I received this as an eARC from NetGalley but all thought and opinions are my own.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars.

I picked this up, not really having read much of the blurb, I thought it looked really cool. When I started to read it I found I couldn't put it down.

It follows Signa, a young woman who has been surrounded by death her whole life, and is very angry at him for that. When her latest guardian dies, she heads to Thorn Grove to stay with some distant cousins. Sadly Thorn Grove is grieving and her cousin is gravely ill. Not wanting to see another family member die Signa sets out to use her powers to save her cousin.

This book is essentially a gothic supernatural mystery with a nice little romance subplot. It was a pretty easy read and it kept me guessing the whole way through. It fits right in with the kind of book I love so I became very taken with it right away.

There were a few points where I was a big confused as to what was happening. I don't know if it was me reading too fast or what. Some pages with big reveals took me a couple reads to really understand what just happened

I really liked this book! Loved the Gothic elements and you KNOW I love a suspicious death. A period romance/fantasy/mystery solving mashup? What more do you need?? This book gives me serious Gallant by V.E. Schwab meets Nancy Drew meets Bloody Chamber vibes. Like, what a combo. I love Sigma and her nonchalance about death and how she just carries on despite several traumatic events. All the characters are really interesting - I’m not 100% sold on the ending, just because some of the reasons the murderer cited didn’t really make sense to me. I am very intrigued to see where the next book goes, especially with the events of the final few pages!!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Belladonna is the first book in the new series of Adalyn Grace. A book with captivating premises that did not disappoint me!

The story follows the point of view of Signa Farrow, a nineteen year old who has been followed by Death all her life, and above all, has some powers such as that of not being able to die.
When her last caretaker dies, she is sent to the Hawthorne family in Thorn Grove. Here Mrs. Hawthorne has recently died of a strange disease, it will be up to Signa to investigate to discover the truth.

Belladonna combines gothic elements, fantasy and thriller aspect creating an absolutely engaging mix. The story is intriguing, fast-paced and certainly does not lack a certain suspense.
I particularly appreciated the gothic atmospheres, between ghosts and poisons, while I would have preferred a greater depth of the characters.
In fact, I found some things a bit hasty, such as the relationship between Death and Signa, and the final part managed a bit hastily.

A pleasant reading, with spooky and creepy vibes that manages to involve until the end.
3.5 and I'm really curious to read the sequel, Foxglove!

This has everything!
At the heart of this novel is Signa Farrow a young woman with some interesting talents.
Around that is a serious layer of murder and mystery.
Add of course “Death” and a bit of the supernatural.
Lastly, a touch of romance and some very good writing!

Nothing more to add other than read it!
What a wonderful novel that will steal you from the first page and leave you smiling after the final sentence.

There are whispers of how Signa Farrow is a strange and dangerous girl. She can see ghosts, cannot die and is believed to have brought death to all her legal guardians, and perhaps even her parents. She can even see Death, an entity in of himself, who haunts her - never leaving her alone for long. However, when Signa arrives at her newest ward’s residence, Thorn Grove Manor, an angered spirit makes it clear to Signa someone is conspiring to kill members of the family. To save her reputation and finally face her fears, Signa decides she must stop Death. But is Death truly her enemy?

HOT DAMN. My lungs are STILL hurting from all the gasping and squealing!! From the first few pages, I knew we struck gold with Belladonna. It delivers delicious romance, a murder mystery that causes the mind to spin with theories and an entertaining fantasy rooted in death, life and the power of both. It possesses *every* vibe I love in books; especially the grim and macabre. There’s poison gardens, dark woods, family secrets, haunted and shadowy halls… I can’t put into words how much I loved it. Past reads that evoked similar vibes for me are House of Salt and Sorrows and Mexican Gothic.

”I cannot sleep when I hear her roaming about, haunting these halls, and yet I cannot so much as shut my eyes in her absence, for I wonder if I will ever hear her again.”

The story unfolds in a time period akin to Bridgerton, where a young lady’s value is linked to her status and marriageable worth. Consequently, Signa must navigate how to perfect appropriate etiquette, or face the fact she may never truly fit into such societal standards because of her connection to beyond the veil.

Signa is a great character. She’s stubborn, hearty and has the powerful potential to rival Death himself. The conflict of Signa’s abilities and status were thoroughly riveting to explore, and it became increasingly complicated the more the murder mystery developed, leaving me curiouser and curiouser. Even though I found the mystery elements predictable, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment in any way, due to how rich the world felt. Moreover, I adored how reverently Adalyn Grace illustrated the nature of death. It was beautiful how every belief of what comes after life was given its place, and I must praise the author for this.

