Belladona was my first read from Adalyn Grace, and she earned new fans with hooked me since first chapter. As the only survival from poisonous party, a baby heiress earned her cursed orphan status. Since that moment Signa Farrow growing become strong and curious nineteen year old girl who can't dead.

I love the storytelling style suited the historical background. I almost can feel all paranorm activities with gothic atmosphere at old mansion with each words. Mixed that with intriguing murder mystery and romance, make this book become a delicious combination. I will leave some details about relation between Signa and Death reaper for avoid accidentally spoiler. The pace kinda slow, the romance feel lukewarm and nothing new in the murder mystery plot but this book still solid and enjoyable. Would love to recommend it to bookish friends.

The audiobooks narration is clear, mesmerizing and very expressive. It help so much to build suspens and mysterious vibes until the end.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the delightful read. I am grateful and my thoughts are my own. Belladonna will release at 30 Aug 2022

An interesting premise which got me very hooked at the beginning but unfortunately fell a bit flat at the end. I have nothing bad to say about this book because I did enjoy reading it however I did feel a little bit bored at times and found it a bit hard to get myself back into the back. I enjoyed the writing but I found the main character to be a bit cringy at times and I just wasn’t a big fan of her. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending.

I’m sure there are others who will love this more than me and that’s amazing but this just wasn’t for me.

Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the eArc!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that this was one of my most anticipated reads of this year, so when I had the opportunity to claim a copy I was soooooooo excited, and this delicious gothic fantasy didn’t disappoint.

Signa Farrow has been plagued by death all her life, orphaned at birth, Signa is passed from one obscure, hideous family member to the next, each guardian meeting an untimely end, to the point the Signa believes she has been cursed by death itself. But Signa has another secret, she cannot die. After an unfortunate accident involving her aunt, Signa is given into the guardianship of the Hawthorn family, for Signa, it’s like her dreams have come true, finally, she will be introduced to society, but the Hawthorns have a secret of their own. Hoping to unlock the mystery of the illness that is plaguing the women of Thorn Grove, Signa embraces her darkness with death at her side.

I loved this standalone novel by Adalyn Grace, it was full of strong female characters, and I loved the building of friendship between Signa and her cousin, and the slow-burn romance with Death.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a slow-burn fantasy romance.

'"You are no soft thing to be coddled...You are bolder then the sun, Signa Farrow, and its time that you burn."'

This was such a brilliant combination of fantasy, mystery, paranormal and regency-style romance.

Orphaned as a baby, Signa has been passed from relative to relative, each more interested in her wealth then her before they find untimely ends. Signa fears she is cursed by Death, his shadows relentlessly following her, so when she gets sent to live with her remaining relatives, she refuses to lose another one to him. Which is easier said than done when it appears that her late-aunt could have died under mysterious circumstances, her cousin has an illness that doctors can't figure out, her uncle is finding solace at the bottom of the bottle and her aunts restless spirit haunts the house, demanding Signa solve her death before it's too late for her other family members.
Her best bet is to make an alliance with death himself, and to put her trust in a handsome stableboy to figure out the mysteries and dark history of Thorn Grove before time runs out for her cousin.

I really enjoyed the world Adalyn Grace has created here, and I loved the depth and personalities of the characters and how their relationships played out. This was a wonderful mystery that kept you on your toes, wrapped up in Regency proprierty and a girl who just wants to find a family, home and acceptance for who she is.

I really enjoyed the narrator of this Audio book, I thought she dis a fantastic job or pacing and infusing each character with their own personality- it was a real delight to listen to!

I can't wait for the next one!

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC or this audio book in exchange for and honest review ***

Belladonna is a delightfully gothic Murder mystery!

In the first chapter, we’re introduced to a girl who cannot die. From the start it’s clear this book isn’t going to shy away from darker themes. Death is a constant presence, and I’m not just speaking figuratively! Death is a physical character and the love interest for main character, Signa.

I’m in two minds about the relationship between Death and Signa. Death is certainly charming and I loved that it’s a play on Death and the Maiden. In this case, Death met and watched Signa as a child and, as I hadn’t read the synopsis going in, I was really expecting him to become a mentor/father figure to Signa. When things turned romantic between them, it almost felt like Death had been grooming Signa which made me initially quite uncomfortable..

I much preferred the relationship Signa builds with her cousin Blythe, who is such a strong character even though she spends most her time in bed.

