From the moment I started this book I was intrigued. The idea of Death as a character really interests me as well as poisons and botany, so from the first few pages I was excited for this story to unfold.

The beginning completely drew me in, Signa’s character and her abilities were very interesting. Unfortunately the middle of the book I found was lacking and at times abit boring, the times I looked forward to were the ones where Death visits and even them scenes I found not as exciting as I hoped. The chemistry between Death and Signa was missing something and I was disappointed to not feel the intimacy and spark between them. It wasn’t bad but I just wanted more!

The ending however made me give this book 4 stars! Twists I never saw coming, a chapter between Death and Signa where I finally felt some connection between them which I loved and a finale that makes you want to read the next book and figure out the next mystery.

Overall it was a book I enjoyed, even if the middle was a little lack lustre, and I will be reading the next book Foxglove when it comes out.

I really wanted to love this, and the plot did definitely pick up towards the end, but ultimately it just didn't do it for me.

The mystery of the identity of the poisoner was compelling, and I enjoyed some of the discussions about the fragility of life, particularly between Signa and Elijah, but ultimately I have too many issues with her explicitly having sex with death himself... (particularly given he is supposedly an adult, and has been there in all her formative moments since she was a baby).
I wasn't expecting it, especially as the book is marked as YA.

Other than that, I also found it hard to believe that Signa would feel so strongly about saving Blythe given the lack of time spent building a connection between them.

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed and wish I'd enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022, and it delivered! I loved the concept right from the first time I saw the author's TikToks and just about squealed when I saw a physical copy in stores, in South Africa. I immediately added it to my shelf because this is one I just couldn't not have! I loved the pacing and characters - it was a beautifully written story and one that I'll definitely revisit. A special shout out to the beautiful cover design for both the paperback and hardback - stunning! I can't wait to read more from this author.

Belladonna is fantasy romance at its very finest!! This was one of my favourite reads of the year!! 😍 I can simply do nothing but sing it's praises

You'll be hooked from the very beginning ( no seriously... I was obsessed right at the prologue!)

A captivating story filled with an epic gothic mystery romance - Belladonna is an absolute must read!!

I really loved this book! I've read from this author before so I knew I would like the writing style but I loved the story too.

I'm a sucker for anything to do with death so a book where the main character can see the dead? Sign me up!

I connected to the main character almost instantly and was immediately invested in her story and found the whole mystery aspect of the story to be very compelling.

I did a mixture of physically reading and audiobooking it for this one and loved both. I even picked up a physical copy for my collection because I think that this is one that I will want to re-read.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝. 𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.”

Belladonna was one of my anticipated reads for 2022 and I'm so excited that it didn't disappoint. Lately, I've been enchanted by books where poison plays a role (This Poison Heart and This Wicked Fate). Belladonna is the first book in a duology and this atmospheric read will have you falling head over heels when Death calls Signa 'Little Bird'.

Signa is orphaned as a baby, but her family's deaths are explained as a family member's restless spirit contacts Signa. I'm trying to keep this review spoiler-free, but this gothic fantasy has Death as a love interest. Belladonna is known for its poisonous attributes but Signa is immune to its effects. An illness plaguing Signa's cousin has her wondering when Death will knock on her door, but it seems something more sinister is happening. Death himself is Signa's own poison, a desire and strange connection grow between them. I was quite taken by Death's appearance and his influence on Signa.

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟."

This book is definitely giving Wednesday Addams vibes. The descriptions are vivid and detailed and the reader feels like they are part of the story. This is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist and a taste of poison. Once death has touched your lips, the intoxicating shadows will envelop you and when the fog clears, you'll find yourself at the last chapter, wanting more! I am excited about the next book, Foxglove, and I'm curious about the new possible roles Grace has planned. Belladonna is perfect for fans of House of Hollow, This Poison Heart and Mexican Gothic.

"𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted electronic copy in exchange for an honest.

I had high hopes going into this book and I wasn't disappointed. Who doesn't want to read about Death becoming super-hot and falling in love with the female character. OK let's start with saying this book doesn't just focus on this but I thought that it would grab your attention if you were reading my review.

Belladonna is about young Signa Farrow; she hasn't had an easy life. Born into money tragedy soon befalls her when her mother dies, and she is left to go from family to family until she is of age and inherits her money. The problem is the caregivers that she is sent to aren't kind and they all have ulterior motives. The good thing is they are end up dead. Ok that didn't sound right writing it but it's true they all end up meeting their end and Death. Signa herself is gifted, she can see and feel Death. She has a little help with Belladonna (hence the name) and she goes on a journey to learn the powers she is told by Death himself shows her how to use.

