The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

[Crystal]

Do you love fantasies full of political intrigue? The kind where you never know where a character’s true loyalties lie?  Then The Foxglove King is for you!  Set in a dark fantasy realm full of poison runners and dominated by a religion fueled government, this book had elements reminiscent of the Game of Thrones series.  Set in Auverraine, this realm is ruled by The Sainted King and a religious order called The Presque Mort.  The Sainted King and his ancestors were named rulers of the kingdom by a God called Apollius the Blessed, who defeated the Goddess Nyxara, ruler of the night.  Her final resting place bleeds out something called Mort, which is deadly for humans.  Only the order of the Presque Mort and (now illegal) Necromancers can view Mort, and wrangle is back to its tomb.  This is where our narrator comes in, Lore.  Lore is a poison runner with a strange and mysterious history.  Poison is used like a drug, but also as a tool to extend life; making the job of a poison runner dangerous work.  While working a mission, Lore is busted and forced into a deal with the church and the king.  She must act as a spy and infiltrate the court of The Citadel to discover what is truly lurking beneath the shining veneer.  Lore is an engaging character, thrust into a world she is deeply uncomfortable in.  Along the way, she is forced to work with a Presque Mort monk, and with the wry and charismatic Sun Prince.  Lots of twists, turns, and rich storytelling make this a compelling fantasy.  The detailed world building, especially with regards to the church makes this a very original realm.  There is the possibility for a romantic subplot lurking underneath, but it never takes center stage, and the story is better for it.  I couldn’t put this book down, and will eagerly be awaiting the next in the series!