The romance was *chef’s kiss*. We have Sylas, a mysterious and sarcastic stableboy, and then on the other hand, Death, a devastatingly tender and lethal entity. I loved them both and found myself unable to choose. The duo of Signa and Death are like Emilia and Wrath from Kingdom of the Wicked but in a world like Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Their vibe also reminded me of Vasya and Morozko from the Winternight series and Alina and the Darkling from Shadow & Bone. Meanwhile, Signa and Sylas’ detective work reminded me of Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell from Stalking Jack the Ripper. So can anyone blame me when I stress I was unable to choose between them!? But do not panic, the way the romance is ultimately handled was extremely satisfying.

The ending!!! I knew it was coming but I still squealed! I am really, really, really excited for the sequel, Foxglove. It’s not the worst of cliffhangers, but rather, sets the stage nicely for the next adventure. I’m so excited to return to this world and see more of these characters. And on that matter: Adalyn Grace and Hodderscape, if you happen to have a copy of that sequel at hand… I wouldn’t say no. I’ll bake you cookies for it! And I *promise* they won’t have Belladonna in them.

Belladonna is moody, romantic and, quite simply, a must read for YA gothic fantasy readers. It’s without a doubt in my favourite reads of 2022. The prose was lyrical and rich, the ghostly and atmospheric world enveloped me, the chemistry between Signa and her love interest was decadent… All in all, it’s a lusciously gothic tale and I was truly, fully in its thrall. I’ll definitely be rereading it before Foxglove arrives. Don’t sleep on this one, book friends! You need to add Belladonna to your TBR if you love any of the following:

~ Kingdom of the Wicked
~ The Shadows Between Us
~ Hunting Prince Dracula
~ House of Salt and Sorrows
~ Haunted Mansion
~ Corpse Bride

Thank you kindly to Hodderscape for providing me with an eARC in exchange for this honest review.

Belladonna is a gripping, Gothic YA fantasy that will make you fall in love with Death himself. Every YA Fantasy fan needs to have this on their shelves in August.

The book has:
- a Gothic haunted house
- a murder mystery
- a smart, curious heroine
- and dark family secrets

The book hooked me right out the gate with the beginning: A party is held for the newborn Signa Farrow and everyone at the party - including Signa's parents - dies from poison. When Death tries to take the baby however, he finds she cannot die. Nineteen years later, Signa has been handed from guardian to guardian, all of whom died after a short while. Signa wants nothing more to be a normal lady and have her debut, which proves to be difficult since she not only seems to be immortal but can also see spirits.

After the current guardian meets a tragic end as well, Signa is taken in by the Hawthorns at the Thorn Grove estate. The matriarch of the family died a few months earlier of a mysterious illness and the same illness seems to have befallen Signa's cousin Blythe. Moreover, Signa finds out that it may not have been an illness at all, but murder. Convinced that Death is sabotaging her, Signa vows to not let anything happen to her new family. With the help of a stableboy and Death himself, Signa vows to find the murderer.

I had a lot of fun reading this. The book is influenced by Victorian England and the historical inspiration reminded me a lot of A Sorcery of Thorns. The haunted mansion, the dark family secrets, and Signa's guardians dying after a few months all screamed Gothic literature and I loved it. The dread, the feeling of being watched, of being haunted, not just by spirits but the past, were were persistent, especially in the first third of the book. Since Signa can communicate with spirits however, the book lost some of it's eerie atmosphere and momentum around the halfway mark. That didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book though.

The murder mystery was very engaging. The author really kept Signa guessing and I think I suspected almost every side character at some point in the story. Alas, I didn't figure out who the killer was - in fact, I suspected everyone but the killer - but the reveal made sense and was satisfactory enough.

What kept me reading, though, was Signa herself. She had a really great arc of self discovery and was a sympathetic protagonist. Signa starts of as a typical YA heroine - curious, stubborn, if a little naive. Since none of her guardians gave her a real education, she lacks the social graces her cousins have and is a bit of a fish out of water in 'polite society'. She bends over backwards to fit in with the gossipy neighbors who only worry over their marital prospects. As Signa starts to discover more about her powers though, she starts to realize she wants to take a different path in life and that society's expectations of her don't matter. While this is a pretty standard character arc for YA, it was well executed.