Signa before she turns 18 is sent to stay with her distant family the Hawthorns. They have suffered tragedy themselves by the loss of Elijah Hawthorns late wife, his daughter Blythe is unwell, and he is walking around the home morose and not thinking about anyone else. Problem is Blythe seems to be going the way her mother did and it's up to Signa to investigate and see what is causing her to be unwell. Is it someone trying to harm the family?

This was honestly such a good read, slightly dark in places and with a dash of mystery where we follow Signa trying to solve the mystery of why her late aunt died and what is happening to her cousin Blythe. She is being helped by Death himself as well as Sylus one of the stable hands. The more Signa investigates the more she uncovers. She finds her feet with her new powers and is able to do more and falls more and more in the thrall of Death. Things come to head when her other cousin Percy falls ill like his sister, and this is where the story ramps up even more.

I don't want to spoil the book, but it definitely keeps you enthralled with what is happening. There are undercurrents between Signa and Death. She doesn't know what is happening to herself what with her growing powers and her attraction to Death. I honestly did enjoy this book; Adalyn Grace has really written this well and even though it did take me a bit of time to read I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I am also excited for book two to see how Signa grows with her powers and what happens with Death.

I loved this story. It created a beautiful relationship that was unexpected. The solving of a murder mystery mixed with fantasy really worked well. I can’t wait for another book.

WOW!

A girl who falls in love with evil aka the grim reaper, aka death himself. Wow, I didn't know I needed this book until now. It has gorgeous prose. with fun, complex characters. I think it's the perfect book for anyone looking for a fast-paced, interesting read! I love my special edition of this book, and can't wait to read the author's previous works!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

I think I could have liked this book more if I were in the mood of reading something about the victorian era (with balls, dance card, etiquette, lady, society, blablabla), which clearly made me sigh multiple times and I really think it slowed down the story a LOT. We had a lot of moments were it was just that: drinking tea, gossip, dance lesson, balls, and all the talk about the society, entering the season, etc. And during these moments we barely talked about the investigation or Death, and it was just boring.
So if I knew this book was very Bridgerton-ish, I would have read it another time were I would have been more in the mood to read historical fantasy: I would have liked this book more than I did here.

Otherwise, I was really intrigued and hooked whenever we were deep in the investigation or when Death was here. The investigation was interesting and even if I had doubts it was still very well done and satisfying - but maybe too easy for Signa.

I LOVED Death's character and all his powers, his universe, and I would have even liked to know more about his world even tho we still had a lot of infos about it and it was really beautiful and extremely interesting. I loved how he talked with Signa, his mirth, how he helped her, the tension, his preferences and what he wanted, etc. Clearly my favorite character (with Sylas, iykyk).

I liked Signa's powers too and how she was handeling everything, the way she used belladonna, too. She's morally grey but still trying to do "by the etiquette" so I loved the contrast in her thoughts and the way she was thinking and acting, and liked how she matured along with her understanding on what she was able to do.

So this book was clearly interesting but way too slow and boring during the "normal" historical parts only - but as I would have liked it more if I were in the mood, I upped my note to a 4 stars here. I will still read the next book because I'm really intrigued by the ending and the new character entering!

Belladonna is a book I totally chose for the beautiful cover and actually I ended up really enjoying it.

Death has always followed Signa, literally. Since Signa was a baby and her mother and her party guests died, death has visited Signa because she has the gift of not being able to die, she will see him but she will restore to life once more. Growing up, to see death Signa takes belladonna berries, however after everyone who is supposed to take care of her dies, she feels like he is more a curse than a gift, destined to ruin her life. When Signa’s aunt dies and moves to stay with The Hawthornes, the ghost of Lillian, the lady of the house, visits her asking for help to discover how she died - and Death may just be her only hope.

The romance is, well, part of me loved it, part of me could see that it was problematic because yes, when one part of the couple is older (and we are talking about Death himself here) and in a position of power and the other is a 19 year old girl you have literally been watching since she was a baby and who has lived a troubled and sheltered life, there are grooming, even predatory undertones at play here, especially when she is called “little bird”. That said, as a couple i think agency was given to Signa who was given the driving force of consent and directing where the relationship was going and I don’t think the power dynamic was abused, in fact he wished her a life without him as opposed to a limited existence with him. Death says things like “I have waited a long time for you” and I think some have construed that as him waiting for her to grow up, which makes the relationship appear more toxic, but personally I read it as he’s been alone a long time waiting for someone who could be in his presence without his power hurting her, no one before could see him and that’s what he’s been waiting his lonely life for.
So yes, I did actually like the romance element, the sex scenes weren’t gratuitous and the power dynamic felt more weighed towards Signa over death. These are 2 characters who represent freedom and comfort from a previously lonely life - it was sweet and I couldn’t help rooting for them. But yes, the execution is sweet, the concept is a little troublesome!

