I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I'd give this book a solid 4.5. I enjoyed it much more than her duology.

Imagine you're like royalty but treated less than, a true Cinderella if you will. But instead of talking to animals you can talk to spirits. Signa is that girl who lived, the soul survivor of a poisonous ball. Heir to a fortune but shuffled from one family member to another bc they just can't seem to stay alive.

Did I mention she has slight superhuman powers and can see and talk to Death himself?! And with these powers she solves murders like a true murderino!

The plot is good, she grows into her powers. There's a slight love triangle, with a twist, if that's your troupe. A fairytale true crime if you will. I highly recommend you read it!

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
🌟⭐️🌟⭐️🌟

How can i give this but 5 stars— I CANNOT! HOLY PERFECTION & it was EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING!— it gets ALL of the stars!!!!

Just…

“"Because I have waited an eternity to meet you, Signa Farrow." The words were a balm she clung to, relished. "To me, you are a song to a soul that has never known music. Light to someone who has only seen the darkness. You bring out the absolute worst in me, and I become vindictive toward those who treat you in ways I don't care for. Yet you also bring out the best in me--I want to be better because of you. Better for you.”
(This quote may not be in the published version of this novel, it was copied from the advanced reader’s copy.)


Do with this what you will… but this book is my mood for the damn foreseeable future!

*phew* breathe, Ashley, breathe.

Adalyn Grace is a Goddess among mere mortals! This book was BRILLIANT!

If it were not clear enough… 1000% recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, & Adalyn Grace for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

minus the epilogue i don't think this needed to be a series tbh. i enjoyed this for the most part but some of it got a little slow. i did have a few problems with the romance as well. overall this was an okay read but i don't think i would be rushing to get my hands on the next one.

thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Adalyn Grace does it again.

I was a huge fan of her All the Stars and Teeth duology, and was so excited to get my hands on Belladonna. From the moment I read the description, I knew I was going to absolutely love it.

If you are a fan of Margaret Owen's Little Thieves and Lyndall Clipstone's Lakesedge, then you will definitely fall in love with the world that Grace has created.

The story follows 19-year-old Signa, who knows Death more intimately than most. Orphaned as a baby, she's spent her whole life bouncing from distant relative to distant relative, all of them meeting an untimely demise. But all of that is set to change when Signa is placed at Thorn Grove, the estate of her last living relatives. Though what she doesn't except is for Death to already be waiting for her there. Teaming up with the shadowy entity she thought she hated, Signa must find out who's trying to kill the last of her family.

Part murder mystery, part sweeping gothic romance, Belladonna promises to be the start of yet another series of stories from Grace to look out for!

Read it for the Regency-era, gothic vibes, stay for the delicious romance and sordid mystery! Signa is a wonderful protagonist that I rooted for from page 1. Death is the dark and moody figure of your dreams. Together, they created a story I couldn't put down if I wanted to!

Cover Story: Return of Big Face
BFF Charm: Yay!
Talky Talk: Ghostly Gothic
Bonus Factors: Haunted House
Relationship Status: Down for a Second Date

Cover Story: Return of Big Face

What is this, 2012?! I thought we left Big Faces in the Obama administration but I guess not. Besides the Big Face, there’s the flowers-growing-into-veins thing happening which I’m giving 3/10 Photoshop stars to. And I don’t know how to explain it but that typeface used for the title reminds me of a 90s Nickelodeon cartoon. This cover screams “I AM READING A YA BOOK” in a way that covers did back when adults reading YA was still something that got a snarky retort. I like to think we have evolved as a species since then, so I’m not going to tell you to brown bag it, but I DO think I would’ve liked to have seen something more modern than this, in the vein of the A Lesson in Vengeance cover.

The Deal

Orphaned as a baby, Signa has always been able to see two things that other people can’t: dead people, and Death himself. She has been ushered from one distant family member to another, all more interested in her inheritance than her well-being, and they never live very long. Signa’s last hope is the mysterious Hawthorne family, her distant cousins who are each mourning the recent death of their matriarch in different ways.

When Signa moves in, she realizes that Lillian Hawthorne was murdered, and Lillian’s young daughter Blythe is likely next. Signa has always had the ability to toe the line between life and death, so she calls for an unlikely truce with her long-time antagonist Death to figure out who is targeting the Hawthornes.

BFF Charm: Yay!