I found myself liking the side characters too. I loved Signa's relationship with her cousin Blythe and how much Signa fights for her family. Most of the other rich, upperclass people she met were insufferable though and like I mentioned, I suspected everyone to be the murderer. I would probably be a bad detective.Despite from being shady, all characters did have distinct personalities and goals they wanted to meet. The spirits Signa meets were not as scary as I would have liked but they were memorable - one spirit's fate in particular made me laugh out loud.

Another highlight was Signa's relationship with Death. As he helps her discover her powers, Signa realizes a life full of power on the edge of society is more desirable to her than to get married and spent her time with tea parties and the like. I found Death to be a very interesting character and his dynamic with Signa was fun to read about. At times, it looked like a love triangle would develop but fortunately, this was resolved by the end of the book, and in a great way. That is to say, don't let that turn you off the book, not everything is as it seems. Without spoiling too much, this book falls under the Death and the Maiden trope which I'm a sucker for. Who doesn't want a shadow monster to fall in love with you, am I right?

Now I suspect the sequel, Foxglove could be Adult since some scenes in this book were a bit more explicit than YA normally gets. There were no graphic scenes however so the book is still fine for Upper YA sensitivities.

As you can see, the book has a lot going on - Signa's character journey, romance, the murder mystery and her familial relationships - but all the plotlines were balanced very well and all brought to satisfying conclusions. The elements of fantasy, mystery and Gothic literature meshed well and made the plot a unique and entertaining one. Adalyn Grace's prose was stunning and transported you right into the dark halls of Thorn Grove. The book does end with a cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the next one! I recommend Belladonna to fans of YA fantasies like Kingdom of the Wicked and Sorcery of Thorns.

4.5⭐️

I’m so glad I got to read an ARC of this book! It was well-written with interesting characters and world building, as well as a swoony romance. The mystery wasn’t overly complex but I like that there’s the potential for more stories in this world. I also guessed some things about Sylas fairly instantly, so it would have been nice to have been left guessing a while longer on that front.

This book didn’t make me that emotional and was a bit predictable as mentioned, which stopped it from being five stars. However, I loved the concept and I adored that the MC didn’t just go along with society’s pointless rules and instead questioned them and herself – though I did find her shortsightedness a bit annoying in some of the earlier chapters.

This was an atmospheric book, reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House but with a little more lightness. It felt like if Gallant and Sorcery of Thorns had a love child, it would be this book. I liked that there was a little steam too, as the MC is 19/20 so it felt comfortable and right for the plot.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read more in this world.

I will always be a big fan of whatever Adalyn Grace writes, but this was a phenomenal read. Belladonna completely had me hooked and I was enamored by the characters and plot.
The mystery elements entwined with slight romance, honestly a 10/10.
In fact, I am desperately waiting for the physical book to be in my hands so that I can annotate it and put it with the rest of my favourite books.
If you enjoyed In The Ravenous Dark or Vespertine, I definitely think this book is for you.

My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

This is a lovely gothic mystery with our protagonist Signa working to uncover the villain before another life is taken, with help from a handsome stable boy, and Death himself.

Signa is a great character and I really enjoyed her development through the book. The side characters were also well fleshed out and I thought that the author dealt with themes of grief and death outstandingly.

This is quite a unique story which I found fascinating - though I couldn't help but draw parallels between Signa and Death, and Vanya and Morozko from the Bear and the Nightingale.

The epilogue sets up book 2 nicely and I will definitely be reading it when it comes out.

This is a 3.5/5 for me; an easy, fast paced book I devoured in a day.

3.75⭐️- A Deliciously Gothic victorian tale full of mystery, intrigue and a hint of romance

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an Advanced DRC in return for an honest review🥰

*Some Spoilers but no twists revealed*

I love anything Gothic so I was drawn to this book and super excited to read it!💜 Although it’s marketed as YA, I would definitely say it is more Upper YA because of some saucy scenes and can be enjoyed by adults just as much.

It gave me big Hades/Persephone Vibes, following 19 Year old Signa who cannot herself die, but seems to invite death wherever she goes, passed from relative to relative after she was orphaned as a baby. Oh, she can also see spirits and communicate with Death himself!