With a period setting and haunted house, this book is incredibly spooky and atmospheric. There’s paranormal activity and a murder mystery which raises the stakes. I did think the book is a bit longer than it needed to be and the intensity dipped a little in the middle but I was pulled right back in by the end. There are so many twists in the final few chapters, some were more surprising to me than others, but it’s a very satisfying conclusion to the book. That said, everything is set up perfectly for the second book and I’m looking forward to finding out how things work out between Death and Signa.

I absolutely loved the narrator for this audiobook, she read at a good pace and was really easy to listen to. One of the strengths of this book is how atmospheric it is and the narrator did a brilliant job of maintaining this throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Adalyn Grace, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an audiobook arc in exchange for a review.

Belladonna is a romantic gothic-infused fantasy, which follows our main character Signa Farrow, a girl who cannot die and has always been able to see dead spirits and Death himself. We follow Signa as she tries to solve a murder mystery case to save her cousin, whilst also coming to terms with who she really is and the fact that she has deadly powers of her own.

I loved everything about this book. I loved all the of the characters and especially enjoyed the development of a romantic relationship between Signa and Death.

“You are bolder than the sun, Signa Farrow, and it’s time that you burn.”

This book is beautifully written and I cannot wait to get my hands on a Hardcover copy when released. Going as far to say that Belladonna has been my favourite read for this year so far!

I would like to commend the narrator of this audiobook, Kristin Atherton, for her beautiful narration and performance which had me fully immersed in this world and keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. I honestly can’t wait for the sequel, Foxglove, to see what next mystery Signa will need to solve.

I don't even know where to begin as I just loved every single word in this book!

Let me introduce you Signa Farrow, a nineteen-year- old girl that was orphaned as a baby and raised by a chain of questionable guardians, more interested in her inheritance than anything else. Eventually, her only choice is family of Hawthornes, as every other guardian have met a suspicious end to their lives.

At first, it looks like a historical book about a lonely girl that wants to be more than the money that comes with her name. She dreams about a husband, home, parties and friends. Yet, there is catch, Signa can see spirits and, most importantly, Death himself. And even though young woman hated this part of herself, it turned out to be quite helpful talent after a visit from a spirit of Lillian, a late lady of Thorn Grove, who died from mysterious illness that is about to take her daughter's life too. Lillian asks Signa to save sick girl, but to do so - she must solve a murder, as the sickness turns out to be poison. So, with the help of Sylas, a surly stable boy, and Death himself, Signa dives into family's affairs to save them.

I loved to see Signa to grow from this lonely girl to a strong woman. I found her very relatable, especially the wish to fit with society, yet not understanding why there is so many rules for it, as just being yourself seemed not to be good enough.

Also, I loved Death! He just made sense. When you read the scene about friends and scones - you will understand what I mean. He is endearing, mysterious, sarcastic and brutally honest. I found that combination absolutely fascinating.

Then there is Sylas, a bit harsh around the edges, but quite charming once he let his guard down. Yet, I knew from early on what was his deal. But I was so busy claping myself on the back for it that I completely missed all the clues about the murder. Well, all except one, but I can't tell you about that!

To sum all this up, I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen. It was the best read of 2022! Just can't wait for book 2!

When I tell you that I was obsessed??? I mean it! Honestly, I thought I was moving on from fantasy because the last few of my fantasy reads ended up disappointing me but Belladonna brought me right back! 😍
The vibes of this book are IMMACULATE. I could picture everything that Grace wrote and it felt like I was watching through Signa's eyes. The writing is so beautiful, and the romance is amazing!
Here's where I want to mention that I got the audiobook for this and the narrator has honestly done such an amazing job with all the different accents and voices. It made my experience all the more enjoyable.

The ending is so well set up that I am already eagerly waiting for the sequel when Belladonna isn't even out yet. Rest assured, I am going to buy this book once it comes out because the cover is stunning!

I highly recommend it if you are someone who's into gothic, dark fantasy set in (presumably) the Victorian Era.

With the fantastic prologue, which set a wonderful tone for the novel, I thought this would be a great book for me. Sadly 'Belladonna' pretty quickly falls into every typical YA trope you could think of, characters and the dialogue in particular. Top it off with an unengaging plot and my interest vanishes.
I'm sad, because I'd hoped it to be a gothic delight, but its not working for me.

