Belladonna gives us a beautiful, lush and atmospheric story with a stunning romance and a murder mystery plot that had me on the edge of my seat!

The characters had so much depth and the character developed was done so well. The banter and relationship between Signa and Death was one of the best I’ve read in a long time and I’m dying for more!

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

deathly gothic romance? yes it put me to my grave.
well, i expected this to give more than it gave... it was just meh and kinda really boring.

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC.

DID NOT FINISH. Read 30% before stopping.
The main character came across as whiny and unlikeable. The plot felt a bit predictable, but none of the characters or story were likeable or engaging enough to continue. The writing style was good, and I have no complaints with how it was written. But when you can't connect with the story or characters, it makes it dull to read.

When I read that it was a kind of murder mystery story, this was definitely not what I was expecting, but I wasn't disappointed either! I loved the atmosphere from the first page and chapter (which was crazy, not going to lie), and I can't wait for more!

A story that is to die for! (bad book pun?)

I literally just finished this one yesterday and boy was it worth it!!!
I am absolutely drawn into this story world with it's dark romance, supernatural atmosphere and thrilling storyline.
A little bit of whodunnit, and a lot of coming to age. Picture Enola Holmes meets House of Hollows and you will totally understand why everyone, and yes I mean everyone is raving about this story!

With book 2 out soon, I can definitely recommend heading to the store and getting yourself a copy as this one is not to be missed.

Adalynn Grace is a powerhouse writer with a brilliant voice. Her characters, although historical, feel relatable and charming. I honestly could not put this one down.

🫐🫐🫐🫐
(if you know you know)

3 1/5*

This is a great gothic YA fantasy. A hauntingly romantic 'who-dunnit' that hits all the marks atmospherically and is lush with dynamic characters. However it is by no means perfect, and relies on overused metaphors one too many times. The writing at times feels a bit lazy and the phrase "puzzle pieces began piecing together" started to lose all meaning, as it seemed to be the only way the author could explain any characters' understanding of the matter at hand. This being said, it was an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes.

I would be interested in reading what Adalyn Grace writes next.

This was so much fun! I absolutely loved it, it was gothic, romanthic, fun and honestly just a great read! Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the sequel!

Adalyn Grace wrote a compelling, intriguing and enchanting story with a incredible main character, amazing worldbuilding and a plot that keeps the reader on his/her/their toes. I loved absolutely everything.

A gothic vibe, an addictive murder mystery and romance - a combination that can only be a 5 star read for me!

While overall well written I would love to add the characters were incredibly well developed and intriguing (something that can often be overlooked when reading a book such as this).

I devoured this book in a single sitting.

Adalyn just gets better and better with each book - I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

5 stars - I need more 😍!

A well paced plot with fully formed characters, it merges the two raging tropes of forbidden romance and enemies to lovers and make use of the gothic elements to captivate its readers. Amazing book!

A beautiful, stunning book! From the mystery to the romance, it delivers excellence and stirs your emotions with the family dynamics. It brings together two perfect tropes of enemies to lovers and forbidden romance, and doesn't miss the emphasis on an atmospheric world, gothic intrigue, and historical backdrop. A perfect read.

This book did not disappoint!

I loved everything about it, the characters are beautifully written! Each one had there own personalities and are so enjoyable to read. The story was so different to what I am used to but i was instantly hooked.

Thank you Hodder for my earc of this book!
I absolutely loved this book. The characters are brilliant, the writing engaging and atmospheric with a historical and gothic feel without being slow or overbearing.
The plot itself is brilliant and well-paced and I loved Death as a character and the family dynamics.
I can’t wait to read Foxglove!

“I have waited for you for millennia, Signa Farrow” … “Since the dawn of this earth, I have waited. You are mine and I am yours. And together, this world is ours. “

Outstanding!!! Easy 5 star read, I absolutely devoured this book. The ending has left me desperate for book 2

Signa was the perfect FMC, I adored Death and Sylas and now I can’t wait to read about Fate!!!

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden love
Murder mystery

Love love love ❤️

3.5/5 ***

Nice book, However in my opinion just an average YA with cardboard characters.
What I liked about this book is mystery that is surrounding main character.
In the way it reminded me "Vespertine", similar atmosphere and MC were rather similar.
I liked that for a change book was about something dark rather than cotton candy sweet.

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!!