I liked Signa as a main character and felt like she developed well as the plot progressed. The mystery at Thorn Grove was compelling and had twists and turns that left me guessing. There were 2 major twists- one that had me shouting ‘I knew it!!!’ out loud and the other that I didn’t see coming at all! 💜

This was an enjoyable read, and was definitely executed better than other similar YA Gothic’s I’ve read but I really struggled to rate it because even though I liked the mystery and the characters and the romance, it also made me feel slightly uncomfortable due to the fact that Death had been watching Signa since she was a baby (I don’t want to go into to much detail because of spoilers but I think when you read it you’ll see what I mean!)

Finally there is a sequel to BellaDonna, FoxGlove, that’s due to be released next year and although the ending of this book left me intrigued to see what happens, I also feel like it could easily have worked just as much as a standalone💜

I absolutely loved this! Every single second of it. I had several theories throughout and then it would be disproven, though I have to say I guessed the twist and squealed with delight so loudly when I was proven right that my son ran to demand to know what I had been right. Loved, loved, loved it. So well written, wonderful characters.

Deliciously gothic, beautifully written, and once again a rather swoonwrthy version of Death: I truly enjoyed reading Grace's latest novel. I haven't read her fantasy duology just yet (it does sit on my shelf begging me to stop adding new books to my shelf instead of reading the books I already own), so I went into "Belladonna" mostly blind with no expectations whatsoever, but I'm so glad I did.

"Belladonna" tells the story of Signa Farrow, a 19 year old orphan who cannot die. She tried, repeatedly, yet even the most fatal injuries heal, and swallowing poisonous belladonna proves only a way to meet personified Death, stab him in the chest, then go back to being happily alive. The people around her though, they seem to drop like flies. Add to that the spirits she can see and her unusual eyes, and it's obvious: She must be cursed then, with death awaiting everyone who gets to close to her. After the death of her latest caretaker, she's sent to the only family she has left: The elusive Hawthornes who live in Thorn Grove - an estate that seems just as cursed as she is, with the lady of the house having died of a mysterious sickness just shortly before Signa's arrival and her daughter suffering from the same sickness now too. There are ghosts and spirits everywhere, and when Signa finds out that this mysterious sickness might have actually been murder, she sets out to uncover the truth and save her family.

The mystery at the heart of "Belladonna" is an intriguing one and while there are some obvious red herrings, it's still a lot of fun to read. But the central aspect of the novel is most definitely the relationship between Signa and Death, a shadowy monster and seductive gentleman that is more than intrigued by Signa's apparent deathlessness. Their romance is beautiful, though sometimes things develop a little too quickly for my taste and I would have loved for more of a slow-burn, but that's just personal preference. I do think the romance would have benefitted from not going zero to 100 in basically the span of a few pages, especially when one of the two people falling in love is, you know, Death. I'm usually not a fan of this age-old trend of "thousand year old entity falls in love with a teenage girl" either and it'll never be my favourite trope, but it's well done here and I enjoyed it.

And the ending? Yes damn, I need the second book now please! I loved how it introduces a new character that has been teased multiple times before, and in such an exciting way, too. This is a cliffhanger done well.

All in all, a more than solid 4 star read that would have benefitted from a little more focus on the side characters and more patience on the romance front, but I'm more than excited to read "Foxglove".

Belladonna is a fast paced gothic fantasy that takes the reader on a wild ride of romance, secrets and betrayal.

Death has followed 19 year old Signa Farrow all her life. Orphaned as a baby, death has taken every single one of her guardians, most of which are only after the money Signa shall inherit upon her 20th birthday. Signa is cursed with a unique gift of being unable to die, as well as the ability to see lingering spirits and even Death himself.

Signa is a beautifully constructed character, with both courage and stubbornness, and she is determined to hate Death for all he has taken.

After the loss of her most recent guardian, Signa journeys to Thorn Grove, accompanied by stable hand, Sylas. Upon her arrival, she meets the Hawthorne's, or at least what is left of them, since her Aunt Lillian recently died of an unrecognisable illness, one that her daughter Blythe is now suffering from.

Signa instantly suspects foul play and recruits Sylas to help her uncover the mystery of who murdered Lillian before death comes for Blythe.

Signa is incredibly clever and I loved her and Sylas working as a team, though it did take me a while to warm up to him. I loved Death instantly since he was very charming and misunderstood, something that Signa soon learns after his many visits at Thorn Grove. I loved Signa's growth throughout the book and watching her embracing that the fact that she is no ordinary girl.