This is the first ever audiobook I’ve listened to, and I’ll definitely be back for more!

This gothic story follows Signa, an orphan who has been haunted by death all her life. After death once again claims Signa’s newest guardian, she confronts him - an act that not only puts her face-to-face with Death, but also sets in motion the dramatic events that follow.

Story: Overall I really enjoyed this gothic story! Signa’s character development was one of the highlights for me, as well as the plot - there were so many twists and turns I needed to keep going!
The pacing was good - not jam-packed-full of action, but was a nice steady pace. I loved the gothic atmosphere, the setting was chilling enough to creep me out when I listened to it at night! And the cliffhanger leaves it nicely open to continue with Signa’s adventures.
I do wish we got a bit more of Death, and maybe it’s because I’ve been binging so much romance lately, I would’ve liked some more romance sprinkled in there.

Audio: I really enjoyed the narrator - the way they embodied each character through tone and expressions, and recounted the story in such a way that really drew me in. I’ll definitely be coming back for more audiobooks!

I recommend this if you’re looking for a gothic read (or listen), with an eerie atmosphere and great character development.

4.5 stars



Audio review; Great narrator. Really engaging delivery. Plenty of nuance with the characters.



Review: This is a great twist on the Death and the Maiden folktale, woven together with a semi historical murder mystery. I rarely ship characters, I'm not a romance first reader, but I found myself rooting for Sigma and Death all the way. The worldbuilding was interesting; basically a sort of quasi 18/19th C England in terms of style, mores and manners, but with race and sexuality removed from the list of restrictions. Not sure it counts as representation but it definitely makes for a friendlier reading experience (as long as you don't look too closely at issues such as making a good marriage - the end result of such a union being to produce children who belong to both families.)



I really liked Sigma. She was a refreshing combination of clever and kind, with a certain uneasiness due to her uncertain upbringing. I especially liked the bond she formed with her sick cousin Blythe, and her willingness to embrace people as family.



If I have any criticism here, it's that this book was a shade too long for what it was. However the ghost story, fantasy elements, engaging characters and fun set up more than made up for that. Really enjoyed it - recommend if you want a fantasy read with a hint of 'Hades and Persephone' retelling. (And if you like Death and the Maiden type stories, Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavett is an unsung masterpiece.)

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

I’m so so glad I read this book, this is genuinely my favourite read so far as of 2022!! A gothic mystery surrounding a family and the death of a mother and her slowly dying child, our main character must find out what is killing the members of this family, whilst also meeting death herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the ARC, however, all opinions are my own.

DNF @ 19%

I dislike most things about this book, and in an incredibly short amount of time Signa became more and more annoying. To everybody comparing this to the drowned woods, I hope you know you’re wrong. The drowned woods was much better than this train wreck.

Think this could be my favourite book of the year so far! It’s a gothic horror where death is a character and our main female protagonist cannot die. We follow Signa as she moves In with relatives and she tries to solve a murder and save her cousin, all while dealing with death and a stable boy who have turned her head. I loved this book and I had pretty much given up on ya/ new adult fantasy. I loved all the twists and the characters were very well developed . I will actually pick up the sequel!

Gothic Bridgerton meets fantasy! Spoiler-free review
First I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this book we follow the 19-year-old Signa and her mysterious gift: she cannot die and can talk to Death. I absolutely loved the first half of the book, seeing Signa trying to navigate this world full of strict social rules, meanwhile trying to solve a murder mystery with the hot stable boy. 4.5 stars for the first half! If the book continued in that direction, I would've loved it. Unfortunately, in the second half of the book, I did not like how her relationship with Death developed and found that hard to read. The answer to the mystery was somewhat surprising, but the ending was just okay.

Overall, an easy and entertaining read

I think fantasy mystery might be a new favourite genre, and when you add in the gothic and paranormal *chef’s kiss*

Signa Farrow is Cursed. She is known as the cursed orphan as everyone who adopts her dies. Signa slowly realises that she cannot die, and can see and speak to spirits.

Signa is sent to live with her last remaining relatives She consumes the deadly belladonna berries to summon death to help her save her last remaining relatives, The Hawthorne’s as the daughter Blythe is dying from a mysterious illness. Signa must team up with death to find out who’s hurting the members of her family and why before it’s too late.

