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound): 

  • It was hard to see what became of Anton. What did his prophecies mean?
  • Amelia was the worst! That said, she did not deserve what happened to her.
  • What other tricks does Apollieus have in store? How will Lore get out of her prophecy? 
  • Is Ally going to want to marry the prince from the rival kingdom? They seem to have a strange chemistry. Can she be saved?
  • How will these powers manifest in Gabe, Malcolm, and Ally?

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