I absolutely loved the plot! It was unique and very gothic. I did suspect one of the plot twists very early on and I was delighted to learn that my suspicions were correct!

The Epilogue set up book two nicely and I am very eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This is a world unlike any other I've read. I happen to enjoy the 'Death and The Maiden' storyline a great deal, and when I read the synopsis that Signa and Death would have a connection within this gothic murder mystery, I was eager to pick Belladonna up. Yet, I wasn't quite ready for how captivated I'd be by this world - so much that after sitting a few days before writing up this review, I've bumped it from a 4.5 to a 5 simply because I'm still thinking about this book in great detail.

Signa's abilities to defy death, and the tragic journey of her life that was overwhelmed by the loss of many guardians up till the point of this novel's beginning created such an interesting premise. I loved her from the first glimpse we get of her. Signa's growth as a person in high society, and with her dark magical abilities, all whilst marshalling for her ill cousin was such a rewarding experience to read. This world is so atmospheric, and much like Signa, I was kept on my toes the whole way through. The world-building was magical, and it felt as if I was able to step back in time to join Signa at Thorn Grove. The mansion and the grounds were described in such beautiful detail, and I enjoyed the small details about clothing and food, and the opulence contrasting the darkness of what was happening in her new residence. Adalyn Grace painted a world of wonderful grandeur and shadowed it well with darkness and deceit that I am still hooked on the imagery this book created for me.

The murder mystery elements of Belladonna had me guessing back and forth and made me doubt my suspicions on more than one occasion, which I absolutely loved. I'm not huge on murder mysteries, but this was delivered in a way that wasn't too overbearing and kept my interest up to figure it all out. And even though I was on the mark with who was behind the death of Lillian Hawthorne and the strange illness of her daughter Blythe, the reasoning behind it wasn't what I expected - another satisfying moment for me as a reader.

However, where this novel shined most for me was through Signa's confusion over her relationships with several people within the novel as her handle on her inner darkness evolves. At almost twenty, Signa is nearing the age to gain access to her inheritance. Her original goal was to make it to this age and live comfortably, and hopefully find herself a husband when she debuted into society. I loved how this desire she possessed was challenged throughout the novel, both by conflicting feelings for Death, Sylas, and the most eligible lord of the season, and by her growth as a person shrouded by abilities. Signa starts with very little understanding of society and how the world works in affluent circles, given her upbringing thus far. At Thorn Grove, she is thrust into the world she's only read about and finds it doesn't appeal to her as much as she believed it would. Her warring feelings between her abilities and societal standings were fantastically executed by the author, and I found Signa to be such a well-rounded character. The Signa we leave this world on is someone who has outgrown the one she hoped to become, and I'm so excited to see how she'll take what she's discovered about herself in this first novel into the sequel.

I absolutely loved the romance in this novel. Whilst at times I found Signa's back and forth between Sylas and Death exasperating - especially when she starts thinking about the newcomer for the season who tries to court her also - I found the love story to be the perfect balance for all the murder and illness Signa is navigating. The banter between her and the two main love interests had me giggling often and whilst I figured out early on how this would progress, I thoroughly enjoyed each step of the way. The romance was tastefully done, and I can only imagine how it will progress in the next book.

I also appreciated the found family dynamic between Signa and the Hawthornes. Her connection with the three of them whilst uncovering what was making Blythe so ill and solving who murdered Lillian was a delightful addition. I enjoyed her building these connections - something that no doubt felt strange given how hard a time she'd had with previous relatives up to this point. Even with her darker thoughts, and odd mannerisms from growing up so lonely, I find Signa to be someone full of hope and a strong sense of love for those who matter to her. This does fuel her to become reckless at times, but I only liked that about her more when it happened.

This is my first time reading a novel by Adalyn Grace, and I'm thrilled I picked this book up. It's going to be an anticipated wait for Foxglove for me.

*ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review thanks to Hodder & Stoughton*

***4 STARS***

“What in God’s name are you?”

“I am free.”


Firstly I haven't read an ARC in so long. I couldn't get into anything lately and I don't know what made me have a quick look on Netgalley but I did and this cover got me good lol. Then the story hooked me.

This is a story of 19 year old Signa (I think this may have originally been lower YA - with her age being 17 but the age changed from what I can tell. Could be wrong) and Death. The death that follows her and her love story with Death himself. It also has courting and ballgowns and ghosts and big parties and creepy mansions and a murder mystery to solve.