Death ironically is a big champion for life, how he sees his role and life’s journey is a refreshing touch, and how he selflessly wants the best for Signa even if it means they’re apart. That’s why I found the relationship to be a lot healthier than a lot I have read in the YA field.

One twist I saw coming, the other I was adamant about but was proved wrong, that said with how the book ended maybe I still could be right!!!! The ending is promising and exciting for the next adventure for Signa and even if parts were a little obvious, it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
The writing also flows well, it’s a fun ride to sink into with some beautiful themes. Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review

Wow! One of the hottest books of 2022 and for good reason. This was one of those books that I totally requested because of the hype around it but it did not disappoint. I have to admit, the first 20% was interesting but a bit slow. I difintiely got hooked after that. No spoilers but that love triangle had me gasping. Also, I think i=the whole concept of the book was so fresh and unique, it didn't stick to any tropes, it made it's own. I highly recommend to people who read YA, mystery, fantasy, romance.

I was somewhat disappointed by this beautiful book. It had a lot of potential after that incredible opening, but it quickly became predictable and, sadly, quite a basic YA story.

There were a lot of filler moments that took away from the story and made it hard to keep reading because they ruined the suspense of the more interesting moments. The ending was a failed attempt at a cliffhanger which was yet another disappointment. I can see why other people might love this book, but it was not for me.

WHAT A SPECTACULAR READ!
From the very beginning, I found myself hooked by Signa's story and wanted to see her flourish, while fearing for her wellbeing at every stage. Grace does such a fantastic job of giving you a protagonist tearing at the seams due to her loneliness and longing, a protagonist struggling with powers she has that she has been shunned her whole life for, a protagonist you can't help but want to see grow to accept herself and see others do the same until every bit of that loneliness if gone from her life. Except she has always lived with Death by her side - and what a twisty, intoxicating relationship these two have.
This novel is a triumphant addition to the modern gothic, so eerie in its atmosphere, and so vivid it imagery (once, it even got me to physically recoil, which is the heighest form of flattery I can offfer!). The mystery plot also had me guessing at every stage, and each reveal we stumbled upon felt bittersweet. By the end, I was undeniably sold on dying to read anything else in this world that Grace may want to release.

*Gothic? Yes please!
*Murder mystery? Yes!
*Death and the maiden? Yes!
*Supernatural romance? Yes!
*<spoiler>Extremely old character watching young girl as she grows up, intervening in her life without her consent, then becoming her mentor right at the point where she 'comes of age (reaches the age of consent and is starting on her romantic journey, trying to decide which boys she likes)> and also being in her life in disguise so he can be her friend without her knowing it's him</spoiler>' erm no thank you, that gave me the ick - <spoiler>not the romance, but the 'I've always been here, watching you from when you were a baby' bit. </spoiler>
*Reading a standalone, only to find there's more to come based on the last sentence? Hmm, meh

This was so close to being a four-star read, I loved the atmosphere, the premise, and I did enjoy the experience of reading this, (until we got to the ending), but it kept veering off into less enjoyable aspects or scenes for me.

The main character reads very young, which made the majority of the book feel more middle grade to me, except that, rather than friendships, Signa was after romance, and every male character she met seemed to be considered as a potential partner. There was a lot of:
'maybe I should like him?'
'Do I like him?'
'I think he might be right for me'
'I like him, but I don't want to',
which again, made her seem very young, younger than most YA characters I've read recently, except that there was also a steamy scene, which, while I liked the scene itself, did still feel like it happened in an otherwise middle grade book, and didn't really have a relationship build other than just desire, which again, I like in general, but not when it's surrounded by sections where the main character is still, in a very child-like way, figuring out what romance, relationships, or attraction even is. It seemed like an abrupt way to include the enemies-to-lovers trope.

The approach to the mystery feltmiddle grade too, sometimes Signa was running around desperate to solve it, but then, when someone's life was hanging in the balance, she stopped to have some tea, because she needed to fit into society, that was a long and unnecessary scene! It would have been quite socially acceptable to say:
'my poor cousin has worsened today, I'm afraid I must decline on this occasion'
but no, let's all have afternoon tea and hope murder doesn't happen while I'm having my scone, I'd feel dreadful about it!