Yay BFF Charm
Despite sharing a name with my health insurance company, Signa was pretty cool. She had a traumatic childhood, being shuffled around between borderline abusive extended family members who were trying to steal her inheritance. But she isn’t bitter or angry – she’s actually quite loving, trusting, and empathetic. She’s quick to put her supernatural talents to use to help her sick cousin Blythe, and isn’t afraid to put herself at risk to help others.

Swoonworthy Scale: 7

I knew very little about this book when I started it, so in the early chapters when I began to suspect that there might be some will-they-won’t-they happening between Signa and the Grim F’king Reaper, I was like OH HELL YES. And this story did not disappoint. Death was charismatic and sexy and mysterious, and the romance felt so secretive and forbidden. This romance will probably not be for everyone – as a matter of fact, I know some people will find it problematic, since Death has known Signa since she was a child and he’s like, idk, 500 years old or something. But I’m choosing to suspend disbelief. Don’t come at me!

There is a bit of a love triangle with a stable boy named Sylas that is totally worth mentioning! I liked Sylas! But I was VIBING with Death, you know?

Talky Talk: Ghostly Gothic

There are a lot of things I loved about this book: the murder mystery, the romance, the setting. Grace does an incredible job setting a scene and creating characters that I loved (Signa, Death) and characters that I wasn’t sure if I could trust (Death, everyone else). There were a few twists along the way that kept the book exciting, though I won’t pretend like I didn’t suspect them all along.

My main issue with the book – and it really is a small issue in the grand scheme of things – was that the prose sometimes felt a little stiff. I don’t think we’re ever given an official date, but the book seems to be set during a Victorian time period, with Signa trying to navigate the intricacies of coming out in society, so I thought maybe the stiffness was Grace’s attempt at formality. It didn’t keep me from getting lost in the story, but maybe kept me from getting lost in it earlier than I did.

Bonus Factor: Haunted House


This is one of those books where the setting almost becomes a character in and of itself. The Hawthorne house plays host to Elijah’s glitz and glam Gatsby-style parties, but it’s also shrouded in darkness and filled with ghosts! So it really set the stage for some spookiness.

Relationship Status: Down for a Second Date

While I don’t know that this book really needed a sequel, the last page sets us up for one, and tbh I am down to clown with a second book. I have no idea where this series is going to take me but its spooky sensibilities are right up my alley and I have a questionable ship to root for.

Belladonna has a unique blend of gothic elements, paranormal romance, and mystery.

Signa Farrow was a girl who could not die.
She was also the girl who could see Death.

Death was my absolute favourite.

You need this if you love:
The maiden trope
Atropa Belladonna
Paranormal romance
Mystery
Murder
Death

I loved this so much. From the very first page, I felt completely immersed in Signa’s world and fell in love with both her and Death. Her evolution from wanting so desperately to fit in to being unapologetically herself was seamless and felt completely natural. The gothic vibe was PERFECT for Fall and really put me in the mood for spooky season. I went into this thinking it was a standalone and was elated to find out it wasn’t after reading the epilogue and double checking Goodreads to make sure! Can’t wait to read the next one.

~belladonna review~
•
5/5
•
I love Adalyn Grace so i knew i had to request this one asap! The concept and cover are amazing and i’m so so excited to dive in
•
Pros:
+starts with a bang
+what an interesting main character
+i appreciate that most of the men have black hair #thatsmytype
+i love thé names in this. like signa and sylas are so cool
+omg why is Death so cool in this. like protecting her and being all mysterious
+also what a unique power and concept for a story
+animals being able to see Death and him petting a dogs head omg
+i love a whodunit story
+lol percy at the etiquette lessons is SO me
+banter and angst
+DEATH TOUCHING HER OMG
+little bird!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+blythe the feminist
+i love a good period piece. giving very bridgerton esque.
+THIS IS STEAMY OMG
+plot twist
+i want the next book rn WHAT
•
Cons:
-i lowkey hate when authors write stuff like “she didn’t notice this but if she did she would have known _____” like no she didn’t notice it so i don’t want to either don’t tease me like that
-i’m getting a bad feeling about one of the characters… i really hope it’s not a plot twist
•
okay i thoroughly enjoyed this book! it had me squealing out loud at parts and had such a unique idea. i love death and signa and think everyone should read this one!!

Belladonna is the story of Signa, an orphan who is set to inherit wealth when she comes of age. When her current guardian suffers an unfortunate fate, she is placed into the care of a new guardian. Yet unbeknownst to them, Signa can see Death himself. And Death has an interest in Signa. For she has a secret…she cannot die.