It's been a while since I struggled with how to rate a book but I've gone back and forth between 3 and 4. Even 3.5 didn't feel quite right so I've gone with 4.

I really really enjoyed parts of this story and other parts not so much. But no matter what, I was fully interested in this story and found it hard to put down.

The mystery. I truly loved this element of the story. I can't say I figured it out before nearing the end as I was bouncing back and forth between different suspects but I enjoyed the journey. I really loved the build up of getting to know these characters, all their flaws too. I have to say even though this is set in the late 1800's and had the whole historical set up, with courting and class politics it didn't really feel particularly "historical" if that makes sense.

I loved the creepy vibes to the book but I do think they are quite subtle, I wouldn't necessarily say it's particularly spooky. That all depends on each person's tolerance I guess.

Ok on to the biggest thing that I didn't enjoy here - The romance. I'm an avid romance reader and I wasn't feeling it. I'm sorry but I could absolutely not get past Death knowing and watching Signa since she's a baby and the whole alluded to fate thing. Part of me wished death was a mentor/friend type and there was another Death love interest for her. one that hadn't been watching her since she was a literal baby and now they have this *connection*. I do believe people will love that romance though and I'm in the minority. On the whole romance thing I think the author wrote some romantic, flowery lines but meh. I feel like there's too much expectancy on the lines themselves and the connection between Death and Signa didn't back it up because their connection feels forced for me. Like I said I believe I'll be in the minority on that one. The romance takes somewhat of a backseat and so I was able to overlook it I guess. But I wasn't exactly excited when it was happening on page. There's also a particular plot point with Death that I didn't enjoy at all. I just wish it wouldn't have happened. It felt sneaky and manipulative. It's pretty easy to figure out what's happening while reading but still. Also what the hell happened to Albert? Dude just upped and vanished? Did I miss something?

Something I was struggling with in the beginning was the author not just outright saying the colour of people's skin. It took until after the first half before we got there instead of every descriptor except for White/Brown/Black etc. I had to Google "umber " skin lol. I get the creative descriptive writing but even in that first half just one or twice saying the colour please and thanks.

There's commentary on society and what's expected of us and particularly Women and politeness and how we should behave and I enjoyed that even when Signa went a little back and forth. There's also commentary on death and grief and there's the philosophy of death giving meaning to life. It's really interesting, conversations about death and life can be. Perhaps it's my own relationship with grief but I didn't agree with the "justifications" here. A question arises essentially around would you prefer a very long life or a short one? With an insinuation that the long one has less meaning and love. Give me a long forever life thanks bye. Lol.

I really enjoyed it. I loved figuring out the mystery and what was going on with other characters. I enjoyed the writing style, I didn't feel weighed down with world building.

There's gonna be a sequel and I'm definitely intrigued after that ending. However with the romance not being something I liked I don't know if it will be for me. I'm interested to see the synopsis for that though. Also while there was no direct LGBTQ+ rep here I'm curious if that was a hint for an F/F relationship at the end there or perhaps that's just me because I read LGBTQ+ romance. I'm definitely intrigued about that and what's next for the characters in general. Signa Farrow in the beginning was lonely and feeling powerless and by the end of this book it was the opposite and what a fun journey it all was.

There are still questions for me personally about how it all works with Death and the choices made and how playing god actually works. Maybe they'll be explored more with book #2 and I'll have to read it afterall.

Wow. That’s my best assessment of this book: just wow.
Signa has a terrible talent - she can see the lingering spirits of the dead. With them comes the haunting presence of Death himself, and she desperately wants to be rid off him. But when she moved live with the family of her late cousin Lillian, she becomes preoccupied with a different problem. Who killed Lillian, and is her ailing daughter next?
Sumptuous and gothic, I’d easily categorise it as ‘upmarket’ fiction for it’s literary atmosphere but undeniably commercial appeal. It’s a sort of romantic supernatural murder mystery set in the 1850s, with uptight social conventions and extravagant balls and a good-looking stable hand and family secrets.
The mystery plot was twisty and suspenseful (I spent a lot of this book either gasping or screaming with delight) and the romance was just as skilfully woven. The characters are vivid and complex, especially Signa. She has lots of desires for her life - to get rid of Death’s presence, to protect the only family she has left, to do all the things her treasured etiquette manuals says she must do in order to find a husband so she will never be lonely and unloved again. But each of these desires come with a cost, and they frequently interfere with each other. She is always being pulled to work out what she *really* wants.
I adored every moment of this book. The epilogue is the perfect setup for a sequel, and I can’t wait to read that too!