Chapter 43 is 😱🤯 That twist got me. Literally sat there with my jaw open for a good 2 minutes. so so good and unexpected. The whole mystery was executed so well, I can tell I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time and I need the next book immediately.

I dnfed this at exactly 21% purely because I could not stand the main character. It's a crying shame since it has such an interesting premise and I always love a book with death as a character. But Signa is such an irritating main character. First, she is so obliviously rude in a way that I don't understand. While yes she's been passed around by various guardians it doesn't mean she was locked away the whole time with no one to socialise with that would explain why she's so rude. For instance, she barges into a sick, dying girls' room and as the narration points out with not even a knock and is dumbfounded when the girl is immediately hostile to her. I'm sorry but who thinks it's okay to arrive at a new home and then barge into a stranger's sick room?

But it was the constant whining about wanting a 'normal' life which of course includes fancy dresses, balls and lots of handsome suitors that drove me to dnf it. I understand that this is a common desire but it gets tedious when Signa's every other thought strays to it. I truly couldn't care less and I don't want to spend another minute in this her head.

Regency vibes meet fantasy epic. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so enthralled and invested in a book as this one! I loved it from the very first chapter and each page succeeded in drawing me in more and more.

Skirting the lines of life and death, Signa finds herself followed by death wherever she goes. A series of unfortunate events follows in her wake, with many of her guardians meeting perishing ends until she reaches her new household and vows to not let it happen again.

She quickly draws close to her cousins, but when a mysterious poisoning case is afoot, it’s up to Signa to find out who’s doing it and save the life of her cousin. All the while, death is creeping in the background, but he’s not quite the dark, malevolent force that Signa feared he was…

Seriously this book was so addicting and I couldn’t put it down. Also amazingly narrated (I had the audiobook) and I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know more. And after the ending, I definitely want more and more books in this series!

Mysteriously magical and fully hypnotically haunting, this entrancing and engulfing tale had me leaning closer and closer to the pages the more I read. It was like from the very first page my mind drifted into the world like a mist into a valley, and before I even knew it I have drifted so far that I couldn’t imagine anything but the death, love, mystery and pure intrigue this book had wrapped around my imagination.

The writing style is like that of some of the best authors I’ve read! It flows like the calmest downward stream, and mixed in with the beautiful writing style it truly hypnotises you like a poison that has taken hold of your entire body.
I would compare it to the likes of Gallant, the Invisible life of Addie Larue, and Little Thieves, with the way in which you interact with that that is not of this world and yet knotted with a mystery that needs to be discovered in such a way that you have to read every single page as if it’s the last.
This book truly is a masterpiece and there is really nothing else more to say about my love for it except that I have already messaged Hodder expressing how I absolutely must have the sequel Foxglove as soon as it hits their desk, and when you read this book I have no doubt your response will be the same.

Love, death, and mystery that will haunt your dreams for nights to come but in the best kind of way.

I partly read this book through an early audible copy, which I have to say the voice just had me fully entranced and made the story come to life in such a magical and haunting way that I was gripped by every single second of listening to it, to the point that I may have forgotten what I was doing while listening to it a lot more than I would want to admit. The reading of it in one word was perfect. I would highly recommend the audiobook, the book, and every single edition you can get your hands on.

A massive thank you to Hodder and Kate for sending me an early copy of not just the arc but also the early audiobook, I am so in love with this book and so grateful that I got to read it early, and learn how much I love it so I can order the Barnes and Nobles version now just so I can have as many beautiful versions as possible on my shelf.

A YA that treads the line between mystery, historical fiction and fantasy, 'Belladonna' has an intriguing premise - a young woman, Signa, who is blessed (or cursed) with the inability to die, irrevocably joining her with Death. I enjoyed Signa, Death and Silas' characters, and the setting. The audiobook narrator did a great job, although at times when the text was particularly dramatic this was even more exaggerated. I found the mystery interesting enough to keep reading, but wasn't really shocked by any of the reveals (the book's title and Signa's use of Belladonna early on eliminate any sense of surprise that belladonna is key to the narrative). Grace's writing was beautiful in places, but overly descriptive in others - I felt like this book was possibly longer than it needed to be, and was left dissatisfied with the ending as this had the inevitable 'first in a series' feel. Overall, an enjoyable read with a beautiful UK cover, and I'll be interested to see what other people think of this book and its sequel/s before considering reading the next book.