The mystery wasn't really a mystery, the culprit was pretty predictable and the reasoning wasn't the best, and had been hinted at pretty heavily throughout the book, but I didn't really mind that so much. The climactic scene with them though, what was that?
<spoiler> Signa, in becoming who she was meant to be, and accepting her power etc. didn't do very much, she like set a demon dog on him and killed him?! It was a pretty harsh sort of justice, and she didn't really demonstrate any power, and the author didn't really do any world-building in the sense of giving us the rules or purpose of her power, what can she actually do? Why? When? Who is she compared to Death? Is she another Death? She-Death? I didn't really understand what was going on there, other than just 'Empowerment!'</spoiler> It could have been a really powerful scene, if there'd been more explanation of what it meant, and what Signa was accepting, life just goes back to normal after that, she just continues to live with her cousin and go to balls.

I don't really think this is a spoiler but I'll wrap it in tags anyway for those who don't want to see the last line...

The last line is:
<spoiler>
"It would appear that you have another murder to solve"
</spoiler

That's the only reason we know there's going to be a sequel, there was no build up to it in this book, just that line (and the event that immediately led to that line being spoken), there's not a real issue with that, it could be a series, the 'Signa Farrow Mysteries' or something, but again, that reads as Middle Grade to me, and wasn't a cliff-hanger as such, so I don't have the urgency to read the next one (though I probably will)

I know that's my critical side, but those reasons are why it got a high 3 stars from me, not the rave reviews I've seen from others, I can definitely see why so many love it, the atmosphere and themes are great, and I love the main premise, and the writing style in general.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. Although this book had so much in it that I loved, it ultimately was not really for me. There were lots of beautiful passages, and it's undeniably original, but I found myself very distracted while reading it and unable to stay absorbed in the story. I am sure that it would be the perfect book for many other fans of gothic fantasy.

Undeniably original, on the whole I really enjoyed Belladonna. Like Bridgerton mixed with crime fiction and a touch of forbidden SJM fantasy love, this story was compelling. However, the plot was occasionally slowed by long dialogue about Signa’s internal conflict about society rules / her forbidden thoughts / hatred and then love for Death. It got so repetitive I started skipping over those sections. BUT the story itself, the characters and the twist at the end were excellent. I’m excited for book 2!

Signa Farrow was orphaned as a baby and has been moved from guardian to guardian her whole life. And for those 19 years, Death has followed her at every turn, literally. All her life she’s tried to keep him at a distance, but she’s about to learn she might just need him.

This was a very cool story concept and for the most part, I really enjoyed the execution. It was a bit of a slow starter, I found, as I got to know the characters and we were slowly introduced to the central mystery of the narrative. Once the set up was complete, though, I was thoroughly invested and the pace seemed to pick up.
My one main gripe is the age-old (pun entirely intended) cliche of the forbidden romance between an ageless immortal man and a teenage girl. I just find it so unnecessary, and it was the one thing that took me out of the story on multiple occasions. I know Signa’s inheritance being the reason for her circumstances essentially dictated her age, but there were definitely alternatives that could have aged her up five years or so.
That aside though, like I said, I did really enjoy this concept. The writing was beautiful (a little overly flowery, with a few repetitive similes here and there, but nothing that took me out of the story too much), and crafted a really beautiful and atmospheric world for these characters to inhabit.
The mystery was well-crafted and built suitable tension throughout. There were a few twists I predicted but plenty others that were surprising while not feeling like cheap twists for the sake of twists.
The characters and their relationships were all complex and fleshed out. It did a really good job of exploring all of their personal motivations and the driving forces behind their actions and interactions.
Some of the details in the lore and magic system surrounding ‘Death’, did leave me wanting. There were a few inconsistencies, but I would still be keen to read the sequel and see it explored further because I did find it quite unique.
Overall, I enjoyed the whole fantasy/gothic murder-mystery feel of it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot believe this novel took me so long to read. I stupidly didn't give it the attention it deserved when I first picked up, but sitting down on Saturday, I devoured it.

This book was absolutely brilliant. Signa is such an intriguing character and you just want to root for her given her past. The concept of this novel was amazing. I loved meeting Death, how Grace managed to make you want to know more about him and his powers, despite knowing what he brings. And then there is Sylas Thorly. The mysterious yet handsome stable boy.

This book had murder mystery, slow burning romance and twists you just don't anticipate.

Everyone should pick this up...and I cannot wait for book 2!

I love fantasy romance and I love murder mystery so combing these two elements was perfect. I found the story to keep me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. I was constantly guessing everything and everyone. I felt the dynamic Signa had with death to be very intriguing and one of the most interesting parts of the novel. The setting was beautiful and haunting and I felt that the author did a great job of creating a suffocating atmosphere in the house. I will be waiting patiently for the sequel to come out!