Belladonna was an enjoyable and fantasy-filled read. My favorite part was the stunning descriptions and attention paid to the sensory details. The setting and aesthetic felt perfect. However, at times there is a focus on over-elaboration of plot points that seems to show a lack of trust in readers to come to the conclusions on their own. Signa must go over the same idea multiple times before the plot can progress, leading to awkward pacing.

Signa herself has so much potential, but she felt underwhelming to me. For example, Signa spends a great deal of time obsessed with the “proper” way to do things, despite living an unconventional life with magical powers. I can appreciate that this is a way to show character growth, but it felt tedious at times. As the characters resolve the mystery, the pacing of the conclusion seemed rushed, although I did think the answer to the mystery was satisfying.

I love the idea behind this book and am curious to see if the story continues! I think Grace has left the door open for a continuation of the series. Grace imparts several poignant lessons through Signa which deal with grief, confidence, and knowing your own power. I would recommend Belladonna to those who enjoy a murder mystery, fantasy aesthetics, and writing filled with beautiful details. Thank you to Adalyn Grace, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Belladonna | Adalyn Grace

Do I Recommend This Book: Meh

Would I have liked it a bit more had I known it was a series: Maybe

What I Enjoyed About It:
The Gothic Aspects
Signa’s Origin Story
The Mystery
How Signa came into her own
Death being just as I imagined them
Thorn Grove
Ghosts
The Library
🖤Sylas🥀
REAPER POWERS
The Plot Twists

What I wished was included more
GOTHIC AMBIANCE
REAPER POWERS
LIBRARY
GHOST Backstories
BLYTHE
CHARLOTTE
Shocking Details

#POCReviewer #BIPOC #Netgalley #EArc #Kindle #Books #Devil #Signa #Sylas #ThornGrove #Mystery #Horror #Gore #Ghosts #Whodidit #Lillian #Percy #Elijah #Blythe #Death #Hotforteacher #Reaper #FallVibes

Honestly this book was everything that I wanted from it. It captivated since the very beginning and the story was just something that I didn't know I was craving. It is a perfect fall read, with his dark gothic and paranormal themes. It had a nice bit of mystery that unraveled throughout the read as well.

And the twist and cliffhanger at the end! I cannot wait for the second book.

After reading Belladonna by Adalyn Grace, it is in my top 5 favorite Young Adult books for this year. The story grips you from the very first sentence and doesn't let you go until the very last one. Honestly though, even then, it just leaves you wishing for book two. Adalyn Grace really done a remarkable job with this book!

Signa Farrow was born into one of the wealthiest families imaginable. But one day, her mother dies of poison, and she is forced into bouncing around guardians, all her wanting her for one thing, her inheritance. Strangely, every guardian that Signa has been with dies mysteriously. Until Signa finds herself at Thorn Grove. It's a beautiful manor with many secrets, including a mourning ghost that only Signa can see. Signa will have to use her gifted sight to find a killer- before time runs out. Belladonna is set in a victorian like Europe, with imagery of ballgowns, tea parties and proper manners. It's a beautiful setting, and perfect for one of mystery, intrigue and love. And although this isn't a perfect book by all means, I think the author executed what she wanted to, the message, setting and characters were thought out. What I am not a fan of, is the fluff in the middle- it didn't add anything to the plot and made it harder to get through the book.

~4.5~
This book was the first one I've finished to come out of my reading slump and I love it! The slow burn romance in this was to die for and the storyline was fun to read. I loved the concept of her being able to see Death, to survive what she was doing, and to be able to communicate. The mystery aspect was unexpected but I loved the addition. It was a nice YA read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fantasy, mystery read.

I finished this book about one month ago and I have been struggling to put into words how much I loved it! I think this was the first time I've read the Death and a Maiden trope- at least I can't think of any others right now. I read this book in one sitting, and when I finished it, I wanted to go back and read it again; and I guess I did by listening to the audio book!

Signa Farrow's family is very well off, but Signa has been surrounded by death her entire life. First her parents when she was 2 months old, then her loving grandmother, and from there, most of her relatives that only agreed to care for her as they received a large portion of her inheritance for caring for her. After he aunt passed away suddenly, Signa is sent to live with the Hawthorns. The matriarch of the Hawthorns recently died of an unknown illness, and now her daughter is experiencing the same symptoms. Signa decides she is going to figure out the cause for the sickness before it takes the daughter.

I was so attached to Signa and the other characters I could not put this book down until I got all the answers I was looking for. There were a couple of plot twists I did not see coming that I really enjoyed and that added to the story in the best way possible. All I can say is I cant wait for the sequel, Foxglove!