‘belladonna’ is a gothic ghost mystery story, sets in the Victorian era, that follows our main girl Signa who is an orphan and, realizing of being able to see spirits and being immune to poisons, starts summoning Death himself to learn more about her powers.

the storyline was quite predictable, but the vibes were immaculate !! Signa realized that she cared way too much about other people opinions in society and that the “perfect” life she desired since she was a kid wasn’t actually what she wanted at the end. we follow her while she starts to become aware of how false people can be in society and how they basically just care about her inheritance and not feelings. Death himself reminded her often of being herself and not let all those stupid rules guide her every decision.
i have to admit i was scared this would’ve turned out being a darkling and Alina situation but thank god it wasn’t :) Signa is his only company but he doesn’t want her to sacrifice her real life to stay with him. i also loved when he was reflecting on how it’s better to live a short life full of love instead of an immortal one without it.

‘ humans have such a short time to experience their life, and so they MUST feel deeply. ‘

*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the earc in exchange of an honest review*

"Belladonna" is a wonderful start to a new duology: it has as much death and poison as one would expect from the title and synopsis, and I already cannot wait for the follow-up of this enchanting and riveting story. The essence of the book could be divided into two parts - one is a murder mystery and the other is a gothic romance. I will begin with the latter.

True avid readers and fans of the Gothic genre will not find many of its more weighty elements in the story, but there is plenty to enjoy - unrestful spirits, large ominous manors with long and dark hallways, a person who might be losing their mind, and someone who's teetering on the edge of death. There is also a nice nod to "The Secret Garden" and, of course, Death himself as a character and romantic interest.

It has been a while since a romance in a book truly gripped me and made me cheer, and even if I do think there could be a little improvement with the pacing of Signa and Death's relationship, I am overall happy with it. Signa is a steadfast and observant protagonist and Death is sufficiently ancient and youthful at once. There is also a dash of darkness and grey morality in their romance, which I loved.

Going back to Signa and the murder mystery part, it is as I mentioned - she's observant and smart enough not to get caught all the time, but it read as if the author wanted to keep her cards too close. I was thoroughly fooled and jumped to suspecting different characters along with Signa, but I was disappointed she never figured anything out. She overheard or read about it in secret but she did not deduce any relevant piece of information. A sensible writer would've let their protagonist piece together something, not necessarily who's the culprit, but something nonetheless. Which led me to be frustrated with Signa when I figured it out and she didn't.

Despite it flunking the mystery part, "Belladonna" delivered a satisfying story and made good on its darker facets. Signa made a couple of selfish and amoral choices, and it felt good to cheer her on when she didn't hesitate or feel guilty about it.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Belladonna is, and bear with me here, a fantasy-gothic-murder-mystery-romance set approximately in the 1860s. Signa is an orphan, passed from relative to relative each out to claim a piece of her fortune for themselves. Her only constant companion is death, in more ways than one. Signa can see spirits and even death himself.

When her aunt dies suddenly Signa is spirited away to Thorn Hall, a beautiful manor filled with shadows. When it becomes clear that the late mistress of the house was murdered and her ailing daughter might be next, Signa allies herself with a stable boy, and death himself to get to the bottom of what is happening on the Hawthorne estate.

This is not my usual novel, but I was drawn in by the frankly stunning (UK) cover and the fantasy elements and I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. I devoured this book on my commute, it is addictive and spellbinding in equal measures.

The delicate balance between mystery and romance was spot on. I was drawn into the mystery with all its twists and turns, that played off well with the more historical/romance elements of the plot, without either element feeling underserved.

Signa is a compelling protagonist, and her voice really came through in the writing style. She is brave, cunning and impulsive in equal measures, but at her core longs for a family and a place to belong. I won’t say much detail about the MLO, other than it was a completely unhinged choice, and for that reason the absolute best decision possible.

The epilogue also sets up a sequel(!) which cannot come soon enough.

All in an absolute delight of a novel, hands down one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC of 'Belladonna' by Adalyn Grace.

I purely fell in love with this book due to the cover and it didn't disappoint. The start was rather slow based but the further I read, the more I was addicted. The gothic themes were perfection and the characters were gorgeous. I absolutely adored it.