This is my very first book from Adalyn Grace. I will admit I am very surprised with how I ended up enjoying this read. It’s a gothic feeling. The first thing is the prologue; I will admit this is the first prologue in the many books I’ve read that really kept me hooked. Death is a really big thing in this book as in the girl can see Death. The thing is the girl who can see Death is cursed, she hates him. Our main character, Signa is great. She is the one who can see Death. I fairly enjoyed her wit she presented. This is a book that is destined to have a second book coming but honestly I can say it also gives the vibes of a stand alone. This is a book of romance, with a feeling of mystery and darkness. I loved the description that allowed me to be able to picture everything as I read it. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchanged of an honest review.

What a dark rollercoaster, I loved it.
Belladonna, Belladonna, Belladonna. Where have you been??

I love the dark gothic quality of this YA novel, weaving in so many wonderful characters. I guessed a couple of things (YES!! AMAZING!!!) and some other things I had no idea. The ending is incredibly satisfying and it leaves it open and cliffhanger-y, but still feeling wrapped up.

Signa is the heroine we needed. I love how she wants to be a part of something. All of her life she was on the outside, mostly unloved or loved for the wrong reasons (her fortune). I love that she really desired to fit in, she really wanted friends, she really wanted a home and a family. And when those things didn’t work out, she grew stronger and became, more herself, realizing who she is and what is most important to her. I love that she changed so much in the book and her journey was very satisfying.

Death is… well, sorry but kinda dreamy. I’ll admit at first I was a little taken aback. He sounded almost too human with his humor and phrases, but as the book went on, I liked him more. His personality came through and it didn’t bother me anymore.

And there’s the stable boy and her cousin Percy and …. I don’t want to go into it but every character was well drawn and intriguing. The supporting cast really did help bring depth to the world, and added an intense layer of urgency and dread.

The action really began once Signa arrived at Thorn Grove, but I’ll admit that I was glued to the page even after the Prologue. What a way to start a book. And as Signa finally arrives at Thorn Grove, I was already invested in her character and her relationship with death and ghosts. Adding this new family and new secrets really kept the plot moving.
That said, it wasn’t a page turner and I loved that. It was slow and dark and had more mystery to it. The tone was perfect, balancing between a murder mystery and paranormal love story that never got too submerged in either.

I cannot wait till the sequel!

“Do not change the parts of yourself that you like to make others comfortable. Do not try to mold yourself to fit the standards someone else has set for us.” - Adalyn Grace

Finished this book last night after staying up until.. well, who knows what time but the point is I binge read this book and I could not get enough of it and it was the best freaking book to start fall with.

This was for sure one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it was SO worth the wait. Now, I didn’t know that there was a sequel to this book but I already need it now. 😭 Especially after the cliffhanger in Belladonna.. Signa was such a wonderful character to read and with the intriguing death like powers she seemed to have.. well, the sequel to this book will for sure be my most anticipated read now!

What a ride! This novel was quite the adventure. I love the world building, it was set up so nicely and had just the right amount of details to not overwhelm. The characters were so good. Signa was fantastic, I loved her inner dialogs and her interactions with people. The further the storyline continued and the more of her magic we got to see the more invested I became. All of the characters had their parts to play and contributed immensely to the flow of the story and I loved each of them in their own ways. I really was invested in Death and his role in everything. I found his personality to be charming and warm. What I loved the most about this story was the twists, this fantastical whodunit was everything. Every time I thought I had a grip on what was going to happen, bam something would happen and I would be thrown back into having no idea. And the ending!! I cannot wait for book two I have to know what is next for Death and Signa!

if you support grooming this book is perfect for you
the mystery drags, the high society bits are useless, and the whole book feels like a bunch of disjointed short scenes the author thought would be good together
half the time signa is too horny to even concentrate on anything happening - which btw why is this book ya if there are multiple sex scenes
the actual relationship is a love triangle between a stable boy and death himself, which turns out to be just death masquerading as a stable boy (ew wtf)
it is the most disgusting thing because this girl is NINETEEN, death has been WATCHING HER SINCE BIRTH, and death is - mmm let's think - MILLENIA OLD
get that nasty disgusting grooming power imbalance away from here
and the author herself seems to be completely unsure of what she wants death to even be in the book?
idk the whole story is plodding, the mystery is predictable, and the ending is sososo bad - this girl is so stupid i honestly don't understand how she managed to get enough brain cells to solve one murder, let alone TWO
authors stop being afraid of new adult challenge